Twitter Reactions: England clinch the thriller, but Kiwis enter the final

After the crucial lose in the last game against Australia during the run-fest, Kiwis were up against the English side in the virtual knockout game. They had brought left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner in the side for the all-important game. With the smaller ground sizes in mind, Kiwi skipper elected to field first after winning the toss which allows the side to know what score they are going after.

New Zealand seamers removed both English openers in back to back overs to start the innings high for the hosts. Roy looked good during his small contribution of 21 saw him strike 3 fours and a six. Hales could not play any impactful innings and was done by a cutter from Southee.

Maland and skipper Morgan punish spinners

Dawid Malan along with English skipper then combined for a superb 93-run stand with Malan registering yet another half-century in T20 Internationals, his fourth in five games. Both the spinners were taken to cleaners by the two English batsmen. Malan smashed Sodhi for 2 sixes in the 10th over while next over from Santner saw Morgan pummel the bowler as he hit 3 fours and a six in the over raising 100 of the side in the 11th over.

All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme removed Malan for 53. England then struggled to find out the ropes for more than 4 overs. Although Morgan kept the singles coming but saw the non-strikers struggle. In the 17th Morgan broke free when he deposited the first ball for six to complete his half-century and then smash another one over the line in the same over.

Morgan assaulted Trent Boult for a couple of sixes and a four as England cruised towards a huge total. Sixes from Liam Dawson and Chris Jordan in the last over, took the English total to 194 in 20 overs. Morgan remained unbeaten for 80 off just 46 deliveries.

The Run Chase

Kiwis needed 175 to qualify for the finals. Both the Kiwi openers were in tremendous form. It was Munro’s term this game though as he started the innings with a bang. He hit 7 sixes in the first 5 overs of the innings to complete 18-ball fifty. Tom Curran’s first over went for 17 runs. Guptill was playing the role of strike rotator during the partnership.

Adil Rashid removed the dangerous Munro with a googly in his first over to pull things back for the visitors. Dawson then removed Kane Williamson who struggled during his short stay in the middle as he failed to hit a single boundary. Inform Martin Guptill too struggled in the middle as the required rate kept increasing.

23-year-old Mark Chapman joined Guptill and smashed Dawson for 2 sixes and a four to bring the Kiwis back in the race of the finals. Guptill then got into the groove as he completed his half-century by smashing two back to back sixes before getting foxed by Malan on the third to see his stumps get disturbed.

With the spot in the finals just 11 runs away, the Kiwis first made sure they are through with the singles before trying to go after the total. New Zealand needed 12 runs in the last over of the game with Tom Curran had the responsibility to at least win the game for the English side. Superb last over from Curran made sure that the English end the tri-series with a win.

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