New Zealand beat England to reach final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

KATHMANDU, November 11: New Zealand sealed a spot in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2021 beating England.

Daryl Michell was the hero as New Zealand chased down 167 in Abu Dhabi.

The Black Caps opener carried his bat in a stunning knock, producing a brilliant late display of power-hitting as New Zealand raced through the gears to avoid a nervy finish, winning with an over to spare.

Chris Woakes’ two early wickets in the Powerplay had restricted the Kiwi chase. But a steadying knock from Devon Conway and a quickfire 27 from James Neesham put New Zealand on top, with Chris Jordan's 16th over going for 23 runs to swing the match in New Zealand's favour.

And it was Mitchell who finished the job, hitting 25 off his last seven deliveries to win it with an over to spare.

Earlier, Ali and Dawid Malan helped England reach 166/4 in an occasionally scratchy first innings.

Scoring was slow and steady for much of England’s effort with the bat, with openers Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler steady but unspectacular through the Power Play, before Malan and Ali’s partnership rebuilt the innings.

Some big hits late on from Livingstone and Ali, who finished on 51*helped England to 166/4.

But England needed a big effort from their bowling attack to tie New Zealand down in the reply, and they were unable to do so, missing out on a third-straight place in a World Cup final.