West Indies have four points in Group One, but England will go through on net run rate if they can defeat Sri Lanka.
A New Zealand win could have left England with the possibility of progressing even if they lost to the hosts, but West Indies’ dramatic victory simplifies the equation.
Defeat would definitely see Stuart Broad’s side eliminated, while an England win would take them through at the expense of West Indies.
Though they were without a victory in the Super Eights before their meeting with Darren Sammy’s men, New Zealand could have still gone through had they won in Pallekele.
However, after also losing to Sri Lanka in a ‘super over’ earlier in the tournament, the Black Caps were again beaten in an eliminator.
Just as in the defeat by Sri Lanka, Southee was unable to produce the economical spell he bowled earlier in the match, with his first delivery in the ‘super over’ a no ball that Gayle hit over long off for six.
From there West Indies always looked likely to get over the line and Samuels, who also bowled the ‘super over’, whipped a full toss over the leg side to seal victory.
It completed a remarkable turnaround for the Windies, who had earlier collapsed from 60-2 at the end of the powerplay to 139 all out.
The dismissal of Gayle, caught behind off Southee for a 14-ball 30, sparked the slump, as New Zealand’s spinners choked West Indies’ middle order.
Left-armer Ronnie Hira, in for the injured Daniel Vettori, and Nathan McCullum picked up 3-43 runs in their combined eight overs before Southee and Doug Bracewell returned to mop up the tail.
New Zealand knew victory in 19.4 overs or faster would put West Indies out and leave England needing to beat Sri Lanka, but they were immediately stifled on a slow wicket.
When Martin Guptill fell at the end of the ninth over, the Kiwis had stumbled to 52-3 having found the boundary only five times.
They were rescued by Ross Taylor’s unbeaten 62, but were still struggling at the hands of Sunil Narine.
The spinner conceded only three singles from the penultimate over of the Black Caps’ chase, leaving New Zealand 14 to win from the final set.
Taylor flicked Samuels over fine leg for six, but lost the strike to leave Doug Bracewell needing two from the last ball of the match.
He could only manage a single and, though Taylor took 12 from the last three balls of New Zealand’s super over, Gayle and Samuels had the final word.
