10.40pm: Time for the presentations, starting with Mitch Santner: "Good match, tight match. Think the way they paced the chase, Jacks and Rehan with the finishing touches, it was a good bit of batting. Would have made our lives easier if we won. We played a pretty good game. Areas you can look back on with bat and ball, but credit to England. We set up a good platform, to scrape to 160 - could have been 170. Then with 40-odd from the last three, to take down the offie was good batting. [Shortcomings] Tonight we set a platform, got to the second timeout in a good spot then maybe took some tough options. We were thinking that 170-175 would have been a good score. [Rehan] He's showed his class with the bat, a good player of spin and he wasn't fazed. Set up by Bants and Curran after losing a few at the start."
England captain Harry Brook: "We've seen what Reh can do in the nets and he's gone out and played beautifully, taken it away from them. Along with Jacksy, his fourth MOM, pretty happy with that performance. We said at the start, we're going to select on conditions and we thought today was the perfect opportunity to bring him [Rehan] in and he did an amazing job. [NZ] Very strong side, we played against them before Christmas, they do everything so well, running between wickets and then some extreme power. [Buttler] Been a lot said, he's played 150 games for England and people need to take a step back from that. He's in a rut now but that's an exciting thing, to know what he could produce in the next couple of games. He's a phenomenal player and I've got no doubts about him. [Jacks] He's a proper batter, he showed it against West Indies last summer when he leant on one through cover. He's got first-class hundreds, he's played Test cricket and he's got immense power as well. [Semi-final opposition] Not bothered, whoever we're facing, it's going to be a tough opponent. Still haven't played that perfect game, particularly with the bat, but we've managed to get over the line in close games and in World Cups that holds you in good stead."
Phew. And breathe! Andrew Miller's report is on its way (possibly after a bit of a rewrite) and we'll be back for more tomorrow, with Pakistan's last-ditch shot at the semis. Thanks for all your comments, from myself, Miller and Thilak, it's goodnight and good luck. Cheerio!
10.28pm: What a sensational finish! England needed 43 from the last three, with four wickets standing - then Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed dropped the dynamite. New Zealand had them 2 for 2, then 58 for 4, then 117 for 6, but couldn't quite finish off the job. Their run rate might provide a buffer but Pakistan have hope, which is all they could ask for at this stage. England, meanwhile, have topped the group and will (almost certainly) head to Mumbai for the second semi-final
To confirm the maths for Pallekele tomorrow: Pakistan will need to beat SL by 64 runs or chase in 13.1 overs, otherwise NZ will go through and the first semi will be staged in Kolkata (unless SA lose to Zimbabwe and India somehow top Group 1)
Will Jacks is Player of the Match, his fourth award of the comp: "This is the bet, I'm buzzing to be not out at the end, having gone out on a knife edge, I'm over the moon. It's about keeping it simple. Rehan played a brilliant innings. Everyone struggled to get going on that pitch/ The six he hit second ball got them rattled and I fed off him. That over we spoke about taking a risk. Offspinner to right-handers, we thought that was our match-up. The other two, we just wanted to run hard. Feel confident right now, calm in the middle. That can be vital. We're going in the right direction, three wins in the Super Eight, we're very happy."
"What just happened! I go for a coffee and the forecaster has just turned upside down." What do they say about staying in your spot, Akshay?
Henry it is, pace for the last over. But England need less than a run a ball
END OF OVER:19 | 16 Runs | ENG: 155/6 (5 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.15, RRR: 5.00)
- Rehan Ahmed18 (6b)
- Will Jacks27 (16b)
- Mitchell Santner4-0-29-0
- Glenn Phillips4-0-43-1
And suddenly England need 5 off 6 to keep NZ waiting on the semis!
"Call me old fashioned, but always pace at the death...." murmurs Tiggsy
"Very much doable chase... unless some twist in the tale." This is not Afzal's first rodeo
"Himanshu, go buy a lottery ticket man! Alan go get your humble pie buddy!" Wouldn't be the first time, Lakshman Kumar
England need 21 from 12
Here's Amit: "Oh Mitch! What did you do? Why not bring yourself on instead of Phillips." Santner is back now
END OF OVER:18 | 22 Runs | ENG: 139/6 (21 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.72, RRR: 10.50)
- Will Jacks22 (13b)
- Rehan Ahmed7 (3b)
- Glenn Phillips4-0-43-1
- Rachin Ravindra4-0-19-3
England swindle 22 off the over and are right back in it. Jacks' stellar tournament continues
Dan: "JACKS! WE ARE NOT WORTHY!!!"
Phillips for his fourth over
"43 runs in 19 balls… very much doable " Maybe not on this pitch, Himanshu
END OF OVER:17 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 117/6 (43 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.88, RRR: 14.33)
- Rehan Ahmed0 (1b)
- Will Jacks8 (9b)
- Rachin Ravindra4-0-19-3
- Ish Sodhi2-0-21-0
Ravindra finishes with superb figures of 3 for 19, and that over might have sealed NZ's spot in the semis
Rehan Ahmed walks in at No.8
T Banton c Chapman b Ravindra 33 (46m 24b 3x4 1x6) SR: 137.5
Four good balls and the rate is climbing...
"NZ should go with an over of Henry or Ferguson now just to change the pace of the game," reckons Naman
