New Zealand Vs England: Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks Deliver Last-Gasp Super 8s Victory as Kiwis’ Semi Hopes Drift
In the new zealand vs england Super 8s clash in Colombo England chased 160 and sealed a four-wicket win with three balls to spare, a finish that keeps them top of Group 2 while leaving New Zealand’s path to the semi-finals perilously dependent on other results.
New Zealand Vs England: final overs and the helmet four
The match ended in dramatic fashion when a short ball from Matt Henry struck Will Jacks’ helmet and ran away for four, the boundary providing England the winning runs. England reached 161 for 6 in 19. 3 overs while New Zealand had posted 159 for 7 after electing to bat. The decisive late surge saw England require 42 off three overs before the Jacks–Ahmed partnership swung momentum firmly in England’s favour.
Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks: the match-winning 44
Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed put on an unbroken 44 from 16 deliveries to get England over the line. Jacks finished 32 not out off 18 and Rehan Ahmed 19 not out off 7; together they smoked the 18th over, bowled by Glenn Phillips, for 22 and then dominated the 19th and 20th overs to secure victory with three balls remaining. Jacks was named player of the match.
Spin dominance and bowling figures
England deployed a heavy spin attack, bowling a record 16 overs of spin in the contest. Adil Rashid, Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed took two wickets apiece, while one listing shows Liam Dawson with 1-32 in the match summary. Rehan Ahmed’s figures read 2-28 and he also took a wicket with his first ball after being drafted in for his first match of the tournament.
Scorecard highlights and individual contributions
New Zealand finished 159-7 from 20 overs with Glenn Phillips making 39 off 28 balls and Tim Seifert 35 off 25. England’s chase featured contributions across the order: Tom Banton top-scored with 33 off 24; Harry Brook made 26 off 24 following a recent 50-ball hundred in the prior game against Pakistan; Sam Curran scored 24 off 22 and Jacob Bethell 21 off 16. Rachin Ravindra returned 3-19 for New Zealand in the bowling column.
- New Zealand 159-7 (Glenn Phillips 39 off 28; Tim Seifert 35 off 25)
- England 161-6 in 19. 3 overs (target 160) — Tom Banton 33 off 24; Will Jacks 32* off 18; Rehan Ahmed 19* off 7
- Notable bowling: Rehan Ahmed 2-28; Adil Rashid 2-28; Will Jacks 2-23; Rachin Ravindra 3-19
What this means for New Zealand and Pakistan
England’s victory opens the door for Pakistan. New Zealand’s defeat means they could still miss out on the semi-finals if Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by a sufficiently large margin on Saturday and overhaul the Black Caps on net run rate in Group 2. The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka fixture is scheduled for Saturday at 13: 15 GMT and will be watched closely by New Zealand. Unless Pakistan secure that big win in Pallekele, New Zealand are expected to progress to the first semi on Wednesday; if the net run rate swing materialises, New Zealand’s place would be threatened.
Reaction: Brook on Buttler, Jacks and the Mumbai semis
England captain Harry Brook addressed Jos Buttler’s struggles, noting Buttler has played 150 games for England and is currently in a rut but remains one of the country’s best white-ball players and someone expected to produce in the coming matches. Buttler was out for a two-ball duck, his fifth single-figure return in a row, a run the captain described as miserable but temporary.
Brook praised Will Jacks as a proper batter with Test experience and immense power, citing a previous match against the West Indies as evidence of Jacks’ composure. On the prospect of a semi-final in Mumbai, Brook said the team is not bothered about the opponent—India or West Indies—acknowledging both are powerful sides and that England must execute the little things well. England are set to play in the second semi-final in Mumbai on Thursday March 5, with the precise opponent to be confirmed.
Match moments, miscues and atmosphere
Key moments included a stunning flick for six by Harry Brook that broke an LED screen before he was later holed out, and a brilliant diving catch by Glenn Phillips to remove Jacob Bethell at deep midwicket. The New Zealand national anthem was played at warp-speed ahead of the game, an oddity that amused the players. An embedded match visualisation could not be displayed in some browsers without Javascript. Fans were invited to listen to on-page radio commentary and to use the site’s engagement tools to share reactions, with a written match report by Matthew Henry available for further reading.
England will finish top of Group 2 in the Super 8s; who they will face in the last four remains to be confirmed as the remaining Group 2 result unfolds on Saturday.
