Cricket

Hosts reach Cricket World Cup semi-finals

July 4, 2019 6:27 am

England surged into their first World Cup semi-final since 1992 with a comprehensive 119-run defeat of New Zealand at Chester-le-Street.

The hosts are set to finish third in the group and will meet India or Australia at Edgbaston next Thursday for a place in the final.

Needing to defeat the Black Caps to be sure of progressing, England were led by Jonny Bairstow’s dominant hundred, his second century in the space of four days.

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Though they were checked as the New Zealand bowling improved, the England total of 305-8 seemed imposing on a pitch that gradually got harder to bat on.

And they were boosted by the run outs of both Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor – Williamson unluckily undone when backing-up – that left New Zealand 69-4.

From there, the Black Caps sucked the life from the spectacle with a limp attempt to defend their net run-rate, eventually being bowled out for 186 with Mark Wood taking 3-34 on his home ground.

Williamson’s men have now suffered three successive defeats and slipped to fourth in the table.

They will be caught if Pakistan beat Bangladesh on Friday, though it would need an almost impossible swing in run-rate to deny them a place in the semis