World T20 Champs Super 8s & KOs, Feb 21-March 8

[andy]

Fine tune against NZ then get up for the semi

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, better than I was expecting after the games v WI and Nepal...

[meninblue]

Excellent match winning knock by Harry Brook. Apart from couple of strokes he middled and placed everything well. His captaincy to promote himself up the order also worked. Well done to him

Congrats to England fans also for making semis

[alfie]

England do like giving our nerves a going over , don't they ?

After that astonishing Brook innings they should have cruised home instead of taking it to five balls and two wickets spare ! But what an innings by the skipper ! Talk about finding form at the right time.

A nod to Jacks too for another vital knock at seven. He has been solid.

And perhaps some credit to the embattled coach who apparently decided to have Brook move up to three ?

Into the semis despite never really having a game in which every aspect went well. So who knows what they might do ...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Run out of luck and lose in the semis?

[Durhamfootman]

Go straight to semi's........ do not pass go, do not collect £200

first time of asking. Played, Harry!

I imagine Haddin is having a right old giggle about how crap England are in this tournament, whereas Aussie were just a couple of injuries and a snivelling Steve away from world domination

[Durhamfootman]

Lose in the semis?

oh crikey, yes

obviously

[Durhamfootman]

England lions followed the same game plan today as their senior counterparts.... chasing 160+, they got themselves in a good position before losing a clutch of late wickets and having to rely on the bowlers to bring it home..... also against Pakistan

[bigfluffylemon]

Well played, Harry. And bowlers, for the most part. Job done.

It's hard to know what to make of England's tournament. Last time they made the semis, but a reasonable case could be made that they fluked their way there. This time they've won five out of six games, so however they've got there, it's hard to argue with results - would be churlish to say anything other than they've qualified on merit. And as is oft observed, once you're in the semis and knockout T20, anything can happen. Just ask Carlos Brathwaite.

I guess there are two interpretations. One is that England have stuttered and stumbled and somehow scraped over the line with a bit of luck on their side, and not a particularly good outfit at all who are about to be found out. The other is that despite never quite clicking, different players have stood up at different times and England have found a way to win tight games where they could easily have folded - so they are resilient and if they have a game or two where everything clicks, they can beat anyone.

It's probably a bit of either. There's only one thing for sure - England never make it easy for their fans to watch them.

[bigfluffylemon]

I saw a stat that said England have made the semis in 5 consecutive T20 World cups, which is a record. And have made two finals with one win (one set of finals still to play), exactly as you would predict if each knockout match was effectively a coin flip...

So they're more consistent than we give them credit for. And anything can happen in the knockouts.

Maybe we should see about getting them all on Viagra - they can usually achieve a semi but rarely go all the way.

I'll get my coat....

[mikesiva]

Four group winners in one group.

Four runners up in the other.

I'm not sold on this format.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good point.

Sodhi in for the Kiwis and Ferguson and Santner return.

Neesham, Duffy and Jamieson make way.

Better side, I think. With McConchie that gives them more spin.

[andy]

84-6! Huge problems for NZ!!!

Some Ravindra runs are handy though! Wellallage striking helps too! Fantastic arm ball to remove mitchell

[meninblue]

NZ 86/6 in 13 overs.

[meninblue]

Good 2 6ers for NZ. Score moves to 112.