England proved there was more to their batting than Kevin Pietersen. Eoin Morgan starred with 40 after England, chasing 150 to win, had slumped to 66-4.
Together with Luke Wright (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 1-20, ended the contest with five balls to spare when he pulled Kyle Mills for a boundary. Group E winners England, already through to the semi-finals before this last group match even started, after defending champions Pakistan beat South Africa earlier in the day, ended the Super Eight with a perfect played three won three record.
“It’s crucial that you keep the momentum going and stay in winning ways,” said England captain Paul Collingwood. “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 stand took it away from us. We could have bowled better. We just haven’t been able to put enough runs on the board.”
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.
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 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. The 60-2 became 60-3 when Lumb was trapped leg before wicket for 32, made off 21 balls with a six and four fours, after he missed a sweep against Vettori.
England’s collapse continued to 66-4 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 struck 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 runs and put on 62 for the fourth wicket with Styris, who scored 31, after the Black Caps slumped to 65-3.
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