Skipper praises England bowlers

EOIN Morgan insists it was England’s “brilliant bowlers” who carried them through to the Champions Trophy semi-finals as Group A table-toppers.

Mark Wood and Jake Ball made the most important breakthroughs against New Zealand, and Liam Plunkett (four for 55) and Adil Rashid cashed in too to defend 310 all out with 87 runs to spare.

Wood returned at the 30-over stage of the run chase in Cardiff to take the critical wicket of Kane Williamson (87).

Ball, who had already bowled opener Luke Ronchi for a golden duck, then saw off the visiting captain’s thirdwicket partner Ross Taylor to begin the Kiwis’ terminal slide from 158 for two to 223 all out — an outcome which ensures England will be back at the same venue for their semifinal next Wednesday.

Half-centuries from Joe Root (64), Jos Buttler (61 not out) and Alex Hales (56) proved enough — although Morgan admitted he was far from sure they would after England were bowled out in 49.3 overs.

He agrees their tournament is going very well so far, but added: “If you had asked me that at the halfway stage, I probably would have said it wasn’t.

“I thought we were probably 10 or 15 below par — given that 320 is probably a par score regardless of the game we’re playing in these days.”

It therefore needed Wood and Co to step up, and Morgan said: “Guys like him are so valuable to the team — and you can’t leave any of our bowlers out.”

England will finish group winners whatever the outcome of their final match against Australia at Edgbaston on Saturday — when a win over their Ashes rivals, for the second time in successive editions of this tournament, is very likely to eliminate their oldest adversaries.