Wyatt-Hodge wrecks New Zealand as England Women storm into T20 World Cup semifinals

Needing victory to stay alive, New Zealand Women would have been happy with their 163/6 opening innings. But the classy Danni Wyatt-Hodge battered their bowling attack to guide England to equal the highest successful run chase in T20 Women's World Cup history.

Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones smashed 31 runs off the first three overs. But the latter mistimed a shot only to find the mid-off fielder and depart for 17 off 13 balls.

That brought Sophia Dunkley to the crease, but Wyatt-Hodge became chief destroyer. She too a liking to Sophie Devine's bowling, hitting her out of the attack after just two overs.

Wyatt-Hodge hit three fours off Melie Kerr and another off Nensi Patel to bring up her 50 off just 33 balls, and she wasn't done yet. Dunkley and Wyatt-Hodge combined for an unbroken stand of 128 and finished on 89 and 49 not out, respectively.

Earlier, New Zealand's Kerr and Isabella Gaze got them off to a rollicking start, scoring 70 of 60 balls before Gaze fell to Freya Kemp. It triggered a collapse as Kerr (42) fell the next ball and Izzy Sharp two balls later, with Dani Gibson doing the damage.

New Zealand collected themselves and a superb 30 off just 14 balls from Devine bouyed them, along with solid contributions down the order from Brooke Halliday (20) and Suzie Bates (19) took them to what they thought was a winning total.