Colombo ,27 : England produced a stunning late fightback to beat New Zealand by four wickets in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup, keeping their unbeaten run intact and boosting Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Chasing 160 on a slow and tricky Colombo pitch, England looked down and out when they needed 42 runs from the last 17 balls. Run-scoring had been difficult throughout the match, and New Zealand appeared in control. But Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed turned the game on its head with a fearless counter-attack.
The duo, who had earlier taken two wickets each to restrict New Zealand to 159 for seven, added an unbeaten 44 runs in just 16 deliveries. Their explosive stand stunned the Kiwi bowlers and shifted the momentum completely.
The turning point came in the 18th over when Glenn Phillips was taken apart for 21 runs, including towering sixes from both batters. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner then conceded 16 runs in the next over, leaving England needing just five in the final over. Jacks calmly struck the winning runs off Matt Henry with three balls to spare.
Earlier, England had a shaky start. Henry removed Phil Salt, and skipper Jos Buttler was dismissed for a duck, leaving England struggling at 2 for 2. Harry Brook tried to revive the innings with a counter-attacking knock, including a stunning falling flick that sailed into the giant screen at deep backward square-leg — arguably one of the shots of the tournament. However, he fell soon after, giving Phillips a breakthrough.
New Zealand kept picking up wickets at regular intervals, but Tom Banton’s crucial contribution and his partnership with Sam Curran kept England in the hunt. When Banton was dismissed, the Kiwis sensed victory. However, Jacks and Rehan had other plans.
England had already secured a top-two finish in their Super 8 group after earlier wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Pallekele. With this victory, they ended the Super 8 stage unbeaten and laid down a strong marker ahead of the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, the result brought relief in the Pakistan camp. Pakistan needed England to defeat New Zealand to keep their qualification hopes alive. Now, New Zealand must wait anxiously for the outcome of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka clash to know their fate.
It was a thrilling contest that showcased England’s fighting spirit and ability to handle pressure at the biggest stage.
