Morgan makes light of KP absence as Kiwis exit
Julian Guyer
England proved there was more to their batting than Kevin Pietersen
as they knocked New Zealand out of the World Twenty20 with a
three-wicket win here on Monday. Eoin Morgan starred with 40 after
England, chasing 150 for victory, had slumped to 66 for four at the
Beausejour Stadium.
But, together with Luke Wright, who made 24, the former Ireland
left-hander swung the game back England’s way in a stand of 52 in just
more than six overs.
Morgan got out just before the finish but man-of-the-match Tim
Bresnan, unbeaten on 23 after taking one wicket for 20, ended the
contest with five balls to spare when he pulled Kyle Mills for four.
England, already through to the semi-finals before this final Group E
match even started, after defending champions Pakistan beat South Africa
earlier in the day, ended the Super Eights with a perfect played three
won three record.
They will now face the runners-up in Group F in the first semi-final
here on Thursday.
``It’s crucial that you keep the momentum going and stay in winning
ways,” said England captain Paul Collingwood at the post-match
presentation ceremony. ``There’s areas to improve on again, but I’m
absolutely delighted in how we’ve gone. A lot of credit goes to the
bowlers.”
England’s victory also meant Pakistan went through to the semi-finals
as group runners-up after edging New Zealand on superior run-rate.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori blamed repeated batting failures
for his side’s exit.
``There were a number of factors (in losing this match), 150 was
competitive but about 10 below par,” Vettori said.
``We did well to fight back but Morgan and Wright’s partnership took
it away from us.
We could have bowled better. We just haven’t been able to put enough
runs on the board.”
Meanwhile Bresnan was delighted by his all-round display.
``I’ve definitely got two strings to my bow and I do like batting at
the end when I can play my shots. As long as you bowl the ball in the
right spot, it’s hard for the batsman.”
England had won their previous matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka
on the back of Pietersen fifties.
But they had to do without their star batsman after Pietersen, who
expects to be back for the semi-finals, was given temporary leave to
attend the birth of his first child, a boy, which took place in London
on Monday.
England made a rousing start to their run chase with Craig Kieswetter,
like Pietersen and Michael Lumb born in South Africa, launching Nathan
McCullum’s off-spin for a four and a huge six in successive balls as 13
runs came off the first over. But England then lost Kieswetter when the
wicketkeeper struck Kyle Mills hard but straight to Nathan McCullum at
cover-point.
Lumb on drove the express pace of Shane Bond for a huge six and twice
swept left-arm spinner Vettori for four.
Ravi Bopara, Pietersen’s stand-in, made just nine before he was well
caught in the covers by Ross Taylor off all-rounder Scott Styris for
nine. The 60 for two became 60 for three when Lumb was plumb lbw for 32,
made off 21 balls with a six and four fours, after he missed a sweep
against Vettori.
England’s collapse continued to 66 for four when Collingwood was
deceived by a Styris slower ball and clipped straight to Brendon
McCullum at midwicket.
However, Morgan struck an amazing one-handed six off Styris and
Wright crashed a couple of boundaries off fast bowler Ian Butler.
Morgan’s 34-ball innings ended when he pulled Bond and Vettori took a
fine diving catch but it was too little too late for New Zealand.
Earlier Ross Taylor top-scored for New Zealand with 44 and put on 62
for the fourth wicket with Styris (31) after the Black Caps slumped to
65 for three. England won by three wickets.
GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia, Tuesday AFP
New Zealand innings
B. McCullum c Lumb b Swann 33
J. Ryder b Bresnan 9
A. Redmond c Broad b Swann 16
R. Taylor c Bresnan b Sidebottom 44
S. Styris c Wright b Broad 31
G. Hopkins b Broa 1
N. McCullum not out 3
D. Vettori not out 4
Extras: (lb-5, w-2, nb-1) 8
Total: (6 wickets; 20 overs) 149
Fall of wickets: 1-30 2-59 3-65 4-127 5-133 6-141
Bowling: Bresnan 4-0-20-1, Sidebottom 4-0-35-1 (1w), Broad
4-0-33-2 (1nb, 1w), Swann 4-0-31-2, Yardy 4-0-25-0.
Did not bat: I. Butler, S. Bond, K. Mills.
England innings
C. Kieswetter c N McCullum b Mills 15
M. Lumb lbw b Vettori 32
R. Bopara c Taylor b Styris 9
P. Collingwood c B McCullum b Styris 3
E. Morgan c Vettori b Bond 40
L. Wright c Mills b Bond 24
T. Bresnan not out 23
M. Yardy c Butler b N McCullum 0
G. Swann not out 1
Extras: (lb-5, w-1) 6
Total: (7 wickets; 19.1 overs) 153
Fall of wickets: 1-24 2-60 3-60 4-66 5-118 6-142 7-146
Bowling: N.McCullum 4-0-37-1, Bond 4-0-29-2, Mills
3.1-0-32-1, Vettori 4-0-24-1 (1w), Styris 3-0-16-2, Butler
1-0-10-0. |