Daryl Mitchell and James Neesham powered New Zealand to a stunning five-wicket victory with an over to spare against England on Wednesday, helping the Black Caps advance to their first Twenty20 Cricket World Cup final.
Needing 57 off the last four overs, Neesham clobbered 26 off just 10 balls before Mitchell anchored New Zealand to 167-5 with an unbeaten 73 off 48 balls.
England, which had posted 166-4 on the back of Moeen Ali’s unbeaten 51 off 37, seemed in control until Chris Jordan returned to bowl the 17th over. Then New Zealand, which won the inaugural World Test Championship in June, turned the tables on the 50-over World Cup champions.
“We had wickets in hand which was really important,” New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said. “Neesham came out and hit the ball hard, changed the momentum of the game.”
Neesham hammered the fast bowler for two sixes and a four in an over which went for 23 runs. Then he and Mitchell each hit leg-spinner, Adil Rashid, for a six in the following over.
England got back into contention when captain Eoin Morgan caught Neesham off Rasheed, but Mitchell thumped Chris Woakes (2-36) for two sixes before raising the victory with a flicked four to fine leg.