BRISBANE: England rescued their Twenty20 Global Cup hopes as they held their nerve to look off New Zealand through 20 runs on the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday. England, who were dealing with nearly positive removing had they misplaced, moved up into the highest two in Team 1 along side their fighters with one spherical of suits to head. Handiest the highest two achieve the semi-finals.

It places huge power on hosts and protecting champions Australia, who should now win their remaining fit in opposition to Afghanistan and hope England and New Zealand stumble. Skipper Jos Buttler smashed 73 off 47 balls as England reached 179-6 and after all began to turn why they had been one of the most pre-tournament favorites. They then were given away to a great get started within the box when New Zealand opener Devon Conway leg-glanced a ball from Chris Woakes and Buttler took a impressive diving catch.

It were given worse for the Kiwis when Finn Allen pulled a slower ball from Sam Curran to Ben Stokes at deep mid-wicket, leaving New Zealand 28-2 after 5 overs. The Black Caps had been suffering in opposition to a good bowling assault, however the momentum swung firmly against them when Moeen Ali dropped the in-form Glenn Phillips when he used to be on 15 and New Zealand 64-2. Phillips skied an tried pull shot instantly to Ali, who someway didn’t get a hand on it.

Phillips, who blasted a century in opposition to Sri Lanka in New Zealand’s remaining fit, made the English pay as he raced to his part century off most effective 25 balls. Buttler used to be ringing the adjustments together with his assault as he attempted seven bowlers to check out and make the leap forward. His 7th selection after all paid off when Kane Williamson (40) squeezed a Stokes supply to Adil Rashid at quick 3rd. James Neesham got here and went for 6 however Phillips saved on smashing the England assault in every single place the Gabba.

He misplaced Daryl Mitchell, stuck at the boundary through exchange fielder Chris Jordan off Mark Picket, earlier than falling the similar means off Sam Curran nearly in an instant. As soon as Phillips fell, New Zealand’s problem used to be as just right as over because the decrease order struggled to seek out the boundary. Previous, Buttler used to be dropped two times right through his entertaining knock, passing former captain Eoin Morgan because the best run-scorer for England in T20 internationals. New Zealand, England and Australia are all on 5 issues after 4 video games with New Zealand most sensible of Team 1 on web run price, with England 2nd.

Afghanistan down

In the meantime, Dhananjaya de Silva scored an unbeaten 66 as Sri Lanka saved their narrow Twenty20 Global Cup hopes alive with a six-wicket win over Afghanistan on the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday. The Asia Cup champions moved to 4 issues in Team 1 and will nonetheless make the semi-finals, however they want different effects to head their means. Team 1 leaders New Zealand had been enjoying England, who’ve 3 issues, in a later sport on the Gabba Tuesday after Australia beat Eire on Monday to transport degree on 5 issues on the most sensible however at the back of the Black Caps on web run price.

The loss method Afghanistan are eradicated as they can’t make the semi-finals with one team fit in opposition to Australia final after having two washouts and a opening defeat to England. Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi received the toss and selected to bat however Sri Lanka limited them to 144-8, thank you in large part to a nice spell from leg-spinner and participant of the fit Wanindu Hasaranga. The Sri Lankan run chase were given off to a deficient get started when Mujeeb Ur Rahman spun one again to bowl Pathum Nissanka for 10.

‘We fell quick’

Kusal Mendis and de Silva recovered and took the ranking to 46 earlier than Afghanistan trump card, leg-spinner Rashid Khan, drew a most sensible edge from Mendis, giving keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz a easy catch. Khan took the following wicket when Charith Asalanka used to be stuck through Azmat Omarzai at the boundary for 19 however through then Sri Lanka had reached 100 and had taken keep an eye on of the run chase. De Silva performed a wonderfully measured innings, scoring his trendy 66 from 42 deliveries to steer the Sri Lankans house.

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka used to be happy together with his facet’s efforts with each bat and ball. “I believe we discovered some consistency these days and you will need to proceed it within the subsequent sport,” Shanaka stated. “The opposite video games are past our keep an eye on, however the purpose is to win the following sport with a wholesome run price.” Hasaranga took 3-13 right through Afghanistan’s innings, no longer conceding a boundary in his four-over spell. Afghanistan batted neatly in patches and seemed on track for a large ranking, however each and every time they started to open up, Sri Lanka’s bowlers had been in a position to take key wickers to stay them in take a look at.

Regardless of six of Afghanistan’s batsmen getting a just right begin to their innings, none used to be in a position to transform to a large ranking with Usman Ghani’s 27 being the most efficient. The objective of 145 used to be a minimum of 20 runs wanting a aggressive overall and Sri Lanka cruised house with 9 balls to spare when De Silva hit he successful 4 to take them to 148-4. “We had a just right get started within the powerplay however didn’t stay the momentum until the top,” Nabi stated of the Afghanistan effort within the box. – AFP