Champions Trophy 2017: England book semi-final berth with comprehensive win over New Zealand

England pacers Liam Plunkett and Jake Ball displayed a brilliant show with ball and helped the hosts to register a thumping 87-run victory over New Zealand in their second Group A match of the Champions Trophy at Sophia Gardens on 6 June.

England will now face Australia in their last Group A match at Edgbaston on Saturday, but the result of the clash will have least effect on the team as they already sealed the semi-final berth.

In Group B, India is set to lock horns with Sri Lanka on 8 June. India has two points in its account after thrashing arch-rivals Pakistan on 4 June.

Victory saw England into the last four of a tournament featuring the world's top eight one-day international sides after an eight-wicket defeat of Bangladesh at the Oval last week, regardless of the result of their last Group A match against arch-rivals Australia at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Chasing a target of 311, the Black Caps were bundled out for 223 runs in just 44.3 overs. None of the Kiwi batters, expect skipper Kane Williamson, could stay long at the crease.

After two wickets falling early, Williamson (87 off 98, 8 fours), along with experienced Ross Taylor (39 off 59, 3 fours) did put their side under control of the run chase. In fact they looked all set to chase down the target with 158-2 after 30 overs.

But then the English seamers started to make use of the pitch. And once the New Zealand skipper and Taylor got out, things just started to fall apart for the Black Caps and they eventually got bowled out.

For England, Plunkett was pick of the bowlers as he finished with figures of 4-55 besides Man-of-the-Match Ball who gave away just 31 runs in the eight overs he bowled and picked up two wickets.

Spinner Adil Rashid, who came into the side as Chris Woakes' replacement also came out with a good bowling performance and picked two crucial wickets apart from drying the runs for the New Zealand batters.

Earlier, put into bat, the Eoin Morgan-led side posted a decent total of 310, courtesy some blistering half centuries from Alex Hales (56), Joe Root (64) and Jos Buttler (61). All-rounder Ben Stokes also played a useful hand of 48 to help his side cross the 300 mark.

- - With ANI inputs