NICK HOWSON AT CHESTER-LE-STREET: As England cruise into the semi-finals fans are left wondering what the score is as New Zealand's slump builds
Either side of his century against Pakistan, the Lancashire man has only contributed 170 runs in seven innings for England. Though scores have not been as spectacularly high as many envisaged, Buttler has been one of the victims of trying to force the issue when a considered approach is actually required. The manner of his dismissal summed up his plight, a leading edge as he tried to push Trent Boult through the leg side.
Such form has been underlined by mistakes behind the stumps. But he redeemed himself in a timely manner with a spectacular grab to help dismiss Guptill down the leg side, diving to his left to sticking out one hand to leave the Kiwis two down.
After sharing a match-winning 137 for the first wicket in the 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka, New Zealand's opening partnership has mustered just 83 in their seven subsequent matches, a run which has included four golden ducks for the nominated top two.
Martin Guptill has contributed two of those against Afghanistan and West Indies. Five players have a better average than him for New Zealand during the World Cup.
Though he avoided a third first ball of the tournament, he was still on hand to contribute to another. Henry Nicholls was the victim this time, as he failed to convince his opening partner to review an lbw decision off Chris Woakes, which should have been questioned on length. Replays would later reveal it was missing off by a few inches. Guptill's nightmare summer continues.
The last two hours of New Zealand's chase of 306 to win should have bought the climax of a thrilling run chase. Instead, it was a prosaic, boring, dull exercise in exploiting the rules and exposing how they are inadequate for a major sporting event. That a streaker who evaded the stewards on two occasions was greeted with the loudest cheer of the afternoon said plenty about the action on display.
Few understand the algorithm surrounding net run-rate, but that it allowed New Zealand to bat out the remainder of their overs to ensure that any lingering hope Pakistan had of finishing in the top four were completed extinguished, tells you all you need to know about this major flaw in the format. No criticism should be attached to the Kiwis of course of the other sides who have also adopted these tactics, but the tiebreaker needs immediate assessment.
There is no obvious equation which could be used as an alternative but a system which can be easily followed by supporters and cannot be abused by teams and players must be the priority. Net run-rate can get in the bin.
Thanks to rain, the ludicrous net run-rate system, the Kiwis' place in the semi-finals was virtually secure ahead of today's game, sapping plenty of the drama out of the contest. And you couldn't help but feel the players were aware of the lack of jeopardy.
New Zealand looked sluggish in the field and with the ball from the outset, failing to establish the conditions and bowling with a reckless abandon better suited to a Sunday league game. It took until the final 20 overs of the England innings for them to find their level, and did well to restrict them well below 350.
The batting display did not offer much encouragement either, begging the question where a third straight defeat leaves the 2015 runners-up heading into the knock-out phase. Can they raise themselves for next's week's clash with either Australia or India?
Chester-le-Street may have got the rough end of the deal with three more-or-less irrelevant games in the race of the semi-finals, but at least fans have some glorious sunshine to enjoy it. And for the many thousands who still turned up they at least deserved that.
But ask them what the score was at any stage of the afternoon and they might have struggled. None of the seats running alongside the River Wear are able to see the one scoreboard and in bright conditions neither are many others situated in any of the temporary or permanent stands.
Any of those individuals should then be saved by either of the two big screens. But alas, the view was often of an advert for one of the many sponsors and partners enlisted by the ICC. So it would leave fans either having to hastily purchase an in-ear headset which is priced at £10 or check their phones using the ropey reception.
Fans first.
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