![Will Jacks scored 32*(18) and picked 2/23 [Source: EnglandCricket/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1772211291727_WillJacksENGvsNZ.jpg?type=hq)
Will Jacks scored 32*(18) and picked 2/23 [Source: EnglandCricket/X.com]
New Zealand faced England at the R Premadasa Stadium on Friday night in their respective final match of the Super 8 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, with the semi-final qualification on the line.
England had already sealed their place in the final four with wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan, while the Kiwis defeated Sri Lanka, and the Pakistan encounter ended with no result.
As a brilliant all-round performance from Will Jacks clinched England a thrilling win over the Kiwis to keep Pakistan alive in the competition, here's how the match panned out.
Also Read: Matt Henry Set To Abandon New Zealand After T20 World Cup Super 8
Seifert and Allen get the Kiwis off to a flier
Upon winning the toss and batting first, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert, famously known as Bash Bros for their recent Big Bash blitz, went all guns blazing in the powerplay. Despite playing the first over maiden, the duo scored 65 off the first 7 overs. Seifert notably went after Jofra Archer and got 16 from his over.
Before being dismissed within a span of five balls, Seifert scored 35 off 25 with three fours and two sixes. On the other hand, Allen got 29 off 19 with three towering sixes.
Spinners pull England back
Seifert got a couple of boundaries off Adil Rashid before the experienced leg spinner outfoxed him and got him stumped in the 7th over. It was followed by the in-form Will Jacks getting rid of Allen in the next over to bring two new batters to the crease.
The only notable contribution in the remainder of the Blackcaps' innings was made by Glenn Phillips, who got 39 (28) with four fours and a six. He was eventually cleaned up by Jacks as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Jacks finished his four overs with 2/23, alongside 2/28 for Rashid. Rehan Ahmed also chipped in with 2/28 in his 3 overs, and Liam Dawson got the solitary wicket of Daryl Mitchell. New Zealand finished with 159/7 in 20 overs.
England's lacklustre batting performances continue
Leading up to the last match in the Super 8 stage, the Jos Buttler and Phil Salt duo only scored 84 runs in 7 innings, averaging 12. Their poor form was once again on display as Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson capitalised with early wickets.
Phil Salt was dismissed in the first over by Henry for 2 (4), and Buttler got out for a two-ball duck off Ferguson in the second over. Harry Brook looked to consolidate alongside Jacob Bethell with a 48-run stand before he was dismissed for 26(24) by Glenn Phillips' golden arm.
Phillips backed up his bowling effort with a sensational catch to get rid of Bethell at 21 (16) in the next over. England found themselves 58/4 in 8.4 overs.
Jack-Ahmed's berserk finish keeps New Zealand's SF hope hanging
Brook and Bethell's partnership for the third wicket was backed up by some crucial contributions from Tom Banton's 33 (24) and Sam Curran's 24 (22). Similar to the last match, Rachin Ravindra bowled a crucial four-over spell of 3/19 and got rid of the dangerous middle-order.
As soon as Rehan Ahmed walked in to bat, the momentum suddenly shifted back towards England. He combined with the in-form Will Jacks and got 22 runs from a Phillips over to bring the equation down to 21 needed in 2 overs. The duo finished the match with a 44*(16) partnership and won the match by 4 wickets.
Ahmed finished with 19* (7), and Jacks got 32* (18) as he finished yet another England innings in style. Up next, the result of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match will determine the second semi-finalists from the group. A Pakistan win with a big margin could take them through to the final four.
Also Read: Jos Buttler Leads The Unfortunate List! Becomes Englishman With Most T20I Ducks
