Chester-le-Street: England and New Zealand head into their final World Cupgroup match on Wednesday at the The Riverside Durham, each knowing that awin would see them into the semi-finals.
Even a defeat would not spell the end of either team’s chances of emergingas one of the top four from the 10-team round-robin phase.
Were England to lose in Chester-le-Street, Pakistan could leapfrog theminto the top four with victory over Bangladesh.
Given that they play each other in their final pool match, only one ofBangladesh — who also still have to face India — or Pakistan can drawlevel with New Zealand in the event the Black Caps lose on Wednesday.
And, with both Asian teams well behind on net run-rate, it would take a bigNew Zealand loss allied to a commanding Pakistan victory or two Bangladeshwins by big margins, to deny the 2015 losing finalists a place in the lastfour.
But right now, England and New Zealand’s World Cup destiny is in their ownhands.
England travel to the northeast buoyed by a 31-run win over an India sidethat were previously unbeaten.
Sunday’s success against India, the team that recently replaced England atthe top of the one-day international rankings, came after back-to-backdefeats by Sri Lanka and reigning champions Australia had led many punditsto question their tournament nerve and nous.
But the pleasing aspect for England, other than the result, was that thedefeat of India was built on many of the factors that have been key totheir ODI revival since a first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup.
Jonny Bairstow (111) and Jason Roy, who made 66 following his return from ahamstring injury, put on 160 for the first wicket before the in-form BenStokes hit 79, his third successive fifty, to boost the total to 337-7.
England, bidding to win their first World Cup, then kept things tight inthe field, with Chris Woakes impressive and recalled paceman Liam Plunkett(3-55) once again taking wickets through the middle overs.
“Winning a game like this, under the pressure we were under, can only standus in good stead, potentially for the New Zealand game and hopefully afterthat,” said Woakes.
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“You don’t actually play much knockout cricket, so to put ourselves in theheat of the battle — obviously we’d rather have qualified by now — couldpotentially help us.”
By contrast, New Zealand head into the match following successive losses toPakistan and Australia that have put a taken the gloss off a promisingcampaign.
An attack led by left-arm quick Trent Boult, who took a hat-trick heroagainst Australia, and featuring the express pace of Lockie Ferguson is atesting proposition for any side.
New Zealand could now recall another paceman in Matt Henry at the expenseof spinner Ish Sodhi, given the Riverside is not renowned for turningpitches.
But while several England batsmen have made hundreds at the World Cup, NewZealand appear dangerously over-reliant on captain Kane Williamson andfellow senior batsman Ross Taylor for runs.
Colin Munro was dropped for the Australia game, while fellow opener MartinGuptill has managed just 85 runs from six innings since his 73 not outagainst Sri Lanka.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham is averaging just 8.2 at this tournament.
“We’re still in charge of our destination and where we’re heading, andthat’s always a nice thing to have,” said Craig McMillan, New Zealand’sbatting coach.
“Obviously (Guptill and Latham) are short on runs but we’re excited by thefact that we haven’t quite clicked as a batting group yet.” -APP/AFP
