England, New Zealand eye T20 final spot in shadow of 2019 classic

Wednesday, 10 November 2021 02:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

England's Mark Wood appeals successfully for the wicket of New Zealand's Ross Taylor during the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between New Zealand and England at the Lord's Cricket Ground on 14 July 2019 in London, England

ABU DHABI (AFP): Eoin Morgan's England have been hit by injuries but go into Wednesday's Twenty20 World Cup semi-final as favourites against New Zealand, two years after both sides clashed in a dramatic 50-over final.

England have lost opening batsman Jason Roy and pace bowler Tymal Mills, but they sealed a final-four place with four wins in five Super 12 games.

Roy collapsed on the pitch with a calf injury in England's final group match that they lost to South Africa and was later ruled out of the tournament and replaced by James Vince.

England's aggressive brand of cricket got them past the West Indies, Bangladesh and Australia with clinical ease, whilst Sri Lanka proved more troublesome in a game that eventually went England’s way, on the way to pole position ahead of the Aussies.

But the Kiwis are no pushovers, and who better than England to appreciate the Black Caps' worth after they needed a super over to edge out Kane Williamson's side when the 2019 ODI World Cup final finished in a tie.

“If England and New Zealand provide a fraction of the drama they did on a glorious afternoon at Lord's in July 2019, then the T20 World Cup might get the spark it desperately craves this week,” former England Captain Mike Atherton wrote in The Times.

England matched New Zealand's 241 courtesy of Ben Stokes' unbeaten 84* at the end of 50 overs and then New Zealand matched England in getting 15 in the super over before England were declared winners on boundary count.

England have reached the final four of the T20 World Cup without star performers Stokes and Jofra Archer and Roy's departure adds to their woes ahead of Wednesday's game in Abu Dhabi.

New Zealand have been the perennial underdogs in top events, but a runners-up finish in the ODI World Cup and becoming World Test champions after beating India in the final has proved their consistency across formats.

Pace bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee have shared 18 wickets between them to trouble opposition teams with their early strikes.

After losing their opener against Pakistan, Williamson's New Zealand have worked as a well-oiled machine and hammered India in their second game to get the momentum in their favour.

They then brushed aside Scotland, Namibia and Afghanistan to march into the semi-finals, but Boult acknowledges his opponents as a well-balanced side.