ICC Cricket World Cup 2019:  Blip at your own peril!

ICC Cricket World Cup 2019:  Blip at your own peril!

Birmingham: The round-robin format has had it’s fair share of criticism, citing the length of the tournament and a few drab matches in the opening weeks.

However, on the flipside, the battle for semi-final berths at the Cricket World Cup has gone down to the wire in a thrilling final week full of permutations and possibilities.

The top four go through to the knockout stages and, as things stand those in the semi-final places are Australia, India, New Zealand and the host England, whose nerve-shredding victory over India at Edgbaston means qualification for the World Cup semi-finals remains in their own hands.

Eoin Morgan’s men—the host nation and number one team going into the competition—have made hard work of it, but victory over New Zealand on Wednesday will seal their progress.

If they slip up against the Black Caps in Durham, however, Pakistan or Bangladesh could pip them.

There are a lot of scenarios if one is to consider the possibilities that this game of cricket provides often. Thankfully weather is not playing any role as yet because D-L method is absolutely dreadful for the losing side.

Let’s have a team-wise drawsheet of the permutations to make it to the last four.

India
Virat Kohli’s side have two games left in the group stage against Bangladesh on Tuesday and Sri Lanka on Friday. Winning either game would put them in the last four, regardless of what anyone else does. However, if India were to lose their last two games, and Pakistan won their remaining match against Bangladesh, they would be level on points.

If Bangladesh win their remaining matches, against India and Pakistan, and India lose the last two matches, they would also be level on points.
However, India’s net run rate is superior to both those sides at present.

New Zealand
England’s win over India on Sunday ensured that New Zealand still have work to do to reach the semi-finals, although their chances of being in the knockout stages are still high.

If they beat England on Wednesday in their final group game in Durham they are through, finishing either second or third in the table.
If they lose then they are potentially at risk as both Pakistan and Bangladesh can still finish level with them on 11 points.

But New Zealand’s run rate is much stronger then Pakistan and Bangladesh, and they would advance, as things stand if they finished level with either of those sides.

England
After briefly dropping out of the qualifying places following Pakistan’s win over Afghanistan, England are back up to fourth following the 31-run victory against India. Eoin Morgan’s side now have their destiny in their own hands: beat New Zealand and they are guaranteed a semi-final spot. 

If England go on to lose against New Zealand in their final group match, either Pakistan or Bangladesh could still advance at their expense.
Pakistan would move above them to 11 points if they triumph at Lord’s on Friday against Bangladesh, which would surpass England’s total and put them through. Bangladesh can only reach 11 points if they beat India on Tuesday and Pakistan on Friday. That would put them through if England are beaten on Wednesday.

Pakistan
Pakistan effectively need help from New Zealand if they are to keep alive their hopes of winning the tournament for a second time. If they beat Bangladesh in their final group match, it would get them to 11 points. England could trump this total if they follow up the win over India by beating New Zealand - that would put them on 12 points and beyond Pakistan’s reach.

If Pakistan win against Bangladesh and England have already won, then the best they can do is match New Zealand on 11 points.
New Zealand’s run rate is stronger than Pakistan’s at present, so realistically Sarfaraz Ahmed’s men would need to win by a huge margin at Lord’s and hope England win big as well against the Black Caps.

Bangladesh
Bangladesh have two matches left, against their neighbours India, on Tuesday, and Pakistan on Friday. If they win both that could still put them through to the semi-finals as they would finish on 11 points. But if they lose to India their chances would evaporate as they would get stranded on 9 points.

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