ICC World Twenty20, 1st Semi-Final: England vs New Zealand – As it happened...

England, riding on Jason Roy's belligerent knock, defeated New Zealand by seven wickets to make their second final. They won the title in 2010.

The Kiwis, unbeaten in the Super 10 stage, fizzled out in the knock-out. Their total of 153 runs was never going to be enough against a strong England batting line-up.

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ENGLAND INNINGS

Over 17.1 || Score 159/3 (Root 27; Buttler 32); Target 154

Jos Buttler hit the first ball of the over, over deep mid-wicket for his third six of the match and helped England beat New Zealand by seven wickets.

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Over 17 || Score 153/3 (Root 27; Buttler 26); Target 154

When the over started, England were two runs behind, and after six balls, they need one run to win. What an over.

Sad for Ish Sodhi. Jos Buttler in a hurry to book their final spot, milked 22 runs from Sodhi's fourth over.

Two sixes and two fours and two singles.

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Over 16 || Score 131/3 (Root 22; Buttler 9); Target 154

A cheeky, reverse shot from Jos Buttler broke the spell . Eight runs from the over, with the penultimate delivery going for a four with Buttler playing that impoverished shot.

England need 23 runs from 24 balls.

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Over 15 || Score 124/3 (Root 20; Buttler 4); Target 154

New Zealand have somehow liven the contest with two brilliant overs. Mitchell Santner bowled his third over, conceding only three runs -- all singles.

England now need run-a-ball from the remaining five overs.

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Over 14 || Score 121/3 (Root 18; Buttler 3); Target 154

Good one to back-up Ish Sodhi's previous double-wicket over. Mitchell McClenaghan returned for his third over, and conceded only four runs -- all singles.

England need another 33 runs from 36 balls.

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Over 13 || Score 117/3 (Root 16; Buttler 1); Target 154

Two balls, two wickets and the match has suddenly come alive.

Ish Sodhi removed Jason Roy and England captain Eoin Morgan of successive deliveries. The over started with the wicket of Roy, bowled.

WICKET: Jason Roy b ISh Sodhi 78 (44b)

It was followed by Morgan's LBW.

WICKET: Eoin Morgan lbw b Ish Sodhi 0 (1b)

Seven runs from the over, thanks to a four of the last delivery by Joe Root, and a wicket.

Jos Buttler is the new man.

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Over 11 || Score 103/1 (Roy 76; Root 5); Target 154

A rare quiet over. Ish Sodhi gave away five runs in his second over. All singles. He is so far the best Kiwi bowler today.

England need another 51 runs from 54 balls.

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Over 10 || Score 98/1 (Roy 73; Root 3); Target 154

Jason Roy has made the chase a relatively easier one for England. A tricky target has been reduced to a just under 6 an over.

Grant Elliot conceded 10 runs in his second over, including a six off the blade of Roy, over long leg boundary.

England need another 56 runs from 60 balls.

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Over 9 || Score 88/1 (Roy 65; Root 1); Target 154

Two good overs for New Zealand. Grant Elliott conceded four runs in his first over, in the eighth of the innings; which was followed by Mitchell Santner's wicket-taking second over.

Jason Roy played a perfectly place shot, but a doog fielding at deep mid-wicket restricted the first ball of the over to three runs.

Then, the breakthrough. Alex Hales tried to clear the long-on, but picked out a waiting Colin Monro.

WICKET: Alex Hales c Colin Munro b Mitchell Santner 20 (19b)

Joe Root is the new man. And Jason Roy continued with his play, attacking the bowlers. A four in the fourth ball.

Nine runs and a wicket. England need another 66 runs from 11 overs.

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Over 7 || Score 75/0 (Roy 55; Hales 18); Target 154

Another decent over for New Zealand, but still without a wicket. Eight runs from Ish Sodhi's first over.

Meanwhile, Jason Roy completed his first T20I fifty off just 26 balls, with a single of the first delivery of the over. And he continued to be the aggressor in this hugely productive opening partnership with Alex Hales.

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Over 6 || Score 67/0 (Roy 49; Hales 16); Target 154

Mitchell McClenaghan somehow managed to restrict the run flow, conceding only seven runs in his second over.

England need another 87 runs from 14 overs, and the required rate is just over 6. 

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Over 5 || Score 60/0 (Roy 43; Hales 15); Target 154

Runs coming thick and fast for England with two fearless openers taking charge in the centre.

New Zealand finally introduced spin in Mitchell Santner, but the result is same.

The slow left arm bowler conceded 11 runs in his first over, with Jason Roy hitting back-to-back fours, in the  third and fourth balls.

England now need 94 more runs from 15 overs.

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Over 4 || Score 49/0 (Roy 34; Hales 15); Target 154

And the English domination continues...

Another 13-run over for England. Adam Milne started the over with a single to Alex Hales, followed by a dot ball. Jason Roy took a single in the third ball.

Then, Hales played a crunching pull shot for his first four of the innings. A single.

Roy hit the last ball of the over for a six, straight.

Milne has leaked 20 runs in his two overs.

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Over 3 || Score 36/0 (Roy 27; Hales 9); Target 154

Despite good bolwing from the Kiwis, England openers continue to take chances, and results are encouraging.

A dot ball started the over, followed by a single to Alex Hales. Another single, then Hales lofted ever so carelessly for the first six of the innings, over long-on.

A single, then, Jason Roy produced a delectable straight drive for his sixth four.

13 runs from Mitchell McClenaghan's first over. And England need another 118 runs from 17 overs.

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Over 2 || Score 23/0 (Roy 22; Hales 1); Target 154

Adam Milne shared the new ball, with a responsibility to take early wickets, specially after that 16-run opening over.

A single to Alex Hales. A dot ball, then Jason Roy produced a blistering pace off his bat, through the backward point.

Another dot ball, then a skier with no third man. Two runs. The over ended with an LBW shout. The delivery was off the line. Seven runs from the over.

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Over 1 || Score 16/0 (Roy 16; Hales 0); Target 154

Left-arm seamer Colin Anderson started with a teasing, shaping away delivery. But Jason Roy slapped the very next delivery. A four. No chance for the fielder at square cover.

It was followed by a wild throw of bat, with the ball getting a thick inside edge to pick up the second boundary.

Then, a miss-time cut shot going for the third boundary at the third man area. Four balls, three boundaries.

It was followed by another four, between backward point and short third man.

16 runs from the over.

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In an innings of two halves, New Zealand owned the first part thanks to a Kane Williamson-Colin Monro partnership, then the second part went England's way with Ben Stokes starring with the bowl.

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NEW ZEALAND INNINGS

Over 20 || Score 153/8 (Elliott 4)

Ben Stokes produced yet another brilliant over to restrict New Zealand to 153/8 in Delhi.

In his last over, he took a wicket, and effected a run out while conceding three runs.

WICKET: Mitchell Santner c Chris Jordan b Ben Stokes 7 (6b)

WICKET: Mitchell McClenaghan run out 1 (2b)

Stokes bowling figures: 4-0-26-3.

In the last five overs, Kiwis could score only 32 runs, losing five wickets.

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Over 19 || Score 150/6 (Elliott 1; Santner 1)

Good over for New Zealand considering the situation. Nine runs, including a four from the blade of Mitchell Santner. And a 150+ total will be a good score to play for for a place in the final.

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Over 18 || Score 141/6​ (Elliott 1; Santner 1)

What an over from Ben Stokes. The all-rounder removed both Luke Ronchi and Corey Anderson in successive deliveries to give England the upper hand.

WICKET: Luke Ronchi c David Willey b Ben Stokes 3 (3b)

WICKET: Corey Anderson c Chris Jordan b Ben Stokes 28 (23b)

Five runs and two wickets from the over.

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Over 17 || Score 136/4 (Anderson 27; Ronchi 1)

Chris Jordan has just bowled a possible match winning over. Brilliant stuff from the 27-year-old right-arm medium pacer.

Three runs and a wicket from the over. After a single, and a dot ball, Ross Taylor played an ambitious drive, which was snared by a diving Eoin Morgan at cover.

WICKET: Ross Taylor c Eoin Morgan b Chris Jordan 6 (8b)

Luke Ronchi is the new man.

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Over 16 || Score 133/3 (Anderson 25; Taylor 6)

A decent over from Liam Plunkett, until the fourth delivery. The first four deliveries resulted in five runs, thanks to some good fielding in the deep.

But the stats changed with a six, a huge one, over deep mid-wicket. A single to end the over. 12 runs.

Plunkett's bowling figures: 4-0-38-1.

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Over 15 || Score 121/3 (Anderson 16; Taylor 3)

Good over for New Zealand. Four singles, a double and a four.

Rashid Adil thus ended his spell today. His figures: 4-0-33-0. Not his day.

In the last five overs, the Kiwis have scored 32 runs losing two wickets.

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Over 14 || Score 111/3 (Anderson 9; Taylor 1)

Another wicket for England. This time the dangerous, free wheeling Colin Monro.

The left-handed batsman finally paid the price. An badly timed shot ended with a catch, cleanly taken by Moeen Ali at third man.

WICKET: Colin Munro c Moeen Ali b Liam Plunkett 46 (32b)

That happened in the third ball. Ross Taylor is the new man. Five runs and a wicket from the over.

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Over 13 || Score 106/2 (Munro 46; Anderson 6)

Spinners operating in tandem and rushing through the overs. Rashid Adil conceded seven runs in the 12th over, just after Moeen broke that big partnership. Then Ali returned with another good over, conceding another seven runs.

In between, New Zealand crossed the 100-run mark. And Colim Monro is a got away from reaching his fifty.

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Over 11 || Score 92/2 (Munro 36; Anderson 0)

Brilliant first over from Moeen Ali. He broke the Kane Williamson-Colin Monro partnership with brave caught and bowl.

After two singles, Ali tossed up the third delivery, tempting Williamson to play a big shot. The attempt ended with a skier, and Ali took a well-judged catch at mid-on.

WICKET: Kane Williamson c & b Moeen Ali 32 (28b)

Three runs and a wicket from the over. Corey Anderson is the new man.

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Over 10 || Score 89/1 (Williamson 31; Munro 36)

Two good, seemingly perfect yorkers for England, and two boundaries in return. Ben Stokes started his second over with a in-swinging delivery, which caught an inside edge and the ball raced to the fine-leg boundary.

A leg-bye, and a single for the first three balls of the over. A dot in the fourth, then another yorker and the second four of the over.

11 runs from the over.

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Over 9 || Score 78/1 (Williamson 30; Munro 28)

Another good over for New Zealand. Adil Rashid, who leaked just four runs in his first over, conceded 12 runs.

The over started with a single to Kane Williamson. Then, Colin Monro hit a reverse shot, which sailed over point for his first six.

A single, then Williamson hit a four, late cut. The over, however, ended with two dot balls. Still big enough for New Zealand.

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Over 8 || Score 66/1 (Williamson 25; Munro 21)

Eoin Morgan introduced Ben Stokes into the attack. and good over for New Zealand. Kane Williams took a single, Colin Monro rotated the strike.

Then the Kiwi skipper played perfect lofted cover drive, which sailed over the boundary, for the first six of the match. Good pose.

A leg bye followed, then two singles. 11 runs from the over.

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Over 7 || Score 55/1 (Williamson 17; Munro 19)

The first over after power-play resulted in four runs only -- three singles and a wide. Brilliant over from Adil Rashid, to start his spell.

Meanwhile, a 38-run partnership between Kane Williamson and Colin Monro has somehow laid a good foundation to the Kiwi innings.

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Over 6 || Score 51/1 (Williamson 15; Munro 18)

The first big over of the day, starring Colin Monro. The left-handed batsman hit Liam Plunkett for three back-to-back fours to make it a 14-run over.

The over started with a single, to Williamson. Monro, then took over, hitting the first four of the over -- a beautiful straight drive. The stance, and execution, reminding of Lance 'Zulu' Klusener.

It was followed by two fours on the leg side, one of an inside edge, the third over backward square leg.

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Over 5 || Score 38/1 (Williamson 14; Munro 6)

Another busy over. Seven runs from Chris Jordan's second over, which included a four.

The over started with a dot ball to Colin Munro. A leg bye followed. Then a wide, with Kane Williamson on strike.

No run in the re-bowl. But Williamson played a controlled pull shot for a four, before a dot ball and single.

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Over 4 || Score 31/1 (Williamson 9; Munro 6)

Almost a catch. A difficult one for Adil Rashid. Nonetheless a chance. Kane Williamson played leg-stump half-volley, but Rashid dropped at fine leg. Leg-bye.

A single followed, then a dot ball.

The Kiwi skipper found a lucky four in the fourth delivery on the leg side, again.

Another dot ball and two runs. Eight runs from the over.

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Over 3 || Score 23/1 (Williamson 2; Munro 5)

David Willey got the first wicket. And that of dangerous man, Martin Guptill. The Kiwi opener came down the pitch, but failed to read the line, and ended up nicking. Good catch, behind the wickets.

WICKET: Martin Guptill c Jos Buttler b David Willey 15 (12b)

That happened in the first ball. Thus arrived, another hard-hitting batsman Colin Munro. And he hit the penultimate delivery for a four, over over-on.

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Over 2 || Score 17/0 (Guptill 15; Williamson 1)

Chris Jordan shared the new ball with David Willey. Three dot balls, all three hitting the deck and following the batsman.

The fourth delivery was judged a wide, down leg side. Then a loose delivery followed, wide and short, but Guptill failed to find the gap through cover.

But, that wasn't the case with Guptill in the next ball. The ball raced for a four, through backward point.

A single to complete the over. Six runs from the over. A decent first over.

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Over 1 || Score 11/0 (Guptill 10; Williamson 1)

David Willey, who was impressive for England in their previous couple of matches, started with a short and wide delivery. And Martin Guptill welcomed him with a four, driven over the cover.

Then came the 26-year-old response. A pitch-up delivery, coming back to trapped Guptill. But no decision yet.

A straighter delivery followed, and a quick single.

Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson, on strike for the first time, flicked and found the gap straight away. A single.

Then, another four to Guptill. Another lofted shot over  cover. It was followed by a fortuitous shot, to the leg for a single.

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And the match officials:

Umpires - Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) and Rod Tucker (Australia)
Third umpire - Bruce Oxenford (Australia)
Match referee - David Boon (Australia)
Reserve umpire - Joel Wilson (West Indies)

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Here are the teams:

England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Jos Buttler (wk), Eoin Morgan (capt.), Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Liam Plunkett

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (capt.), Colin Munro, Corey Anderson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Luke Ronchi (wk), Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell McClenaghan

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TOSS: Eoin Morgan won the toss, and England will bowl first in Delhi. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said, he would have chosen the same.

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England are ranked fifth in the world, while the Kiwis are second. But New Zealand have never won the tournament, while England won it in 2010.

Top scorers

England: Joe Root (168 runs)
New Zealand: Martin Guptill (125 runs)

Top wicket-takers

England: David Willey (six wickets)
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (nine wickets)

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Road to semi-finals

England: 
* Lost to West Indies by six wickets
* Beat South Africa by two wickets
* Beat Afghanistan by 15 runs
* Beat Sri Lanka by 10 runs

New Zealand:
* Beat India by 47 runs
* Beat Australia by eight runs
* Beat Pakistan by 22 runs
* Beat Bangladesh by 75 runs

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SQUADS:

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt.), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, Grant Elliott, Luke Ronchi (wk), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell McLenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Henry Nicholls, Adam Milne

Coach: Trevor Bayliss

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England: Eoin Morgan (capt.), Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Adil Rasheed, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Liam Plunkett, James Vince, Reece Topley, Liam Dawson, Sam Billings

Coach: Mike Hesson

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PREVIEW:

A supremely confident New Zealand will rely on spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, who have wreaked havoc in the tournament so far, when they clash against England in what promises to be a thrilling first semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20 today.

On paper, New Zealand are favourites against 2010 champions, who have not exactly been consistent en route their entry into the last four.

READ FULL PREVIEW HERE

Yet to win a global tournament, a New Zealand victory would also be a fitting tribute to late Martin Crowe from some of the cricketers in this current squad like Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott, all of whom shared a close bond with the former national skipper.

In Kane Williamson, New Zealand have found an astute skipper, ready to adapt to the conditions and change according to the demands of the situation. That has been the hallmark of New Zealand's performance in this tournament and their all-win record in the group league stage is a testimony to that.

For England, the binding factor has been Joe Root's inspirational innings of 83 that helped them chase down a mammoth 230-run target against South Africa. Not to forget Jos Buttler's whirlwind half-century against Sri Lanka and brilliant death bowling by Chris Jordan and Ben Stokes.

England have three capable left-handers in their line-up in Ben Stokes, Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali, which may prompt Williamson to think about playing McCullum.

The only aspect that could bother New Zealand is their not so impressive batting so far having crossed 150-run mark in only one occasion -- that too against an out-of-sorts Pakistan side. Guptill is the only batsman, who has totalled over 100 runs (125) in the tournament till now.

For a young England team, the tournament has gone off well so far now that they have been able to survive till the business end of the mega-event. The advantage for them is familiarity with the conditions, having already played two matches at Kotla.

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New Delhi: Welcome to our live coverage of the first semi-final of 2016 ICC World Twenty20 between England and New Zealand, being played at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.​