New Zealand post 153/8 as England put brakes in final overs

New Zealand batsmen frittered away a fantastic start in front of some splendid death bowling by England to post a below-par 153 for eight in the first semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20, here tonight.

The England bowlers came under the pump during the first 10 overs giving away 89 runs but were once again brilliant at the death conceding only 64 runs in the last 10 overs to stop New Zealand from setting an imposing target.

Much of the credit must go to Ben Stokes (3/26 in 4 overs) for his wonderful bowling at the death and ably complemented by Chris Jordan (1/24 in 4 overs) as seven wickets fell in the back-10.

In between them, the duo bowled 23 dot balls, which meant 3.5 overs went without runs.

The foundation of the Black Caps' innings was laid by the 74-run stand for the second wicket between left-hander Colin Munro (46 off 32 balls) and skipper Kane Williamson (32 off 28 balls). Their style of batting was in contrast to each other yet entertaining in its essence.

While Munro was more unorthodox and adventurous in his shot selection, every shot that Williamson hit were copybook ones.

Once both of them departed, it was Corey Anderson (28 off 23 balls), who tried to keep up the pace but didn't succeed entirely.

Anderson hit Adil Rasheed (0/33 in 4 overs) for a straight driven boundary with New Zealand maintaining an 8 per over run-rate till the 15th over. He then hit Liam Plunkett (1/38 in 4 overs) for a six over deep mid-wicket but was finally holed out in the deep by Jordan off Stokes' bowling.

Sent into bat, Martin Guptill (15) started on a positive note getting a couple of boundaries off David Willey but his flashy batting cost him dearly in the left-arm seamer's next over as he tried another heave only to edge one to Jos Buttler behind the stumps.

In came left-handed Munro and he struck a flurry of boundaries. With an unusually crouched stance and a bottom- handed grip, Munro stepped out to collect his first boundary off Willey but actually broke loose in the final over of the powerplay bowled by Liam Plunkett.

A straight drive followed by a couple of boundaries behind the square brought up the New Zealand's 50 within first six overs.

Skipper Williamson played himself at the other end with wristy shots off his hips to get a couple of boundaries. The stand out shot was an inside out lofted cover drive off Stokes that went for as the first six of the match.

Munro was not ready to be left behind as he reverse swept leg-spinner Rasheed for a six while Williamson played a deft cut shot. The 50-run partnership was completed in 36 balls.

New Zealand raced off to 89 in 10 overs before Williamson was out scoring a polished 32 off 28 balls that had three fours and a six.

It was off-spinner Moeen Ali introduced into the attack got one to grip and hold as the Kiwi skipper failed to check his shot. The ball ballooned up and Moeen ran backwards to take a well-judged catch off his own bowling.

Munro-Williamson stand yielded 74 runs in 8.2 overs.  The 100 came in the 13th over with Corey Anderson joining Munro. Munro's baptism came to an end when he slashed Plunkett only to find Moeen at third man having scored 46 off 32 balls with seven fours and a six. Once he was gone, New Zealand innings just fell apart.