T20 World Cup, ENG vs NZ: Phillips' fifty goes in vain as England pip New Zealand

England celebrating a dismissal [Source: AP]

The 21st Super 12 match of the ongoing T20 World Cup saw England thwack New Zealand by 20 runs. The Englishmen progressed to the second position in the points table with this emphatic victory. 

Jos Buttler leads from the front as England post 179

After they opted to bat first, England's lethal opening duo fired for the first time in this World Cup, adding 81 runs for the first wicket. Before being dismissed in the eleventh over, Alex Hales hammered seven fours and a six for his gorgeous 40-ball 52. 

Buttler slammed a scintillating fifty [Source: AP]

However, skipper Jos Buttler decided to bat deep and ensure a substantial total for his side. The swashbuckling right-hander smashed seven fours and two sixes on his way through to a blistering 47-ball 73 before being run out in the penultimate over. 

Apart from these knocks, Liam Livingstone's 20-run cameo was the solitary notable contribution, as England finished on 179 for six in 20 overs. 

Although Lockie Ferguson bagged two wickets, he was expensive, going for 45 runs in his four overs. However, the spin twins Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi were impressive, scalping one wicket apiece for 25 and 23 runs, respectively. 

New Zealand fumble despite Phillips' fighting fifty

The chase began on a poor note for New Zealand, as they lost their Finn Allen and Devon Conway cheaply inside five overs. However Kane Williamson and Glenn Phillips executed a commendable rescue act, stitching a crucial 91-run stand for the third wicket. 

Phillips rode his luck to a counterattacking fifty [Source: AP]

While Williamson played a patient knock of 40 runs, Phillips did the aggressor's job to perfection, smashing four boundaries and three sixes for his breathtaking 36-ball 62. 

But Ben Stokes and Sam Curran swung the game into England's favour by dismissing Williamson and Phillips, respectively. The reliable duo of Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham also couldn't put much impact, as the Kiwis lost their way, eventually finishing on 159 for six at the end of 20 overs. 

Sam Curran was terrific with the ball at the death, making it incredibly tough for the New Zealand batters to accelerate. Overall, he finished with brilliant figures of two for 26 in four overs. 

Brief Scores

England: 179/6 (20)
Jos Buttler 73 (47), Alex Hales 52 (40);
Lockie Ferguson 2/45 (4), Ish Sodhi 1/23 (4)

New Zealand: 159/6 (20)
Glenn Phillips 62 (36), Kane Williamson 40 (40);
Sam Curran 2/26 (4), Chris Woakes 2/33 (4)

England won by 20 runs. 

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