Colombo. England’s spinners, in a brilliant display of their ability, restricted New Zealand to 159 runs for seven wickets in the Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup here on Friday. New Zealand, which decided to bat first, did not play any big innings.
Glenn Phillips (39 runs off 28 balls), Tim Seifert (35 runs off 25 balls) and Finn Allen (29 runs off 19 balls) made important contributions with the bat. For England, the trio of spin bowlers Will Jacques (two wickets for 23 runs), Adil Rashid (two wickets for 28 runs) and Rehan Ahmed (two wickets for 28 runs) bowled brilliantly.
After the initial beating of the fast bowlers, these spinners tightened the noose on the New Zealand batsmen in the middle overs. Joffra Archer, who was on fire in the last match against Pakistan, started with the maiden over. In this over, the umpire gave Seifert caught out, but TV replays made it clear that the ball had not hit the bat and the decision was overturned.
Liam Dawson also kept Seifert and Finn Allen tied in the second over, but Seifert broke the pressure by hitting a four with a sweep towards deep square leg. From the other end, Archer bowled with excellent pace and swing but Allen hit his slower ball for a six over mid-on. Allen seemed to be in form and hit another brilliant six straight down the ground against Dawson.
Inspired by his fellow batsman, Seifert also attacked Archer, hitting two consecutive fours and then hitting a six over midwicket. New Zealand had gained momentum, after which England captain Harry Brook put Sam Curran on attack. Allen welcomed him with a six over midwicket and by the end of the powerplay, New Zealand’s score reached 54 runs without loss.
After this the ball was handed to Rashid and Seifert also welcomed him with a six over long-on. But on the very next ball, he dodged Rashid Seifert and Jos Buttler ended his innings with a brilliant stumping. Jacques dismissed Allen in the next over.
Allen played a light shot and gave an easy catch to Jacob Bethel at deep midwicket. Glenn Phillips tried to control the innings, but Jacques bowled him and put a break on New Zealand’s pace. Captain Mitchell Santner (nine not out) hit a six on the last ball of the innings, taking the team’s score close to 160 runs.
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