England won their crucial T20 World Cup game against New Zealand thanks to some brilliant batting from Alex Hales and Jos Buttler and some excellent death bowling
England’s bowlers held their nerve in the face of a Kiwi onslaught to keep their World Cup dream alive in a hard-fought 20-run win at the Gabba.
The scene of so many horrors for English cricket down the years was a cauldron of joy for Jos Buttler and his side as they came through the first of two must-win matches with style. Their top order batting fired, their bowlers never let New Zealand get away, and thanks to the introduction of Chris Jordan as a substitute fielder for Liam Livingstone, they took the catches that mattered.
With 180 to defend on a decent deck in Brisbane, there was always the chance that New Zealand could have landed a mortal blow to England’s tournament. And while Glenn Phillips and Kane Williamson were busy putting on 91 in 10 overs the game was anyone’s for the taking.
But when Ben Stokes removed the Kiwis skipper for a run a ball 40 to open up an end, the rest of the bowlers poured through and stopped their big hitters at source to keep their destiny in their own hands.