England Comeback Win Against NZ Gives Pakistan Last Chance To Reach T20 World Cup Semis

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: New Zealand failed to secure a place in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals on Friday, losing to England by four wickets, leaving Pakistan with the last chance of qualifying.

New Zealand looked set to join England in the semi-finals when they reduced England to 117-6 in the 17th over with a score of 160. But great strikes from Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed took England to the finish line with three balls to spare in a tension-filled environment.

“Our life would have been easier if we had won,” said New Zealand captain Mitch Santner. “We played a pretty good game. Credit to England. It was a good innings with Jacks and Rehan giving the finishing touches.”

While the odds still favor New Zealand’s exit from the Super Eights, Pakistan have their last chance against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday.

Pakistan need to beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs or edge the tournament’s joint hosts by 13.1 runs.

England had already qualified for the tournament but finished the Super Eight unbeaten three games to three.

This record was in jeopardy for much of the chase.

Phil Salt was dismissed in the first over and it was fellow opener Jos Buttler for a two-ball duck in the second over. Buttler has just 62 runs from seven matches and his 10th career duck was an all-time record in T20s for England.

Skipper Harry Brook and Jacob Bethel chipped in for nine, then Tom Banton and Sam Curran battled through to reach 42 runs in 35 balls. England needed 43 runs from 19 deliveries with four wickets on a rotating used pitch.

Ahmed replaced Jamie Overton due to fielding, making the score 2-28 and letting his bat count.

He sent the second ball he faced over the long fence and he and the Jacks turned the game around with 22 runs in the 18th over bowled by Glenn Phillips. They plundered 16 runs from the 19th over scored by Santner and returned home.

Jacks remained unbeaten on 32, including a six and four boundaries. Ahmed faced seven deliveries for 19, which included two sixes and a boundary.

“I’m very happy to be on the edge of the knife,” Jacks said after receiving his fourth player of the match award in the tournament. “Rehan played a great knock. Everyone had a hard time getting on the field and the second six he hit shook them up and I fed off of it.

“Be confident in the moment, stay calm in the middle. That could be vital. We’re going in the right direction, three wins in the Super Eight, we’re very happy.”

As both teams wanted, Santner chose to bat first and his team won 159-7.

Tim Seifert and Finn Allen opened with 64 in seven overs but lost wickets frequently from then on. Phillips top-scored with 39 points. New Zealand conceded just 24 runs in the last three overs.

Spinners Jacks, Adil Rashid and Ahmed took two wickets each.