The host nation made a solid start but needed a welcome contribution from Jos Buttler to elevate them to a score of over 300.

Joe Root top scored for England with a battling 64, while Buttler, a specialist in the one-day format of the game, made a quick-fire unbeaten 61 as the home side made a total of 310 all out.

In reply, New Zealand looked on course for a successful run chase when they reached 158-2 after 30 overs but crafty bowling from England saw the pre-tournament favourites bowl their opponents out for 223.

The result ensures England progress to the last four and means they can afford to lose their final Group A encounter with arch-rivals Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Saturday (June 10).

New Zealand must beat Bangladesh in Cardiff on Friday (June 9) and hope England do them a favour to make it to the semi-finals.

"We know how well we’ve done and we know that if we perform to anywhere near our capability we are going to be a really tough team to beat,” said England all-rounder Ben Stokes. 

“We know that, and I think other teams know that as well. 

"We don’t put any pressure on ourselves to live up to being the favourites, I think we just earn that right from the way that we played.”

After winning the toss, New Zealand put England into bat and they appeared to have made the right decision when Adam Milne bowled opener Jason Roy for 13.

But Alex Hales, who made 56 before he also fell to Milne, and Root led the England recovery and helped set the platform for what proved to be an insurmountable total.

When Stokes was dismissed two shy of a half century, however, New Zealand smelt blood and would have fancied their chances of restricting England to an achievable target.

Buttler had other ideas, smashing the ball to all parts of the ground in a well-timed innings to help boost the home team to an above-par total.

Jake Ball, a disappointment in England's opening day win over Bangladesh, set the tone for England when he removed the dangerous Luke Ronchi in the first over of New Zealand's response.

Kane Williamson then came to the fore and was well on his way to a century when he was bamboozled by a clever delivery from Mark Wood on 87 runs.

It set the tone for England to grab the initiative, with Liam Plunkett the pick of the bowlers as he took 4-55 in a commanding triumph for his side.

The tournament continues tomorrow as Pakistan play South Africa in Group B at Edgbaston.