England crush New Zealand to reach World Cup semi-finals

England booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals with a 119-run demolition of New Zealand at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.

Eoin Morgan's side scored 305-8 in their 50 overs as Jonny Bairstow top-scored with 106 and Jason Roy hit 60.

The tournament hosts then bowled out New Zealand for 186 to guarantee a top-four finish in the 10-team group stage.

England, who have never won the competition, are into the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1992. (AFP,Chester-le-Street)

New Zealand in trouble after early wickets

The New Zealand batting is fast coming undone as England picked up early wickets after posting 305 runs on the board.

Henry Nicholls was the first to go falling prey to Chris Woakes in the first over of the innings, out leg-before before replays suggested that the ball was missing the stumps. Nicholls had aleady walked off by then, deciding not to take a review. Martin Guptill's poor World Cup continued as he glanced a Jofra Archer delivery, sliding down the leg side off his pads and Buttler took a fantastic catch diving to his left. Those two dismissals seemed to have set the tone for what was to follow. 

Ross Taylor drove Liam Plunkett down the ground and Mark Wood just about got his finger tips to the ball and deflected it back to the stumps with Kane Williamson, their most successful batsman at this World Cup out of his crease. 

When Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow were hitting the ball to all corners of the field, it had appeared that England will put up a mammoth total on the board in the must-win game against New Zealand at Chester-le-Street today. However, a mini batting collapse in the middle overs following Bairstow's ton, saw England reach 305 runs for eight wickets.

Bairstow fell to Matt Henry in the 31st over with England at 203 for 3 but they slumped to 259 for six in the next 14 overs as Trent Boult removed Jos Buttler too after picking up the wicket of Joe Root earlier. Captain Eoin Morgan then struck a 40-ball 42 before some handy late blows from Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid took England past 300. 

England opener Jonny Bairstow smashed a briliant 106 off 99 balls against New Zealand as England move towards a big total at Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street today. 

England got off to a brilliant start after they elected to bat first against New Zealand today. The two openers -- Bairstow and Jason Roy -- strung together a magnificent 123-run stand before Roy was dismissed off a James Neesham delivery in the 19th over. Bairstow however went on to pick up his century off just 95 balls when he smashed a boundary off a Tim Southee delivery in the 30th over. Soon after Bairstow reached his century, Joe Root fell prey to Trent Boult. He was given out after having edged one to Kiwi keeper Tom Latham, which was later confirmed by the third umpire after Root had reviewed. Bairstow was then removed for 106 by Matt Henry in the 32nd over.    

New Zealand get their first break through

18.5, Eng 123/1 - Neesham removes Roy. Fuller, straighter, Roy punched this on the up, no footwork this time, and short cover had snaffled a dolly! The much-needed opening has been prised... Roy is aghast. He had the bowling at his mercy! JJ Roy c Santner b Neesham 60 (61b 8x4 0x6) SR: 98.36

England won the toss and chose to bat first against New Zealand at Chetser-Le-Street.

I think the pitch and overheads," [are the decisive factor}, said Eoin Morgan. "The pitches have got tougher, slower, lower as the match goes on, and it's a trend that the pitches haven't been as good as the last few years. It's a bit like a quarter-final, we train hard, play hard, today is what it's all about."

We would have had a bat as well, but it's important to do a job," said Williamson. "Ferguson has been outstanding, but a hamstring niggle, hope he recovers quickly." Southee and Matt Henry are in, with Sodhi also sitting out.

Win today, and England book their place in the World Cup semi-final, quite possibly against India at Edgbaston next week. Lose, and they will have to rely on a favour from Bangladesh, whose own defeat to India yesterday meant that they were out of the running, and could take the late-charging Pakistan with them if they can win a thrilling match-up at Lord's on Friday.

For New Zealand, the stakes are not quite so high. Pakistan are the only team that can still unseat them from the top four, but that would require a sizeable trouncing today, and a similarly vast win for Pakistan on Friday to swing the Net Run Rate in the latter's favour.

Playing XIs:

England: 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Liam Plunkett, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Mark Wood

New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Henry Nicholls, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 James Neesham, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Trent Boult

More to follow...