KATHMANDU: South Africa, England and India have already qualified for the semi-finals, but the remaining Group 1 teams in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup are in the running for that final semi spot.
India’s crunching win over Australia in Saint Lucia sealed their spot in the knockout stages and left the Aussies facing an anxious wait as the final semi-final place comes down to the last game in the Super Eight stage
We take a look at how your side is placed heading into that crunch game and what needs to occur for each team to reach the knockout stages.
Group 1
India – Through to the semi-finals
Six points | 2.017 net run rate
India’s unbeaten run continued with an impressive win over Australia to seal their semi-final spot as Group 1 winners.
Rohit Sharma’s side will play their knockout contest in Guyana against defending champions England on June 27.
Australia – Fate is out of their hands
Two points | -0.331
Australia’s shock loss to Afghanistan in St Vincent left the 2021 champions placed precariously heading into their final Super Eight encounter against India.
And defeat in that match means that the Aussies could now be pipped by either Afghanistan or Bangladesh.
The scenario that sees Australia still progress would be a win for the Tigers in that fixture by less than 61 runs to leave Australia as the best-placed on net run rate.
Afghanistan – In the driver’s seat
Two points | -0.650
Afghanistan kept the race for the semi-finals in Group 1 wide open with an upset victory over Australia and will qualify for the final four with another win against Bangladesh in their final Super Eights match.
The equation is simple: any point will send Afghanistan through.
They cannot progress if they lose to Bangladesh due to the net run rate scenario.
Bangladesh – Could still reach final four
Zero points | -2.489
Afghanistan’s victory over Australia has provided Bangladesh with a lifeline as the Tigers could reach the final four with a win in the final Super Eights match of the tournament.
The Tigers will need to beat Afghanistan by a margin of at least 61 runs, or chase a target down inside 13 overs, to boost their net run rate in front of their Asian rival and the Aussies.
Group 2
South Africa – Through to the semi-finals
Six points | +0.5999 net run rate
Despite an undefeated run through the group and Super Eight stage, South Africa’s place in the semi-finals wasn’t confirmed until the final over of their last Group 2 contest against tournament co-hosts West Indies.
A victory against the spirited Men in Maroon ensured that South Africa qualified for the knockout stage, and also topped their group during the Super Eight phase.
England – Through to semi-finals
Four points | +1.992
A victory over the USA in their final Super Eight contest saw the defending champions reach the final four.
West Indies – Out
Two points | +0.963
The West Indies gave plenty of joy to the home fans with some exceptional performances, but eventually losses to England and South Africa in the Super Eight meant that they couldn’t qualify for the business end of the tournament.
USA – Out
Zero points | -3.906
Going into the final Super Eight fixtures, the tournament co-host could have still mathematically qualifed for the final four, but they needed everything go right for it to occur.
They needed to comfortably defeat England in their final match of the Super Eight and have their net run rate overtake the defending champions in the process, then they also needed South Africa to record a similar-sized victory over the West Indies, so the Caribbean side fall behind the USA’s net run rate.
In the end it was immaterial, because England beat them with ease and eliminated them from the tournament.
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