Hyderabad: As the World Cup 2023 has entered its business end, every game will be crucial for the teams to book a berth in the semifinal stage. India has become the first team to be officially qualified for the semi-final after they trounced Sri Lanka by a massive 302 runs at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Now, there are three spots vacant and South Africa has almost made it to the semifinal, though its place in the knockout stage is not official yet. However, the race to finish in the top four is still wide open for other teams. ETV Bharat takes a look at the possible scenarios for each team to advance into the next stage.
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Tell us your #CWC23 semi-finalists 👇
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 1, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
How things stand ➡️ https://t.co/FPLZumw5LU pic.twitter.com/pK4IxWlvsu
">Tell us your #CWC23 semi-finalists 👇
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 1, 2023
How things stand ➡️ https://t.co/FPLZumw5LU pic.twitter.com/pK4IxWlvsuTell us your #CWC23 semi-finalists 👇
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 1, 2023
How things stand ➡️ https://t.co/FPLZumw5LU pic.twitter.com/pK4IxWlvsu
- India
The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team has become the first team to officially qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and has been unbeaten in the tournament so far. India has played seven matches and remained unbeaten in the tournament so far. India first trounced Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and then did not look back.
India currently has 14 points with seven wins and if they win the remaining two games, they will end up with 16 points and finish as the table toppers. Then India will play the semi-final at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
Win: 7
Defeat: 0
Net Run Rate: +2.102
- South Africa
South Africa is the second most consistent team so far in this edition of the World Cup as they are comfortably placed at the second spot with six wins from seven games and 12 points. A win will help Temba Bavuma-led South Africa to climb up to 14 points and book a spot in the last four stages would become easy. However, winning all the remaining two fixtures will take them to second place in the points table with 16 points.
Win: 6
Defeat: 1
Net Run Rate: +2.032
- New Zealand
In the absence of regular skipper Kane Williamson, Tom Latham-led New Zealand started their campaign on a rolling note by winning the first four games against England, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. However, the Kiwis have suffered three successive defeats against India and Australia at Dharamsala and South Africa in Pune. Currently, New Zealand is placed third with eight points after four wins and three losses. Winning all of their remaining fixtures, Kiwis can also climb up to 12 points giving themselves the best chance to finish inside the top four. If they suffer defeat in both the remaining matches, they will have to depend on other teams.
Win: 4
Defeat: 3
Net Run Rate: +0.484
- Australia
Starting off disastrously with two defeats, including the one they lost to India in a low-scoring match at Chennai, Aussies have bounced back with a ferocity few can stitch up so fast. Four wins on the trot, trouncing New Zealand and Pakistan on the way, Glenn Maxwell scoring a 43-ball century against the smarting Dutchmen, David Warner polishing up his bat with centuries and Adam Zampa emerging from ruins to mark three four-wicket hauls as they are back in the semifinal reckoning with a bang.
Australia is currently placed in the third spot with four wins. They'll have to win at least two fixtures to book a seat in the semifinals while just one win makes them wish that all other match results come their way.
Win: 4
Defeat: 2
Net Run Rate: +0.970
- Pakistan
Pakistan managed to survive another day at the World Cup, courtesy of a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh which kept their semifinal hopes alive. With six losses in the tournament, Bangladesh is now knocked out of contention.
Pakistan still has a ray of hope with their third win, which ended their four-game losing streak, and helped them to jump past Afghanistan into the fifth spot of the points table. They have six points now, the same as Afghanistan, who have a game in hand. They are set to play New Zealand and England, which are must-win games.
With just two more matches remaining, they can only reach to maximum of 10 points. They'll have to pray for the result to come in their favour to make it to the last four.
Win: 3
Defeat: 4
Net Run Rate: -0.024
- Afghanistan
Afghanistan, who are no longer underdogs, have already recorded three upsets in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. First, they trounced the defending champions England, then the Asian sides stunned Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who had won the ODI World Cup in 1992, and 1996 respectively.
Afghanistan is currently placed at the sixth spot in the points table having six points. They are above Bangladesh (seventh spot), the Netherlands (eighth spot), Sri Lanka (ninth spot), and defending champions England (10th and last spot).
Afghanistan need to win at least two of their three remaining matches against the Netherlands, Australia, and South Africa. If Afghanistan win two and has 10 points on board, then it could come down to the net run rate.
Win: 3
Defeat: 3
Net Run Rate: -0.718
- Sri Lanka
Injury-hit Sri Lanka is currently placed in the seventh spot in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. They have now five losses and two wins from the seven games following their 302-run drubbing by hosts India. Sri Lanka has a chance to get to the 8 points by winning all two fixtures. They are all but out of the marquee tournament.
Win: 2
Defeat: 5
Net Run Rate: -1.162
- Netherlands
The minnows Netherlands have stunned everyone after defeating rampaging South Africa and Bangladesh. They are now placed at the eighth position in the six matches. If they could win all the 3 remaining matches to reach a maximum of 10 points and will want New Zealand or Australia to lose at least two matches to secure a place in the semifinals.
Win: 2
Defeat: 4
Net Run Rate: -1.277
- Bangladesh
Bangladesh became the first country to be eliminated from the World Cup when they crashed to a seven-wicket defeat to Pakistan. Bangladesh came to the World Cup after finishing third in the Super League qualification tournament just behind New Zealand and defending champions England, but many of the games they won were on home soil, where low and slow wickets suited the team's playing style and cost them in the World Cup.
Bangladesh has suffered six losses in the seven games of the World Cup and is currently placed in the ninth position in the points table. If they could win their next two games as well, they could only get up to 6 points. Hence, they are officially out of contention now.
Win: 1
Defeat: 6
Net Run Rate: -1.446
- England:
The same is the case for defending champions, England who are placed at the bottom of the table. They have managed to win only one game in the six games so far. Even if they win all of their remaining three games, England will reach eight points and the top two teams are already beyond the 8-point mark.
Thus, in order for them to be in contention for the semi-final race they will wish both New Zealand and Australia to lose all their matches and get stuck on eight points as well and none of the teams from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Netherlands finish on 10 points.
Win: 1
Defeat: 5
Net Run Rate: -1.652
