KEY POINTS
- England and Australia lead the points table, both with 7 points after four matches.
- South Africa, with 6 points, is in third place, while India, New Zealand still battle for semi-final spots.
- England’s and Australia’s upcoming matches against top teams are crucial for their qualification.
- Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan have slim chances of advancing, needing multiple upsets.
ISLAMABAD: As the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup hits its halfway mark, the race for the top four spots is heating up. Sixteen matches have been completed in the 28-match league stage, and the competition is fierce.
England and Australia, both on seven points, are leading the standings, having each won three of their four matches, with one washout apiece.
South Africa sits just a point behind them, followed by India and New Zealand, who still have hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Here’s a breakdown of how the teams stand heading into the final stretch of the group stage, along with WE News English predictions on who is most likely to lift the coveted World Cup trophy.
Current Points Table (as of October 15)
Team Matches Won Lost No Result Points NRR
England 4 3 0 0 7 +1.864
Australia 4 3 0 1 7 +1.353
South Africa 4 3 1 0 6 -0.618
India 4 2 2 0 4 +0.682
New Zealand 4 1 2 1 3 -0.245
Bangladesh 4 1 3 0 2 -0.263
Sri Lanka 4 0 2 2 2 -1.256
Pakistan 4 0 3 1 1 -1.887
England: Top Contenders But Not Safe Yet
England, with three wins and a washout, are in a strong position, sitting at the top with 7 points. Their next three games are crucial, as they face India, Australia, and New Zealand, all teams from the top half of the table.
If England loses all three matches, they could still finish on 7 points, potentially leaving their fate in the hands of other teams. However, a victory or even a couple of narrow losses should see them comfortably through to the semi-finals.
Matches left: v India (Indore), v Australia (Indore), v New Zealand (Visakhapatnam)
Australia: The Second Strongest Contender
Australia, tied on points with England, are also favourites to make the semi-finals. Like their rivals, Australia needs to avoid a disastrous run of losses. With two games left against England and South Africa, a win in either match should secure their spot.
The key factor for Australia is the remaining games against lower-ranked teams, where they can bank on easy points.
Matches left: v Bangladesh (Visakhapatnam), v England (Indore), v South Africa (Indore)
South Africa: Almost There But Still Vulnerable
South Africa have been impressive, with three wins and just one loss, leaving them in third place with 6 points.
Their remaining fixtures are relatively favourable, with matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, two of the bottom-three teams.
Even if they lose to Australia, South Africa will likely secure a semi-final berth, unless they suffer a massive collapse.
Matches left: v Sri Lanka (Colombo), v Pakistan (Colombo), v Australia (Indore)
India: Vital Match Against New Zealand
India’s hopes hinge on their upcoming clash with New Zealand. A win here could guarantee them a spot in the top four, especially if they also defeat Bangladesh.
However, if they lose to New Zealand, their path to qualification becomes much trickier, with the need to rely on other results. India’s final group match against England will also play a crucial role in deciding their fate.
Matches left: v England (Indore), v New Zealand (Navi Mumbai), v Bangladesh (Navi Mumbai)
New Zealand: The Dark Horses
With just one win and a washout, New Zealand need a miracle. Three wins from their last three games would almost certainly push them into the semi-finals, but it’s not that simple.
Their match against India is crucial, and they will need to make sure they win at least two of their remaining three matches to stay in contention.
Matches left: v Pakistan (Colombo), v India (Navi Mumbai), v England (Visakhapatnam)
Bangladesh & Sri Lanka: The Long Shots
Both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are languishing in the lower half of the table, with just two points each.
For either team to qualify, they would need to win all their remaining matches and hope for significant help from other results. Realistically, both teams are likely to miss out on the semi-finals unless there’s a major upset in the final few matches.
Bangladesh’s Matches left: v Australia (Visakhapatnam), v Sri Lanka (Navi Mumbai), v India (Navi Mumbai)
Sri Lanka’s Matches left: v South Africa (Colombo), v Bangladesh (Navi Mumbai), v Pakistan (Colombo)
Pakistan: Almost Out, But Not Yet
At the bottom of the table, Pakistan have only one point to their name. Their hopes of qualification are slim, and they would need a miracle to advance. Even if they win all three of their remaining matches, they would likely need to rely on other teams losing heavily.
Matches left: v New Zealand (Colombo), v South Africa (Colombo), v Sri Lanka (Colombo)
Who Will Lift the World Cup?
As it stands, England and Australia are the clear favourites to lift the 2025 Women’s World Cup. Both teams have been consistent, and their top-order batting strength combined with solid bowling attacks makes them tough contenders.
However, South Africa’s resilience and India’s unpredictability mean there could still be a few surprises ahead. If New Zealand manages to turn their form around, they could prove to be the tournament’s dark horses.
However, at this stage, England is the clear favourite, with Australia closely following as the second contender to lift the cup and pocket $4.48 million.
While it’s too early to call, the semi-finals are sure to be a thrilling affair, with a few teams still needing a series of results to go their way. The final few weeks promise to deliver high drama as the competition moves towards its conclusion.
