The race to the World Cup heats up

The World Cup Qualifiers tournament is fast approaching the pointy end with just three matches remaining to decide the final two spots at next year’s showpiece ODI event in England and Wales.

The two sides that finish top the table after the Super Sixes stage of the tournament will book their spot at the World Cup, and play a final for the qualifying tournament that will determine seedings in the main draw.

With every clash now having major ramifications on all teams, here’s a rundown of what it all means for each side.

1st: West Indies (6 points)

Super Sixes: Played 4 | Won 3 | Lost 1 | NRR 0.529

The run home: March 21: v Scotland (Harare Sports Club)

The equation is simple for the two-time winners of the men’s World Cup: win and they’re in. A victory over Scotland on Wednesday would ensure they finish in top spot and become the ninth team through to next year’s showpiece event. A loss would then see them relying on the UAE to beat Zimbabwe on Thursday, as well as hoping for a superior Net Run Rate to Ireland and Afghanistan should either team win their remaining matches to also finish on six points.

2nd: Zimbabwe (5 points)

Super Sixes: Played 4 | Won 2 | Tie 1 | Lost 1 | NRR 0.52

The run home: March 22: v UAE (Harare Sports Club)

The tournament hosts will enter Thursday’s clash against the currently winless UAE as red-hot favourites. Zimbabwe suffered their first defeat of the tournament against the Windies on Monday. A win against the UAE would guarantee their place at the World Cup, while a loss will see them needing other results fall in their favour. If Scotland beat the West Indies on Wednesday then Zimbabwe lose to the UAE on Thursday, their cup dream is over. But if the West Indies win and Zimbabwe lose, they could still sneak through but would rely on the UAE beating Afghanistan on Tuesday, and then an Afghanistan victory against Ireland to end the working week.

3rd: Scotland (5 points)

Super Sixes: Played 4 | Won 2 | Tie 1 | Lost 1 | NRR 0.315

The run home: March 21: v West Indies (Harare Sports Club)

Fresh off a 25-run loss to Ireland, Scotland simply need to beat the Windies on Wednesday to advance to the World Cup. A loss would require a number of dramatic results needing to fall their way, including the UAE thumping Zimbabwe to put the NRR in Scotland’s favour.

4th: Ireland (4 points)

Super Sixes: Played 4 | Won 2 | Lost 2 | NRR 0.474

The run home: March 23: v Afghanistan (Harare Sports Club)

Ireland kept their World Cup dream alive with the win over Scotland, but it’s likely their fate will have already been sealed by the time they walk out for the toss in Friday’s final match of the Super Sixes. In addition to a win over Afghanistan, the men in green would need the UAE to have beaten Zimbabwe, as well as needing either a Windies win over Scotland, or alternatively, a big Scotland win to drag down West Indies' NRR.

5th: Afghanistan (4 points)

Super Sixes: Played 4 | Won 2 | Lost 2 | NRR 0.343

The run home: March 23: v Ireland (Harare Sports Club)

After failing to carry any points through to the Super Sixes stage, Afghanistan kept their slim hopes alive with back-to-back wins against the Windies and UAE respectively.Their best avenue through to the World Cup is for West Indies to defeat Scotland on Wednesday, UAE pulling off an upset against Zimbabwe and then finishing off their tournament with a win over Ireland on Friday.

6th: United Arab Emirates (0 points)

Super Sixes: Played 4 | Won 0 | Lost 4 | NRR -2.381

The run home: March 22: v Zimbabwe (Harare Sports Club)

The World Cup dream is well and truly over for the UAE, but they’ll still be desperate to salvage a Super Sixers victory from the tournament that saw them retain their ODI status for a further four years.