As it happened | ENGvNZ: England defeat New Zealand by 119 runs

England are through to semis!!!

England defeated New Zealand by 119 runs in their final group game at the Riverside Ground on Wednesday to enter the semi-finals of Cricket World Cup 2019. 

Opting to bat first, England posted 305/8 and successfully defended it as England bowler displayed a brilliant performance. 

New Zealand were all out for 186 in 45 overs. Mark Wood stood out for England as he took three crucial wickets. 

In the first innings, Jonny Bairstow smashed 106 off 99 balls and stitched together a 123-run opening stand with Jason Roy (60). 

Kiwi pacer Trent Boult struck twice to remove Jos Buttler and Joe Root, who had an unsuccessful review after he was caught behind trying to pull a bouncer to the fence with the third umpire detecting a very faint edge.

Ben Stokes struggled to get going, getting caught on the boundary for 11 off 27 as he tried to accelerate the innings while Eoin Morgan (42) was dismissed after an acrobatic catch by Mitchell Santner. 

Jimmy Neesham (2-41) was the pick of the Kiwi bowlers, getting rid of danger man Roy in his second over, while Matt Henry also chipped in with two wickets.

New Zealand have not qualified for the last four yet but, given their superior run rate, Pakistan would need a freak result against Bangladesh on Friday to leapfrog the Black Caps.

44.6 | Last wicket!

Trent Boult out...

Adil Rashid to Boult, stumped.

With this, England win the game. 

44th Over

Mark Wood's penultimate over. 

He took a wicket and gave 1 run. 

43.4 | Wicket!

Mark Wood struck again.

He took Matt Henry's wicket. 

Wood to Henry, bowled. 

He scored 7 runs off 13 balls.

Next batsman is Trent Boult. 

43rd Over

Adil Rashid's 4th over.

4 runs from this over. 

42nd Over

Mark Wood's 8th over.

Just 1 run from this over. 

41st Over

Adil Rashid comes back into attack. 

4 singles from this over. 

40th Over

Mark Wood's 7th over.

5 runs from this over and took a wicket too. 

The score is 171/8. 

39.2 | Wicket!

Mitchell Santner out after scoring 12 runs off 30 balls. 

Mark Wood to Santner, lbw out.

However, he went upstairs to review it but three reds on the screen and Santner has to go back to the pavilion. 

Next batsman is Matt Henry. 

39th Over

Liam Plunkett comes into attack and took a wicket.

Latham's wicket and gave 2 runs. 

38.3 | Wicket!

Tom Latham out!!!

He scored 57 runs off 65 balls.

Liam Plunkett to Latham, caught out by Jos Buttler. 

Next batsman is Tim Southee. 

38th Over

Chris Woakes' 8th over.

He gave 11 runs in this over. 

Two boundaries in this over, some relief to the Kiwis. 

37th Over

Ben Stokes has been brilliant with bowling.

His 5th over and he gave 2 runs. 

36th Over

Chris Woakes' 7th over.

4 runs from this over. 

35th Over

Another brilliant over by Ben Stokes.

Just one run from his 4th over. 

34th Over

Chris Woakes comes back into the attack.

It's his 6th over. 

7 runs from this over. 

33rd Over

NZ are 139/6 at this moment. 

Ben Stokes' 3rd over and 3 runs from this over. 

32nd Over

Jofra Archer's 7th over.

Just 1 run from this over.

31st Over

Ben Stokes' second over.

3 runs from this over. 

After 30 overs

The score is 132/6.

New Zealand are far away from their target. A win from here looks difficult but cricket is game od uncertainties, anything can happen. We have witnessed a Carlos Braithwait show against New Zealand, who almost won the match for Windies but lost his wicket in the second last over after completing a century. 

Can New Zealand take inspiration from that?

Can they Latham and Santner pull off a match-winning performance?

28.1 | Wicket!

Colin de Grandhomme out.

He scored 3 runs off 13 balls. 

Ben Stokes to Grandhomme, caught out by Joe Root. 

Next batsman is Mitchell Santner. 

25.1 | Wicket!

James Neesham out...

Mark Wood to Neesham, bowled.

He lost his wicket after scoring 19 runs off 27 deliveries. 

Next batsman is Colin de Grandhomme. 

After 25 overs

The score is 123/4. 

Plunkett to Neesham have completed 50-run partnership.

Sucj intent is needed to even get cloder to the target. And also, NZ have to maintain a good NRR as well even if they lose. 

16.4 | Wicket!

Ross Taylor out...

He scored 28 off 42 balls. 

Taylor hit the balls towards the fine leg and called for a risky two, that he failed to complete. 

Next batsman is James Neesham. 

15.1 | Wicket!

Kane Williamson out... very unfortunate as he lost his wicket like this.

Ross Taylor hit the ball towards the bowler, Mark Wook, who stretched his hand and got the slightest of fingertips on the ball. The ball went onto the stumps and thrashed it. 

Williamson tried but he was out of his ground. The third umpire just checked whether Wood has made contact with the ball. 

Williamson scored 27 runs off 40 balls. 

Next batsman is Tom Latham. 

After 15 overs

The score is 61/2.

24 runs scored in the last five overs.

The current run rate is 4.02 and required is 7.03. 

5.5 | Wicket!

Martin Guptill departed after scoring 8 runs.

It's a massive blow to the New Zealand team. 

Jofra Archer to Guptill, caught behind by wicket-keeper Jos Buttler. 

Brilliant catch by Buttler... flying, one-handed stunning catch.

Next batsman is Ross Taylor. 

After 5 overs

The score is 13/1.

New Zealand are one wicket down and they need stability here while chasing this target. 

They need to focus on building partnerships at this moment. 

0.5 | Wicket!

Henry Nicholls out... an ideal start for the England team as they have managed to take wicket in the first over. 

Nicholls departed on a golden duck... 

Chris Woakes to Nicholls, lbw out.

Next batsman is Kane Williamson.

Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls have opened the innings. Chris Woakes takes the run up... will bowl the first over. 

Innings break:

England post 305/8 against New Zealand. 

49.3 | Wicket!

Adil Rashid out...

Tim Southee to Rashid, bowled...

He scored 16 runs off 12 balls. 

Next batsman is Jofra Archer.

46.1 | Wicket!

Eoin Morgan out...

He scored 42 runs brfore losing his wicket.

Matt Henry to Morgan, caught out by Mitchell Santner.

Next batsman is Adil Rashid. 

After 45 overs

The score is 259/6.

James Neesham has been magnificent in this game. His bowling figure was 10-1-41-2. 

In previous five overs, England scored 18 runs. 

44.5 | Wicket!

Chris Woakes fell for 4. 

James Neesham got the wicket...

Neesham to Woakes, caught out by Kane Williamson. 

Next batsman is Liam Plunkett. 

41.6 | Wicket!

Ben Stokes out...

Mitchell Santner to Stokes, caught out by Matt Henry. 

He scored 11 runs off 27 balls. 

Next batsman is Chris Woakes. 

After 40 overs

England are 241/4.

Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan are playing and both the batsman are capable of hitting big shots accelerating the innings. 60 balls more...

After 35 overs

The score is 218/4.

England lost three crucial wicket in the previous 5 overs and scored 24 runs.

As per the current run rate, 317 is the projected score.

And if they increase the run rate to 8 runs per over, the projected score is 339. 

34.2 | Wicket!

Jos Buttler out after scoring 11 runs.

Trent Boult to Buttler, caught out by Kane Williamson. 

Next batsman is Ben Stokes. 

31.4 | Wicket!

Bairstow out!

Matt Henry takes the wicket of centurion Jonny Bairstow.

He departed after a well made 106 of 99 balls.

Next batsman in is Eoin Morgan.

200 up for England!

England bring up the 200 runs in 31 overs.

After 30 overs

New Zealand have just managed to get back into the match by taking the crucial wicket of Joe Root.

England are 194/2.

30.1 | Wicket!

Joe Root out!

Trent Boult to Root, caught behind...

Root reviewed the decision but third umpire ruled it out. 

He departed after scoring 24 runs off 25 balls. 

Next batsman is Jos Buttler. 

After 25 overs

England are 161/1.

A total of 28 runs scored in the previous 5 overs. 

New Zeland failed to take wickets. 

Bairstow scored a century in the previous match against India and against he is heading towards a big score. 

It's a good score for England so far and they are looking to go beyond 300.

18.4 | Wicket!

Jason Roy out!

James Neesham got the breakthrough... 

Neesham to Roy, caught out by Mitchell Santner.

He scored 60 off 61. 

Next batsman is Joe Root. 

After 15 overs

England have crossed 100-run mark.

New Zealand are desperate for wickets as the partnership between Bairstow and Roy is going good. 

In the previous 5 overs, England scored 37 runs. 

After 10 overs

The opening Powerplay of the game has been completely dominated by the England team. 

They score 24 runs in the previous 5 overs and did not lose wicket. 

ICYMI: 

New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is not playing in this crucial clash due to a hamstring injury.

Ferguson has been one of the stars of the tournament for the Kiwis, taking more wickets than anyone other that Australia's Mitchell Starc with 17.

"Lockie Ferguson has a tight left hamstring and will miss today’s match against England as a precaution," the New Zealand team said in a statement.

After 5 overs

England are off to a stable start.

In the first five overs, they managed to put up runs without losing any wicket. 

England's Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow are at the crease to open the innings and spinner Mitchell Santner is launching the bowling attack. 

Toss: 

England won the toss and opted to bat first against New Zealand. 

Tim Southee and Matt Henry have been included in New Zealand's playing XI while England are unchanged. 

Playing XI: 

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson(c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w), Colin de Grandhomme, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Trent Boult 

England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan(c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(w), Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Conditions:

Although, the day is expected to be bright and sunny nut partial build-up of clouds could be there. 

In previous three games, teams batting second have won the game. 

Head-to-head:

Both the teams have faced each other in 8 matches, England won three and New Zealand have won three. 

The last time England faced New Zealand at the World Cup in 2015, they were bowled out for 123, a total the Kiwis chased in less than 13 overs.

Squads:

England: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Colin Munro, Ish Sodhi, Henry Nicholls, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Jimmy Neesham

Preview: 

England will face New Zealand in the match 41 of Cricket World Cup 2019 in Chester-le-Street. 

England's final group game against New Zealand is a virtual quarter-final for the host nation, who must win to guarantee themselves a semi-final spot.  

Pakistan, who face Bangladesh in their last group stage game on Friday, are one point behind England in the table. 

New Zealand were firm favourites to become the first team to seal a semi-final spot after winning five matches in a row but consecutive losses to Pakistan and Australia have left Kane Williamson's side in third place with one game to go. 

A win against England will seal a semi-final spot for the Kiwis but -- placed three points behind Australia -- they cannot top the standings.

Hello! And welcome to the Match 41 of the Cricket World Cup 2019 which is between England and New Zealand in Chester-le-Street. 

Get live updates, facts and stats related to the match. 

Also, follow WION sports to read more World Cup-related stories.