BRISBANE: England openers Jos Buttler and Alex Hales laid a solid foundation with a half-century each before the pacers led them to a convincing 20-run victory over New Zealand to keep their hopes intact for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final qualification.

Set to chase 180, New Zealand fell 20 runs short despite a blistering 62-run knock from Glenn Phillips. The side had a dismal start to the run chase as they lost their openers – Devon Conway (3) and Finn Allen (13) – for a paltry score of 28/2 in five overs. Following the early setback, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and Glenn Phillips scripted the recovery with an anchoring 91-run partnership for the third wicket. Williamson, however, was finding it hard to score at a rapid pace unlike his partner Phillips, and as a result, fell to Ben Stokes’ slower delivery while attempting to glide. He scored a run-a-ball 40 including three boundaries.

New Zealand’s batting lineup then began to crumble as James Neesham (6) and Daryl Mitchell fell in the 16th and 17th overs respectively, causing their side to slip to 131/5. England’s young pacer Sam Curran, who bowled a magnificent final over, struck the gold for his side in the 18th as he undid Phillips to put his side in the commanding position. Phillips top-scored for New Zealand with 62 off just 36 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and three sixes.

Curran and Chris Woakes bagged two wickets each, while Mark Wood and Stokes made one scalp each. England, batting first after winning the toss, amassed a decent total of 179/6 in their quota of 20 overs, thanks to brilliant half-centuries from Buttler and Hales. In a must-win game, the English openers chipped in and laid a solid foundation for a defendable total with a magnificent 81-run partnership.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 02 2022

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