NZ VS ENG - 6th Match, England, Australia, New Zealand T20I Tri-Series, 2018

So, the double round robin tourney, one of its kind since the adoption of T20 will see the first time exponents Australia and New Zealand locking horns. Remember 2005? Don't worry, come the finals they won't be fancily dressed as it would be serious cricket to decide who takes the silverware. England on the otherhand bow out, sadly on a day when they played their best cricket of the tournament. I have been Kumar Abhisekh Das and have had the wonderful company of Vineet Anantharaman, Nikhil Jadhav and Harish for this thriller. *ENDS*

Kane Williamson: We wanted to win but England played really well. The spirit is high and the guys are looking forward to the finals. They had a very good total on the board. The key was to play the spinners and the change of pace in the middle overs. Someone like Martin played really well in the middle parts and Colin at the top was brilliant. Very mature knock from Chapman. Being only a hit away and taking it deep, he should be credited for it. The pitch for the finals might be a bit tired but there should be plenty of runs in it.

Eoin Morgan, Man of the Match: Not that good a feeling as we have not made it through. 174 was the total we were trying to defend but we could not. We fought really well. We played the best game of the tournament today and we failed to qualify. It was a bit difficult with the dew around. The groundsmen prepared a wonderful wicket for the crowds to be entertained and full credit to him. We will rest for a couple of days. A few days off and then the preparations start for the One-day series.

Earlier in the evening, Morgan celebrated his come back with a pompous knock studded with some lusty hits over and along the ground. He struck 80 and England despite a few stops and starts managed a pretty hefty 194. But 175 was the number for them and that NZ toppled in the 19th over. Stay tuned for the words from the skipper.

A pot-boiler of a game. The stakes were high and both teams take something out of it. NZ indeed take the larger chunk as they are through to the finale. But England with their death bowling showed it is not all about their batting line up that should be making headlines. The Kiwis started off on a usual note with Munro smashing a fifty off only 18 balls, third time he has done it in his international career in 18 balls or lesser. That meant NZ always looked like qualifying and that was further bolstered with Guptill's fifty. But some amazing yorkers towards the end from Jordan and Curran ensured England pipped New Zealand to the post for a consolation win.

Tom Curran to de Grandhomme, 1 run, NZ qualify but England win in the most dramatic manner here. Another bull headed yorker and the batsman can only slam the ball along the carpet to long-off. England win this thriller by 2 runs but this close win would taste as much as a defeat would have

Tom Curran to Chapman, byes, 1 run, oh my my! I don't have any more nails now. Yorker of the top order outside off and the batsmen steal a bye as he missed it

Tom Curran to Chapman, FOUR, walks across his sticks and clubs the ball over backward square leg for a four. He exposed all his sticks and gets the desired bargain in return. 5 needed now. The low full toss was delivered and not the yorker, that allowed the batsman to get under it

Tom Curran to de Grandhomme, 1 run, superb execution with the yorkers. The batsman powers the drive through the covers but only gets a single. 9 needed off 3 balls

Tom Curran to Chapman, 1 run, toe-ends the ball away to long-off as another delivery landed in the block hole spot. Getting tougher and nerve wracking for NZ

Too cliched but all three results possible.

Tom Curran to de Grandhomme, 1 run, slices the ball away into the off-side as the low full toss was not timed at all. 11 needed now

Jordan to Chapman, no run, and again! He can sleepwalk and still bowl yorkers it seems. That was yorked back to the bowler as the batsman was trying to give himself room. 12 needed off 6 balls!

Jordan to Chapman, no run, he has been metronomical with his yorkers. Superb stuff barring the discipline. Brilliant yorker outside off and the batsman fails to wood it

Jordan to Chapman, no ball, sums up the series for England. Nothing, absolutely nothing has gone their way in this T20 tourney. That was an inch perfect yorker, the batsman tried to scoop it but missed it. The ball hit the base of the off-pole but did not matter as it was a no-ball

Jordan to Chapman, no run, blocked back to the bowler again as the toe-crusher was on target. Excellent from Jordan

Jordan to Chapman, no run, and retribution it is for the speedster as he zones in the yorker. A bit late in the day though. Batsman dug it out

Jordan to Chapman, wide, radars that light years outside off and has to rebowl that as that has been wided as well

Jordan to de Grandhomme, no ball, byes, 1 run, cruel this game might be for the bowlers but Jordan does not help his own cause there. An illegal highish full toss and the batsman missed it, the keeper fumbled and another single was nabbed. Free hit coming up

Jordan to de Grandhomme, FOUR, intentional? Naah! The ball was speared in at the boots and the batsman brought the big bat down to get the ball away between the legs. Cruel game for the bowlers, I can reiterate this on a loop