A team of Joe Roots

As has been the case in the last few days, there was more talk at the start of the game about the rain than about the cricket.

The winner of this Champions Trophy should be awarded the golden umbrella or something.

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) June 16, 2013

Soon after the toss, it started pelting down and play was held up for more than five hours, and many thought there wouldn't be a ball bowled today.

Whichever idiot said there was an improved forecast for Cardiff today, I will find you, and I will kill you. #ct13 #engvnz

— Jarleth Eaton (@jarletheaton) June 16, 2013

If this game gets rained out I reckon they should rule England out of the finals purely for bad weather. #EngvNZ #ct13

— Cat Jones (@Cricketbatcat) June 16, 2013

There were plenty of jokes about the weather.

Who's clever idea was it to play a cricket tournament in that notoriously arid wilderness of Wales anyway? #ct13 #engvnz

— Ben Croucher (@BenCCroucher) June 16, 2013

how on earth did England ever manage to invent cricket ...considering there isn't one day without rain ! #justsaying #CT13

— annushree (@annu1331) June 16, 2013

Once the game did get underway - a 24-over-a-side affair - Alastair Cook showed he could score at Twenty20 pace, and was helped by three drop catches from Nathan McCullum.

Oh come on! Nathan Mac proving that he was once part of pune warriors.

— Subash (@thecricketcouch) June 16, 2013

But on the fourth time of asking, McCullum held on to a caught-and-bowled chance from Cook.

he caught it coz he was the bowler himself #selfish !

— Ghumman (@emclub7) June 16, 2013

After dismissing Cook for 64, McCullum went on to take three more catches making it a very eventful day for him in the field.

Maybe not a book but Nathan McCullum sure owes us a pamphlet or a tweet on how he got his catching mojo back #engvsnz #ct13

— Bored Cricket (@BoredCricket) June 16, 2013

While much of the concern was about whether England's top three could score quickly enough, it was the designated hitters that failed as seven wickets went down for 28 and England slid to 169 all out.

England all out 169. Bresnan's futile belly flop was the most sophisticated part of the death batting. #engvnz #ct13

— Pavilion Opinions (@pavilionopinion) June 16, 2013

Not often that you can wedge in a popular counter-terrorism drama in a cricket tweet.

NZ require 170. However by the rules of TwentyFour24 cricket, both sides can still win if they go Jack Bauer and stop a terrorist attack.

— Burton DeWitt (@bsd987) June 16, 2013

New Zealand's chase got off to a stuttering start as England's bowlers proved far too good for opener Luke Ronchi, who scratched around for a 12-ball 2.

Once upon a time Luke Ronchi hit a boundary! #EngvsNZ #CT13

— SACH IS LIFE !!!!!! (@Ajith_Sachinist) June 16, 2013

Luke Ronchi, I feel your pain. Every innings I've ever played looked much like that. #engvnz #ct13

— Andrew Bloxham (@Andrew_Bloxham) June 16, 2013

Things went from bad to worse as the big-hitting Ross Taylor also fell cheaply and New Zealand slipped to 27 for 3. Taylor also used up the review for what initially looked a plumb lbw decision.

Suspect Ross imagined the ball was missing the stumps and going towards midwicket #engvnz #ct13

— Bored Cricket (@BoredCricket) June 16, 2013

Joe Root, the current darling of England's cricket fans and pundits, backed up a brisk innings with a sharp, low catch to dismiss the dangerous Brendon McCullum

I want a team of Joe Roots @ESPNcricinfo #engVsNz

— Nzveeee (@Astroswatiri) June 16, 2013

Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson kept New Zealand hoping with a big partnership, but England were still ahead on the D/L method. In the 18th over, Jos Buttler appealed for a bowled, though the ball had clearly sailed over the stumps, hit his gloves and then struck the stumps.

Waiting for the excuse that Buttler is just passionate about the game #ENGvNZ #ct13

— Sports Dimension (@Sport_Dimension) June 16, 2013

With a drizzle around, and the 20th over of the chase - the last one which needed to be completed to ensure we had a result - starting, Corey Anderson pulled up with a calf injury, getting treatment for several minutes, and prompting questions over gamesmanship.

NZ's plan B: fall down and don't get up #ct13

— legsidefilth (@legsidefilth) June 16, 2013

Corey Anderson down with cramp, England need to bowl 5 balls to constitute a match! If they go off now Twitter will explode. #EngvNZ #CT13

— fwildecricket (@fwildecricket) June 16, 2013

Corey Anderson didn't look too badly affected when taking singles and twos after getting treatment.

Quality running considering Corey Anderson has a chest buster from the Alien films bursting through his calf. #EngvNZ

— Tom Dowan (@TommyDBC3) June 16, 2013

There was a moment of big drama, when the man who was powering the chase - Kane Williamson - was given out caught after the third umpire deemed that the bowler Stuart Broad hadn't overstepped. It was a very tight decision, though probably the right one.

Before talking abt DRS, ICC shud think abt investing some money to make a proper white line for a crease #CT13"

— NIMI KUMAR (@nimi_kumar) June 16, 2013

Soon after, the game seemed over when Jimmy Anderson took the catch to get rid of the other set batsman Corey Anderson. Some tweeters had other things on their mind though.

ok thats cool. I've got my Anderson c Anderson! #CT13

— Mark Long (@MarkLong06) June 16, 2013

England ran out victors by 10 runs, booking their place in the final four, prompting more sarcasm on Twitter.

I fully expect to see legions of St George flags on cars now the national team in our national sport is in a global semi #EngvNZ #ct13

— Robert Weaver (@robweaverwm) June 16, 2013