Live Commentary: ICC Champions Trophy, Group A: England vs. New Zealand - as it happened

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England vs. New Zealand - as it happened
© AP Photos

England and New Zealand met in a crucial ICC Champions Trophy match in Cardiff as both sides looked to book their spot in the semi-finals of the tournament.

Persistent rain meant that the match was shortened to a 24 overs per side contest and England, who were asked to bat first, started their innings positively as Alastair Cook (64) helped himself to a fluent half-century.

However, the hosts of the tournament struggled to build on their good start and were eventually bowled out for 169 runs in the final over of the innings.

England bowled superbly at the start of New Zealand's reply and took regular wickets to restrict the Kiwis to 159-8 from their 24 overs and book their spot in the semi-finals of the competition.

Read below to find out how the drama unfolded in Cardiff.

8.06pmThank you for your patience on a difficult day. We finally saw some cricket and when we did, England excelled to progress in the tournament. Goodnight.
8.05pmNew Zealand have been impressive throughout this tournament but they're now at risk of missing out on a spot in the semi-finals. Join me tomorrow at 12.30pm for that crucial game between Sri Lanka and Australia.
8.04pmWhen we can get a game completed, this tournament has been brilliant. England continue to respond to their critics by winning important games. Can Cook's side go on to win the competition?
8.03pmCook is clearly overjoyed as he celebrates with his teammates. It looked at one point like England could be heading out of the tournament but they're in the final four now. New Zealand must now wait to see if Australia can do them a favour tomorrow.
NZ 159-8ENGLAND WIN BY 10 RUNS AND QUALIFY FOR THE SEMI-FINALS: McCullum edges the final ball to Buttler behind the stumps and the celebrations begin!
NZ 159-7Anderson begins the final over with a wide but responds well by delivering a yorker as McCullum misses with a big swing of the bat. A full toss is chipped over mid-wicket for four runs but Anderson once again responds to a disappointing delivery by sending down a dot ball. 18 needed from the final three deliveries. McCullum misses with a drive outside off-stump and unless there's a tragic end to the over, England will win. A wide-ball is lofted straight down the pitch and McCullum does clear the rope this time.
NZ 147-7Mills is the new batsman for the Kiwis but he's not on strike at the moment. A bye is taken by New Zealand when Bresnan hits McCullum on the head with a good bouncer. Mills pulls his first ball behind square for four runs before pushing a single to cover. Just one more single scored and New Zealand require 23 runs from the final over for victory.
NZ 140-7Surely it's game over now as Anderson strikes the ball to his namesake at long-on. England celebrate and they can sense that the semi-finals are not far away.
NZ 140-7WICKET! C. ANDERSON C J. ANDERSON B BRESNAN
NZ 140-6Bresnan begins the penultimate over by being taken for a single to mid-wicket by McCullum.
NZ 139-6Nathan McCullum comes to the crease with New Zealand needing something special. C. Anderson finds a single to long-on to give the strike to the new batsman. McCullum gets off the mark with a quick run to mid-wicket. Only two more runs from the over. Superb from Broad.
NZ 135-6Incredible drama in Cardiff. Williamson begins to walk back into the dressing room when he skies a catch to Anderson on the off-side. However, the umpires want to check if it's a no-ball. A replay shows that Broad is very close to the line but the television umpire decides that there was something behind the line. England fans breathe a sigh of relief, the excellent Williamson departs.
NZ 135-6WICKET! WILLIAMSON (67) C ANDERSON B BROAD
NZ 134-5New Zealand now need 36 from 18 balls.
NZ 134-5Is this game over? Williamson is determined to give his side a chance as he launches Bresnan's first ball of a new over into the crowd at deep mid-wicket for six. The same batsman chips the next ball into the leg-side for two more. Bresnan loses some of his accuracy as he delivers a wide before being pulled behind square on the leg-side by Williamson for four more. A single is added to mid-off before Anderson sends a thick edge to the rope for four more. One more single and it's 19 from the over.
NZ 115-5New Zealand take the two-over powerplay and Cook responds by bringing back Jimmy Anderson. Corey Anderson drills the ball to Trott at cover and just avoids being run out when Williamson rejects an optimistic call for a single. There's a delay in the game while the batsman complains about a sore calf. The New Zealand physio comes on and we're ready to continue following a few minutes of treatment. England aren't too happy with the amount of time being taken up by Corey Anderson, who finally returns to the crease to clip two runs through mid-wicket. Williamson reaches FIFTY with four over square-leg. Impressive innings from the number three. Eight from the over.
NZ 107-5Broad is back into the attack. Anderson picks up a single on the leg-side to give the strike to Williamson, who steps away to guide the ball over the covers for four runs. Broad cramps the batsman for room but New Zealand's number three still manages to pick up a run. Anderson adds another to third-man. Seven from the over and that's good from Broad at this stage.
NZ 100-5Just six overs left for New Zealand to score 70 runs.
NZ 100-5Bopara returns for a fifth over and is immediately taken for a single by Anderson. England think they have a wicket when one bail falls off. Buttler is confident that Williamson has been bowled but a replay shows the ball hit the stumps after deflecting off Buttler's glove. Williamson continues to go about his business, nudging a single through mid-wicket. Broad makes a mistake at wide mid-off to allow Anderson's drive to squirm past him and to the rope for four. Bopara clearly not happy with his teammate.
NZ 93-5Root continues to excel in the field as he drags the ball away from the rope when Anderson drills a shot to long-off. Williamson makes poor contact with a lofted shot over mid-off but the ball drops short of Cook. New Zealand's new boy displays his power as Anderson launches a big six over long-on. Tredwell responds with a couple of quicker dot balls. Anderson earns another run to long-on and he'll keep the strike.
NZ 83-5Bresnan is back to replace the impressive Bopara. Anderson cuts the first ball of the over to deep cover for one. Williamson is hit by a delivery that nips back. Anderson manages to sneak another run later in the over with a thick inside edge that deflects off the pad. Big shot follows from Williamson, who earns four over mid-wicket. A single is taken to cover before Bresnan is punished for a wide over the batsman's head.
NZ 74-5Williamson backs away to punch a single down the ground. Bell fumbles the ball at cover to allow Anderson to sneak another run. Two more singles are taken before Williamson ends the over with a powerful cut through the off-side for four runs.
NZ 66-5It's Anderson's turn to come to the crease but he'll have to do something special on debut to rescue this game for his side. He gets off the mark immediately with a thick edge to fine-leg for four.
NZ 62-5Bopara strikes again as Franklin's short stay at the crease comes to an end when he delivers a leading edge into Morgan's hands at backward point. Superb from England.
NZ 62-5WICKET! FRANKLIN (6) C MORGAN B BOPARA
NZ 62-4Williamson clubs the first ball of a new over down the ground for a single. Brilliant shot from Franklin, who latches onto a shorter delivery to pull the ball over fine-leg for four.
NZ 57-4New Zealand are forced to settle for singles at the start of Tredwell's new over. The spinner finds a great to Williamson but the batsman responds to a good couple of deliveries by skipping down the pitch to loft the ball down the ground for four. One more single and it's seven from the over.
NZ 50-4Franklin, sensing that there could be some poor weather around, takes his time to come out to the middle. The new batsman flicks his first ball behind square on the leg-side for one before Williamson adds another to cover. New Zealand need a big performance from someone.
NZ 48-4Big wicket for England! McCullum crunches a shorter ball over mid-wicket but his innings comes to an end when Root takes a stunning low catch in the deep. Brilliant fielding and New Zealand are in big trouble now.
NZ 48-4WICKET! B. McCULLUM (8) C ROOT B BOPARA
NZ 48-3Bopara strays at the start of a new over and is punished, with a wide being confirmed by the umpire. McCullum and Williamson trade singles before the former adds two more with a cut past point.
NZ 43-311 overs have been bowled so far. We must see 20 overs per side to see a result.
NZ 43-3Tredwell is into the attack as Cook turns to spin for the first time. Williamson is eager to use his feet but he's not offered too much freedom by the Kent bowler. The batsman picks up a single down the ground before McCullum adds another to long-on. Light rain falling in Cardiff.
NZ 41-3Bopara completes another good over for England. McCullum and Williamson can only find two singles in the over. However, it might not be all good news for England as the clouds have returned and the ground staff are beginning to look twitchy on the sidelines.
NZ 39-3Broad returns for a new spell and is immediately clipped into the leg-side by Williamson for one. McCullum attempts to cut the ball to the rope but misses out. The Kiwi skipper swings wildly at the next delivery and looks disappointed with himself as he turns away. Broad is too short with a bouncer and the umpire quickly signals a wide. Trott impresses again at third-man to restrict McCullum to just a single. Williamson takes advantage of a shorter delivery to pull the final ball of the over through mid-wicket for four.
NZ 32-3Bopara is brought into the attack for the first time in the innings. The medium pace does a good job of keeping the pressure on with a tidy over. Williamson is beaten by one that just holds its line outside off-stump. Just five runs from the over.
NZ 27-3How important could this moment be? Bresnan's appeal for lbw is successful when he nips one back into Taylor. The batsman reviews the decision but Hawkeye proves the umpire correct. Big wicket, Brendon McCullum in next.
NZ 27-3WICKET! TAYLOR (3) LBW B BRESNAN
NZ 27-2Taylor nudges the ball off his hip for a single at the start of the over and Williamson adds another with a push through cover.
NZ 23-2Anderson starts a new over with a beauty that nips back and goes past Williamson's inside edge. The batsman bravely leaves the next ball just outside off-stump. Williamson breaks a spell of dot balls with a single to third-man. Taylor is fortunate to see an inside edge travel into the leg-side for a run. New Zealand have a rare boundary when Williamson pushes the ball past mid-on for four. This is a crucial partnership for the Kiwis.
NZ 17-2Cook makes his first change as Bresnan comes into the attack. Williamson collects two early in the over before hurrying a single when a thick inside edge squirms into a gap. Taylor cuts at a wider delivery but there's no edge. England in complete control at the moment.
NZ 14-2Anderson is on fire! Guptill gets his feet stuck and drags a fuller ball onto the stumps. Huge celebrations from England and they have two new arrivals to bowl at. Williamson and Taylor are the men at the crease.
NZ 14-2WICKET! GUPTILL (9) B ANDERSON
NZ 14-1Ronchi's disappointing spell at the crease comes to an end when he skies the ball to third-man, where Trott takes the catch. Great start from England.
NZ 14-1WICKET! RONCHI (2) C TROTT B ANDERSON
NZ 14-0Guptill walks towards the bowler but a thick edge only earns the batsman a single.
NZ 13-0Morgan does well at backward point to stop a certain boundary and restrict Ronchi to just a single at the start of a new over. Guptill manages to beat the same fielder with a steered shot for four a ball later. A clip into the leg-side brings a single. Ronchi looks a player out of form as he misses with two expansive shots at the end of the over.
NZ 7-0Anderson begins the second over by finding the outside edge but Guptill breathes a sigh of relief when the ball beats Tredwell at second slip. The batsman collects a single to get off strike before Ronchi is once again beaten outside off-stump by a great delivery from Anderson. A leading edge allows Ronchi to get off the mark with a single. Guptill follows a wide from the bowler by nudging the ball through the leg-side for two.
NZ 2-0New Zealand get off the mark when Guptill calls for a sharp single to short fine-leg. Bopara hits the stumps but Ronchi managed to make his ground. Broad is slightly wayward early on and delivers a wide down the leg-side. Ronchi looks to be struggling with the bat at the moment and he ends the over with two wild swings outside off-stump. Good start by Broad.
5.53pmRonchi and Guptill stride out to the middle to open the batting. England must take early wickets to give themselves a chance. Stuart Broad will bowl the first over.
5.52pmIt's simple from here. New Zealand need 170 runs to confirm their spot in the semi-finals and knock England out of the competition.
5.47pmAmazing 24 overs for Nathan McCullum. The all-rounder dropped Cook three times before removing the England captain and ending the innings with four catches.
5.45pmEngland looked set for a score closer to 190 at one point in that innings but you must applaud New Zealand's fightback. McClenaghan (3-36) and Mills (4-30) were very impressive with the ball. Brendon McCullum was, as ever, attacking with his field placements and that certainly helped the Kiwis.
ENG 169Tredwell attempts to guide the ball over third-man for a boundary but proceeds to pick out McClenaghan, who takes a good catch running in from the rope. England fail to complete their overs but New Zealand will still have to play well to chase down 170 in 24 overs.
ENG 169WICKET! TREDWELL (0) C McCLENAGHAN B MILLS
ENG 169-9Broad steps away and tries to launch another shorter ball over the rope. However, he's late on the shot and can only give Nathan McCullum the chance to take another simple catch at long-on. Brilliant fightback from the Kiwis. Anderson and Tredwell left in the middle.
ENG 169-9WICKET! BROAD (0) C N. McCULLUM b MILLS
ENG 169-8Mills begins the final over with a bouncer that Broad leaves alone.
ENG 169-8Franklin fumbles the ball in the deep on the leg-side and that mistake encourages Bresnan to call for a second run. However, Franklin recovers well and hits the stumps with a flat throw to dismiss Bresnan. England running out of steam. One over left.
ENG 169-8WICKET! BRESNAN (4) RUN OUT (FRANKLIN)
ENG 169-7Anderson does very well at cover to prevent Bresnan from reaching the rope with a good drive.
ENG 166-7New Zealand remove the last recognised batsman when Bopara skies a pull shot straight to Williamson on the leg-side. Easy catch to give McClenaghan his third wicket.
ENG 166-7WICKET! BOPARA (9) C WILLIAMSON B McCLENAGHAN
ENG 166-6Bopara pushes a single to cover at the start of McClenaghan's over. A sliced drive to third-man allows Bresnan to get off the mark. Bopara attempts to heave the ball over mid-wicket but fails to make contact. However, Ronchi thinks he heard a noise and the Kiwis call for a review. Hotspot shows there was no edge involved.
ENG 164-6Bresnan is the new batsman but he's able to admire Bopara from the non-striker's end when the Essex batsman drills the ball through the covers for four. A quick single is taken at the end of the over, meaning Bopara will keep the strike.
ENG 159-6Buttler's innings is cut short when he fails to make great contact with a slightly slower ball from Mills. Nathan McCullum looks confident as he takes his second catch of the innings at long-off following those three drops earlier on.
ENG 159-6WICKET! BUTTLER (14) C N. McCULLUM B MILLS
ENG 159-5The batting powerplay (2 overs) arrives with three overs left in the innings. Buttler drags a short ball from the returning Mills through square-leg to collect four. The bowler oversteps the mark a ball later and England are gifted a free-hit. Bopara lofts the ball into the off-side and is caught but enjoys the freedom of the free-hit to pick up a single.
ENG 152-5Buttler's power is on display when he hits McClenaghan's first ball of a new over past cover for four runs. England manage to sneak a single when the bowler fires in a shorter delivery. Bopara and Buttler add two more in the middle of the over before a thick inside edge from the former squirms away for another run. One more single and it's nine from the over.
ENG 143-5Bopara is forced to defend the first two balls of his innings. Superb over from Vettori. Just one run and a wicket from the six balls. Four overs left in the innings.
ENG 143-5New Zealand are understandably delighted as they remove the dangerous Morgan. Vettori's quicker delivery sneaks past the bat when Morgan sweeps and it's an easy lbw decision for the umpire.
ENG 143-5WICKET! MORGAN (15) LBW B VETTORI
ENG 143-4Vettori is back into the attack and is immediately chipped over cover for one by Buttler. An improvised shot from Morgan goes horribly wrong but he manages to survive an lbw appeal.
ENG 142-4Buttler gets off the mark with a single to long-on before Morgan plays out a dot ball at the end of the over. England will fancy their chances of scoring big runs with these two at the crease.
ENG 141-4Nathan McCullum finally takes a catch at the fourth attempts when Cook fires the ball straight back to the bowler. A fantastic innings from the England skipper comes to an end. Jos Buttler in next.
ENG 141-4WICKET! COOK (64) C&B N. McCULLUM
ENG 141-3Cook steers the first ball of a new over through point for one. Morgan decides it's time to accelerate and he launches a massive six straight down the ground.
ENG 133-3Cook just gets better. The skipper gives himself some room at the crease to launch the ball over mid-off for a big six. Williamson comes over the wicket in response but is still cut away for a single. A leg-bye gives the strike back to Cook, who targets the off-side again to collect four over extra cover. England take 14 runs from Williamson's over.
ENG 119-3Brendon McCullum brings his brother back into the attack. Cook reaches FIFTY with a single to long-on. It's been a good knock to silence a few of his critics in this format but he needs to go on now. Morgan pushes two through the covers before reverse sweeping for a single. Two more singles from the final two balls of a good over.
ENG 113-3Williamson comes into the attack, possibly to tempt Morgan into a mistake. A single is taken to third-man and Cook follows that by offering Nathan McCullum the easiest of chances at backward point. However, he somehow manages to drop the ball for the third time in the innings. Awful mistake and his brother is far from happy. Steady over from the spinner but England still manage to find seven runs.
ENG 106-3McClenaghan fires in a short delivery but Cook stands tall to guide the ball over slip for a couple of runs. A push through cover brings a single and hands the strike to Morgan. The common tactic to Morgan of late seems to be to bowl wide but McClenaghan gets it wrong and is punished for two wides, the latter due to height. Morgan gets off the mark with a single to mid-on and he'll keep the strike.
ENG 100-3New Zealand make a crucial breakthrough when Root lofts the ball straight into the air. Ronchi calls for it from behind the stumps and the wicketkeeper takes an easy catch. Eoin Morgan in at five for England.
ENG 100-3WICKET! ROOT (38) C RONCHI B McCLENAGHAN
ENG 100-2Williamson spills the ball at point, allowing Cook to ease through for a single at the start of a new spell from McClenaghan.
ENG 99-2Root sweeps well at the start of Vettori's over to earn four through square-leg. The spinner responds well though, conceding just four more singles from the remaining five deliveries. New Zealand need another wicket.
ENG 91-2Superb shot from Cook, who takes advantage of a fuller ball from the returning Franklin to strike a big six straight down the ground. The England duo then trade singles. Cook shows that he can adapt to this format of the game when he drops to one knee to scoop the ball over fine-leg for four. The England skipper's innings then almost comes to an end when Nathan McCullum appears to take a difficult catch at mid-wicket but he drops the ball when he lands and Cook survives.
ENG 77-2Big stroke of luck for Root after being given out lbw sweeping at the start of Vettori's over. However, a review shows that Root got a bottom edge on the ball and he remains out in the middle. A drive through the off-side brings Root two runs before a loft into the same area earns him another. Cook sweeps through square-leg for one and he'll keep the strike.
ENG 73-2Brilliant fielding from Taylor in the deeps as he drags the ball away from the rope following Root's cover drive to save a run for his side. Cook decides it's his turn to attack now and his trip down the pitch brings four over wide mid-on. Two more singles are scored either side of an optimistic lbw appeal from McCullum.
ENG 64-2Vettori returns to bowl a new over and only concedes two runs in his first four deliveries. However, Root then relieves some pressure with a massive six over mid-wicket. A single from the final ball allows Root to keep the strike. It's pretty even after 10 overs in Cardiff.
ENG 55-2Nathan McCullum is brought on as his brother continues to rotate the bowlers. Root uses his feet well to skip down the pitch and push the ball through cover for two. A leg-bye hands the strike to Cook, who advances down the pitch only to see an inside edge squeeze through fine-leg for two runs. The England skipper then sweeps the ball away for one before Root adds another behind square on the leg-side to steal the strike.
ENG 48-2Franklin, who dropped a relatively simple catch earlier on, comes into the attack for the first time. The medium pacer almost takes a wicket with his first ball when Cook pulls one towards Nathan McCullum, who can't hold on this time at short mid-wicket. Difficult chance but one that such a talented fielder would expect to take. Root edges another single to fine-leg before a leading edge from Cook brings the skipper a similarly fortunate run. A heave over mid-wicket from Root allows England to pick up two more. The same batsman adds a single from the final ball and he'll keep the strike.
ENG 42-2It's Vettori's turn to have a go with the ball in hand. The spinner is too short early on, allowing Cook to cut the ball away for a single. A thick inside edge brings another run to Root, who is just happy not to see the ball hit the stumps. Five singles in total from Vettori's tidy over.
ENG 37-2There's a hint of movement in the air for Mills and a leading edge from Root almost gives the seamer another wicket. A singles is taken from each of the first two balls. Mills responds with two consecutive dot balls and the over ends with another couple of singles. Great over for the Kiwis.
ENG 33-2Anderson, on debut, begins his first over by being driven through the covers for three. Root connects well with a fuller ball later in the over but some good fielding at point keeps him on strike. Just one more single scored by England, good start for Anderson. That's the end of the powerplay.
ENG 29-2Joe Root is the new batsman for England. Cook's latest partner gets off the mark when a thick edge races past slip and to the rope for four. Mills is too wide later in the over but Root picks out the fielder at point with his cut shot. Mills is now the leading wicket taker in Champions Trophy history.
ENG 25-2Trott's positive start is ruined when he chips Mills into the leg-side and straight to Nathan McCullum, who copies his brother by taking a good catch. Important couple of wickets for the Kiwis.
ENG 25-2WICKET! TROTT (8) C N. McCULLUM B MILLS
ENG 25-1Cook plays a late cut behind point to get off strike with a single.
ENG 24-1There's no change to the batting order yet as Trott comes in at three. The Warwickshire ace gets off the mark with two past point but struggles to pick the gaps in the field when McClenaghan drops his length slightly. Trott shows his class later in the over by reaching the boundary for the first time with a superb straight drive. The batsman guides the final ball of the over through third-man to pick up two more.
ENG 16-1Brilliant from the New Zealand skipper. Bell crunches a drive at the start of a new over but his powerful shot is fired straight at Brendon McCullum, who takes a very good catch. McClenaghan's impressive tournament continues.
ENG 16-1WICKET! BELL (10) C B. McCULLUM B McCLENAGHAN
ENG 16-0Kyle Mills bowls the second over, which begins with a chip over mid-wicket for one by Bell. Superb batting a ball later as Bell backs away to punch four through the covers. New Zealand should take their first wicket when Bell lofts the ball straight into the air but Franklin drops the catch at mid-off. Poor effort from the fielder, will Bell make the Kiwis play? England run well in the over and collect nine runs in total.
ENG 7-0McClenaghan starts with two dot balls but loses his accuracy when he sends down a wide past leg-stump. Cook pulls the ball over square-leg for one before Bell is beaten on the outside edge by one that just holds its line outside off-stump. A thick bottom edge squirms into a gap to give Bell his first run and Cook ends the over by reaching the rope at fine-leg with a flick off the pads. Seven from the first over.
3.46pmIt will be McClenaghan who bowls the first over of the match. Here we go, finally.
3.44pmIt is Bell and Cook who open the batting for England. Both sides are out in the middle now and we're almost ready to begin.
3.40pmFinally, the ICC are beginning to show some sense. There will be just a 10 minutes interval following the first innings in the hope that we can avoid a similar situation the one that ruined Friday's game between the West Indies and South Africa.
3.35pmThe weather is very important from here. There's cannot be anymore rain or that will be it. England have a chance to secure their spot in the semi-finals now.
3.27pmRevised playing conditions: The mandatory powerplay will last five overs and the batting powerplay will be just two overs long. Four bowlers may bowl a maximum of five overs and one bowler can bowl four overs.
3.25pmDo England change their batting order? I'd guess that Cook and Bell will still open but if England enjoy a good start then I wouldn't be surprised if Morgan or Buttler are promoted.
3.21pmFinally, it looks like we're going to see some cricket. England cannot afford to start slowly. The ball is likely to do something for New Zealand early on but if Cook's side can survive the first few overs, it will be time to attack.
3.18pmBREAKING NEWS: Play will start at 3.45pm and the match will be 24 overs per side.
3.15pmThe umpires have appeared again. They're inspecting the pitch and the outfield. It's looking good. We're just awaiting official word for a start time.
3.09pmI'm pretty confident that we'll see a game beginning somewhere close to 4.00pm. That's as long as there's no more rain in Cardiff. One more shower and I'm afraid that will probably be it.
3.04pmSome of the players are out in the middle now warming up. The umpires will be out there soon. I just wonder if Eoin Morgan will move up the order for England, who need to put the Kiwis under pressure with an attacking batting display.
3.00pmI'm guessing now but the game will surely be 20 overs per side if we can get started before 4.17pm. England's Champions Trophy hopes could depend on the rain staying away.
2.55pmThe good news keeps coming. There will be a full inspection at 3.10pm. The covers have been removed now. It looks like a game is possible now.
2.53pmIf a Twenty20 game is possible, do England change their batting order? The top three have the time to set a platform in 50 overs but in a shortened game England will have to attack immediately.
2.51pmThe umpires have come out to the middle to have a look at the pitch and the outfield. Promising signs.
2.49pmThe ground staff have returned and just as they do, the rain stops. Don't get your hopes up just yet but if the rain can stay away for a while, we could have a Twenty20 match on our hands in Cardiff.
2.41pmI'm not sure if Cook will enjoy the irony of England relying on Australia for a favour at the beginning of an Ashes summer. Australia could pip England to that final semi-final spot but they'll need an impressive run-rate to do so.
2.34pmCook will be bitterly disappointed that his side's fate could be decided by others. If the rain continues for much longer, Sri Lanka will know that a win tomorrow earns them a spot in the semi-finals.
2.28pmThe ground staff have confirmed that it will take between 45-60 minutes to prepare the pitch and the outfield for play. It's brighter but there's still some rain. Incredibly frustrating day for England.
2.21pmWe're two hours away from the cut-off point for this game. Rain continues to fall. Fans continue to head to the exit door. England and New Zealand continue to play scrabble indoors. OK, that last one might not be true.
2.13pmI've got another weather update for you but it's not good. The rain is much more heavy in Cardiff and this game is at real risk of being abandoned now. It has to stop raining before 3.00pm and if it is doesn't, I think the umpires will call it a day.
2.07pmBefore the Ashes arrives, we've got the rest of this competition to enjoy. It's been intriguing throughout but the weather is beginning to win the battle in England. Let's hope the semi-finals and final can be played without any interruptions.
2.00pmJust a reminder that we'll be covering the entire Ashes series this summer on Sports Mole. It promises to be an exciting contest, can the Australians stop fighting for long enough to surprise England?
1.53pmDoes it get much worse than arriving at cricket to see rain? Many of my Sundays have been ruined in the Suffolk countryside due to poor weather. Unfortunately for the people of Cardiff, it seems to rain every time England visit.
1.45pmIf you missed the toss this morning, New Zealand elected to bowl first. It's brighter in Cardiff but we're still waiting for the rain to disappear.
1.42pmAn annoying drizzle has returned, so I'm not sure how close we are to seeing any play. If the umpires are able to inspect the area at any point then we will see some play an hour later.
1.37pmIs there a glimmer of hope in Cardiff? The rain has just about stopped and the fourth umpires has emerged to have a conversation with the ground staff.
1.30pmThere's been no change in Cardiff for the past couple of hours. It's still raining, not heavily but enough to keep the players inside the dressing rooms.
1.20pmIndia and South Africa have already qualified for the semi-finals from Group B. Australia could still make the final four but they would need to win convincingly against Sri Lanka tomorrow. If this weather continues and both games are abandoned, England and New Zealand will qualify.
1.13pmPlenty of puddles on the covers out in the middle and the outfield looks very wet too. The ground staff have suggested that it will take around an hour to get the field of play ready. So, if it keeps raining until 3pm, we could see this match abandoned.
1.05pmThe pubs and restaurants will certainly be getting a bit of extra business this afternoon. Not too many fans left in the ground. They know that there's little chance of any play anytime soon.
12.54pmSwann is out of the match, if we get one. However, James Tredwell's figures in ODI cricket in the past 18 months are far more impressive than Swann. Of course England would prefer to have a fully firing Swann but Tredwell has consistently proved his worth to England.
12.47pmNew Zealand included Corey Anderson in their side for today's game. If the game does begin he'll be making his ODI debut. A left-arm seamer, the 22-year-old would also provide another option in the middle of the batting order.
12.44pmAs I've said already, the latest this match can start is 4.17pm but if the rain continues then the match would be abandoned before then as the ground staff need a sustained period of dryness to prepare the field.
12.38pmI've returned to the laptop and my mood has not been improved by the fact that it is still raining in Cardiff. It's not heavy but the frustration continues for England in Wales.
12.10pmI'm afraid it looks like the rain will be around for a while yet. Let's keep everything crossed in the hope that we will see some cricket later on this afternoon. We're going to have a break for 30 minutes but I'll hopefully return with better news then.
12.00pmWe've been losing overs for 30 minutes now. I'm told that we must start before 4.17pm to get a 20 over game.
11.54amSome of the supporters are beginning to leave the ground but I'm guessing they're probably retreating to a pub until the rain goes away. Can't blame them, to be honest.
11.48amThere has been some good news for England fans this morning. Kevin Pietersen will make his return from a knee injury later this week when he plays for Surrey in their County Championship match against Yorkshire. It's vital for him to prove his fitness before the Ashes.
11.42amAs I've mentioned, England or New Zealand will qualify for the semi-finals with a win today. Sri Lanka must beat Australia but if both games are abandoned but a New Zealand loss will mean the Kiwis are relying on the Aussies.
11.37amSri Lanka face Australia tomorrow and you can follow live updates of that match on Sports Mole. England will be looking to that game with interest if today's match is abandoned.
11.27amThe ground staff have even headed back inside, which is never a good signs. England will be itching to start this game but we must have 20 overs per side for a result.
11.19amWe will start losing overs from 11.30am, so this game will certainly be reduced. The entire square is covered in Cardiff and we're a long way away from play at the moment.
11.11amIt's still raining in Cardiff. Not heavy rain but just enough to be a nuisance. If the rain that is expected to arrive comes soon, the umpires could be forced into a difficult position.
11.02amIt's difficult to disagree with Hoggard's comments. A Twenty20 game would certainly suit New Zealand. Would England's top order batsmen be able to accelerate early in their innings?
10.58amMatthew Hoggard, speaking to BBC's Test Match Special: "If the match is shortened, it may not suit England as in a shorter game, you need big hitters, and their top four are all about sorting a platform."
10.54amNew Zealand will be enjoying watching the rain outside their window at the moment. If this game is abandoned, New Zealand progress into the semi-finals.
10.46amIt's not heavy rain in Cardiff but they don't start in drizzle. However, I'm hearing that the radar doesn't look good for England and that the poor weather could stick around.
10.38amThe forecast has changed a number of times over this weekend. Rain wasn't expected until later this afternoon but it looks like we could be in for a stop-start day.
10.36amAn hour can be lost in Cardiff before we lose any overs. England will be sweating at the moment but we should see some cricket today.
10.31amThe bad news has arrived early this morning. It's still raining and the umpires have now confirmed that the start will be delayed.
10.29amThe anthems are finished but it's still raining, looks like it could be a frustrating day.
10.26amThere's some light drizzle around as the players come out for the national anthems. England cannot afford for this game to be a washout.
10.22amKyle Mills and Mitchell McClenaghan have bowled well at the start of the innings in this tournament and if they can take early wickets, Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum will have a big role to play later on.
10.19amNew Zealand will be confident today. They've performed well recently and were excellent in the series victory over England before the competition.
10.16amThere's a feeling in Cardiff that the pitch will get better to bat on as the day progresses. The forecast suggests that we will see some rain later in the day.
10.13amEngland have plenty to prove following the loss to Sri Lanka. Questions continue to be asked of the top three's ability to score quickly but it was the poor bowling that let them down in that game.
10.10amCorey Anderson makes his ODI debut for the Kiwis, replacing the injured Tim Southee.
10.08amEngland make just one change, with Cook confirming that a calf injury is the reason for James Tredwell replacing Graeme Swann.
10.06amNew Zealand: Ronchi, Guptill, Williamson, Taylor, Franklin, B. McCullum, Vettori, N. McCullum, Mills, McClenaghan
10.05amENGLAND: Cook, Bell, Trott, Root, Morgan, Bopara, Buttler, Bresnan, Broad, Tredwell, Anderson
10.04amBREAKING NEWS: New Zealand win the toss and will bowl first.
10.03amEngland need to win this match today. If they lose, or if the game is abandoned due to rain, they will be left to sweat over Sri Lanka's game with Australia.
10.00amGood morning. We're getting to the business end of the competition now and, if the poor weather stays away, we could be set for another thrilling match today.
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