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Cricket World Cup Semi-Final Between India, New Zealand Suspended Due to Rain

Jul 9, 2019
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 09: The ground staff work to keep the pitch dry as play is delayed due to rain during the Semi-Final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand at Old Trafford on July 09, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 09: The ground staff work to keep the pitch dry as play is delayed due to rain during the Semi-Final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand at Old Trafford on July 09, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Tuesday's Cricket World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand was suspended for the day after persistent rains in Manchester, England, halted proceedings. The Black Caps had batted to a score of 211 for five after 46.1 overs when play was first suspended.

The match is scheduled to resume on Wednesday, although weather forecasts from the BBC indicate more rain could be on the way around Old Trafford.

If play cannot be completed on Wednesday, the Men in Blue will advance to the final due to their higher finishing position in group play, per ESPNcricinfo:

The decision to suspend play would appear to favour India, who had limited the New Zealand attack to a run rate of 4.97. The match will resume in full on Wednesday, rather than be completed in limited overs.

For a 20-over match, the target would have been 148, and New Zealand's seam-friendly bowling attack would have given them a better chance against the world's No. 2 ODI side in the shorter format. Instead, India will have a full night to plan Wednesday's chase.

Ross Taylor (67 from 85) and Tom Latham (3 from 4) will pair up to start the final overs for New Zealand on Wednesday. Star bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are likely to bowl the final overs, having dominated the Black Caps so far. Both had an economy rate well under 4.00 when play was halted.

As a group, India's bowlers were fantastic on Tuesday:

During their innings, the Men in Blue will have the tournament's top run-scorer among their ranks, as Rohit Sharma (647 runs) has been in excellent form. Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, MS Dhoni and Shikhar Dhawan are others to keep an eye on with the bat.

New Zealand's bowlers will like their chances as well, however, especially in sub-optimal conditions. Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson are expert wicket-takers, and both have been in strong form during the World Cup.

India vs. New Zealand: Odds, Live Stream for 2019 Cricket World Cup

Jul 8, 2019
India's captain Virat Kohli (L) embraces teammate Rohit Sharma as he walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Bangladesh and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on July 2, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)
India's captain Virat Kohli (L) embraces teammate Rohit Sharma as he walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Bangladesh and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on July 2, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)

India take on New Zealand on Tuesday at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester for a place in the 2019 Cricket World Cup final. 

The Men in Blue are favourites for victory after topping the group stage ahead of Australia and have tasted defeat only once in the tournament.

Meanwhile, New Zealand squeezed into the semi-finals in fourth place thanks to a better net run rate than Pakistan. The Kiwis enjoyed a strong start but go into the semi-final on the back of three straight defeats.

        

Latest Odds

India: 1-3

New Zealand: 12-5

All odds via Oddschecker

       

Live Stream

The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, with live streaming available via Sky Go. In the United States viewers can watch the action via Willow Sports.

    

Match Preview

CHESTER-LE-STREET, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Matt Henry of New Zealand in action batting during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between England and New Zealand at Emirates Riverside on July 03, 2019 in Chester-le-Street, England. (Photo
CHESTER-LE-STREET, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Matt Henry of New Zealand in action batting during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between England and New Zealand at Emirates Riverside on July 03, 2019 in Chester-le-Street, England. (Photo

Tuesday's match will be the first meeting between the two teams at the World Cup, as their group-stage match was called off without a ball being bowled due to heavy rain.

India's only defeat in the tournament came against hosts England, but they have otherwise been in strong form and head into the match fresh from a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka.

The team will look to opening batsman Rohit Sharma to do the damage against New Zealand. He smashed his fifth century of the tournament last time out and is the World Cup's top run scorer:

KL Rahul has also played an important role with the bat in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan, who was ruled out of the tournament after suffering a fractured thumb in their win over Australia.

The 27-year-old produced his first century of the World Cup against Sri Lanka and has forged a strong partnership with Rohit in the India attack.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has also been a key player for India. He is the third-highest wicket-taker and has claimed 17 wickets: 

India look to have more quality than New Zealand, who may be also lacking in confidence after successive defeats to Pakistan, Australia and England.

The Black Caps had to cope without fast bowler Lockie Ferguson against England due to a hamstring injury, but he is expected to be fit for the semi-final clash, per Niall Anderson at the New Zealand Herald.

Only Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman (20) and Australia's Mitchell Starc (26) have collected more wickets than Ferguson (17), and he has told reporters he is relishing their underdog status.

"I guess in World Cups obviously big games get pumped up and where we stand is the fourth going into the semi-finals so naturally I guess they back India. But as New Zealanders we are often the underdogs and I guess that's a position we like to be in...it's knockout cricket now so it's all on Tuesday and the better team will go through."

New Zealand were the runners-up at the last cricket World Cup, but it will take something special for them to make it to the final again, and India will be expected to progress to a meeting against Australia or England.

Cricket World Cup 2019: Latest Odds, Live Stream and Predictions

Jul 7, 2019
TOPSHOT - India's Rohit Sharma celebrates after reaching his century during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Sri Lanka and India at Headingley in Leeds, northern England, on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - India's Rohit Sharma celebrates after reaching his century during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Sri Lanka and India at Headingley in Leeds, northern England, on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)

The action at the 2019 Cricket World Cup is hotting up after the completion of the group stage and with just four teams now left in the competition.

Tuesday sees the first semi-final take place between India and New Zealand at Old Trafford, while hosts England take on Australia in the second semi-final on Thursday at Edgbaston.

India convincingly beat Sri Lanka in their final match on Saturday to top the standings after nine games, while Australia finished second following a surprise defeat to South Africa.

      

Cricket World Cup Latest Odds

India: 19-10

England: 2-1

Australia: 12-5

New Zealand: 8-1

All odds via Oddschecker

  

Semi-finals Schedule

Tuesday, July 9: India vs. New Zealand 

Wednesday, July 10: England vs. Australia

In the United Kingdom all matches will be broadcast on Sky Sports, with live streaming available via Sky Go. Viewers in the United States can watch the action via Willow Sports.

     

India and Australia to Progress 

India are the team to beat after sealing top spot in the group with seven wins and just one defeat from their nine matches to finish a point clear of Australia:

The team's only defeat of the tournament came against hosts England, while their group match against New Zealand was called off without a ball being bowled due to rain.

It is little surprise to see opening batsman Rohit Sharma is the tournament's top run-scorer heading into the final matches. He leads the way on 647 ahead of Australia's David Warner on 638.

Rohit will go into the semi-finals in fine form after smashing his fifth century of the World Cup during Saturday's win over Sri Lanka:

India will be big favourites to beat New Zealand and reach the final. The Kiwis' form dipped in their final group games as they were beaten by England, Australia and Pakistan.

Captain Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor have the quality to hurt India with the bat, but New Zealand have faltered at the worst time and the momentum is all with a strong India side.

The second match promises plenty of excitement as England go up against old rivals Australia once more. The hosts were convincingly beaten by 64 runs when the teams met in the group stage.

England's defeat left their hopes of qualifying in some jeopardy, but they bounced back with impressive wins over India and New Zealand to finish third.

The tournament hosts will need to improve if they are to secure a place in the final and will need no reminding they have not beaten Australia at a World Cup since 1992

However, Australia do have a poor record at Edgbaston, as noted by cricket writer Nick Hoult:

Australia also have injury concerns going into the match. Usman Khawaja picked up a hamstring problem against South Africa, while there are also concerns over Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Starc:

https://twitter.com/SamLandsberger/status/1147609727733510151

The loss of Starc in particular would be a huge blow. The experienced fast bowler tops the standings for most wickets at the World Cup on 26, six clear of Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman.

Australia will need to lift themselves after Saturday's defeat and will hope their injury concerns clear ahead of Thursday's showdown.

However, the Aussies tend to reserve their best form for the big stage and have already shown they have the quality to end England's World Cup dreams.

Cricket World Cup 2019 Results: Semi-Finals Schedule After Final Group Scores

Jul 6, 2019
India's K.L. Rahul celebrates reaching his century during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Sri Lanka and India at Headingley in Leeds, northern England, on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)
India's K.L. Rahul celebrates reaching his century during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Sri Lanka and India at Headingley in Leeds, northern England, on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)

India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets on Saturday to finish top of the 2019 Cricket World Cup standings and set up a semi-final clash against New Zealand.

The second semi-final will see Australia take on hosts England. The Aussies had to settle for second place in the standings after losing by 10 runs to already-eliminated South Africa.

      

Semi-finals Schedule

Tuesday, July 9: India vs. New Zealand

Thursday, July 11: England vs. Australia.

     

Final Standings (Played, Won, Lost, Net Run Rate, Points)

1. India 9, 7, 1, +0.809, 15

2. Australia 9, 7, 2, +0.868, 14

3. England 9, 6, 3, +1.152, 12

4. New Zealand 9, 5, 3, +0.175, 11

5. Pakistan 9, 5, 3, -0.430, 11

6. Sri Lanka 9, 3, 4, -0.919, 8

7. South Africa 9, 3, 5, -0.030, 7

8. Bangladesh 9, 3, 5, -0.410, 7

9. West Indies 9, 2, 6, -0.225, 5

10. Afghanistan 9, 0, 9, -1.322, 0

    

Saturday Recap

India stayed top of the table after the final round of fixtures following a comfortable win over Sri Lanka at Headingley.

Rohit Sharma hit his fifth century of the tournament to write his name into the history books and inspire his team to their seventh victory:

KL Rahul produced his first century of the 2019 World Cup on his way to 111 from 118 deliveries as India chased down Sri Lanka's 265 with 39 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka had gone into bat first but lost their first four wickets for just 55 runs.

Angelo Mathews offered a response by producing a fine innings and earning his third ODI century. He produced a knock of 113 as Sri Lanka posted a total of 264-7.

Yet India wasted little time in taking charge of the match. Sharma and Rahul starred with the bat, while pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah produced another impressive display in a convincing win.

Saturday's second match saw Australia beaten in a thriller at Old Trafford.

South Africa posted a total of 325 for six from their 50 overs, with captain Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen top-scoring for the Proteas:

Australia endured a shaky start and fell to 95-3 in their run chase. However, David Warner provided hope they could pull off the win with a superb innings:

Yet Australia suffered a further blow when they lost Usman Khawaja to a hamstring injury that could rule him out of the rest of the tournament:

https://twitter.com/SamLandsberger/status/1147608241033154560

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey produced 85 as Australia closed in on South Africa's total, but they slipped to just their second defeat of the tournament after Nathan Lyon was caught out in the deep with one ball remaining.

Cricket World Cup 2019 Results: Latest Points Tables, Top Run-Scorers

Jul 5, 2019
Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq plays a shot during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Pakistan and Bangladesh at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on July 5, 2019. (Photo by OLLY GREENWOOD / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read OLLY GREENWOOD/AFP/Getty Images)
Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq plays a shot during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Pakistan and Bangladesh at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on July 5, 2019. (Photo by OLLY GREENWOOD / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read OLLY GREENWOOD/AFP/Getty Images)

A century from Imam-ul-Haq propelled Pakistan to a 94-run win over Bangladesh on Friday at the Cricket World Cup, but the success wasn't enough to prevent his team being eliminated from the competition.

Pakistan needed a miracle to pull level with New Zealand on points and then ahead on net run-rate, yet they still performed in a professional manner at Lord's in London.

Imam led the way with 100, while Babar Azam made 96 as Pakistan posted 315 for nine wickets from their 50 overs.

Bangladesh's chase never got going after they lost batsmen early on. The most resistance came from their star man Shakib Al Hasan (64), although eventually the Tigers finished up all out for 221.

It was a memorable day for Pakistan bowler Shaheen Afridi, as he took tournament-best figures of six wickets for 35:

Here are the updated overall and individual standings after Friday's action.

     

Standings (Played, Won, Lost, Net Run Rate, Points)

1. Australia 8, 7, 1, +1.000, 14

2. India 8, 6, 1, +0.811, 13

3. England 9, 6, 3, +1.152, 12

4. New Zealand 9, 5, 3, +0.175, 11

5. Pakistan 9, 5, 3, -0.430, 11

6. Sri Lanka 8, 3, 3, -0.934, 8

7. Bangladesh 9, 3, 5, -0.410, 7

8. South Africa 8, 2, 5, -0.080, 5

9. West Indies 9, 2, 6, -0.225, 5

10. Afghanistan 9, 0, 9, -1.322, 0

       

Top Run-Scorers

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh, 606

Rohit Sharma, India, 544

David Warner, Australia, 516

Aaron Finch, Australia, 504

Joe Root, England, 500

      

Full standings are available from the tournament's official website.

   

Friday Recap

Although Pakistan's chances of reaching the semi-finals weren't officially dead at the start of play on Friday, the challenge they faced was summed up by Sky Sports statistician Benedict Bermange:

In the end, Pakistan were able to avoid that scenario and set about making an impressive total. As has been the case in their better performances in the World Cup, it was their top order that set a strong platform.

After Fakhar Zaman fell for just 13, Imam and Babar put on a partnership of 153 for the second wicket. The latter has enhanced his reputation in the World Cup and showed why he's considered one of the best stroke players in the game with a number of crunching boundaries.

Per the competition's Twitter account, Babar surpassed a World Cup landmark for Pakistan before he was eventually dismissed just short of a century:

After Babar was trapped lbw, Imam was a little more tentative going to his 100, although he eventually ensured his name would go on the Lord's honours board with a scampered single.

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra noted Pakistan players getting multiple centuries in a World Cup has become something of a rarity:

Late in the innings, a 26-ball 43 from Imad Wasim propelled Pakistan to 315, and Bangladesh had a big chase on their hands.

It quickly became apparent it would be beyond them, as the departures of Tamim Iqbal (eight) and Soumya Sarkar (22) heaped immediate pressure on Shakib to anchor the pursuit almost singlehandedly. 

Still, Pakistan would have been desperate to get the all-rounder out, and there was huge relief when he fell off the bowling of Afridi.

The Test Match Special account summed up what an outstanding tournament the Bangladeshi man had:

Shakib's wicket proved to be the trigger for a collapse, and Bangladesh quickly slipped to 221 all out. Afridi was too hot to handle for the batsmen, as he became the first bowler to take six wickets in an innings at the 2019 World Cup.

Just two matches remain in the group stage of the competition, with both to be played on Saturday. India and Australia, who have both qualified for the semis, face Sri Lanka and South Africa, respectively.  

Cricket World Cup 2019 Results: Thursday's Points Tables, Top Run-Scorers

Jul 4, 2019
LEEDS, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Carlos Brathwaite (r) of West Indies high fives Jason Holder after capturing the wicket of Asghar Afghan during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between Afghanistan and West Indies at Headingley on July 04, 2019 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
LEEDS, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Carlos Brathwaite (r) of West Indies high fives Jason Holder after capturing the wicket of Asghar Afghan during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between Afghanistan and West Indies at Headingley on July 04, 2019 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

West Indies ended a five-match losing streak at the 2019 Cricket World Cup by beating bottom side Afghanistan by 23 runs at Headingley, Leeds, on Thursday.

Both teams had already seen their hopes of reaching the semi-finals ended but played out an entertaining match to finish off their World Cup campaigns.

The result means Afghanistan finish bottom of the table and without a victory from their nine matches, while West Indies are just one place above with two wins.

            

Standings (Played, Won, Lost, Net Run Rate, Points)

1. Australia 8, 7, 1, +1000, 14

2. India 8, 6, 1, +0.811, 13

3. England 9, 6, 3, +1.152, 12

4. New Zealand 9, 5, 3, +0.175, 11

5. Pakistan 8, 4, 3, -0.792, 9

6. Sri Lanka 8, 3, 3, -0.934, 8

7. Bangladesh 8, 3, 4, -0.195, 7

8. South Africa 8, 2, 5, -0.080, 5

9. West Indies 9, 2, 6, -0.225, 5

10. Afghanistan 9, 0, 9, -1.322, 0

Full standings are available from the tournament's official website

          

Top Run-Scorers

Rohit Sharma, India, 544

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh, 542

David Warner, Australia, 516

Aaron Finch, Australia, 504

Joe Root, England, 500

          

Thursday Recap

West Indies made 311 for six from their innings with Shai Hope, Evin Lewis and Nicholas Pooran all coming up with the goods for the Men in Maroon.

Hope was granted an early reprieve after being dropped at mid-wicket by Rashid Khan on five and went on to bag his second half-century of the tournament.

The 21-year-old managed 77 off 92 balls to scoop the Player of the Match award:

Lewis and Pooran both managed 58, while Jason Holder smashed four sixes as the Windies added 111 runs from their final 10 overs:

Ikram Ali Khil and Rahmat Shah led the chase for Afghanistan, and the 18-year-old reached a landmark with his knock:

Chris Gayle, on potentially his last World Cup game, made a decisive contribution by dismissing Ikram for lbw, and Afghanistan also lost Najibullah Zadran two balls later.

Fabian Allen then produced a spectacular catch to seal victory:

The West Indies did just enough to pick up their second win of the World Cup, while Afghanistan came close again but were denied a first victory of the tournament.

England Beat New Zealand by 119 Runs to Reach 2019 Cricket World Cup Semi-Finals

Jul 3, 2019
CHESTER-LE-STREET, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Jonny Bairstow of England celebrates reaching his century during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between England and New Zealand at Emirates Riverside on July 03, 2019 in Chester-le-Street, England (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
CHESTER-LE-STREET, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Jonny Bairstow of England celebrates reaching his century during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between England and New Zealand at Emirates Riverside on July 03, 2019 in Chester-le-Street, England (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

England beat New Zealand by 119 runs on Wednesday to reach the 2019 Cricket World Cup semi-finals.

The English posted an opening innings of 305 for eight, and New Zealand ended 186 all out at Chester-le-Street.

Jonny Bairstow completed a second consecutive century, scoring 106 from 99 balls.

The victory takes England to third in the standings on 12 points, with New Zealand slipping to fourth.

England won the toss and decided to bat first. The hosts were quickly in their stride, taking advantage of the fresh pitch and setting a healthy target for their opponents.

CHESTER-LE-STREET, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Jonny Bairstow of England celebrates his century during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between England and New Zealand at Emirates Riverside on July 03, 2019 in Chester-le-Street, England. (P
CHESTER-LE-STREET, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Jonny Bairstow of England celebrates his century during the Group Stage match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between England and New Zealand at Emirates Riverside on July 03, 2019 in Chester-le-Street, England. (P

Bairstow and Jason Roy continued their impressive form and found the boundary with ease. Bairstow smashed 15 fours and one six on his way to yet another big total.

Roy was the first to fall, losing his wicket in the 18th over after being caught by Mitchell Santner. However, the 28-year-old had added 60 from 61 balls to give his team a strong start.

Joe Root swiftly lost his wicket for 24, but Bairstow passed his century before being bowled by Matt Henry.

Henry also claimed the wicket of Ben Stokes for only 11, and England experienced a nervous spell before completing their innings. Eoin Morgan's knock of 42 steadied the ship in the latter stages.

England's Chris Woakes (C/REAR) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of New Zealand's Henry Nicholls (L) during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between England and New Zealand at the Riverside Ground, in Chester-le-Street, northeast
England's Chris Woakes (C/REAR) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of New Zealand's Henry Nicholls (L) during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between England and New Zealand at the Riverside Ground, in Chester-le-Street, northeast

New Zealand started their time at the crease in the worst possible fashion, and Henry Nicholls was out for a duck in the opening over.

Chris Woakes trapped Nicholls lbw and was given out. The batsman failed to challenge the call, and replays showed the delivery would have missed the stumps.

Martin Guptill quickly followed his team-mate back to the pavilion after a wonderful diving catch from Jos Buttler, with New Zealand clearly lacking confidence in their run chase.

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor added 27 and 28, respectively, but the New Zealanders watched the required run-rate slip away from them as they failed to score heavily.

Tom Latham and Jimmy Neesham offered resistance against the bowling attack, but Neesham dragged on to lose his wicket to Mark Wood for 19 in the 25th over.

New Zealand stalled after 28 overs, and England's aggressive attitude had forced their opponents to mentally submit.

Root caught Colin de Grandhomme on the boundary while the batsman was on three runs, and the writing was on the wall for New Zealand at 128 for six.

England continued to bowl with efficiency, and Wood ended the day with three wickets for 34. The eventual winners ripped through the bottom order to close out the comprehensive win.

The English have recovered their position at the competition after three earlier defeats, but New Zealand have witnessed their form plummet in recent matches.  

Cricket World Cup 2019 Results: Wednesday's Top Run-Scorers, Wicket-Takers

Jul 3, 2019
England's cricketers celebrate the dismissal of New Zealand's Tom Latham during the Cricket World Cup match between New Zealand and England in Chester-le-Street, England, Wednesday, July 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
England's cricketers celebrate the dismissal of New Zealand's Tom Latham during the Cricket World Cup match between New Zealand and England in Chester-le-Street, England, Wednesday, July 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

England (305 for 8) joined Australia and India in the knockout stages of the 2019 Cricket World Cup on Thursday, beating New Zealand (186) by 119 runs to secure the third ticket.

Jonny Bairstow was the star man with the bat, scoring a century, while Mark Wood took three wickets. 

England will enjoy their first trip to the semi-finals since 1992. New Zealand remain in pole position for the final ticket, as they have a significant lead over Pakistan in net run rate. In all likelihood, the Black Caps will face Australia in the semi-finals, while India will take on England.

Here are the top run-scorers and wicket-takers after Wednesday's action:

     

Run-Scorers

Rohit Sharma, India, 544

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh, 542

David Warner, Australia, 516

Aaron Finch, Australia, 504

Joe Root, England, 500

   

Wicket-Takers

Mitchell Starc, Australia, 24

Lockie Ferguson, New Zealand, 17

Jofra Archer, England, 17

Mohammad Amir, Pakistan, 16

Mark Wood, England, 16

For the full stats, visit the tournament website.

   

England got off to a fabulous start against the Black Caps on Thursday courtesy of some phenomenal work from their openers Jason Roy and Bairstow.

The former was a steady force with 60 runs scored from 61 balls, but it was Bairstow who stole the show, bagging 106 from 99 with 16 boundaries.

It was his second straight century in another pivotal clash for the hosts:

With a foundation of 166 runs from their openers to work with, England cruised through their innings. Captain Eoin Morgan added 42 from 40, pushing the total, but Ben Stokes only managed 11 from 27. The target of 306 was a big one, even for a talented group of New Zealand batsmen.

The Black Caps' best bowler was James Neesham, who gave up just 41 runs in his 10 overs while taking two wickets. New Zealand's top wicket-taker, Lockie Ferguson, did not play due to injury.

New Zealand needed a similarly fast start from their openers, but unlike the English duo, Martin Guptill (eight from 16) and Henry Nicholls (golden duck) couldn't even crack double-digit runs.

Tom Latham (57 from 65) did crack the half-century mark, but the Black Caps' batsmen struggled as a unit against England's bowling attack.

When Neesham (19 from 27) lost his wicket, they were in real trouble:

Their net run rate took a hit in the final overs, as England continued to feast with the ball. Wood led the way with three wickets in nine overs.

Jofra Archer was once again the standout man with the ball, enjoying a sensational start to the contest:

He bowled seven overs, giving up just 17 runs for a phenomenal economy rate of 2.42. He also took a wicket.

Pakistan face Bangladesh on Friday and can still mathematically pass New Zealand in the standings, although it's not likely:

That means the Black Caps and Baggy Greens will likely renew their rivalry, while England and India will contest the other semi-final.  

Cricket World Cup 2019 Results: Tuesday's Top Run-Scorers; Latest Points Table

Jul 2, 2019
Bangladesh's Mosaddek Hossain is bowled out by India's Jasprit Bumrah during the Cricket World Cup match between Bangladesh and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Bangladesh's Mosaddek Hossain is bowled out by India's Jasprit Bumrah during the Cricket World Cup match between Bangladesh and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

India (314 for 9) qualified for the knockout stages of the 2019 Cricket World Cup on Tuesday, courtesy of a 28-run win over Bangladesh (286).

Rohit Sharma impressed by bagging another century, while Mustafizur Rahman took five wickets for Bangladesh. The target of 315 proved too much to handle for Bangladesh, and Jasprit Bumrah secured the win with back-to-back wickets to close out the show.

Here is the latest points table after India's win (Position, Team, Played, Won, Lost, N/R, Net RR, Points):

1. *Australia 8, 7, 1, 0, +1000, 14

2. *India 8, 6, 1, 1, +811, 13

3. New Zealand 8, 5, 2, 1, +572, 11

4. England 8, 5, 3, 0, +1000, 10

5. Pakistan 8, 4, 3, 1, -792, 9

6. Sri Lanka 8, 3, 3, 2, -934, 8

7. Bangladesh 8, 3, 4, 1, -195, 7

8. South Africa 8, 2, 5, 1, -80, 5

9. West Indies 8, 1, 6, 1, -335, 3

10. Afghanistan 8, 0, 8, 0, -1418, 0

Teams qualified for the play-offs marked with *.

The top run-scorers and wicket-takers after Tuesday's action:

   

Run-Scorers

Rohit Sharma, India, 544

Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh, 542

David Warner, Australia, 516

Aaron Finch, Australia, 504

Joe Root, England, 476

    

Wicket-Takers

Mitchell Starc, Australia, 24

Lockie Ferguson, New Zealand, 17

Mohammad Amir, Pakistan, 16

Jofra Archer, England, 16

Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh, 15

For the full stats, visit ESPNcricinfo.com.

    

India got a great outing from their openers on Tuesday, headlined by another century for Sharma (104 from 92).

Former international cricketer VVS Laxman hailed his consistency and predicted a big total thanks to his knock:

K.L. Rahul added 77 from 92, but Virat Kohli was kept relatively quiet (26 from 27), giving Bangladesh some hope. Rishabh Pant did well to add 48 from 41 to the total, but the bowlers took control toward the end of the innings, with Rahman doing plenty of damage.

His five-wicket haul leaves him just two short of the century mark for his ODI career:

Shakib Al Hasan took just a single wicket, but only surrendered 41 runs in his 10 overs.

Bangladesh's batsmen were mostly solid for much of their innings, with Al Hasan the standout. He scored 66 from 74, one of two to cross the half-century mark. Mohammad Saifuddin had an unbeaten 51, but the chase fell short due to India's excellent bowling in the final overs.

Bumrah took four wickets, including two to end the contest on back-to-back deliveries. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal also bowled several key overs, while Hardik Pandya took three wickets.

Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan is confident the Men in Blue can go all the way:

India and Australia have already qualified for the semi-finals, while England and New Zealand occupy the final two slots. The two teams will face each other in a huge clash on Wednesday.

England vs. New Zealand: Odds, Live Stream for 2019 Cricket World Cup

Jul 2, 2019
England's Jason Roy (L) plays a shot as India's wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni looks on during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between England and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on June 30, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)
England's Jason Roy (L) plays a shot as India's wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni looks on during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between England and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on June 30, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)

England got their 2019 Cricket World Cup campaign back on track with a comprehensive 31-run victory over previously unbeaten India at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Sunday.

The hosts' spot in the semi-finals is not yet guaranteed, though, and they will have to beat New Zealand at the Riverside Ground on Wednesday to be sure of a place in the knockout rounds.

The Kiwis fell to a chastening 86-run loss to Australia on Saturday at Lord's, and though they have one point more than England, they also need a victory at Chester-le-Street to ensure their place in the last four:

Both sides are capable of winning the whole tournament, but England now have momentum that New Zealand are lacking after their weekend defeat. 

Here are the full details for the match between two of the world's top sides:

                                                        

Date: Wednesday, July 3 

Time: 10:30 a.m. BST, 5:30 a.m. ET

TV Info: Sky Sports Main Event (UK)

Live Stream: Sky Go

Match Odds (via Oddschecker): England 4-9, New Zealand 19-10

                                            

Before they beat India, England lost back-to-back matches against Sri Lanka and Australia to put their hopes of winning a World Cup on home soil in serious jeopardy.

They bounced back in superb fashion against India, who had been the form team of the tournament.

The key difference came at the top of the order, where Jason Roy returned from injury to put on 160 with Jonny Bairstow for the opening wicket.

New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's David Warner for 16 during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between New Zealand and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on June 29, 2019. (Photo by Ian KINGTON
New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's David Warner for 16 during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between New Zealand and Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on June 29, 2019. (Photo by Ian KINGTON

Bairstow top-scored with a superb 111, but Roy's 57-ball 66 allowed his opening partner to bat with great freedom and set the foundations for England's unassailable total of 337 for seven.

Over the last four years, Roy and Bairstow's opening partnerships have been crucial in helping England establish themselves as the best one-day side in the world.

If they score well again against New Zealand, England will have a good chance of picking up the win they need. However, should one of them fall cheaply, there are weaknesses in the hosts' middle order.

Joe Root has been in fine form, and Ben Stokes is quietly enjoying a superb tournament:

https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1145292828324638720

Jos Buttler has not been at his explosive best, though, and Eoin Morgan looks to be struggling with the short ball:

His dismissal for one to Mohammed Shami against India will not have gone unnoticed by New Zealand's quicks, most notably Lockie Ferguson, who looked fearsome against Australia as he took the wickets of David Warner and Steve Smith.

Given recent form, home advantage and the necessity of victory, England should get the win they need against New Zealand if they play as they did against India.

And the Kiwis will likely still get through even if they are beaten because Pakistan will need a huge swing in net run rate to overtake them:

Two points would see England leapfrog New Zealand into third in the standings, which would likely mean another clash with India in the semi-finals.

They will not be thinking that far ahead yet, though.

However, if they get the job done on Wednesday by beating New Zealand, England will then have a week to look ahead and prepare for the semi-finals, and they will have re-established the winning momentum needed to go on and win the tournament. 

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