Will Jacks stated he was “completely buzzing” after the Participant of the Match’s partnership with Rehan Ahmed sealed a four-wicket England victory over New Zealand with three balls to spare on the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Worldwide Cricket Stadium.
Already assured of a spot within the semi-finals, England appeared set for defeat till Jacks and Ahmed each hit sixes as a part of a mixed 21 runs from 5 balls, resulting in their fifth straight win.
Buoyant England are prone to subsequent play in Mumbai on Thursday, whereas New Zealand face a nervy wait to seal their progress and should hope Pakistan don’t comprehensively beat Sri Lanka on Saturday.
| New Zealand 159-7 (20 overs) | England 161-6 (19.3 overs) |
| Phillips 39 (28); Jacks 2-23 | Banton 33 (24), Jacks 32* (18) |
New Zealand vs England evaluation: Jacks and Ahmed shine
Jacks took the person award for the fourth time on the finals and registered 2-23 as England hit high gear and bowled an unprecedented 16 overs of spin.
“I’m over the moon to be not out on the finish in a decent end when the sport was on a knife edge once I went in,” stated Jacks, who was 32 not out alongside Ahmed’s unbeaten 19 from seven balls.
“It’s about holding it easy. Rehan performed a superb innings. Everybody who got here out on that pitch struggled and it took time to get the tempo of it with how gradual it was.”
Jacks and Ahmed posted a complete of 44 runs from 16 balls. Ahmed took a wicket along with his first supply and swiftly smashed sixes off Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner to place victory firmly inside England’s attain from an unpromising place.
“That six he hit second ball off Glenn Phillips simply upped the ante and put [New Zealand] on the again foot,” noticed Jacks.
“I used to be then capable of simply play off him there. The sport was laid on the market for us with the sphere and the circumstances, so we tried to utilise that.”
T20 World Cup: Will England win the event?
England may face India in a blockbuster final-four match and have considerations together with the type of Jos Buttler, who departed for a duck and has not hit double figures for 5 matches.
“There’s been lots stated about Jos,” identified captain Harry Brook. “He’s performed 150 video games for England and other people must take a bit step again.
“He’s most likely the very best white-ball participant to play the sport. He’s in a rut but it surely’s thrilling to know what he may produce within the subsequent few video games.
“He’s received hearth in his stomach and desires to indicate individuals what he’s product of. He’s an exceptional participant and I’ve little question he’ll exit and do properly.”
Jacks’ sustained impression may show important and the 27-year-old says England are “getting in the appropriate path”.
“I really feel actually assured proper now,” Jacks added. “I really feel calm within the center and that’s one other string to the bow – it may be extra necessary than something.”
Mitchell Santner: England ‘turned sport’ on New Zealand
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner voiced his admiration for Jacks and Ahmed’s “ending touches”. “It will have made our lives simpler if we’d gained,” he mirrored.
“We performed a fairly good sport. There are moments with bat and ball that turned the sport on us, however credit score to England and the way they performed.
“We arrange a very good platform to focus on the previous couple of overs then misplaced just a few wickets to solely scrape to 160. It may have simply been 170.
“On the finish, they want 40 off three and the way in which they took down the offence was good batting.”
New Zealand vs England groups
New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson
England: Tom Banton, Jos Buttler (wk), Philip Salt, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Harry Brook (c), Liam Dawson, Sam Curran, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
What’s subsequent for these groups? New Zealand, England T20 cricket World Cup fixtures
Ought to they attain the semi-finals, New Zealand’s likeliest opponents are South Africa on Wednesday or Thursday.
Their potential match will probably be in Kolkata, Colombo or Mumbai, with England additionally set to find which of these settings they’ll play in on both of these days at 13:30 GMT.
New Zealand ICC T20 World Cup 2026 squad
Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wk), Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi
England ICC T20 World Cup 2026 squad
Harry Brook (c), Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Ben Duckett, Luke Wooden, Josh Tongue, Rehan Ahmed.
Tips on how to watch the T20 World Cup: TV channel, dwell on-line stream
The T20 World Cup is being proven completely dwell within the UK on Sky Sports.
You possibly can stream it on an unlimited number of units and on the transfer by way of the Sky Go app.
For protection elsewhere on the planet, click on HERE for particulars of your native rights holder.
