England blast Kiwis to reach ICC semi-finals
Morgan out to KO Aussies
ENGLAND powered into the Champions Trophy semi-finals with an impressive 87-run win against New Zealand in Cardiff yesterday.
Joe Root (64) and Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 61 led the way with the bat as England were all out for 310 before Jake Ball’s 2-31 earned him man of the match as the Kiwis were dismissed for 223.
Ball said: “It’s a great feeling. We have one more game against the Aussies and it would be nice to beat them and go unbeaten in the group.”
Saturday’s Edgbaston showdown will now decide the Group A winners.
EOIN MORGAN says there will be no let-up after England sealed their place in the Champions Trophy semi-finals with a match to spare.
Morgan’s men ruthlessly blew New Zealand away yesterday at a windswept Cardiff.
And following the 87-run win, they immediately set their sights on dumping out old rivals Australia in the final group game at Edgbaston on Saturday.
“We will go into that match with a very serious attitude,” said England skipper Morgan.
“We never take any position that we’ve ever been in for granted.
“Australia are one of the best teams – they always are going into any white ball tournament. So to go into a game like that with no other attitude than winning is very important to us.
“And if we’re truly going to be contenders for this tournament, we need to beat the best.
“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.”
Despite gusts of up to 50mph here, England refused to be blown off course as they ® mastered the tricky conditions to reinforce their credentials as tournament favourites.
After being inserted, out-of-sorts opener Jason Roy (13) failed again as he was bowled round his legs.
But half-centuries from Alex Hales and Joe Root put England in a strong position.
While the rest rather petered away after getting starts, Jos Buttler provided late impetus as the hosts were bowled out for 310.
Rushed
That target was under threat as Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor moved New Zealand to 158-2 before Mark Wood got one to leap off the track and brush the glove of skipper Williamson.
It was an opening that the rest of the bowlers rushed through as Jake Ball and Adil Rashid bagged victims. Liam Plunkett went on to mop up the tail to record figures of 4-55.
The Kiwis lost their last seven wickets for just 55 runs to leave Morgan hailing his attack.
He added: “Our batting performance was probably par or below par – so pretty average.
“But I thought the bowlers as a collective unit were brilliant.”