Neesham has already forgotten about England defeat and is looking to the next game

• New Zealand look likely to finish in fourth and qualify for the semi-final at Old Trafford
• Jimmy Neesham finished with figures of 2/42 in New Zealand’s 119-run defeat by England

New Zealand’s 119-run defeat to England was their low point of this World Cup – but all-rounder Jimmy Neesham insists he has already forgotten all about it.

The all-rounder was the pick of the Kiwi bowlers at the Riverside, taking 2/42 and removing the dangerous Jason Roy as England made 305/8.

That proved beyond the Black Caps batsmen however, and Kane Williamson’s side have now lost three in a row to end the group stage.

But, barring a Pakistan miracle at Lord’s, the Black Caps are still in the semi-finals and Neesham would have taken that at the start of the summer.

“It was poor, certainly below the level we expect of ourselves as a team,” he said.

“But if you look at our goal this tournament, it was to give ourselves a chance of making the semi-finals.

“Once you are in the top four it is only a case of having two good days and anything prior to that will be swept under the carpet.

“For us it is a case of flushing the dunny and preparing for the next game as best we can.

“We prepare for every game and I will forget this game tomorrow.”

The Black Caps batting line-up appears somewhat reliant on Williamson so far this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

And Neesham admits the Durham deck did not play to their strengths against England.

He added: “It would have required a good start and I think we had a fair bit of misfortune in our top four especially. We didn’t have a whole lot go our way.

“We certainly had a chance when myself and Tom Latham were together to put something together and give ourselves a chance of a tilt at the end.

“It wasn’t to be but we are pretty happy to have ended up in the semi-finals.”

And Neesham was typically phlegmatic in defeat, and now begins preparations for a potential semi-final at Old Trafford.

He added: “I would be foolish to stop what has been working for me now. I will be preparing for a semi-final at Old Trafford.

“There are plenty of worse jobs than being out in the Durham sunshine playing a game of cricket.

“I am trying to wiggle a couple of tickets to Wimbledon and get the train down, But for us it will be about trying to get away from cricket for a few days now.”