T20 World Cup: England beat New Zealand to stay in semi-final contention

Buttler hits 73 off 47 balls to set the scene for a 20-run victory in Brisbane

England's Sam Curran, second left, is congratulated by teammates after taking the wicket of New Zealand's Glenn Phillips during the T20 World Cup cricket match between England and New Zealand in Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (AP Photo / Tertius Pickard)

Sam Curran celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss New Zealand's James Neesham. AP

Sam Curran bowls during the T20 World Cup match between England and New Zealand. AFP

England's Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes celebrate the wicket of New Zealand's Devon Conway. PA

Chris Woakes of England celebrates dismissing Devon Conway of New Zealand. Getty

England's Ben Stokes celebrates the wicket of New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. AFP

Kane Williamson bats during the T20 World Cup match between England and New Zealand. Getty

Kane Williamson plays a shot watched by England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. AFP

New Zealand's Glenn Phillips plays a shot for six. AFP

Glenn Phillips of New Zealand celebrates scoring a half century. Getty

Jos Buttler hits the ball over the boundary for a six. Getty

Jos Buttler plays during the T20 World Cup Super 12 match at The Gabba. PA

Alex Hales bats during the T20 World Cup match between England and New Zealand. AP

New Zealand's Devon Conway stumps England's Alex Hales. PA

England's Alex Hales bats during the T20 World Cup Super 12 match at The Gabba. PA

England came through their crucial T20 World Cup match against New Zealand with a 20-run victory in Brisbane on Tuesday to keep alive their semi-final hopes.

Jos Buttler produced a captain's innings, smashing 73 off 47 balls, and Alex Hales made 52 to power England to 179-6 after electing to bat in the Super 12 contest.

Glenn Phillips threatened to pull off an audacious chase, hitting 62 off 36 balls but had little support from anyone barring Black Caps captain Kane Williamson (40).

New Zealand are still top of Group 1 on superior net run rate, followed by England and Australia, though all three are level on five points.

It was a must-win match for England following their defeat to Ireland and the abandonment of last week's encounter with champions Australia.

Hales accelerated after a relatively quiet four overs, hitting Tim Southee for a six and two boundaries in a rematch of last year's semi-finals which New Zealand had won.

At the other end, Buttler was on eight when he began to walk off after Williamson appeared to have taken a diving catch at cover.

Replays, however, confirmed the ball had burst through the fielder's hands and hit the turf before a tumbling Williamson clutched it against his chest.

Hales fell immediately after completing his fifty and Buttler got another reprieve on 40 when Daryl Mitchell dropped him at deep mid-wicket.

Buttler smashed two sixes and seven fours and became England's most prolific batsman in T20 Internationals before being run out in the penultimate over of the innings.

New Zealand were 66-2 at the halfway stage in their reply, though it could have been worse if Moeen Ali hadn't dropped Phillips when the batter was on 15.

Phillips, who smashed a century against Sri Lanka on Saturday, gleefully capitalised on the reprieve to reach his fifty in 25 balls.

Ben Stokes broke the 91-run stand when he ended Williamson's run-a-ball knock and England were effectively assured of victory when Phillips holed out in the deep in the 18th over.

More to follow