Seven reasons the Black Caps can still win the World Cup

OPINION: It's more fun to live in hope than be resigned to defeat, so here are seven reasons why the Black Caps can still win the Cricket World Cup and why last night's thrashing by England was not as bad as you think.

• England crushes NZ to storm into semis

1. We might have found a world class all-rounder in Jimmy Neesham. He has always looked pretty good with the bat, but all of a sudden has become an accurate bowler who can take wickets against the best teams in the world. After he was made fun of for the quality of his five-wicket bag against Afghanistan he saved us with a brilliant over against the West Indies. And then he was miserly and took valuable wickets against both England and Australia.

2. Tom Latham has finally found some form. Latham looked excellent with the bat against England. He scored quickly as soon as he got out to the wicket, played spin expertly and rotated the strike and only slowed down after it was 100% clear we were going to lose.

3. The first four wickets we lost against England were all stupid/unlucky. Henry Nicholls wasn't out. Martin Guptill was strangled down the leg side, Kane Williamson was run out backing up after Mark Wood got a finger on the ball and Ross Taylor got out going for a stupid second.

4. We missed Lockie Ferguson badly and his return will increase our chances.  Ferguson has been our best bowler by quite some distance during the World Cup and we looked quite clueless without him when Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow were going big. If he comes back for finals he strengthens our bowling attack hugely.

5. After a run of bad luck Martin Guptill is due a big score and on his day can destroy any bowling attack in the world.

6. The Black Caps thrive on being underdogs and the string of three defeats mean we have regained that tag. It will be easy for other teams to think of us as easy beats.

7. This will be our eighth semi final (assuming Pakistan don't pull off a miracle). If we keep making the semis chances are one day we will fluke a World Cup with two good games and it could be this time.