NEW DELHI: Opening batsman Jason Roy struck a career-best 78 as England stormed into the World Twenty20 final with a seven-wicket romp against New Zealand on Wednesday.

Electing to field, England staged a strong comeback in the second half of New Zealand’s innings to restrict their opponents to a modest 153 for eight at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.

Roy and Alex Hales (20) then provided a flying start to their reply and Jos Buttler smacked a six to seal semi-final victory with 17 balls to spare.

Roy launched England’s reply in emphatic style, smacking four boundaries off the first over by Corey Anderson.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson introduced spinner Mitchell Santner in the fifth over but a breakthrough still proved elusive. Roy took 26 balls to bring up his maiden half-century in Twenty20 internationals as he put on 82 for the first wicket with Hales.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2016