Favourite England rescued their Twenty20 World Cup hopes as they held their nerve to see off New Zealand by 20 runs at the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday.

England, who had been facing almost certain elimination had they lost, moved up into the top two in Group 1 along with their opponents with one round of matches to go, reports NDTV.

New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson bagged 2 wickets in 4 overs.

They then got away to a perfect start in the field when New Zealand opener Devon Conway leg-glanced a ball from Chris Woakes and Buttler took a spectacular diving catch.

In the second innings, the Black Caps were struggling against a tight bowling attack, but the momentum swung firmly towards them when Moeen Ali dropped the in-form Glenn Phillips when he was on 15 and New Zealand 64-2.

Phillips, who blasted a century against Sri Lanka in New Zealand's last match, made the English pay as he raced to his half-century off only 25 balls.

English bowlers Chris Woakes and Sam Curran bagged 2 wickets each.

England, New Zealand, and Australia are all on five points after four games with New Zealand top of Group 1 on net run rate, with England second.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul