London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Dec 04, 2025

New Zealand end England World Cup hopes

New Zealand end England World Cup hopes

New Zealand ended England's hopes at the Men's T20 World Cup with a dramatic semi-final victory in Abu Dhabi.

England looked on course for Sunday's final until an assault from Jimmy Neesham swung the game in New Zealand's favour in a thrilling finale.

Neesham smashed three sixes, each a body blow to England's hopes, as the Black Caps' pursuit of 167 was given life.

The all-rounder was caught for 27 from 11 balls in the 18th over but, with 20 needed from 12 balls, opener Daryl Mitchell took on the attack.

He hit Chris Woakes for two sixes, finishing 72 not out from 47 balls as New Zealand won by five wickets with an over to spare.

England cantered through the group stage with four comprehensive wins but their quest to become the first team to hold both the men's 50-overs and T20 World Cups is now over.

New Zealand, beaten in incredible fashion when the sides met in the 2019 World Cup final, will face Australia or Pakistan - who meet on Thursday - in Dubai on Sunday.

New Zealand turn the tables on England


The win may not avenge England's victory on that famous day at Lord's in 2019 - it is unlikely anything could - but, as many of the same New Zealand players celebrated Mitchell hitting the winning runs, that defeat may not hurt quite as much now.

As with that game, there were dramatic swings in this one and England looked strong favourites through much of the New Zealand chase.

Woakes looked to have dealt key blows in the opening three overs when he had the dangerous Martin Guptill caught off a leading edge for four and captain Kane Williamson taken at short fine leg for five. New Zealand were 13-2.

Even as Mitchell and Devon Conway combined for a stand of 82, it felt like England were in control, with the required run-rate climbing.

But Neesham, who batted in that 2019 super-over loss, played the crucial, match-winning hand this time.

With 57 needed from 24 balls he swiped Chris Jordan for two leg-side sixes. As 23 runs came from that over, England's bowling began to buckle.

Left-handed Neesham followed that by thrashing Adil Rashid high and long over mid-wicket in the following over and, from nowhere, New Zealand were cantering towards victory.

Neesham was caught at extra cover off the final ball of the 18th to give England a glimmer of hope, but when Woakes faltered Mitchell pounced. Two more leg-side sixes were hit and New Zealand had their dramatic success.

England's turn to feel pain of chase


In the incredible 2019 meeting it was New Zealand's bowlers hit into the stands - on that occasion by Ben Stokes - but here it was England's turn to feel the heat.

Jordan's over, in which he bowled two wides, proved to be the turning point. At the end, he and the other bowlers also put the ball into Neesham and Mitchell's hitting arcs.

For a moment England looked to have stopped Neesham's hitting early when, in smashing the second of those sixes, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone looked to have combined for a remarkable relay catch.

Replays, though, showed Bairstow landed on the boundary sponge just before off-loading to Livingstone. It was another incident reminiscent of 2019, when Trent Boult caught Stokes late on, but did so while treading on the rope.

Dew may have been a factor, but England undoubtedly missed the death-over skills of Jofra Archer and Tymal Mills, both absent through injury.

While unable to be at their explosive best with the bat, their 166-4 - which included 51 not out from Moeen Ali and 41 from Dawid Malan - looked a good total given the pressure of a knockout match.

They do at least only have another year to wait until the next T20 World Cup, which will be played in Australia next October and November.

Captain Eoin Morgan also suggested after the game that he would stay on to lead England's quest for another white-ball trophy.

'We were right in the game until the 17th over' - reaction


England captain Eoin Morgan: "I can't fault anything we've done tonight. We have fought unbelievably hard throughout this tournament. We've represented ourselves unbelievably well, but tonight we have come up short. I am extremely proud of the guys.

"It's hard to identify key moments. We were right in the game from our innings right through to the 17th over."

Player of the match Daryl Mitchell: "It was a bit of a whirlwind at the end. I can't remember what was going on.

"We tried to hang in there as long as we could and knew that one or two big overs would bring us back into the game. We were lucky to get there in the end."

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson: "They had a pretty competitive total at the halfway stage.

"It was an outstanding knock at the top from Daryl Mitchell but it was also about staying in there and cashing in on small match-ups. That was the difference."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
India backs down on plan to mandate government “Sanchar Saathi” app on all smartphones
King Charles Welcomes German President Steinmeier to UK in First State Visit by Berlin in 27 Years
UK Plans Major Cutback to Jury Trials as Crown Court Backlog Nears 80,000
UK Government to Significantly Limit Jury Trials in England and Wales
U.S. and U.K. Seal Drug-Pricing Deal: Britain Agrees to Pay More, U.S. Lifts Tariffs
UK Postpones Decision Yet Again on China’s Proposed Mega-Embassy in London
Head of UK Budget Watchdog Resigns After Premature Leak of Reeves’ Budget Report
Car-sharing giant Zipcar to exit UK market by end of 2025
Reports of Widespread Drone Deployment Raise Privacy and Security Questions in the UK
UK Signals Security Concerns Over China While Pursuing Stronger Trade Links
Google warns of AI “irrationality” just as Gemini 3 launch rattles markets
Top Consultancies Freeze Starting Salaries as AI Threatens ‘Pyramid’ Model
Macron Says Washington Pressuring EU to Delay Enforcement of Digital-Regulation Probes Against Meta, TikTok and X
UK’s DragonFire Laser Downs High-Speed Drones as £316m Deal Speeds Naval Deployment
UK Chancellor Rejects Claims She Misled Public on Fiscal Outlook Ahead of Budget
Starmer Defends Autumn Budget as Finance Chief Faces Accusations of Misleading Public Finances
EU Firms Struggle with 3,000-Hour Paperwork Load — While Automakers Fear De Facto 2030 Petrol Car Ban
White House launches ‘Hall of Shame’ site to publicly condemn media outlets for alleged bias
UK Budget’s New EV Mileage Tax Undercuts Case for Plug-In Hybrids
UK Government Launches National Inquiry into ‘Grooming Gangs’ After US Warning and Rising Public Outcry
Taylor Swift Extends U.K. Chart Reign as ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ Hits Six Weeks at No. 1
250 Still Missing in the Massive Fire, 94 Killed. One Day After the Disaster: Survivor Rescued on the 16th Floor
Trump: National Guard Soldier Who Was Shot in Washington Has Died; Second Soldier Fighting for His Life
UK Chancellor Reeves Defends Tax Rises as Essential to Reduce Child Poverty and Stabilise Public Finances
No Evidence Found for Claim That UK Schools Are Shifting to Teaching American English
European Powers Urge Israel to Halt West Bank Settler Violence Amid Surge in Attacks
"I Would Have Given Her a Kidney": She Lent Bezos’s Ex-Wife $1,000 — and Received Millions in Return
European States Approve First-ever Military-Grade Surveillance Network via ESA
UK to Slash Key Pension Tax Perk, Targeting High Earners Under New Budget
UK Government Announces £150 Annual Cut to Household Energy Bills Through Levy Reforms
UK Court Hears Challenge to Ban on Palestine Action as Critics Decry Heavy-Handed Measures
Investors Rush Into UK Gilts and Sterling After Budget Eases Fiscal Concerns
UK to Raise Online Betting Taxes by £1.1 Billion Under New Budget — Firms Warn of Fallout
Lamine Yamal? The ‘Heir to Messi’ Lost to Barcelona — and the Kingdom Is in a Frenzy
Warner Music Group Drops Suit Against Suno, Launches Licensed AI-Music Deal
HP to Cut up to 6,000 Jobs Globally as It Ramps Up AI Integration
MediaWorld Sold iPad Air for €15 — Then Asked Customers to Return Them or Pay More
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Promises ‘Full-Time’ Education for All Children as School Attendance Slips
UK Extends Sugar Tax to Sweetened Milkshakes and Lattes in 2028 Health Push
UK Government Backs £49 Billion Plan for Heathrow Third Runway and Expansion
UK Gambling Firms Report £1bn Surge in Annual Profits as Pressure Mounts for Higher Betting Taxes
UK Shares Advance Ahead of Budget as Financials and Consumer Staples Lead Gains
Domino’s UK CEO Andrew Rennie Steps Down Amid Strategic Reset
UK Economy Stalls as Reeves Faces First Budget Test
UK Economy’s Weak Start Adds Pressure on Prime Minister Starmer
UK Government Acknowledges Billionaire Exodus Amid Tax Rise Concerns
UK Budget 2025: Markets Brace as Chancellor Faces Fiscal Tightrope
UK Unveils Strategic Plan to Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains
UK Taskforce Calls for Radical Reset of Nuclear Regulation to Cut Costs and Accelerate Build
UK Government Launches Consultation on Major Overhaul of Settlement Rules
×