Rain threat adds element of unknown to NZ’s semi-final bid,
New Zealand, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain in the race for the final spot in the World Cup semi-finals with one match left for each of the three teams.
Table-toppers India, South Africa and Australia have already booked their place in the final-four of the 10-team tournament.
AFP Sport takes a look at qualification scenarios needed to become the fourth semi-finalist.
– New Zealand –
Played: 8, Points: 8, Net run-rate: 0.398
Remaining match: v Sri Lanka (in Bengaluru on Thursday)
Runners-up in the previous two editions, New Zealand’s semi-final hopes hang in the balance after four successive defeats.
Victory against Sri Lanka and defeats for Pakistan and Afghanistan will take them clear on 10 points and into the semis.
A rain threat looms over their final league encounter in Bengaluru and if points with Sri Lanka are shared then a win for either Pakistan or Afghanistan will end their bid.
New Zealand boast a better net run-rate than both Pakistan and Afghanistan which could end up being the clinching factor.
– Pakistan –
Played: 8, Points: 8, Net run-rate: 0.036
Remaining match: v England (in Kolkata on Saturday)
The 1992 champions need to beat England and hope New Zealand and Afghanistan lose to make the semi-finals with 10 points.
But if New Zealand win against Sri Lanka then Pakistan will need to beat England by a big margin of around 100 runs to improve their net run-rate.
They have the advantage of playing the last of the three teams, so will know exactly what they need to get into the semis.
– Afghanistan –
Played: 8, Points: 8, Net run-rate: -0.338
Remaining match: v South Africa (in Ahmedabad on Friday)
The giant-killers need to win their remaining match and hope Pakistan and New Zealand lose their games for a clear entry into the semis.
If they beat South Africa while Pakistan as well as New Zealand also both win their final matches then all three teams will be tied on 10 points and net run-rate will come into play.
Afghanistan have the worst run-rate (in negative) among the three teams.
While,
A forecast for rain has added an unknown element to New Zealand’s final World Cup group stage match against Sri Lanka in Chennai on Thursday, captain Kane Williamson said.
New Zealand occupy the last semi-final slot available but only by virtue of having a better net run rate than Pakistan and Afghanistan, with all three teams tied on eight points after eight games.
“We’ll still have to very much see what the pitch is like. There’s been a lot of weather around and it could look different tomorrow,” said Williamson.
“There’s lots of things that we can’t control and the weather is one of those. There may be a thought in the back of your mind, but at the end of the day, our focus will be on the cricket that we want to play.”
New Zealand, finalists in 2019, won their first four matches in India before losing the next four.
“There were also some really close games and ones that we lost,” Williamson said.
“I think if we look at the cricket on a whole, there has been a lot of good cricket.
“The beauty of this type of layout is that you do play everybody, you are challenged by everybody in different ways, so the focus is much more about your own cricket and how you look to try and handle that.”
New Zealand similarly struggled to make the semis in 2019 but were able to turn things around and reach the final.
“I suppose guys have had some of those experiences, but it’s another game on another day and four years later,” Williamson said.
“So, the focus is here and now and on the conditions, and how we want to adjust.”
Williamson added that pacer Lockie Ferguson’s return after missing two matches due to injury would depend on pitch conditions.
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