colombo
\nNew Zealand\u2019s \u201cstreet-smart\u201d cricketers can find a way to beat England and guarantee their semi-final place at the T20 World Cup, coach Rob Walters said on Thursday.
\nA win for New Zealand in Friday\u2019s night\u2019s Super Eights clash in Colombo will see them top Group 2 and join the already-qualified England in the final four. A defeat would leave the door ajar for Pakistan to beat eliminated Sri Lanka on Saturday with the second semi-final berth then being decided on net run rate. Mitchell Santner\u2019s New Zealand were in trouble at 84-6 against Sri Lanka on Wednesday before the captain steered them to 168-7 and a thumping 61-run win which knocked out the co-hosts.
\n\u201cI think if you look historically at the Black Caps, you would probably say that they\u2019re a team that have been great problem solvers,\u201d Walters told reporters.
\n\u201cThey are street smart, they find a way to understand the conditions quickly.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s certainly something that we pride ourselves on. We can adapt to conditions quickly and find a method.\u201d
\nEngland are the only team to secure a place in the semi-finals so far after skipper Harry Brook\u2019s match-winning century against Pakistan.
\nNew Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra is aware of England\u2019s threat.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re always confident going into these fixtures, especially when we know what the surface is going to be like,\u201d said Ravindra, who took four wickets against Sri Lanka.
\n\u201cBut I think it\u2019d be silly to underestimate England at any point.
\n\u201cThey\u2019re obviously such a quality unit and they\u2019ve shown this in how well they\u2019ve been bowling.
\n\u201cThey\u2019ve got world-class batters throughout their order.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
colombo New Zealand\u2019s \u201cstreet-smart\u201d cricketers can find a way to beat England and guarantee their semi-final place at the T20 World Cup, coach Rob Walters said on Thursday. A win for New Zealand in Friday\u2019s night\u2019s Super Eights clash in Colombo will see them top Group 2 and join the already-qualified England in the final […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":533776,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-533759","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n