World T20-Super 8: England beat New Zealand by 6 wickets

England sailed to a comfortable 6 wickets win over New Zealand in Palekelle on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 149, they sailed home with 7 balls left in the innings.

New Zealand looked to make this contest a close one after Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum picked up a wicket each to have England look nervous at 38/2. But it was all England from then onwards and Luke Wright and Eon Morgan stitched together an 89 runs-partnership to put take the game away from the Kiwis. Wright was particularly attacking during his innings of 76 in 43 balls. He hit five sixes and five boundaries. He was caught by Ross Taylor off Doug Bracewell.

Morgan (30) departed after Bracewell took a brilliant catch in the deep off Kyle Mills.

A win was necessary for both teams, but also a healthy average was to accompany it. And it was evident in England's strokeplay even as they were approaching the target with ease.

While with this win, England manage to move away from the debacle of crashing out early of the World T20, New Zealand will now need a lot of luck -- apart from a thumping win in their last Super 8 match against West Indies -- to stay in the tournament.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, New Zealand scored 148/6.

It was a good wicket to bat on, and with the possibility of it slowing down at the latter stages, it was a good toss to win for Ross Taylor.

But the Kiwis started miserably losing opener Martin Guptill with just seven runs on board. Big-hitter Brendon McCullum couldn't do much either as he departed scoring just 10 runs.

It was then left to skipper Taylor (22) and all-rounder James Franklin to steady the ship for the Kiwis. A 40-run partnership, and a late flourish from Franklin and Nathan McCullum (16*), helped New Zealand post a respectable total.

Franklin was particularly unlucky as he had quite a few brush with umpire Simon Taufel after two wides weren't called by him. Also, a ball that he hit for a four was declared dead as the bowler Steven Finn had disturbed the stumps while bowling. Franklin was finally run-out after scoring a 48-ball 50, that included two sixes.

Finn was the pick of the bowler for England as he picked up three for just 16 runs.