England kept its unbeaten Super Eights run intact with a tense four-wicket victory over New Zealand on Friday, a result that hands Pakistan a slim remaining chance of reaching the T20 World Cup semifinals.
New Zealand appeared on course to seal a semifinal berth after reducing England to 117-6 in the 17th over while defending 159. But a late onslaught from Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed swung the match, guiding England home with three balls to spare.
Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner admitted a win would have simplified their path but praised England’s finish, highlighting the decisive hitting from Jacks and Ahmed.
Despite the loss, New Zealand remains favored to advance from the Super Eights. Pakistan, however, still has a mathematical chance and must defeat Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday by 64 runs or chase down the target within 13.1 overs to qualify.
England had already secured a semifinal spot but risked spoiling its perfect Super Eights record during a shaky chase. Phil Salt fell in the opening over, and Jos Buttler departed for a two-ball duck in the second. Buttler’s lean tournament continued, with just 62 runs in seven matches, and his 10th career duck set an unwanted England T20 record.
Captain Harry Brook defended Buttler, calling him one of the finest white-ball players in the game and backing him to rebound.
Brook and Jacob Bethell were dismissed within nine overs, while Tom Banton and Sam Curran added a cautious 42 off 35 deliveries. England still required 43 from the final 19 balls on a worn, turning surface.
Ahmed, brought in for Jamie Overton to bolster spin options, impressed with 2-28 and made a crucial impact with the bat. He launched his second delivery for six as he and Jacks hammered 22 runs in the 18th over off Glenn Phillips, then added another 16 in the 19th against Santner to seize control.
Jacks remained unbeaten on 32, striking a six and four boundaries, while Ahmed smashed 19 from just seven balls, including two sixes. Jacks, collecting his fourth player-of-the-match award of the tournament, credited Ahmed’s fearless hitting for shifting momentum.
Earlier, New Zealand opted to bat and posted 159-7. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen put on 64 in seven overs, but regular wickets slowed progress. Phillips led the scoring with 39, and the Black Caps managed only 24 runs across the final three overs. England’s spinners — Jacks, Adil Rashid and Ahmed — claimed two wickets apiece.