England reach World Cup semis with big win over NZ
Jonny Bairstow slammed his second successive hundred to guide England to the semi-final of the World Cup, as they thrashed New Zealand by 119 runs in a crucial clash here on Wednesday.
Bairstow, who scored a match-winning 111 against India in Edgbaston on Sunday, cracked 106 off 99 balls (15×4, 1×6) as Jason Roy also struck his second fifty in a row by scoring 60 off 61 balls (8×4). England posted 305/8 in 50 overs after electing to bat first.
Bairstow became the first-ever English player to score two back-to-back hundreds in World Cups. It was also his third successive in ODIs against New Zealand.
Chasing 306 for victory, New Zealand gave a poor account of themselves, losing wickets at regular intervals and never really posing any threat. For the Kiwis, who were 186 all out in 45 overs, wicket-keeper-batsman Tom Latham top scored with 57 off 65 balls (5×4). Mark Wood (3/34) returned with best figures for England.
