What England's win over New Zealand means for Pakistan and how the two semi-finals are shaping up
The likely World Cup semi-final match-ups
The top four is pretty much locked in, but there's a couple of big games coming up to determine who plays who in the semi-finals 👀 #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/Bx5HFlPNJe%E2%80%94 cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 4, 2019
1st: Australia (14 points)
Played: 8 | Won: 7 | Lost: 1 | NR: 0 | NRR: 1.00
The run home
July 6: v South Africa at Old Trafford
England's win over New Zealand means, barring a a miraculous result at Lord's on Friday, Australia will lock in a semi-final against New Zealand at Old Trafford on July 9 if they beat South Africa on Saturday. Not only would that pit the Aussies against a side that has lost their past three games, including one against their trans-Tasman rivals, it would mean Australia would stay in Manchester for the semi-finals instead of having to travel to Birmingham. But a loss to the Proteas could force Australia to make a trip down the motorway to face England at Edgbaston in the semi-finals.
2nd: India (13 points)
Played: 8 | Won: 6 | Lost: 1 | NR: 1 | NRR 0.811
The run home
July 6: v Sri Lanka at Headingley
India appear on track for a semi-final rematch against England at Edgbaston on July 11, the same venue and the same opponent from their only defeat in the tournament so far. The only way Virat Kohli's side can avoid England in the semis is to beat Sri Lanka on Saturday and hope Australia lose to South Africa, which would vault India into top spot and set up a likely semi against New Zealand in Manchester on July 9 instead.
3rd: England (12 points)
Played: 9 | Won: 6 | Lost: 3 | NR: 0 | NRR 1.15
What a difference a week makes. Having been almost on the canvas after their loss to Australia, England are now brimming with confidence after two thumping wins that have secured a semi-final spot for the first time in 27 years. They will now return to Birmingham for their semi-final against a yet-to-be-determined opponent; if Australia and India both win their final group games on Saturday, it will set up a re-match against Virat Kohli's side on July 11. But a loss for the Aussies against South Africa and a win for India will result in a mouthwatering Ashes battle for a place in the World Cup final.
4th: New Zealand (11 points)
Played: 9 | Won: 5 | Lost: 3 | NR: 1 | NRR: 0.18
Despite a third straight defeat, New Zealand are all but secure in the top four unless there's an extraordinary result at Lord's on Friday (see Pakistan section below). The Kiwis will now head to Manchester for their semi-final on July 9 and wait for Saturday's results to determine their opponent; wins for Australia and India would mean they will face the Aussies in the semis, but an Australian defeat and an Indian victory would see the Kiwis face Virat Kohli's side instead.
5th: Pakistan (9 points)
Played: 8 | Won: 4 | Lost: 3 | NR: 1 | NRR -0.792
The run home
July 5: v Bangladesh at Lord's
England's win over New Zealand means Pakistan now need a minor miracle to reach the semi-finals. They will have to beat Bangladesh at Lord's on Friday by a near-impossible margin to earn a 0.98 increase in their Net Run Rate in order to overtake New Zealand and move into fourth spot. Having crunched the numbers, statistician Mazher Arshad has all but ruled out any chance Pakistan have of reaching the knockout stage, with their seven-wicket thumping at the hands of the West Indies on the second day of the tournament ultimately making a huge difference in their campaign.
If Pakistan score 350, they will need to win by 311 runs. If they score 400, they will need to win by 316 runs. If Pakistan bowl first, they will be knocked out straight away. There is no realistic possibility for Pakistan to qualify for the semis. Their WC dream is over.%E2%80%94 Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) July 3, 2019
New Zealand have lost their last two games by a combined margin of 205 runs still they are miles ahead of Pakistan in NRR. That shows how terribly Pakistan played in the first game against West Indies. #CWC19%E2%80%94 Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) July 3, 2019
6th: Sri Lanka (8 points)
Played: 8 | Won: 3 | Lost: 3 | NR: 2 | NRR -0.934
The run home
July 6: v India at Headingley
England's victory over India on Sunday ended Sri Lanka's campaign, even before their win over the Windies on Monday. The best Sri Lanka can hope for now is some bragging rights over their Asian rivals; victory over India on Saturday and a Bangladesh win over Pakistan on Friday would see Sri Lanka finish as the second-highest ranked Asian nation at the tournament.
7th: Bangladesh (7 points)
Played: 8 | Won: 3 | Lost: 4 | NR: 1 | NRR -0.195
The run home
July 5: v Pakistan at Lord’s
Bangladesh's brave push for their first World Cup semi-final is over after their loss to India on Tuesday night and they will be playing for pride on Friday against neighbours Pakistan, who need to win by a near-impossible margin to secure a semi-final spot (see Pakistan section above).
8th: South Africa (5 points)
Played: 8 | Won: 2 | Lost: 5 | NR: 1 | NRR -0.08
The run home
July 6: v Australia at Old Trafford
A thumping of Sri Lanka on Friday earned the Proteas just their second win of the tournament, but a semi-final spot remains an impossibility after five losses in their first seven games. Their tournament will come to a close with a match against Australia in Manchester on Saturday.
9th: West Indies (3 points)
Played: 8 | Won: 1 | Lost: 6 | NR: 1 | NRR -0.335
The run home
July 4: v Afghanistan at Headlingley
A tournament that promised so much has ended with a whimper for the Windies, who will look back on their heartbreaking loss to the Kiwis as the ‘what if’ moment of their campaign. Already out of the race for a semi-final spot, the Windies have a winnable game to come against Afghanistan on Thursday.
10th: Afghanistan (0 points)
Played: 7 | Won: 0 | Lost: 7 | NR: 0 | NRR -1.634
The run home
July 4: v West Indies at Headlingley
Having fallen just short of beating both India and Pakistan, Afghanistan will be playing for pride on the run home and be eyeing their match against the Windies to register their first win of the tournament.