England leave Australia’s WC hopes hanging by thread

England has ripped Australia’s World Cup hopes from their grasp, leaving the host’s chances of reaching the semi-finals on its knees.

Australia needed their across-the-ditch neighbours to repeat their breath-taking batting display from their opening Super 12s encounter to chase 180, but despite an incredible innings of 62 from Glenn Phillips, England utilised the worn wicket and long boundaries to perfection in a clutch 20-run victory.

The reigning champions will now need to produce a massive win against Afghanistan and hope Sri Lanka can beat or at least play a close one with England.

The English controlled the game after two brutal innings from openers Jos Buttler (73) and Alex Hales (52).

But a horrendous dropped catch from Moeen Ali with Phillips on just 15 nearly derailed their entire campaign.

The English bowlers were pinpoint in the Power Play, removing both of New Zealand’s dangerous openers as they backed in spin on the worn wicket.

A 91-run stand between Kane Williamson and Phillips kept the Kiwi’s chase alive, but the skipper’s demise for 40 ground their innings to a halt as the run rate rocketed past 15 an over.

In the first innings, England’s batters took the lessons learnt in their shock five-run Duckworth-Lewis-Stern loss to Ireland to heart.

They refused to let New Zealand’s crafty quicks Trent Boult (0-40) and Tim Southee (1-43) settle despite both getting excessive swing through the first two overs.

Alex Hales’ heart was in his mouth as an inside edge flew within millimetres of his leg stump, but he made the most of the luck, backing away to the leg side to get under the bounce and bludgeon the ball over cover and down the ground.

Jos Buttler was uncharacteristically quiet as the pair put on 81 before Hales was undone by spinner Mitchell Santer (1-25) throwing one wide, stumped for 52.

Kane Williamson’s tactical prowess with the spinners put the brakes on England’s momentum as they pitted Santner and Ish Sodhi (1-23) against the right-handers; however, the men in red countered by shifting left-hand hitter Moeen Ali to three.

But Ali’s stay was short, skying a ball to deep mid-on for five.

The tactical battle was rendered mute as the Kiwis shot themselves in the foot, dropping a tough chance on Buttler early before a regulation catch in the deep was put down by Daryl Mitchell with the English skipper on 40.

With wickets in hand, England put the peddle to the floor, but Buttler was the only one who could find his range as Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes fell cheaply.

When Buttler was run out for 73, England looked in danger of posting a modest total, but 16 off the last over saw them to 6-179.