After their easy win over Bangladesh, hosts England are up against tough Kiwis, who aim for two full points after rain denied them a win over Aus
England players indulge in a game of football yesterday on the eve of their match against NZ at Cardiff, Wales. Pic/Getty Images
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After a comfortable outing in the tournament-opener, title favourites England are set to face a much stiffer test against New Zealand in a crucial Champions Trophy Group A fixture here today.
There is a lot at stake for both the teams. England will put their one foot in the semi-finals with a second successive win while New Zealand will aim for two full points after rain denied them a crack at Australia and the two teams settled for a point each in a game that produced no-result.
England could not have hoped for a better start to the tournament as they thrashed a lacklustre Bangladesh in the first match of the Champions Trophy on Thursday.
How easily they chased down 306 was a timely warning to the other title contenders. Joe Root strolled to a 10th ODI hundred while opener Alex Hales missed out on well-deserved hundred by five runs.
Captain Eoin Morgan would be a tad worried about the lean patch of opener Jason Roy, who has not crossed 20 in his last six ODI innings. Morgan might also bring back leggie Adil Rashid to add more variety to the bowling department.
Captain Kane Williamson led from the front against the trans-Tasmanian rivals with a ninth ODI hundred. Luke Ronchi looked in ominous touch at the top of the order and alongside Martin Guptill, form a dangerous combination.
Live on tv Today
England v NZ: Star Sports 1, HD 1, Hindi, HD 1, 15:00 onwards
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