The match was reduced to a 24 overs-a-side affair after rain ate into the crucial match time. All the highlights from the encounter at Cardiff, as it happened. Scorecard, Match Report
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For the statistically minded though, Australia need to beat Sri Lanka by 126 runs to make the semis. An Australian win with a lesser margin will send New Zealand through. However, a Sri Lankan win give them a semis berth and knock New Zealand, Australia out. Points Table
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00:30 (IST): England win and book a spot in the semifinals. New Zealand, though, will have to wait for the outcome of Australia vs Sri Lanka game on Monday. Corey Anderson was the seventh wicket to fall and Nathan McCullum, who hit a four and a six in the final over, was out caught behind on the finaol ball of the match. James Anderson ends with three wickets -Â definitely the best of the England bowlers at display on Sunday.
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00:13 (IST): Sixth wicket - England have probably sealed it now with the massive scalp of Kane Williamson. Williamson fails to clear extra cover as his lofted drive goes awry, Jimmy Anderson takes a well-judged catch. Hang on, Umpires checking for a front-foot no-ball by Braod. Replays show it's extremely close and the third umpire gives the benefit of doubt to the bowler. New Zealand six down and the dangerous 73-run stand ends between Williamson and Corey Anderson.
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00:02 (IST): Kane Williamson reaches a sixth fifty in ODIs. He reaches the milestone with a four through backward square leg. More importantly, 20 overs are up in the Kiwi innings, meaning we will have a result in the match. New Zealand after the end of 20 overs, are behind by 20 runs from the required Duckworth-Lewis par score.
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23:30 (IST): Fifth Wicket - Ravi Bopara strikes yet again and James Franklin is gone. The difference between the two side is clearly visible on the field, as Eoin Morgan latches on to a sharp chance at backward point as Franklin get a thickish outside edge. Debutant left-handed all-rounder Corey Anderson is giving company to Kane Williamson. But the asking rate is increasing for the Kiwis.
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23:20 (IST) - Fourth Wicket - Dangerman Brendon McCullum is out to a brilliant catch on the boundary by Joe Root. Ravi Bopara bowls a half-tracker and McCullum is onto it in a flash, the ball travels like a bullet to the square leg boundary where Joe Root steadies himself and dives in front to complete a stupendous catch.
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23:05 (IST): Third Wicket - Ross Taylor is out lbw to Tim Bresnan! But Taylor disagrees with umpire Bruce Oxenford's original decision and asks for a review. Replays show there was no inside edge and the height was just about right as the ball stuck his back pad while he was playing form the crease. The decision stood and Taylor had to make the long walk back to hut.
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22:10 (IST): Wickets number 6 to 10 fall in quick succession for England - in space of 13 balls. Jos Buttler, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, James Anderson fell in a bid to score quickly, thus enabling the Kiwis to claw back in the death overs.
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21:45 (IST): Fifth Wicket - the old Kiwi warhorse strikes. Daniel Vettori gets Eoin Morgan out lbw for 15. In comes Ravi Bopara at No.7. With Jos Buttler to give him company, settings are perfect for the England lower order big hitters to tee off!
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21:35 (IST) - Alastair Cook is leading from the front, scoring at way more than a run a ball and finding the gaps almost at will. Although, he has been quite luck, having being dropped thrice in his innings. He registers his 18th fifty in ODI cricket.
21:23 (IST): Third wicket - Joe Root departs in a bid to keep up the scoring rate. Mitchell McClenaghan bowls a short of length ball and Root goes for a pull but top edges it only for keeper Luke Ronchi to cover ground and pouch a regulation catch. Root hit two fours and a six in his 40-ball knock. He also shared an enterprising 75-run stand with his skipper.
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20:35 (IST): Second Wicket - Jonathan Trott falls and New Zealand get a lucky break. Kyle Mills bowls one on the pads and Trott flicks it in the air, straight to Nathan McCullum at mid wicket. This wicket enabled Kyle Mills to become the leading wicket-taker in ICC Champions Trophy history - 25 wickets.
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20:15 (IST): We are having a game at last. England openers Ian Bell and Alastair Cook are at the crease. Left-arm seamer Mitchell McClenaghan opens the bowling for the Kiwis.
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New Zealand in their last five ODIs (most recent first) - No-result, win, loss, win, win.
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20:00 (IST): So the umpires decide to have a 24-over game as rain has stopped. Weather permitting, the game is scheduled to start at 8:15pm IST. The powerplay blocks will be 5 overs upfront and 2 overs of batting powerplay. Let's hope the rain stays away!
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19:30 (IST): The rain has stopped, giving the umpires enough time to get a small look in. The covers too are coming off at the Swalec Stadium. The two umpires - Bruce Oxenford and Rod Tucker will next inspect the playing conditions at (19:40 IST).
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19:05 (IST): Rain continues to keep players and match officials indoors. Although, it has become lighter than what it was an hour back, the chances of this match taking place is dimming. Rain needs to stop completely so that the groundsmen can dry up the playing surfaces for it to be fit to play. But time is running out. England's hopes of qualifying for the semis of ICC Champions Trophy hinge on today's game .
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17:55 (IST): Rain is in no mood to stop at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The groundsmen have estimated that the rain must stop by 19:30 IST for them to get enough time to clean up and dry the playing area for a match to be played.
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16:45(IST): Still drizzling in Sophia Gardens and a start to the game in the next hour or so looks unlikely. The cut off time for a 20-20 overs match to start is 20:47 (IST).
Also read, what James Anderson feels regarding Bob Willis' England ball-tampering claims.
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15:15 (IST) Quotes from toss:
England skipper Alastair Cook: Every game in this Champions Trophy is a big game. We would have bowled first as well for the same reasons.
New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum: We've played each other in the recent months and we tasted success in the ODIs. The wicket looks a bit green. Weather will also play a part so it's better to bowl first. Corey Anderson is making his debut
15:08 (IST) The start of play has been delayed by rain. The covers are on. Teams for today's encounter:
New Zealand: Luke Ronchi(w), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, James Franklin, Brendon McCullum(c), Daniel Vettori, Nathan McCullum, Corey Anderson, Kyle Mills, Mitchell McClenaghan
England: Alastair Cook(c), Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler(w), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, James Tredwell, James Anderson
14: 37 (IST) New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has won the toss and has decided to bowl against England at Cardiff. Graeme Swann makes way for James Tredwell, while Corey Anderson comes in for Tim Southee in New Zealand playing XI. (Read toss report)
Beaten finalists in the last Champions Trophy in South Africa, New Zealand were extremely fortunate to squeeze past Sri Lanka by one wicket in a nervy, stumbling chase of 139, and had their backs to the wall when they were bailed out by the rains in their second game against Australia which ended with points shared. (Read preview)