WOOD STRIKES KEY BLOW
Takes Kiwi star Williamson wicket as England book their place in semi-finals
CARDIFF at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Two years ago, New Zealand thrashed England by eight wickets on home soil at the 2015 World Cup in Wellington.
But this decisive win was a measure of England’s progress in the 50-over format since that chastening defeat.
England were in danger of falling short of 300 after Joe Root (64), Alex Hales (56) and Ben Stokes (48) all got out when well set.
But Jos Buttler’s dashing unbeaten 61 off 48 balls, including a couple of extravagant sixes, helped take them to 310 all out.
“We tried to learn from our batting,” explained England captain Eoin Morgan at the presentation ceremony.
“All our batsmen thought it (the pitch) was two-paced, so we thought there was no value in bowling full. The new-ball bowlers set the tone.”
Morgan added: “Being in the semis is pretty good. We’re not satisfied with that, we have a long way to go before we perform to our potential.”
Meanwhile Williamson, fined 40 percent of his match fee for New Zealand’s slow over-rate, accepted his side had been wellbeaten.
“I think in all areas England outplayed us today,” he said. “It was very tough out there but credit to the way they went about their business.”
New Zealand lost their first wicket just four balls into their innings when Luke Ronchi was clean bowled for a golden duck by Ball.
Both Williamson, posting his fifth fifty in as many ODIs against England, and Taylor were hit on the helmet by fast bowler Liam Plunkett, who finished with four for 55.
But Williamson still drove Wood back over his head for four at a Cardiff ground rivalling Wellington as a windswept venue.
Taylor, without being at his fluent best, offered sound support in a stand of 95.
Morgan, shuffling his pack, recalled Wood and the Durham quick duly delivered the wicket his side badly needed when a rising ball took Williamson’s glove and diving wicket-keeper Buttler clung on to the catch.
It was the end of Williamson’s 98-ball innings featuring eight fours.
And when Taylor (39) holed out off Ball to midwicket, New Zealand were 168 for four in the 34th over.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid justified his selection in place of the injured Chris Woakes with two for 47 in 10 overs, with Plunkett ending the contest when Tim Southee was caught at deep midwicket. AFP