PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP):

Luke Wright hit a belligerent half-century and Steven Finn grabbed 3-16 to keep defending champions England's hopes alive at the ICC World Twenty20 with a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the Super Eights on Saturday.

Wright smashed 76 off 43 balls to guide England to 149-4 in 18.5 overs after New Zealand were restricted to 148-6 in a Group 1 match.

Fast-bowler Finn never allowed New Zealand to build momentum and the Kiwis owed their total largely to James Franklin's 33-ball 50.

England's top order had crumbled in the previous two games, but Wright and Eoin Morgan (30) batted with plenty of aggression in an 89-run match-winning third-wicket stand in 10 overs.

It was the second successive loss for New Zealand after losing their opening match in a one-over eliminator against Sri Lanka. West Indies defeated England by 15 runs in the teams' first match.

"It was nice to bounce back," said England captain Stuart Broad. "Steven Finn set the tone with the new ball. The wicket was a lot drier and it did turn a bit."

New Zealand struck through spinners Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum, who clean bowled both openers - Craig Kieswetter (4) and Alex Hales (22).

But Morgan and Wright ensured there were no more hiccups in the middle order with some clean hitting. Wright hammered five fours and five sixes, while Morgan was more subdued in his nearly run-a-ball knock that featured a four and a flat six over mid-on.

Earlier, Finn took the wickets of Martin Guptill (5), Brendon McCullum (11) and Taylor (22) as New Zealand struggled to put on a partnership after winning the toss and opting to bat first.

Guptill was trapped leg before wicket off a full-pitched delivery, and Brendon McCullum sliced Finn to third man where Wright took a comfortable chest-high catch.