GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia (AFP) — England proved there was more to their batting than Kevin Pietersen as they knocked New Zealand out of the World Twenty20 with a three-wicket win here yesterday.

Eoin Morgan starred with 40 after England, chasing 150 for victory, had slumped to 66 for four at the Beausejour Stadium.

But, together with Luke Wright, who made 24, the former Ireland left-hander swung the game back England’s way in a stand of 52 in just more than six overs.

Morgan got out just before the finish, but man-of-the-match Tim Bresnan, unbeaten on 23 after taking one wicket for 20, ended the contest with five balls to spare when he pulled Kyle Mills for four.

England, already through to the semi-finals before this final Group E match even started, after defending champions Pakistan beat South Africa earlier in the day, ended the Super Eights with a perfect played three won from three played record.

They will now face the runners-up in Group F in the first semi-final here on Thursday.

“It’s crucial that you keep the momentum going and stay in winning ways,” said England captain Paul Collingwood at the post-match presentation ceremony. “There’s areas to improve on again, but I’m absolutely delighted in how we’ve gone. A lot of credit goes to the bowlers.”

England’s victory also meant Pakistan went through to the semi-finals as group runners-up after edging New Zealand on superior run-rate.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori blamed repeated batting failures for his side’s exit.

“There were a number of factors (in losing this match), 150 was competitive but about 10 below par,” Vettori said.

“We did well to fight back but Morgan and Wright’s partnership took it away from us. We could have bowled better. We just haven’t been able to put enough runs on the board.”

Meanwhile, Bresnan was delighted by his all-round display.

“I’ve definitely got two strings to my bow and I do like batting at the end when I can play my shots. As long as you bowl the ball in the right spot, it’s hard for the batsman.”

England had won their previous matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the back of Pietersen fifties.

But they had to do without their star batsman after Pietersen, who expects to be back for the semi-finals, was given temporary leave to attend the birth of his first child, a boy, which took place in London yesterday.

Earlier Ross Taylor top-scored for New Zealand with 44 and put on 62 for the fourth wicket with Styris (31) after the Black Caps slumped to 65 for three.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND

B McCullum c Lumb b Swann 33

J Ryder b Bresnan 9

A Redmond c Broad b Swann 16

R Taylor c Bresnan b Sidebottom 44

S Styris c Wright b Broad 31

+G Hopkins b Broad 1

N McCullum not out 3

*D Vettori not out 4

Extras (lb5, w2, nb1) 8

TOTAL (6 wkts, 20 overs) 149

Did not bat: I Butler, S Bond, K Mills.

Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-59, 3-65, 4-127, 5-133, 6-141.

Bowling: Bresnan 4-0-20-1, Sidebottom 4-0-35-1, Broad 4-0-33-2, Swann 4-0-31-2, Yardy 4-0-25-0.

ENGLAND

+C Kieswetter c N McCullum b Mills 15

M Lumb lbw b Vettori 32

R Bopara c Taylor b Styris 9

*P Collingwood c B McCullum b Styris 3

E Morgan c Vettori b Bond 40

L Wright c Mills b Bond 24

T Bresnan not out 23

M Yardy c Butler b N McCullum 0

G Swann not out 1

Extras (lb5, w1) 6

TOTAL (7 wkt, 19.1 overs) 153

Did not bat: S Broad, R Sidebottom.

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-60, 3-60, 4-66, 5-118, 6-142, 7-146.

Bowling: N McCullum 4-0-37-1, S Bond 4-0-29-2, K Mills 3.1-0-32-1, D Vettori 4-0-24-1, S Styris 3-0-16-2, I Butler 1-0-10-0.

Result: England won by three wickets.

Points: England 2, New Zealand 0.

Player-of-the-Match: Tim Bresnan.

Toss: New Zealand who chose to bat.

Umpires: Simon Davis, Simon Taufel.