Jos Buttler hits 73 before key wickets for Chris Woakes and Sam Curran in the chase tees up a fascinating final round of matches with four sides competing for two places in the semi-finals
Brisbane: England 179-6, New Zealand 159-6 - England won by 20 runs
England took a major step towards the semi-finals at the men's T20 World Cup after beating New Zealand in Brisbane.
Victory over Sri Lanka in their final Super 12s match on Saturday (November 5), barring a huge net run rate swing, should be enough to secure a last-four berth.
Jos Buttler survived being dropped twice to hit 73 as England made 179 for 6 from their 20 overs. Lockie Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 45.
Last year's T20 World Cup runners-up, unbeaten in the competition until now, looked in good shape in the chase after navigating their way to 119 for 2 in the 15th over, thanks to a 91-run partnership between captain Kane Williamson and Glenn Phillips, who was given a life by Moeen Ali.
But wickets for Ben Stokes and Mark Wood pinned them back before Sam Curran dismissed Phillips (57) to all but secure victory.
Jos Buttler's sythed his way to 73 from 47 balls (PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)
While New Zealand can still reach the semi-finals if they beat Ireland - who are now on the brink of elimination - the result is a major blow to Australia's hopes of progressing. Level on points with England heading into the final round of matches, they sit outside the top two on net run rate and must beat Afghanistan by a heavy margin in their final game and hope for favours from elsewhere.
Despite still having Sri Lanka to play in their final group match, this was already a do-or-die situation for England while New Zealand knew victory would confirm a semi-final place.
There are few international teams who know each other better, given they are regular fixtures at the sharp end of white-ball World Cups.
Twelve months ago the Kiwis dumped England out of the tournament to book their place in the final, and they could land a killer blow again at The Gabba, the scene of so many Ashes calamities.
The 50-over world champions made a steady start until the fifth over when Hales lashed a six and then successive fours off Tim Southee.
Glenn Phillips put the Black Caps in a good position in the chase (Albert Perez/Getty Images
Williamson put down Buttler after spilling a diving catch and after Hales departed for 52 shortly after the midway stage, Buttler took control of the innings.
Put down by Daryl Mitchell in the 13th over, the skipper made the Black Caps pay with 73 from 47 balls.
Liam Livingstone (20), Harry Brook (7), Ben Stokes (8), Sam Curran (6*) and Dawid Malan (3*) produced brief cameos but New Zealand produced a fine comeback at the death, conceding just 26 runs between overs 17 and 19 as England made 179 for 6.
Requiring their third-highest T20I chase, New Zealand lost both openers Finn Allen (16) and Devon Conway (3) inside the powerplay.
Williamson and Phillips steadied the ship but their progress should have been compromised in the 10th when Moeen put down the latter with a simple chance at cover.
Substitute fielder Chris Jordan took two catches to confirm victory (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
It was an inexplicable error and Phillips, a centurion against Sri Lanka after being dropped, made England pay with a six off Wood and then two maximums from Adil Rashid's final over.
Stokes, who had earlier injured the same left index finger that required surgery last year, got rid of Williamson (40) and when Wood dismissed Jimmy Neesham (6) England had victory in sight.
Tight overs from Wood and Woakes saw the required rate climb and Phillips (62), in an attempt to match it, heaved Curran to long on where Jordan, on for Liam Livingstone, took the second of two vital catches having earlier helped dismiss Daryl Mitchell.
Mitchell Santner (16*) and Ish Sodhi (6*) were unable to trouble the target though the 20-run margin of defeat does protect their net run rate advantage.
Victory for these two sides will virtually ensure they compete in next week's semi-finals, but ultimately the big losers are Australia who now need to thump Afghanistan to stand any chance of progression.
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