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England qualify for semi-finals after comfortable win over New Zealand

Sport360 staff 22:58 06/06/2017

England became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy after their 87-run win over New Zealand at the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on Tuesday.

The hosts, after being put into bat, managed to put 310 on the board before they were bowled out in 49.3 overs. This was the 11th time in England’s last 13 ODIs batting first that they have scored over 300.

Alex Hales (56 off 62 balls), Joe Root (64 off 65 balls) and Jos Buttler (61* off 48 balls) all made half-centuries while Ben Stokes fell just two runs short of a fifty.

Corey Anderson was the most impressive of the bowlers for the Kiwis, picking up three wickets for 55 runs from nine overs. Adam Milne also took three wickets, but the right-arm pacer was expensive, conceding 79 from his 10 overs.

In reply, New Zealand got off to a terrible start as they lost the wicket of Luke Ronchi for a golden duck in the first over of the chase. But with Kane Williamson in the middle, it looked for a while that the Blackcaps would make a contest out of it.

After being 158-2 at one stage, Williamson’s dismissal for a 98-ball 87 triggered a batting collapse and New Zealand would go on to lose their last eight wickets for just 65 runs as they were bowled out for 223 in 44.3 overs.

Liam Plunkett picked up four wickets for England, while Jake Ball (named the Player of the Match) and Adil Rashid took two wickets each.

With this win, not only have England assured themselves of a place in the final four, but they have also confirmed their selves of the top spot in Group A.

BRIEF SCORES

England 310 all out, 49.3 overs [Root 64, Buttler 61*, Anderson 3-55] beat New Zealand 223 all out, 44.3 overs [Williamson 87, Taylor 39, Plunkett 4-55] by 87 runs.

Player of the Match – Jake Ball.

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