Twitter Reactions: England fall short by 12 runs in the run-fest

The tri-series caravan had moved to New Zealand where the hosts were to take on the English side. England had lost the two games against Australia and to qualify for the finals, needed to win the rest of the matches. Stand-in skipper Buttler after winning the toss opted to field first. New Zealand handed the debut cap to Mark Chapman who had earlier represented Hong Kong and Tim Seifert as a wicket-keeper-batsman in the side.

Experienced Martin Guptill provided a breezy start the side when he smashed 4 boundaries in 5 balls in 2 overs. Colin Munro though didn’t do much as he failed to pull the ball over the line was caught by Sam Billings in the 5th over bowled by Mark Wood.

Guptill along with skipper Williamson shines

After playing a few overs cautiously as they were going at 7.50 run rate till the 8th over the innings. Adil Rashid’s 2nd over, 9th of the innings saw Guptil deposit him over the line for a six. The two then started the assault on the English bowlers and added 82-runs together. Guptil completed his half-century before getting out a full-toss off Rashid. He hit 3 sixes and 6 fours in his 65-run innings which came in 40 balls.

Grandhomme was promoted up the order to continue the run flow going but he was caught spectacularly at long-off by Chris Jordan on the next ball. Williamson along with debutant Chapman continued the run flow. He got out to Chris Jordan but not before putting his side in a strong position with a 72-run innings that saw 4 fours and as many massive sixes from him. Debutant wicket-keeper Seifert hit 2 sixes in the last over as New Zealand finished the innings for 196 for the loss of 4 wickets.

The Run Chase

The target was a massive one. England needed a strong start but opener Jason Roy fell in the 3rd over of the innings which dented the chase early for them. Alex Hales along with Dawid Malan provided some stability in the run chase and with a partnership of 65 runs where Hales played the role of aggressor as he took 20 runs of Boult’s over to take England’s score to 50 in 5 overs.

Ish Sodhi removed dangerous looking Hales for 47 as the Kiwis looked strong. Run out of Vince by skipper Williamson and Sodhi’s second victim skipper Buttler saw England slide further in the run chase. Dawid Malan though continued his vigil as he kept one end intact but Sam Billings wicket in the 15th over did not good to the English side.

David Willey announced himself after hitting his first ball for a six and then collect another one in the same over when Santner dropped the catch and helped the ball go over the line. England needed 48 runs in the last four overs. Malan fell after his 4th fifty in 5 innings as the Kiwis took control.

Boult disturbed the stumps of English batters back to back to take the game away from them. Brilliant 19th over from Southee and a run out of the last ball meant that England needed 25 from the last over but could only manage 12 runs.

Here are the best tweets from the game