ICC World Twenty20 2016: Jason Roy gives England the perfect start

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Match 33 saw New Zealand face England in the first semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20 at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.

England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to field first. Batting first, New Zealand posted a total of 153 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs. England needs 154 runs to win and qualify for the ICC World T20 2016 final.

Chasing 154, England openers Jason Roy and Alex Hales opened the innings with sheer brilliance as they helped Three Lions post 50 on the scoreboard in just 4.2 overs, making full use of the field restrictions during the powerplay overs. Hales departed in the second ball of the ninth over. The first wicket partnership ended at 82 runs from 50 balls. Roy helped England reach 100 in just 62 balls and then marched on to score a brilliant knock of 78 runs.

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JASON ROY’S 78 SPURS THE THREE LIONS

The 25-year-old South African born England cricketer was selected in the England squad as a Twenty20 specialist batsman and he certainly didn’t disappoint the selectors. Roy scored 78 runs off 44 deliveries which included 11 boundaries and two sixes operating at a strike rate of 177.27.

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Roy’s 50 runs in just 26 balls is now the second fastest fifty for England in World Twenty20. Eoin Morgan’s fifty in 25 deliveries against the West Indies in 2012 World T20 remains the fastest. This was also Roy’s first Twenty20 International fifty as his previous best being 43 runs against South Africa in the group stages of the ongoing ICC World T20 2016.

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