Colombo, Feb 27 England's Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed played key roles in a stunning four-wicket win over New Zealand in their T20 World Cup Super Eights match here on Friday, overcoming a difficult situation.
This victory keeps Pakistan's chances of reaching the semi-finals alive. Pakistan needs to win by 64 runs or chase a target of 13.1 overs against Sri Lanka, otherwise New Zealand will qualify.
England, who had already qualified for the semi-finals, topped Group 2 with three wins in as many matches.
Asked to bowl first, England's spinners restricted New Zealand to 159 for seven.
In reply, England struggled, scoring only 117 for six in 17 overs, needing 43 runs from the last 18 balls. However, Jacks (32 not out off 18 balls) and Ahmed (19 not out off 7 balls) smashed 22 runs in the 18th over, reducing the target to 21 from 12 balls.
With Jacks and Ahmed, England took the lead heading into the final over. Jacks and Ahmed then took 16 off Mitchell Santner to put England on top heading into the final over. In the end, following an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 44 runs between Jacks and Ahmed, England completed the chase with three balls to spare.
England's win was secured after Jacks (2/23), Adil Rashid (2/28) and Ahmed (2/28) restricted New Zealand's batters in the middle overs after their pacers were targeted.
Glenn Phillips (39 off 28 balls), Tim Seifert (35 off 25 balls) and Finn Allen (29 off 19 balls) were the main contributors with the bat for New Zealand.
England's chase began poorly, with Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson taking two wickets each in their respective overs, reducing England to 2/2.
Skipper Harry Brook (26 off 24 balls) tried to stabilize the innings, but was dismissed by Glenn Phillips.
Phillips also dismissed English batsman Jacob Bethell (21 off 16 balls) with a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket.
At 58 for four in the ninth over, England were in trouble, but Tom Banton and Sam Curran kept them in the game, despite New Zealand's spinners bowling effectively.
However, after the duo had added 42 runs for the fifth wicket, New Zealand took the lead with Rachin Ravindra dismissing Curran and Banton.
But Jacks and Ahmed had other plans.
Earlier, Jofra Archer, who had been in excellent form against Pakistan, started with a maiden over, including a New Zealand review after on-field umpire adjudged Tim Seifert out caught behind following a loud appeal.
TV replays showed there was no edge, and the decision was overturned.
Liam Dawson kept Seifert and Finn Allen quiet in the first four deliveries of the second over until the former swept the left-arm spinner for a boundary through deep square-leg.
At the other end, Archer seemed to be in control as he got the ball to swing, seam and bounce, but when he tried a slower ball, Finn hit it over mid-on for the game's first six.
Finn was beginning to look dangerous, and against Dawson, he timed his shot to perfection to get another six.
Taking a cue from his partner's batting, Seifert also got into the act, and launched into Archer with a couple of fours and then pulled the England pace spearhead over midwicket for a six.
New Zealand now have the momentum, forcing England captain Harry Brook to bring in Sam Curran.
Finn welcomed Curran with a maximum over mid-wicket as New Zealand ended the powerplay at 54 for no loss.
There was another bowling change in Adil Rashid, and Seifert hammered the leg-spinner over long-on for another six.
However, Rashid dismissed Seifert with a smart delivery that saw him get both dip and turn to tease the batter into playing another big shot.
Finn got out in the next over, a soft dismissal off Will Jacks that saw the opener give a simple catch to Jacob Bethell at deep mid-wicket.
Phillips then ended New Zealand's innings, but England had already won.
