Ball '˜bounces back' as England seal ICC Champions Trophy semi-final spot

Welbeck Wizard Jake Ball delivered a man of the match performance for England in their ICC Champions Trophy win over New Zealand, which saw the tournament hosts qualify for the semi-finals.
Jake BallJake Ball
Jake Ball

Ball led the attack with Mark Wood as England looked to defend 310 in difficult weather conditions in Cardiff. The Notts bowler set the tone with a wicket in his first over and followed it up with a maiden in his second.

He finished with figures of 2-31 from eight overs, dimissing Luke Ronchi and Ross Taylor - New Zealand’s two and four numbered batsmen, on his way to picking up the match honours. Ball was delighted with his own and the team’s performance.

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Ball said: “It’s a great performance. From start to finish to get 300 on the board and then for the boys to come out and bowl the way we did it was a good all-round performance.

“It was quite blustery and difficult at times but everyone did their fair share into it so I can’t complain.”

It was quite the turnaround for Ball who had gone for 82 from 10 overs in England’s opening match of the Trophy against Bangladesh.

He said: “Off the back of the Bangledesh game, where I wasn’t so happy with my performance, it’s nice to bounce back and put that (New Zealand) performance in. It instills the belief in me again.

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“The wicket took a bit of rain and juiced it up so it was about putting it in the right area and there was a bit of seam movement for me earlier on.”

Alex Hales made 56, Joe Root 64 and Joss Buttler an unbeaten 61 as England posted 310. Wood took 1-32 and Liam Plunkett 4-55 as England won by 87 runs.

England face Australia on Saturday at Edgbaston in the last group stage match.