England in semi-finals
Hosts score a comfortable victory over Black Caps
Chasing a huge 311 runs target for victory, New Zealand derailed dramatically to give the hosts a comfortable 87 runs win. At one time, the Kiwis were right in the hunt at 158/2, as Williamson and Taylor were going really well, after Ronchi's first ball duck and Guptill's early loss. But then the disciplined English seamers turned the tide in their favour. Once Williamson and Taylor were out, Kiwis could never regain the momentum. Liam Plunkett finished with four wickets, but it was the splendid work done by Wood and Ball which turned things around in England's favour. An absolute snorter from Wood send Williamson packing, which proved to be the turning point. New Zealand were never in the chase from there, as Rashid crafted a hold over them as well. Jake Ball who bowled a splendid opening spell and brilliantly later too, was declared Man of the Match. Earlier, Half-centuries from Alex Hales, Joe Root and Jos Buttler helped England to a respectable 310 all out in 49.3 overs against New Zealand in a Group A clash of the ongoing Champions Trophy at the Sophia Gardens here on Tuesday.
After being asked to bat first by New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, England rode on an 81-run secondwicket partnership between Root (64) and Hales (56).
Both were guilty of not converting their fifties into hundreds despite looking good.
Buttler (61 not out) produced a late flourish to help his side get past the 300-run mark as the Kiwis applied the brakes at the right junctures.
All-rounder Ben Stokes played well for his 48 before getting out as Corey Anderson returned best figures of 3/55 while Adam Milne also took three wickets for the cost of 79 runs.
Jason Roy (13; 23b; 2x4) was sent back early by Milne as the opener tried to walk across his stumps to a quick delivery which knocked his stumps as he tried to flick the ball over the leg side.
In-form Root looked to continuing from where he had left off against Bangladesh. The 26-year-old showed no signs of ankle and calf injury which bothered him in the last game to milk Kiwi bowlers, especially left-arm spinner Mitchell Santer whom he spanked for 29 runs in 22 balls.
Milne, however, was in the thick of things again, breaking the promising second wicket stand between Hales and Root with a delivery that squared up the former on the crease.
Hales departed just when he was looking good and timing the ball well. His departure brought England skipper Eoin Morgan to the crease. New Zealand badly needed the breakthrough to keep the hosts in check.
Morgan (13) did not last long, edging a wide Corey Anderson delivery to wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi.
England's run rate though was always steady as after the first Powerplay they were 50/1 while after 30 overs when drinks was called for, they had reached 166/3 with Root looking good on 61 and Ben Stokes joining him at the crease on 19.
Shortly after drinks, Root -who was not getting a lot of the strike -- chopped the ball back onto the stumps while trying to cut through the offside handing Anderson his second scalp.
Root and Stokes engineered England's second fifty-run stand with a 54-run association for the fourth wicket.
At the other end, Stokes went from strength to strength but fell short of a half century by playing an unnecessary uppercut that fell to Milne at third man off Boult's bowling.