World T20 England vs New Zealand, as it happened: Stokes, Roy shine as England thump New Zealand to enter final

That’s it! England win by 7 wickets. They cruise into the final of World T20

Root finishes it off in style with a thumping six over deep mid-wicket. What a comprehensive win for them.  Last time they won the semi-final, they went on to win the tournament, in 2010.

After 17 overs,England 153/3 ( Joe Root 27 , Jos Buttler 26)

They want to finish this off as soon as possible now. Root reverse sweeps one fine for four. Buttler then pulls a short one through square leg for four and then smashes the next ball straight back over Sodhi’s head for a six and then again follows up with the same shot. 22 runs off the over. 1 needed off 18 now.

After 16 overs,England 131/3 ( Joe Root 22 , Jos Buttler 9)

Buttler hits a pressure releasing four in that over. After three singles off the first four balls, Buttler reverse sweeps one through backward point for four. 7 runs off the over. 23 needed off 24 balls.

After 15 overs,England 124/3 ( Joe Root 20 , Jos Buttler 4)

A lovely over from Santner. He varied his pace really well. Just three runs off it. He got a bit of drift too. Just 3 runs off the over.

Santner into the attack now.

After 14 overs,England 121/3 ( Joe Root 18 , Jos Buttler 3)

Sensible from England. Dealing in singles. 4 runs off the over. Still less than run a ball required. 33 needed off 36.

McClenaghan back on.

After 13 overs, England 117/3 ( Joe Root 16 , Jos Buttler 1)

A successful over for New Zealand. Sodhi got the wickets of Roy and Morgan but Sodhi ends the over poorly with a short delivery which is put away through mid-wicket for a four by Root. 7 runs and a wicket off it. 37 needed off 42

Double blow for England! 

Roy and Morgan depart off consecutive balls.  Roy charges down the track and looks to turn it to the leg side but is done in by the away turn. He misses, the ball hits his pads and rolls onto the stumps.

Sodhi then bowls it full on middle, it spins back in a touch. Morgan comes forward and looks to flick but misses, they got up in a huge LBW shout and the umpire raises his finger. 

Buttler defends the hat-trick ball solidly.

After 12 overs,England 110/1 ( Jason Roy 78 , Joe Root 10)

Root getting into the act. After three singles from four balls, Root pulls one behind square leg for an excellently placed four.  7 runs off the over.

Milne back on….

After 11 overs,England 103/1 ( Jason Roy 76 , Joe Root 5)

A decent over from Sodhi. 100 up from England. They are cruising. Roy is on 76 off 40 balls. Root is playing sensibly and is on 5 from 7. England don’t need to do anything extraordinary and hence silly here. 51 needed off 54.

Sodhi back on….

After 10 overs,England 98/1 ( Jason Roy 73 , Joe Root 3)

Jason Roy is in altogether different zone. After three singles off first four balls, he hammers one over deep square leg for six. A single off the last ball makes it 10 runs from the over.  They need less than a run a ball. 56 needed off 60. England need more than a wicket as soon as possible.

After 9 overs, England 88/1 ( Jason Roy 65 , Joe Root 1)

Hales is gone but that hasn’t affected Roy. He swats the first ball through mid-wicket but then Santner gets Hales off the next ball. Roy than smashes a pull through mid-wicket for a four. Two more singles make it 9 runs off the over.  66 needed off 66 now.

OUT! Hales holes out. Santner finally gets the much-needed wicket. A Hales c Munro b Santner 20 (19b 1×4 1×6)

Hales stays in his crease and looks to go downtown, doesn’t connect it well and helps it straight into the hands of Munro at long on. 

Joe Root is the new batsman.

After 8 overs, England 79/0 ( Jason Roy 57 , Alex Hales 20)

Hales gets a lifeline in that over. Ronchi misses his stumping. Haler uses his feet and looks to heave but misses, Ronchi fumbles and doesn’t collect it. Hales gets time to get back in. A good over from Elliott, just four runs off it. He was unlucky though.

After 7 overs, England 75/0 ( Jason Roy 55 , Alex Hales 18)

Roy now takes the audacious route. Reverse sweeps one powerfully through point for four. Four more singles in the over make it 8 runs off the over. None of the New Zealand tricks working.

Ish Sodhi into the attack now.

FIFTY for Roy! Brilliant innings. It’s his maiden fifty, he gets it off 26 balls. 9 fours and one six in his innings so far. Second fastest fifty by an England batsman.

After 6 overs,England 67/0 ( Jason Roy 49 , Alex Hales 16)

Roy is looking in imperious touch. He pulls one powerfully through mid-wicket for four. Three more singles make it 7 runs off the over.  Roy has moved on to 49 now.

Change of ends for McClenaghan

After 5 overs, England 60/0 ( Jason Roy 43 , Alex Hales 15)

Spinner into the attack but it doesn’t matter to Roy. Nothing’s working for New Zealand it seems. He gives himself room and smashes one to long on for four and then sweeps one wide of short fine leg fielder for consecutive fours. 11 runs off the over.  The 50 stand has come up. Excellent start for England.

Spin for the first time. Mitchell Santner into the attack now.

After 4 overs,England 49/0 ( Jason Roy 34 , Alex Hales 15)

England are going berserk. Hales hammers a pull through mid-wicket for four and then Roy plays an outrageous shot as he spanks a slap over long off for six. 13 runs off the over. New Zealand need to bring on spinners now.

After 3 overs,England 36/0 ( Jason Roy 27 , Alex Hales 9)

Hales joins the party. After two singles off the first three balls, Hales clobbers one over long on for a six. Roy then creams a straight drive for a four to make it 13 runs off the over. England are off to a flier here.

Mithell McClenaghan into the attack now.

After 2 overs, England 23/0 ( Jason Roy 22 , Alex Hales 1)

Roy is looking in good touch. He smashes one through point for four. Then looks to go over point again but gets an outside edge just over the fielderfor a couple. He then looks to whip one through the leg side but misses and gets hit on the pads. 7 runs off the over.

Adam Milne will bowl from the other end.

After 1 overs, England 16/0 ( Jason Roy 16 , Alex Hales 0)

A lively start to the England innings just like the New Zealand one. Anderson beats Roy’s outside edge with a lovely outswinger but then drifts the next one wide, Roy smashes it through point for four. He then charges down the track for a heave next ball but gets an inside edge to fine leg for a streaky four. Another edge off the next ball, an outside edge between the keeper and short third man for another streaky four and Roy then places one through backward point for a brilliantly timed four. Three consecutive fours to end the over. 16 runs off the first over.

Right! Back for the chase. Jason Roy and Alex Hales are the openers. Corey Anderson will start off proceedings.

COW update: End of the innings: Scoring 12 runs in the last 2 overs for the loss of 2 wickets, New Zealand’s COW settled at 53% by the end of the innings with a score of 153/8. Now it is up to their bowlers to defend this total.

New Zealand post 153/8

Brilliant last over from Stokes. He got the wicket of Santner who was caught at long off. Brilliant change of pace throughout the over. Just 5 runs off it. England pulled it back really well with  64/7 in the last 10 overs.

Stokes will bowl the final over.

After 19 overs,New Zealand 150/6 ( Grant Elliott 4 , Mitchell Santner 7)

A much-needed four in that over from Santner. After just four runs off first four balls, Santner cracks a full toss through extra cover for four. A single off the last ball makes it 9 runs off the over.

After 18 overs, New Zealand 141/6 ( Grant Elliott 1 , Mitchell Santner 1)

A brilliant over filled with yorkers and low full tosses. 5 runs and two wickets off it.

OUT! 2 in 2 for Stokes. C Anderson c Jordan b Stokes 28 (23b 2×4 1×6) 

The low full toss has done the trick again. On off stump, Anderson too looks to go downtown, doesn’t connect well and Jordan at long off takes a sharp catch running ot his left. 

Mitchell Santner is the new batsman.

OUT! Another one back in the hut! Stokes strikes! L Ronchi c Willey b Stokes 3 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Low full toss outside off, Ronchi looks to go downtown, doesn’t connect it well and helps is straight into the hands of Willey at long off. 

Grant Elliott is the new batsman.

After 17 overs, New Zealand 136/4 ( Corey Anderson 27 , Luke Ronchi 1)

A brilliant over from Jordan. Just 3 runs and a wicket off it. England have pulled it back really well. 37/2 in the last five overs.

OUT! Brilliant catch by Morgan! R Taylor c Morgan b Jordan 6 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Length delivery outside off, Taylor gives himself room and looks to tonk it over extra cover but doesn’t connect well, Morgan at estra cover dives to his right and takes a good low catch. 

Luke Ronchi is the new batsman

After 16 overs, New Zealand 133/3 ( Corey Anderson 25 , Ross Taylor 6)

This is what New Zealand need for the next four overs. Taylor pulls one through mid-wicket and gets three, Willey saved a run with excellent fielding in the deep. Anderson then took a couple and clobbered a full toss over deep mid-wicket for six. A single off the last ball made it 12 runs off the over.

After 15 overs,New Zealand 121/3 ( Corey Anderson 16 , Ross Taylor 3)

It was turning out to be a good over until Anderson used his brute force again, off the last ball. New Zealand have wickets in hand and they need to up the ante big time now. Rashid mixed his leg spinners and googlies well in that over. He had given away 7 runs off the first five balls but then Anderson hammered the last one straight back past the bowler for four. 10 runs off the over.

Rashid back on, a slip in place for him.

After 14 overs, New Zealand 111/3 ( Corey Anderson 9 , Ross Taylor 1)

A very good over from Plunkett. He bowled to plan and got the wicket of Munro. 5 runs and a wicket off it.

OUT! Big wicket for England. Munro walks back! C Munro c Ali b Plunkett 46 (32b 7×4 1×6)

The plan of bowling outside off has worked. Plunkett bowls it a tad wide outside off, Munro chases for a slash but gets an outside edge, Moeen at third man makes no mistake. 

Ross Taylor is the new batsman.

After 13 overs,New Zealand 106/2 ( Colin Munro 46 , Corey Anderson 6)

A decent over from Ali in spite of being hit for a boundary. Anderson spanks one with sheer brute force to long off, along the ground, for four. Ali hits back to concede just two singles off the next three balls. 7 runs off the over.

Moeen Continues…

After 12 overs, New Zealand 99/2 ( Colin Munro 44 , Corey Anderson 1)

Munro continues with his audacious approach, he reverse sweeps one through point for four. However Rashid hits back to concede just three more singles. 7 runs off the over.

After 11 overs,New Zealand 92/2 ( Colin Munro 38 , Corey Anderson 0)

Excellent over from Moeen. He gave away just 3 runs and scalped the wicket of Williamson. Not much turn available for him.

OUT! Moeen Ali strikes in his first over. KS Williamson c & b Ali 32 (28b 3×4 1×6) 

He gets the big wicket of Williamson. It’s flighted on middle and off, Williamson looks to go downtown but gets a top edge. It flies high up in the air, Ali runs backwards and takes a brilliant catch. A much-needed wicket for England.

Corey Anderson is the new batsman.

After 10 overs, New Zealand 89/1 ( Kane Williamson 31 , Colin Munro 36)

Stokes really unlucky in that over. He bowls a couple of yorkers and Munro gets a couple of fours off inside edge – Chinese cuts. Stokes is really unimpressed and angry too. 11 runs off the over. We are at Halfway stage – NZ 89/1 after 10 over.

Too much love for Williamson!

After 9 overs,New Zealand 78/1 ( Kane Williamson 30 , Colin Munro 28)

This partnership is looking dangerous, they have crossed the 50-run mark in partnership. Munro hits an outrageous shot as he clobbers a six off a switch hit and then Williamson cuts one through backward point for four. 13 runs off the over.  England need a wicket desperately now…

After 8 overs, New Zealand 66/1 ( Kane Williamson 25 , Colin Munro 21)

Williamson finally opens up. He hits the first six of the innings as he lofts it over long off. Lovely timing on that. The track seems to be holding a bit. But New Zealand did well to garner 11 runs in the over.

Ben Stokes into the attack now.

After 7 overs,New Zealand 55/1 ( Kane Williamson 17 , Colin Munro 19)

A very good first over from Rashid. He aimed at bowling flat and was disciplined with his lines and lengths. Just four singles off the over.

COW Update after 6 overs: 8  runs from the 4th over and 7 runs from the 5th kept New Zealand’s COW at 50%. Munro went berserk in the 6th over, giving the Black Caps 14 runs and taking their COW to 54%. 

Spin for hte first time as Adil Rashid comes into the attack……

A very good powerlay for New Zealand – 51/1 in that period.

After 6 overs, New Zealand 51/1 ( Kane Williamson 15 , Colin Munro 18)

Munro upping the ante now. He smashes one straight back down the ground, then goes for a heave but gets an inside edge wide of short fine leg, then gets one off the middle as he heaves it wide of short fine leg again for three consecutive fours. Plunkett hits back well with a slower one to beat Munro’s outside edge. 13 runs off the over.

After 5 overs, New Zealand 38/1 ( Kane Williamson 14 , Colin Munro 6)

New Zealand have done well not to get bogged down. They are getting that one odd four every over. Williamson pulls one behind square leg for four. He then cracks one to point where Roy makes a brilliant stop and saves three runs. 7 runs off the over.

Jordan continues…

After 4 overs,New Zealand 31/1 ( Kane Williamson 9 , Colin Munro 6)

Williamson gets a lifeline in that over. He flicks one to short fine leg and Rashid drops a tough low chance. Williamson then gets an outside edge and it falls short of the first slip fielder. He finally finds the gap he was looking for as he flicks one wide of the short fine leg fielder for four. He flicks the lost one wide of long on for a couple to make it 8 runs off the over.

Liam Plunkett into the attack now.

After 3 overs, New Zealand 23/1 ( Kane Williamson 2 , Colin Munro 5)

A successful over for England. Willey picked up Guptill. Munro has come out with an aggressive intent. He charged down the track first ball but flicked it straight to fielder at deep square leg. Willey then beat him with a lovely outswinger. He then launched one over mid on for a boundary. 6 runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Willey gets the big wicket! MJ Guptill c Buttler b Willey 15 (12b 3×4 0x6)

Guptill was looking dangerous but he departs to a poor shot. Length delivery outside off, a touch wide. Guptill looks to swing across the line – too  wide to search for  heave – he ends up getting an edge to the keeper.

Colin Munro is the new batsman

After 2 overs,New Zealand 17/0 ( Martin Guptill 15 , Kane Williamson 1)

The dual nature of pitch on show here. The first one keeps very low but then a couple jump off the surface. Guptill does well to defend chest-high balls, he was hurried up by extra pace. Guptill then smashes one through point for four. It wasn’t a bad ball but Guptill did well on get on top of the bounce. 6 runs off the over.

Chris Jordan will bowl from the other end.

After 1 overs,New Zealand 11/0 ( Martin Guptill 10 , Kane Williamson 1)

A lively start to the match. Willey drops the first ball a touch short, Guptill cuts it over point for a thumping boundary. Willey bowls the next one full on middle and leg, it swings back in, Guptill misses his flick. An LBW shout is turned down as it looked like missing leg. Guptill then has a heart in mouth moment as he pushes one towards mid off and scampers for a risky single. Morgan sprints in from extra cover but doesn’t gather the ball, Guptill was struggling. Williamson gets off the mark with a single but then Guptill smashes one over cover-point for a four. A single more makes it 11 from the first over.

Guptill and Williamson have come out to open for New Zealand. David Willey will bowl the first over.

Who’ll fire tonight?

New Zealand have a bad history with semi-finals. Can Guptill and Williamson change that tonight?

Martin Guptill and Adam Milne return to the New Zealand line-up

England will be bowling first. Can their spinners step-up?

England have won the toss and elected to bowl. England team remains unchanged.

England New Zealand head to head 

The Super10s are done and dusted with, we have now reached the business end of the competition; the semi-finals. It’s England vs New Zealand.

New Zealand have been clinical throughout the tournament, and have won all their matches. England, on the other hand, have been patchy. But both teams have talismanic batsmen at the forefront of their team, Joe Root and Kane Williamson.

Williamson has also taken up captaincy for the Black Caps after Brendon McCullum’s retirement, and has taken to it rather well. It probably is New Zealand’s best chance to wrap their hands around an ICC trophy. 

Welcome to the Live Blog for England vs New Zealand. Do stay with us for all updates on the World T20.