ENG VS NZ - Match 41, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Right. We have gotten through the meaty, juicy part of the tournament - one that has captured our intrigue and imagination despite a number of damp squibs, which have ultimately affected a select few sides over the course of the tournament. Nevertheless, this is the beauty of the format - every side gets its fair share of games, and the more consistent sides have the highest chances of making it through. Three sides - Australia, India, and England have made it into the semi-finals, and the fourth (NZ) is all but locked and loaded unless some ungodly butchery unravels at the home of cricket on Friday. On that pleasant note, it is I, Rishi, effectively drawing curtains on all matches of actual consequence, alongside Naga, Shashikant, Ramki, Nikhil, Varun, Abhinand, and Sriram. Until another bat-first-take-the-game encounter, sayonara!

Eoin Morgan | England captain: I thought we were outstanding today. It started with the two guys at the top laying the foundation. Jonny going on to get a hundred, was match-winning today. After the 25th over it started to slow up and every batsman who came in after that found that to be true. Getting to 300 odd was a competitive total. I think if the wicket dictates that 280 or 300 is par, we can do both. I didn't think it will get much worse today, but it did. It has been the theme of the tournament, that the wicket will get slower over the course of the game. If that continues, we will continue to bat first. The way we have batted in the last two games, I certainly think that has been our identity over the last two years - that the batsmen up top play with absolute freedom. Our bowlers have continued to take wickets throughout the fifty overs, and I hope this positive approach continues throughout the rest of the tournament.

Kane Williamson | New Zealand captain: It's not ideal to lose three games consecutively. It's a simple road ahead but not easy. We have to be a lot more competitive than we have been in the last few games. It's important to learn from our mistakes moving forward. They got the best of the conditions, but they were the better team. The conditions didn't decide the result, but it did change after 20 overs of their batting, and the cutters became effective on a slower wicket. Their bowlers put us under pressure from the start so full credit to England. We thought we were in the game, and it was nice to be able to pull it back. We were under a lot of pressure in that first half. We needed to build partnerships and we weren't able to take the game deep. We haven't had the flow in the batting. There are a number of variables. Today with a couple of run-outs, and one down the leg-side, it's not ideal to start a chase that way. It's one of those things. There is so much to learn from, but the most important thing is that we need to add value to our side from an individual perspective and perform our respective roles well. There have been learning curves. We have had to adapt to many different surfaces. It's nice to play some good cricket, been challenged on a number of occasions. If we are allowed the opportunity, anything can happen in the semi-finals and we haven't played our best cricket yet.

If Bangladesh opts to bat first on Friday, Pakistan stand eliminated even before a ball is bowled.

Jonny Bairstow | Player of the Match: "Really pleased with my form. To play the way we have in the last two games and hopefully in the semis.. is pleasing. You got to just react to whatever is thrown in front of you. The toss can go either way. We applied ourselves pretty well. Obviously batting together (with Roy and the rest of the line-up) for a period of time helps, you understand each other well. We knew it was a must-win game and they are a class side. We are pleased to be through to the semi-final after what has been a tough few weeks. It's going to be important for us to go away and refresh. There is bound to be a bit of soreness, especially after two gruelling games. So ya, refresh and regroup 2-3 days before the semis. Hopefully we will put in good enough performances in the remaining two games and hopefully win them."

For Pakistan to qualify:
Beat Bangladesh by 311 runs after scoring 350
Beat Bangladesh by 316 runs after scoring 400
Beat Bangladesh by 321 runs after scoring 450
If Bangladesh opt to bat first on Friday, Pakistan stand eliminated even before a ball is bowled.

First time New Zealand have lost three successive games in a World Cup.

Biggest wins vs NZ in WCs (by runs):
215 Aus Grenada 2007
119 Eng Chester-le-Street 2019 *
112 SL Mumbai WS 2011
106 Eng The Oval 1983

England ending two long standing WC streaks today:
+ First time they reached semifinals since 1992
+ First time they beaten NZ since 1983

18:15 Local Time, 22:45 IST: Alright. 119-run win for England - they are definitely through now. We'll get back to you with the qualification scenarios in a bit, but it looks like New Zealand are through too, by all rational reasoning. Not the best of starts to the innings, with the rub of the green going England's way - the Nicholls' dismissal, and the Williamson run-out, in particular, manifested that. After that, the Taylor run-out marked the beginning of New Zealand going into self-destruct mode. There was some resistance by Latham and Santner, and a welcome back-to-form fifty for the former, but that only delayed the inevitable - a soul-crushing defeat for the Kiwis. Mark Wood did try to do some advance homework, by trying to break open the wrists of some of the Kiwi bowlers with his bumpers. Thankfully, he didn't quite manage that. We'll be bringing you the presentations in a bit, and of course, the much-anticipated semi-final scenarios.

Adil Rashid to Boult, out Stumped! Stumping review! Beaten by the leg-break, is Boult, on the frontfoot defence. The foot is up in the air, and the bails are whipped off before he can drag that foot back in. OUT, flashes on the screen, and NZ have crashed to a dismal defeat by 119 runs. Boult st Buttler b Adil Rashid 4(7) [4s-1]

Adil Rashid to Boult, THATS OUT!! Stumped!!

Adil Rashid to Boult, no run, slow turn from a good length, away from the batsman, Boult blocks

Adil Rashid to Boult, FOUR, loopy but turning away, Boult reaches out and slogs it away towards deep mid-wicket for four

Adil Rashid to Boult, no run, loopy, tempts him, googly, Boult comes down the track and tries slogging - misses, but hit on the body

Adil Rashid to Boult, no run, turns away, Boult ventures out of the crease, pokes it towards backward point

Adil Rashid to Southee, 1 run, faaaar too full on middle and off, whipped away towards long-on for a single

Aayush Randeep: Maybe NZL should try Latham as opener for the openers aren't firing and he is being wasted as well batting so low, moreover he is a natural class opener.

Mark Wood to Boult, no run, backs away into the on-side, Boult follows him, good length and skiddy at 145km/h, and Boult pushes at a defence that comes off the meat and back to the bowler

Mark Wood to Boult, no run, good length delivery on off, Boult is ready to back away, but punches it back towards the bowler half-heartedly

Trent Boult, right handed bat, comes to the crease