Late Jacks storm leaves New Zealand's semifinal fate hanging

New Zealand squandered a golden opportunity to seal a semi-finals berth as a stunning late assault from Will Jacks (32*) and Rehan Ahmed (19*) powered England to an unlikely win in Colombo. With the chase slipping away at 117/6, England stormed back to snatch victory, leaving Pakistan's qualification hopes alive and New Zealand reliant on Sri Lanka to keep their campaign afloat.

New Zealand opted to bat and their innings began in dramatic fashion with Jofra Archer sending down a maiden. Tim Seifert was beaten twice before needing a review to overturn a caught-behind decision. At the other end, Finn Allen got going by hitting a six each off Archer and Liam Dawson. Seifert struck back against Archer in the fifth over by hitting him for two fours and a six. New Zealand ended the Powerplay on 54/0 with Allen hitting another six in the final over of the phase.

On a surface that offered plenty of grip and turn, England struck back by dismissing both openers in quick succession. Seifert launched Adil Rashid for six before being stumped the very next ball. Meanwhile, Allen fell to Jacks in the following over after chipping one tamely to deep mid-wicket.

While Rachin Ravindra struggled for his 13-ball 11, eventually falling to Rehan Ahmed in the 12th over, Glenn Phillips reinfused momentum from the outset through timely boundaries. Mark Chapman arrived with intent too and struck two fours before being outdone and stumped by a loopy Rashid delivery.

England's spinners then settled into a rhythm and dominated as they strung together four quiet overs where no boundaries were struck. With the pressure mounting, Daryl Mitchell attempted and failed to hit his way out after never gaining a measure of the surface. The slide continued with Phillips, who had also slowed down, departing in the following over as New Zealand went from 123/3 in the 15th over to 135/6 in the 18th.

Cole McConchie's sweep off Jacks marked New Zealand's first boundary in 27 balls but they were never truly able to rid themselves of the shackles. A six from Mitchell Santner off the final delivery took them to 159/7 yet he walked off shaking his head, suggesting New Zealand's lowest total of the tournament would likely prove insufficient.

Santner's discontent appeared to be short-lived, however, as England's woes at the top of the order continued. Matt Henry had Phil Salt nicking off in the very first over while a desolate Jos Buttler was sent back for a two-ball duck by Lockie Ferguson in the following over.

Meanwhile, Harry Brook mounted a counter-attack. After a few misjudged charges and scoops, he found his range, skipping down to loft Henry over cover for four before scooping him over deep mid-wicket for six. Jacob Bethell hit his stride running too as England recovered to 47/2 at the end of the Powerplay.

Phillips broke the 48-run stand in the eighth over by dismissing Brook and he was involved again two overs later, completing a brilliant catch after running and diving forward at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Jacob Bethell.

New Zealand's spinners began tightening the screws but a 42-run stand between Tom Banton and Sam Curran kept England in the game. Curran fell to the excellent Ravindra (3 for 19) in the 15th over, however, just as England were looking to accelerate.

With England six down and needing 42 off 18, New Zealand briefly held the edge. But Phillips was carted for 22 in the 18th over, tilting the contest again. Rehan Ahmed then reverse-swept Santner for four to start the 19th and finished the over with a towering six over long-off to reduce the equation to five off the final over. A streaky boundary off the helmet and through fine leg sealed a remarkable turnaround, with Jacks and Ahmed adding 44 off just 16 balls after England had slumped to 117/6 in the 17th.

Brief Scores:New Zealand 159/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 39, Tim Seifert 35; Will Jacks 2-23, Adil Rashid 2-28) lost to England 161/6 in 19.3 overs (Will Jacks 32*, Rehan Ahmed 19*; Rachin Ravindra 3-19) by 4 wickets.