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ICC World Cup 2019: England seal semi-final spot after another Bairstow century

England are through to the Cricket World Cup semi-finals after Jonny Bairstow again thrived on the pressure in a win over New Zealand.

By Opta
Bairstowcropped

Chester-le-Street, July 3: Jonny Bairstow made another magnificent century under pressure to set up a 119-run thrashing of New Zealand at The Riverside which sealed a Cricket World Cup semi-final spot for England.

ICC World Cup Special Page | Points Table

Bairstow hit back at England's critics in emphatic fashion with a hundred in a crucial win over India on Sunday and the opener reached three figures again as England posted 305-8 after Eoin Morgan won the toss in Durham on Wednesday.

Destructive openers Bairstow (106 off 99 balls) and Jason Roy (60 off 61) put on 123 for the first wicket and the hosts looked to be on course for at least 350 before the Black Caps fought back.

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Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Jimmy Neesham took two wickets apiece on a pitch that slowed up during the England innings.

New Zealand, missing paceman Lockie Ferguson due to a hamstring injury, were bowled out for 186 in reply, slumping to a third consecutive defeat after Kane Williamson was run out backing up at the non-striker's end by Mark Wood - who took 3-34 on his home ground.

England, in great danger of missing out on the last four following back-to-back defeats to Sri Lanka and Australia, will finish third and face either Australia or India at Edgbaston next Thursday in the semi-finals.

Tom Latham top scored with 57 for a Black Caps side that are all-but assured of a place in the last four, with Pakistan almost certainly on their way out on net run-rate even if they beat Bangladesh at Lord's on Friday.

BAIRSTOW AND ROY FIRE AGAIN

Bairstow and Roy made another blistering start, a rusty Tim Southee being sprayed around in his first match of the tournament before Roy drove the disciplined Neesham (2-41) to Mitchell Santner in the covers.

The aggressive Bairstow remained on the front foot, smashing Southee for a straight six and dispatching the paceman for two boundaries in his next over to reach three figures off 95 balls.

England lost their way after Boult (2-56) snared Joe Root (24) and Bairstow chopped on to a Henry delivery, gifting wickets away with poor aerial shots, Morgan (42) the only other batsman to make a notable contribution.

WOOD TIPS THE BALANCE IN ENGLAND'S FAVOUR

Henry Nicholls was trapped leg before first ball by Chris Woakes and opted against a review, which would have saved him, before Jos Buttler took a great catch down the leg side to remove Martin Guptill off Jofra Archer.

Williamson (27) and Ross Taylor were rebuilding nicely until Wood got a fingertip on a drive from the former skipper and the current captain was short of his ground.

Taylor was run out in the next over and New Zealand were teetering on 128-6 after Neesham chopped on to Wood, then Ben Stokes struck with his first ball to dismiss Colin de Grandhomme.

LATHAM DELAYS THE INEVITABLE

New Zealand never looked like chasing down their target, but Latham spent welcome time at the crease.

The wicketkeeper-batsman, poor with the bat in the World Cup so far, struck five boundaries before he was caught behind off Liam Plunkett.

Wood got rid of Santner and bowled Henry before Adil Rashid had Boult stumped to seal an emphatic win and see England through.

Story first published: Wednesday, July 3, 2019, 23:19 [IST]
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