Abu Dhabi: Daryl Mitchell's unbeaten 72 and late burst by James Neesham (27) helped New Zealand beat pre-tournament favourites England by five wickets in first semifinals of 2021 T20 World Cup, here on Wednesday.
The jubilant Kiwis will now meet either Pakistan or Australia in the finals of the tournament. Mitchell was rightly declared Player of the Match for his feisty batting.
For England, the histrionics of Moeen Ali's unbeaten 51 and Dawid Malan's 40 with the bat and Woakes and Livingstone with the ball, went in vain. Both bowlers picked two wickets each.
Most part of the game it looked like New Zealand was not in the chase, but then they blew England away.
New Zealand were 107 for 3 after 15 overs. England at the same stage were 110 for 2. Soon it came down to 57 off the final four overs. Just then Neesham and Mitchell changed gears and started to whack English bowlers out of the park.
Chasing 167, New Zealand lost two of their top order batsmen Martin Guptill and skipper Kane Williamson off the bowling of Chris Woakes, who came in after a gap of six years into the English T20 team.
Thereafter, the Kiwis scrapped to 58 for 2 after 10 overs, but Mitchell and Devon Conway managed to up the ante and stitched 50-run partnership off 48 deliveries.
Then, Conway returned to the dugout for 46 and Glenn Phillips followed him soon after Livingstone's double strike pegged NZ back further.
However, Neesham's 27 off 11 balls changed the complexion of the game as he inspired Mitchell to find his groove and soon reach his half-century.
The Abu Dhabi pitch lived up to its expectations as English bowlers picked up early wickets.
History said 167 was never chased here, and England looked to be squeezing out New Zealand after Liam Livingstone picked up two more wickets in his four overs.
Earlier, Moeen Ali's 51 not out took England to 166 for 4 against New Zealand.
Moeen smashed 3 fours and 2 sixes during his impressive 37-ball knock that helped England reach a fighting total. The batting all-rounder added 63 runs with Dawid Malan (40) for the third wicket.
The Kiwis chased down the target, taking a sweet revenge against England who had defeated them in the last ICC ODI World Cup final.
England could muster only 30 runs between fifth and tenth over and lost Jonny Bairstow (13) and Jos Buttler (29) and almost lost Malan if make-shift keeper Devon Conway hadn't dropped a catch off James Neesham.
Nevertheless, Malan and Moeen brought the England innings back on track and laid the perfect platform to burst in death overs. As many as 99 runs came off the last 10 overs.
Sent in to bat, England began as Bairstow and Buttler smashed a few early boundaries.
However, Bairstow's party ended after he had scored 14 as Williamson took a brilliant catch off Adam Milne. England had reached 45 for 1 after 7 overs.
In the next three overs, England added 22 runs but also lost their in-form batter Buttler as he was trapped in front 29 off spinner Ish Sodhi.
Very few teams assess conditions as quickly as New Zealand. They knew bowling quick here will get them wickets and getting England's openers could be decisive. Therefore, Williamson gave Tim Southee the ball within the Powerplay.
Once Southee was done, he brought in Milne, who immediately struck, giving first wicket for New Zealand. Sodhi, who was not great against England, managed to get the second wicket.
For New Zealand, Southee, Sodhi, Glenn Phillips and Milne picked one wicket each. (UNI)
