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T20 World Cup: Black Caps eye England revenge

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New Zealand suffered a heartbreaking defeat to England in the 2019 Cricket World Cup final but they have a chance to gain a measure of revenge on Wednesday.

England were crowned 50-over world champions at Lord's in the most dramatic fashion, with a Super Over needed to finally separate the two teams in a thriller.

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The Black Caps and England do battle in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup at Zayed Cricket Stadium after qualifying from the Super 12 stage along with Pakistan and Australia.

England have won six of the past nine T20Is against New Zealand, including another Super-Over triumph in their last meeting in November 2019.

They have also won three of their past four T20 World Cup matches against New Zealand, one of those coming in a semi-final five years ago.

The top-ranked side in the world will have to do without explosive opening batsman Jason Roy, who joined paceman Tymal Mills on the injury list when he suffered a torn calf in the loss to South Africa on Saturday.

New Zealand took second place in Group 2 by beating Afghanistan on Sunday, their fourth win in a row after starting with a defeat to Pakistan.

Stats Perform looks at selection decisions to be made in Abu Dhabi and pick out who might be the key players in a blockbuster last-four showdown.

Roy absence forces England into another change

England had already suffered one injury blow when Mills sustained a thigh injury in the win over Sri Lanka and they have now also lost Roy.

James Vince was added to the squad when Roy was ruled out and he could come straight into the side at the top of the order, or Sam Billings could get his chance. Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone are other options to open.

Eoin Morgan's side could go in with an extra bowler, with David Willey, Tom Curran and Reece Topley awaiting a chance.

Rassie van der Dussen cut loose as Chris Woakes and Mark Wood were given the treatment in England's first defeat of the tournament at the weekend.

New Zealand will be eager to see the back of Jos Buttler early on, as the wicketkeeper-batsman is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 240 at an average of 120 and a strike-rate of 155.84.

Buttler needs just nine more runs to overtake Joe Root (249) as England's highest scorer in a single edition of the T20 World Cup. Virat Kohli (319) holds the record, with his effort from 2014.

Jos Buttler

Lightning Boult leading potent Black Caps attack

New Zealand's bowling attack is potent in all formats and Trent Boult has shown his class yet again in this tournament.

The left-arm paceman has taken 11 wickets at an average of 10.45, with a strike rate of 10.72.

Spinner Ish Sodhi has claimed eight scalps and Tim Southee seven. Southee only needs two wickets to move beyond Lasith Malinga's tally of 107, which would put him second on the all-time list in T20Is.

New Zealand have an economy rate of 6.1 runs per oval with the ball in this tournament, the best of any team. England (6.6) have the third-best.

Martin Guptill is their highest run-scorer in this World Cup with 176, while the ever-reliable skipper Kane Williamson averages 42 from his five innings.

Trent Boult

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