SYDNEY: India, Pakistan, Australia, England and South Africa are jostling for a place in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup.
New Zealand are the first to confirm a last-four slot while Bangladesh are also in the race. India will advance to the semifinals if they beat Zimbabwe on Sunday; Pakistan have to beat Bangladesh, and require at least one of India or South Africa to lose.
Pakistan’s 33-run win over South Africa on Thursday in Sydney has kept the Super 12 Group 2 semi-final qualification scenarios interesting going into the final round of T20 World Cup group matches on Sunday.
With no rain forecast for the Adelaide double-header – between Netherlands-South Africa and Bangladesh-Pakistan – and only a slim chance of showers leading into India-Zimbabwe in Melbourne, the probability of a washout across the three games is miniscule. Here is a look at what each of the contenders requires to make the knockouts: India have the advantage of playing the last game of the group stage.
They will be through if they beat Zimbabwe. However, a loss to Zimbabwe will mean South Africa should have lost to Netherlands or Bangladesh should have beaten Pakistan, with a margin not big enough to take their net run rate above India’s. However, a loss to Zimbabwe after South Africa and Pakistan victories will see India knocked out, as Pakistan’s NRR is already better than India’s.
