World T20: ‘No better feeling’ for Jason Roy after his 78 sets England on their way to final in seven-wicket win over New Zealand

England have reached Sunday’s World Twenty20 final after beating New Zealand by seven wickets in their semi-final in Delhi.

Jason Roy of England bats during the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 Semi Final match between England and New Zealand at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground on March 30, 2016 in Delhi, India. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

New Zealand 153/8 (20/20 ov)

England 159/3 (17.1/20 ov)

England won by 7 wickets (with 17 balls remaining)

England captain Eoin Morgan said it is a dream come true to reach the World Twenty20 final after Jason Roy's career-best knock and more brilliant death bowling overwhelmed New Zealand.

The Black Caps came into the semi-final with a 100 per cent record but were blown away by seven wickets with 17 balls remaining in Delhi.

They had been kept to a below-par 153 for seven by the constricting efforts of Chris Jordan and Ben Stokes and then looked on as Roy crashed 78 from 44 deliveries.

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Roy hit 11 fours and two sixes, scoring more than half of the target on his own, before Joe Root (27 not out) and Jos Buttler (32no) finished off in a blaze of three maximums in four deliveries.

As punishing as England’s batting efforts were, New Zealand will know they lost this game in the second half of their innings.

Having raced along to 89 for one in 10 overs, they made 64 for seven in the next 10 as England exerted a vice-like grip in the field.

“I don’t think it could have been much better. Maybe we would have liked to start better with ball,” said Morgan, who himself got out lbw for his second golden duck in as many games.

“We did well to peg it back and to get Kane’s [New Zealand captain Williamson] wicket in middle was a big deal for us. Making a final is the kind of thing you dream of as a kid.

“Everyone in the dressing room has worked tremendously hard and made a lot of sacrifices to put us in this position.

“A lot of things have gone our way and we have earned the right to play the way we do and hopefully it can be our day in the final.”

Roy was only too happy to soak up the plaudits.

“There is no better feeling. The joy on everyone’s faces was special and something that will stay very close to my heart for rest of my career,” he said.

“Again Jordan and Stokes were outstanding. They practice their skills more than I have ever seen someone practice so it is so good to see them reaping their rewards on the pitch.

“I played some strong shots, hit some boundaries then got out and we won, now we’re in the final.”

Vanquished captain Williamson was graceful in defeat.

“Credit to the England bowlers for the way they pulled it back,” he said. “I knew we were a bit short in our total but we were beaten by the better team who bowled better than us and came out and batted very aggressively.

“We weren’t able to stem their runs and it was a fantastic knock from Jason Roy.”

England will now be watching today’s match between hosts India and the West Indies to see who they will be up against in Sunday’s final.

“We will take on whoever,” Roy said.

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