6.40pm
What a difference a week makes! Defeat to Australia last week left England facing the prospect of a humiliating early exit from their home tournament. But two excellent displays back-to-back to see off India and New Zealand has England heading for the semi-finals for the first time since 1992. They’ll face either Australia or India in what proves to be an unmissable clash next Thursday. Thanks for joining us today!
6.33pm
England captain Eoin Morgan said: “I thought we were outstanding today. It started with the two boys at the top of the order setting the platform again. I thought the wicket did change and started to slow up and it became difficult to score quite freely. We had so many on the board at that stage it was encouraging and we just tried to get as close as possible to 300.
“I think the manner we displayed in the last two games is identifiable as the identity we’ve been playing with for the last few years. Hopefully we can produce that positive aggression in the semi-finals.”
6.29pm
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said: “I think they did get the best of the conditions but they were the better team. They outplayed us throughout and deserved to win. The conditions changed a lot after the first 20 overs of batting. It slowed down a lot. England’s top order are so dominant and powerful. Full credit to England.”
6.24pm
Man of the match Jonny Bairstow said: “We knew these were must-win games. We knew that the performances that we’d put in for a couple of games hadn’t been quite up to scratch. They’re a class side so we needed to put in a performance today and we got over the line and we’re really, really pleased to do that after what has been a tough few weeks.”
6.21pm
England have secured third spot so they will be in the Edgbaston semi-final next Thursday, when they will face either Australia or India. New Zealand will have to wait on Pakistan’s result against Bangladesh this Friday before they know whether they’ve made the last four.
6.18pm
It was a brilliant bowling display from England. New Zealand never looked like they had a sniff. It appeared England had left plenty of runs on the pitch after stuttering to 305, but it proved a formidable target to the Black Caps.
ENGLAND WIN BY 119 RUNS
45th over – NZ 186
WICKET – Boult 4 – st Buttler b Rashid
Tailender Trent Boult hits Adil Rashid for four, before he is beaten by spin and Jos Buttler whips the bails off and it’s game over.
44th over – NZ 181-9
WICKET – Henry 7 – b Wood
Mark Wood takes his third scalp as he cleans up Matt Henry. Can the hometown hero finish it off?
The ‘win predictor’ is still giving New Zealand a 1% chance to win this. Still seems a bit optimistic. Trent Boult blocks out Wood’s final two deliveries of his penultimate over.
43rd over – NZ 180-8
Adil Rashid finds some turn bit it beats the batsman and Jos Buttler, which allows New Zealand to run two byes. They take four from the over.
42nd over – NZ 176-8
Mark Wood keeps it tight once again. He gives up one single in his eighth over and has figures of 2-33.
41st over – NZ 175-8
Adil Rashid returns for his third over. He proved expensive in his first two but gives up just four singles this time.
40th over – NZ 171-8
WICKET – Santner 12 – lbw b Wood
Wood gets his second wicket as he traps Mitchell Santner plumb in front. Santner uses up New Zealand’s review but it’s three red lights and he departs. England are rapidly closing in on a semi-final spot.
Matt Henry picks up three runs through the covers from the first delivery he faces – denied a four by some brilliant Joe Root fielding – and New Zealand take five from the over. Just the 135 needed off the final 10 overs.
39th over – NZ 166-7
WICKET – Latham 57 – c Buttler b Plunkett
Liam Plunkett is back on and immediately in the wickets. Tom Latham attempts to pull a short delivery but can only feather a catch behind to Jos Buttler. Any slim hopes of a miraculous New Zealand victory just ended. Plunkett has bowled eight overs and conceded just one four and taken 1-28. A brilliant display.
38th over – NZ 164-6
Tom Latham hits Chris Woakes to the fence for his fifth four and Mitchell Santner then repeats the trick for his first boundary. Jonny Bairstow looks to be in some discomfort after he attempted to stop Santner’s shot. He’s remained on the field, though. New Zealand take 11 runs from the over and Latham is on to 57.
37th over – NZ 153-6
That’s a first half-century of the tournament for Tom Latham. It’s come from 57 balls and includes just four fours. New Zealand can take just two runs from the Ben Stokes over, though, and they’re halfway to the victory total with only 13 overs left.
36th over – NZ 151-6
Tom Latham moves on to 49 with a single before Mitchell Santner takes three off the final ball of Chris Woakes’ seventh over. The required run rate has passed 11.
35th over – NZ 147-6
A slightly more sedate over as Ben Stokes gives up just one run.
34th over – NZ 146-6
A half-hearted lbw appeal kicks off Chris Woakes’ return to the attack and he also finds a leading edge that drops short of Ben Stokes at point. Tom Latham responds by finally hitting a boundary with a fine drive to long on for four, before a streaker briefly holds up play! Latham is not distracted, though, and takes a single off the last to move to 47. Comfortably the most action-packed over for a while…
33rd over – NZ 139-6
Another over without a boundary as Ben Stokes gives up three runs. New Zealand haven’t found the rope for eight overs and the required run rate is creeping towards 10 an over.
32nd over – NZ 136-6
Maybe not… Just the one single from Jofra Archer’s latest over and New Zealand are limping towards defeat as the players have a drinks break.
31st over – NZ 135-6
Three singles off the latest Ben Stokes over, though Tom Latham’s attempted pull hinted that New Zealand will show a bit more aggression in the closing stages of the match. The required run rate has reached nine an over.
30th over – NZ 132-6
Jofra Archer is back for his sixth over and New Zealand take two runs from it. They require 174 runs to win with 20 overs remaining.
29th over – NZ 130-6
WICKET – Colin De Grandhomme 3 – c Root b Stokes
ANOTHER WICKET! Eoin Morgan turns to another Durham bowler and Ben Stokes strikes with his very first delivery. Colin De Grandhomme picks out Joe Root at deep square leg and New Zealand are facing a heavy defeat. Tom Latham, another former Durham man, is joined by Mitchell Santner in the middle. A single from Santner and a wide from Stokes are the only runs from the over.
28th over – NZ 128-5
Durham has had to be patient for its England game this tournament but it’s looking like it was worth the wait. England are well on top, the sun is shining and a current Durham paceman is bowling from one end while a man who started his carer in the north-east is at the other. It was the former for this set of six and Mark Wood gives up just two runs.
27th over – NZ 126-5
Colin De Grandhomme struggles to get Liam Plunkett away and its just the two runs from the over. The required run rate is creeping up towards eight. England are sitting in a very good position.
26th over – NZ 124-5
WICKET – Jimmy Neesham 19 – b Wood
MARK WOOD STRIKES! The Durham bowler strikes on his home ground as Jimmy Neesham chops on for 19 and England have broken the troublesome fifth-wicket stand. New batsman Colin De Grandhomme can’t get a bat on the first two deliveries he faces and then scampers for a quick single for the over’s only run.
25th over – NZ 123-4
Root’s dive can’t stop a boundary this time and the Black Caps add eight off Plunkett’s sixth over. Tom Latham and Jimmy Neesham have put on 54 for the fifth wicket and at the halfway stage New Zealand are 123-4, needing another 183 runs.
24th over – NZ 115-4
Mark Wood returns to the attack and New Zealand take seven runs. It could have been more but Joe Root produced a fine bit of fielding to save a boundary. Tom Latham has reached 30 and he’s going to have to do something pretty special from here if his side are going to secure their semi-final spot.
23rd over – NZ 108-4
Liam Plunkett is back in action now for England and there’s four runs from that over.
22nd over – NZ 104-4
Joe Root continues with his gentle off-spin and New Zealand bring their 100 up with a four from Jimmy Neesham.
21st over – NZ 97-4
Adil Rashid has a half shout for lbw against Tom Latham before the wicketkeeper scores a boundary straight down the ground. A good over for the Kiwis that one, 10 runs coming from it.
20th over – NZ 87-4
Three runs off that Joe Root over for New Zealand.
19th over – NZ 84-4
Adil Rashid has the ball now for England with a slip in place. So, Jimmy Neesham (6*) and Tom Latham (5*) are at the crease for New Zealand. Their target of 306 looks a long way away right now. There’s a bit of turn for Rashid but he gifts the Black Caps a boundary from the last ball of the over as they take nine from it in total.
18th over – NZ 75-4
Joe Root is called into the attack now for England. What a luxury. He’s got his shades on, he turns his arm over gently and there’s five from that over. I don’t know about you but it feels good to take this match down a notch after that ridiculous last 10 minutes.
17th over – NZ 70-4
WICKET – Ross Taylor 28 run out (Rashid/Buttler)
MORE DRAMA. Another run out? YES IT IS. Ross Taylor has run himself out! After the nightmare of running his captain out (a huge no-no) he’s only gone and done it to himself. Taylor glanced the ball to fine leg and decided to take a risky second run. He didn’t bank on Adil Rashid’s run being bang on the money leaving wicketkeeper Jos Buttler with little to do. Taylor was well short of making his ground and he’s gone. New Zealand in big trouble here.
16th over – NZ 68-3
WICKET – Kane Williamson 27 – run out (Wood)
WELL. Mark Wood bowls to Ross Taylor, who drives the ball back towards him. Wood sticks his arm out instinctively and the ball brushes his fingers before going on to hit the stumps. Kane Williamson is out of his crease and is given out via run out on review. What a tough way to go.
Wicketkeeper Tom Latham is the next man in. Taylor hits a boundary as NZ take seven off the over, but at what cost?
15th over – NZ 61-2
This match seems to have really settled down now and there’s been no drama for a good few overs. New Zealand need to start upping their run rate and surely with the way England are bowling that will mean they will have to start taking some more risks. The rate is currently 4.04 and they need 7.00 runs per over to win.
14th over – NZ 56-2
Mark Wood again for England. Kane Williamson (26*) and Ross Taylor (19*) are building a nice partnership here for the Black Caps. Five from the over.
13th over – NZ 51-2
Four off that Liam Plunkett over. Steady away. New Zealand are way behind where England were at this point in the match.
12th over – NZ 47-2
Big cheers as Mark Wood comes into the England attack on his home ground. The Durham paceman slings down a wide for his first delivery which is followed up by a leg-bye before Kane Williamson uses the pace from the ball to divert an open-faced drive into the ground and on to the boundary. Wood is bowling at 92mph here and after a slightly wayward start finishes his opening over with three dot balls.
11th over – NZ 40-2
Liam Plunkett comes into the attack for England. Three from his first over.
10th over – NZ 37-2
Better from New Zealand. Despite Jofra Archer rapping Ross Taylor on the gloves with a 92mph delivery, New Zealand take nine from that over.
9th over – NZ 28-2
A beautiful drive down the ground by Kane Williamson earns him a well-deserved boundary before he claims a couple more to move to 16*. Ross Taylor is on 3*
8th over – NZ 21-2
England are giving barely anything away here and Jofra Archer keeps it tight again to Ross Taylor, who squeaks a couple of runs from the last ball in the over.
7th over – NZ 20-2
Chris Woakes again for England, who have New Zealand on the rack here. He turns the screw with four dot balls and a tidy line and length before Kane Williamson steps in with a boundary to ease the pressure.
6th over – NZ 16-2
WICKET Martin Guptill 8 – c Buttler b Archer
Brilliant catch behind by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler from the bowling of Jofra Archer. Guptill glanced the ball down the leg side and it took a big deflection off his glove, Buttler’s fast footwork helped him take a cartwheeling catch at full stretch. What a wicket! A potentially match-changing catch.
Aside from that excitement, there’s three runs from that over.
5th over – NZ 13-1
New Zealand chance a risky single and Martin Guptill has to put the afterburners on to avoid a potential run out. Another run and a four from Martin Guptill off the bowling of Chris Woakes gives the Kiwis six from the over.
4th over – NZ 7-1
Jofra Archer is keeping it tight here and his second over is watched by Kane Williamson as the England paceman takes a maiden.
3rd over – NZ 7-1
Woakes continues, this time with Kane Williamson on strike. He’s struck on the pad with the third ball of the over but appeals are stifled as it is going down leg side. Interestingly, in this World Cup, Williamson has scored 32% of New Zealand’s runs. He gets off the mark with three.
2nd over – NZ 4-1
Jofra Archer has the ball at the other end for England. He has Martin Guptill ducking and only concedes two runs. So far so good for Eoin Morgan’s side.
1st over – NZ 2-1
Chris Woakes opens the bowling to England with Martin Guptill on strike. A couple off that first over including a wide.
WICKET – Henry Nicholls 0 – lbw b Woakes
And Woakes strikes with his fifth ball, dismissing Henry Nicholls for a golden duck. What a start for England.
Nicholls is pinned in his crease with the ball hitting him on the knee roll in line with the off stump. Skipper Kane Williamson is in much earlier than he would have liked.
NEW ZEALAND INNINGS – The Black Caps opening batsmen Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls stride to the middle. 306 needed for victory at a rate of 6.12 runs per over.
WHO WILL WIN?
REACTION AFTER ENGLAND’S INNINGS
INNINGS BREAK
50th over – Eng 305-8
The 300 comes up for England with the first ball of the final over, which is being bowled by Tim Southee.
WICKET – Adil Rashid 16 – b Southee
And Southee gets his man, Rashid pinned by a yorker to bring Jofra Archer to the crease with just three deliveries to go.
Archer gets off the mark with a single leaving Liam Plunkett to try and do something special with the last two deliveries. He goes down the ground and they risk two, with a run out chance turned down as Archer easily made his ground. The last ball goes for a single as England close out their innings on 305-8.
49th over – Eng 299-7
Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett both fling the bat and pick up a boundary each and scamper some more valuable runs. This partnership is a much-needed boost at the end of the innings as England aim to get past that 300 mark. Thirteen runs from this the penultimate over.
48th over – Eng 286-7
Trent Boult will be hoping to snare some tailenders here but Tim Southee does him no favours and drops Adil Rashid at long on. Boult finishes his spell with figures of 10-0-56-2.
47th over – Eng 277-7
Matt Henry is back and claims the wicket of Eoin Morgan with his first ball of the over.
WICKET – Eoin Morgan 42 – c Santner b Henry
So Morgan won’t be bringing this innings to a barnstorming close. He is out, caught brilliantly by Mitchell Santner at cover. Another man caught in the covers – Santner did well, flinging his hands in the air while falling backwards to catch the England captain.
Adil Rashid is the next man in. Can England still pass the 300 mark?
46th over – Eng 272-6
Trent Boult into the attack again for New Zealand and this is a good response for England. Eoin Morgan is taking it on in the latter stages of the innings and England take 13 from that one. Morgan motors on to 42*
45th over – Eng 259-6
With the pitch seeming to slow, 300 is now looking at a good score for England.
WICKET – Chris Woakes 4 – c Williamson b Neesham
A fuller delivery from Jimmy Neesham goes straight to his skipper Kane Williamson at mid-off. Woakes is gone.
Four runs and a wicket from that over. Liam Plunkett is the new man at the crease, joining Eoin Morgan, who is 30*. Neesham finishes with figures of 10-1-41-2.
44th over – Eng 254-5
A single off the second ball of the over sees 250 come up for England. Kane Williamson mis-fields which lets Chris Woakes move off the strike. Mitchell Santner finishes his spell with figures of 10-0-65-1.
43rd over – Eng 249-5
Chris Woakes is the next man in for England as the wheels keep on falling off their innings. Jimmy Neesham keeps it tight again with just a single coming from that over.
42nd over – Eng 248-5
Mitchell Santner keeps on plugging away for scant reward. Eoin Morgan bats him away for a reverse sweep and narrowly misses getting a boundary.
WICKET! Ben Stokes – 11 c Henry b Santner
Ben Stokes is caught out at long-on. Santner finally gets his man. Stokes’ frustration was clearly showing and he doesn’t quite get his feet moving as he tries to launch Santner over the ropes. Matt Henry is poised at long on and snaffles the ball. It was all looking so rosy for England but now they are rocking.
41st over – Eng 246-4
Jimmy Neesham continues at the other end. Ben Stokes tries an expansive shot but Neesham is keeping it tight. Five runs from this over. Still waiting for Stokes to unleash here, with Eoin Morgan plugging away at slightly less than a run a ball.
40th over – Eng 241-4
Mitchell Santner is back and the runs tick on over. It’s a good over for England as the pressure releases, with a boundary for Eoin Morgan coming from the final ball.
39th over – Eng 232-4
The runs have dried up a bit for England these past few overs. If they keep scoring at their current rate they will make 301 runs from their 50 overs but the momentum of the match has definitely shifted at the moment. Three runs from this Jimmy Neesham over and Ben Stokes only has five runs from 16 balls – not his usual swashbuckling best.
38th over – Eng 229-4
Tim Southee keeps on plugging away. Still no wicket for him today but with Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes still finding their feet, at least he’s being more economical. Three runs from that over, his figures are now 0-64 from eight overs.
37th over – Eng 226-4
Jimmy Neesham is hunting for a wicket now with two new batsmen at the crease. It’s a rare maiden over for New Zealand as Eoin Morgan has to dive to make his ground as Ben Stokes sends him back on the last ball of the over.
36th over – Eng 226-4
Well that’s been quite the few overs hasn’t it? Still, all not lost for England with Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan at the crease. Run rate is at 6.28.
35th over – Eng 218-4
The Black Caps do not have to wait long for their fourth wicket though. Trent Boult grabs his second wicket of the match as dangerman Jos Buttler miscues one to Kane Williamson at mid-off.
WICKET – Jos Buttler 11 – c Williamson b Boulter
Eng 214-4
Ben Stokes comes in and gets off the mark with a single. Just four from the over. New Zealand have really tightened up their bowling in recent overs.
34th over – Eng 214-3
No breakthrough for Matt Henry this time but Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler can only muster three runs in the over.
33rd over – Eng 211-3
New Zealand had a half-chance as Jos Buttler clatters Trent Boult, but the diving Martin Guptill could only parry the ball. It was difficult to be fair, and the new pair run five singles off the over.
32nd over – Eng 206-3
Jonny Bairstow played a beautiful stroke to the boundary before rushing for two as he looked have Matt Henry’s number on his return to the bowling attack. But the seamer hit back as the batsman played onto his stumps to end his lengthy stay.
WICKET – Jonny Bairstow 106 – b Henry
Eng 206-3
Captain Eoin Morgan comes to join Jos Buttler at the crease.
31st over – Eng 200-2
Trent Boult is back and he makes the breakthrough with the first ball of his sixth over. Joe Root flaps at a pull shot and feather an edge behind to wicketkeeper Tom Latham. He reviews it and is given out.
WICKET – Joe Root 24 – c Latham b Boult
Eng 194-2
Jos Buttler joins Jonny Bairstow at the crease.
30th over – Eng 194-1
Tim Southee has the ball again for the Black Caps. He has a shout for lbw against Jonny Bairstow. Southee was convinced but the on-field umpire was unmoved, with some late drift taking the ball down leg side. Kane Williamson decides not to review it and Bairstow pulls Southee’s slower ball for yet another boundary. He moves on to 96* – just one strike away from back-to-back World Cup centuries. And he gets it! The ball trickles to the boundary and it’s three figures again for the Yorkshireman.
Jonny Bairstow 100* (95 balls)
29th over – Eng 186-1
Jimmy Neesham continues for New Zealand with Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root keeping the scoreboard ticking with singles. Root hits 500 runs in the tournament as he reaches 24*. Just a pedestrian four runs from that over.
28th over – Eng 182-1
Tim Southee back in the attack. And here I am wondering if Kane Williamson is going to bowl himself? Jonny Bairstow also asks that question in his own special way by launching a huge six straight over Southee’s head as he moves on to 90*.
27th over – Eng 173-1
Joe Root appears to be fine and is at the non-striker’s end to Jimmy Neesham. Jonny Bairstow nudges a couple more runs off his hip before a wide and a couple of singles all add to England’s tally to take him and Root to a 50 partnership.
Bairstow is closing in on his century now. He’s on 83*, Root is 20*.
26th over – Eng 168 -1
How much are New Zealand missing this man?
I would say a lot. Kane Williamson’s bowlers are struggling to extract anything from this Chester-le-Street pitch. Mitchell Santner is having another go as he continues and England take seven more runs from him.
A short break in play for drinks as Joe Root appears to have a nose bleed.
25th over – Eng 161-1
Oh look it’s Jimmy Neesham again. A relatively low key over, only three runs coming from it. Bit boring really. Only joking, it’s nice to catch my breath after all these boundaries. There’s been 21 fours so far as England reach the halfway point of their innings (Roy – 8, Bairstow – 12, Root – 1).
24th over – Eng 156-1
Jonny Bairstow rocks back to Mitchell Santner to send the ball to cow corner.
150 up
Bairstow brings up England’s 150 the next ball with a single cut to the covers. Joe Root gets in on the action with a four over the wicketkeeper’s head as the hosts motor on.
23rd over – Eng 145-1
So Yorkshire team-mates Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root are now at the crease for England. Root deserved – but didn’t get – a boundary for a beautiful cover drive off the bowling of Matt Henry. Bairstow gets a single. Four from that over.
Bairstow (69*), Root (7*)
22nd over – Eng 141-1
Mitchell Santer back into the attack now as Kane Williamson continues his strategy of chopping and changing his bowlers. Six from that over and we’re still on for a big score here.
21st over – Eng 135-1
Matt Henry takes over in place of wicket-taker Jimmy Neesham. Just the two runs from that over.
20th over – Eng 133-1
Tim Southee continues and surely he will want to target new batsman Joe Root. However, a single off his opening ball brings Jonny Bairstow back onto strike. Bairstow adds another eight runs to his tally. The run rate is currently 6.65.
19th over – Eng 124-1
Jimmy Neesham is dispatched for two boundaries through mid-on by Jason Roy.
WICKET – Jason Roy (60) c Santner b Neesham
WOW! Out of nowhere Neesham dismisses Roy with the fourth ball of the over, caught by Mitchell Santner at cover. Maybe those previous two balls were all a set-up? Either way, Roy looks absolutely furious. That was a dolly of a catch and after his fluid innings his feet seemed superglued to the crease. That brings Joe Root to the crease who opens his account with the last ball of the over.
18th over – Eng 115-0
Tim Southee returns now for New Zealand in a bid to break this partnership.
Even football presenter Gary Lineker is appreciative of this batting masterclass from Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow.
Just four singles from that over.
17th over – Eng 111-0
Right-arm fast bowler Jimmy Neesham is into the attack now and Roy takes a single off the second ball of his opening over to move to 50 off 55 balls.
Jonny Bairstow follows suit three balls later, 51 for 46 balls for him.
16th over – Eng 107-0
Mitchell Santner continues and I almost feel sorry for him. Without Lockie Ferguson, who has 17 wickets in the tournament, New Zealand’s attack looks toothless on such a good pitch. Just three from that over, though, so almost a respite for the Black Caps.
Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow have 49 runs apiece. Who will get their half century first?
15th over Eng 104-0
Colin de Grandhomme is into the attack and Jonny Bairstow welcomes him with a cheeky glide past third man which runs to the ropes. England bring 100 up with the fourth ball of the over – impressive scoring. Eleven runs are taken from it in total and New Zealand really must be wondering where to turn next. Maybe a few overs from captain Kane Williamson himself?
14th over – Eng 93-0
Extra cover boundary? Tick. Jason Roy is keeping his foot on New Zealand’s throat. Mitchell Santner already looks perplexed and he’s only just back in the attack. The Black Caps are struggling to contain England’s opening pair.
13th over – Eng 86-0
Can Matt Henry make the breakthrough in unlucky for some, the 13th over? In a word: no. A perfect drive straight back past him from Jonny Bairstow and more good running see England take eight from that over.
Jason Roy (39) and Bairstow (38) are cruising.
12th over – Eng 78-0
A change of bowling now and Mitchell Santner, who bowled the first over of the day, is back. Jason Roy takes two off the first ball of the over through the covers then takes the lofted route wide of long-off. Ten easy runs off that over and more head scratching for Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson.
11th over – Eng 68-0
Second POWERPLAY now straight away and Matt Henry continues. Just a single off the first ball of the over and New Zealand might be getting a handle on this rapid start.
10th over – Eng 67-0
Just when I thought Trent Boult was going to claim a maiden, Jason Roy clips the ball off his legs behind square for a single. Boult gets his first official warning for running onto the pitch. As if things couldn’t get any worse for Kane Williamson. Still, only one from that over so that’s a marked improvement.
9th over – Eng 66-0
Jason Roy has now passed 300 runs for the tournament, and don’t forget he’s missed a chunk of games. Matt Henry continues and is picked off for another six runs before a brief break in play as the ball is lost under the covers on the boundary. It’s eventually found to gentle jeers from the crowd – although arguably New Zealand might have preferred a different ball with the way things are going.
8th over – Eng 59-0
Trent Boult again. Eoin Morgan is cutting a relaxed figure on the England balcony as Jason Roy strokes another boundary off the back foot. Morgan’s decision to bat first is reaping dividends right now.
7th over – Eng 53-0
Matt Henry replaces the expensive Tim Southee (0-23 ) in the attack now. Three runs off the first two balls get the 50 up for the hosts in super-quick time to a ripple of applause from the home fans. Jason Roy (14) and Jonny Bairstow (30) look well set already. How New Zealand are missing Lockie Ferguson.
6th over – Eng 48-0
Trent Boult gets a nip off the surface to Jonny Bairstow with the first ball but Bairstow again lofts a drive through the covers for four from the fourth ball. The run rate is ticking along nicely at 8.47.
5th over – Eng 44-0
Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow are motoring nicely. Their opening partnership averages 66.9 for England and they look very comfortable so far.
Bairstow takes another boundary off Tim Southee through the on side then lofts one over cover again for four more. That one wasn’t far away from Mitchell Santner, though. Southee responds with a short ball and Bairstow clubs it over mid-wicket. That’s 13 from the over and the Black Caps are under pressure already.
4th over – Eng 31-0
Trent Boult again, and he’s starting to stray a little down the leg side. Roy capitalises with a boundary that beats wicketkeeper Tom Latham for four leg byes.
3rd over – Eng 25-0
Tim Southee is given the ball now for New Zealand and Jonny Bairstow opens his account with a back foot cover drive for a boundary then gets another four runs from a square drive in the air that finds a gap. Another couple of runs through the slips to finish that one off and England are going well.
2nd over – Eng 15-0
Trent Boult takes the ball at the other end and has an lbw shout against Roy with his first ball but it hits him outside leg stump. He seems to be getting some late swing already. Roy has changed his guard to leg stump and clips the fifth ball off his legs for four to relieve s some pressure, before taking a couple off the last ball of the over.
1st over – Eng: 9-0
Mitchell Santner has the ball in a somewhat surprise move by New Zealand and Jason Roy is on strike. He tries to cut the first delivery but Santner’s arm ball beats Roy all ends up, narrowly misses his leg stump and goes for four. Nerves jangling immediately.
Santner then serves up a gift outside the off stump with his fourth ball and Roy strokes it for another boundary. Roy takes a single off the last ball of the over. A good start for the hosts.
10:26am
A rather rousing version of God Save the Queen there. Play is less than five minutes away. Can England win this one batting first – their three defeats in this tournament have come in run chases.
10:23am
The players are making their way to the middle for the anthems. The Riverside is bathed in cloudy blue skies right now, arguably conditions that could go for either side.
10:16am
Here’s what New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had to say about the returning Tim Southee:
10:14am
Could Tim Southee’s inclusion for New Zealand be a psychological hurdle for England? The last time he played against England in a World Cup it’s fair to say he had the upper hand.
10:11am
Eoin Morgan on his decision to bat first:
10:10am
Fancy a look at today’s official team sheets? Here you go:
10:04am – ENGLAND TEAM
10:03am
ENGLAND HAVE WON THE TOSS AND HAVE CHOSEN TO BAT
10:01am – NEW ZEALAND TEAM
Matt Henry has been given the nod for the Black Caps in place of the injured Lockie Ferguson while Tim Southee replaces Ish Sodhi.
9:58am
The all-important toss is coming up in a couple of minutes.
9:57am
Play is due to get under way at 10:30am in Durham.
Before the match, New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor bigged up his captain, Kane Williamson, after his leadership has come under scrutiny for being too passive.
9:53am
9:50am
Here are two key men who are back for England in time for this crunch clash: opening batsman Jason Roy and paceman Jofra Archer.
Roy has missed the last three games due to a hamstring tear while Archer has been managing a niggle but came through a fitness test.
9:45am
England captain Eoin Morgan is ready to confront the haunting memories of the 2015 World Cup, when New Zealand mercilessly exposed the limitations of his side, skittling them for 123 then reeling off the runs in just 12.2 overs of the scheduled 50.
9:41am
9:30am
The good news for England is that fast bowler Lockie Ferguson misses out for New Zealand due to a tight hamstring. The moustached paceman has 17 wickets this tournament so it is a big blow for the Kiwis, with Matt Henry or Tim Southee likely to get the nod in his place.
WELCOME TO TODAY’S LIVE BLOG
Eoin Morgan’s England take on New Zealand at Chester-le-Street in a must-win Cricket World Cup match on Wednesday.
The tournament hosts need to claim victory in Durham if they are to seal a place in the World Cup semi-finals and will be relying on other results if they lose.
Kane Williamson’s New Zealand sit third in the standings ahead of this match and have less to play for at this stage. Only a heavy defeat by England and a huge win for Pakistan on Friday would swing the net run rate in the latter’s favour.
Follow us here for all the build up and action as it happens.
