Today Cricket Match: England edge dramatic Super 8 win in Colombo
England chased 160 and won by four wickets with three balls to spare, a result that dents New Zealand's semi-final hopes and leaves Pakistan needing a win over Sri Lanka on Saturday to keep their chances alive. The match featured a late unbroken stand, a helmet-four that sealed the game and early tournament pain for Jos Buttler.
England chase home 160 in tight finish
England reached 160 to win in Colombo, finishing four wickets down with three balls remaining after a tense chase. Will Jacks and Shoaib Ahmed put on an unbroken 44 to get England over the line, and the final moments included a ball hitting Jacks' helmet and running for four that helped turn the game.
Spin trio and a record: bowlers set tone
Rashid, Jacks and Ahmed each took two wickets as England bowled a record 16 overs of spin in the match. That collective spin effort supplied early breakthroughs and helped restrict the opposition to a chaseable total that England ultimately chased down.
Buttler's struggles continue; England slip to 2-2
Jos Buttler was out for a two-ball duck, extending what was described as a miserable run and leaving England on a 2-2 record in the tournament so far. England were already through to the semi-finals before this match, but the defeat for New Zealand reshaped the Super 8 table.
Today Cricket Match: implications for Pakistan and New Zealand
New Zealand's defeat opens the door for Pakistan. Pakistan must beat Sri Lanka on Saturday and rely on a swing in net run-rate to advance. That Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match is scheduled for Saturday at 13: 15 GMT (8: 15 a. m. ET), a game New Zealand will be watching with interest.
Captain's defence and praise for the depth
England captain Harry Brook addressed Buttler's poor form and defended his team-mate, saying Buttler had played 150 games for England and urging perspective on his struggles. Brook called Buttler "probably the best white-ball player to play the game, " said he was "in a rut" but had "fire in his belly, " and expressed confidence Buttler would respond in the next games.
Brook also praised Will Jacks as "a proper batter, " recalling an instance when Jacks leaned on the first ball through the covers for four in an earlier match against West Indies and noting Jacks had played Test cricket and had "immense power". On the prospect of playing a semi-final against India or West Indies in Mumbai, Brook said England were not bothered about the opponent, that both sides were powerful, and that England would need to do the little things well. He noted England had already played West Indies at the Wankhede and said it would be nice to return there.
Match page extras and technical notes
Live radio commentary was available at the top of the match page and fans were invited to have their say using a 'Get Involved' feature. A Flourish post embedded in the coverage could not be displayed in some browsers. Readers were also directed to a report by Matthew Henry for further reading on England's four-wicket win.
That’s all from the live coverage: England will finish top of Group 2 in the Super 8s, but who they will face in the semi-finals is to be confirmed. The next confirmed fixture in the immediate slate is Pakistan vs Sri Lanka on Saturday at 13: 15 GMT (8: 15 a. m. ET), which will decide whether Pakistan can take advantage of New Zealand's setback.
