The Cricket World Cup 2023 has reached a thrilling stage with England being eliminated and South Africa securing a semifinal berth. The race for the last two semifinal slots has intensified, primarily involving Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Australia:
Australia currently stands with 10 points and a healthy net run rate of 0.924 after defeating England. They have two remaining matches against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, which gives them a great chance to secure the third semifinal spot.
New Zealand
New Zealand, on the other hand, has faced four consecutive defeats, leaving them with 8 points and a net run rate of 0.398. They have one match left against Sri Lanka, but even a win may not be enough if Australia beats Bangladesh and Afghanistan wins their remaining games.
Pakistan
Pakistan has made a remarkable comeback with wins against Bangladesh and New Zealand, accumulating 8 points and a net run rate of 0.036. Their last game is against England, and while a victory would help, they still rely on other results.
For Pakistan to secure a spot in the semifinals, they need to not only beat England but also depend on outcomes in other matches.
Pakistan has the advantage of playing the penultimate game of the league stage, allowing them to gauge exactly what they need to do to qualify. This knowledge will be crucial in determining the margin they must achieve against England.
As Pakistan gears up to face England in this crucial match, the equation is clear: win and win big. The margin of victory will be pivotal in determining whether Pakistan can surpass New Zealand’s net run rate and secure their spot in the Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinals.
If both New Zealand and Pakistan win their final matches and Afghanistan also wins a game, the net run rate could become a deciding factor among these three teams. Currently, New Zealand has a better net run rate.
Even if New Zealand were to score 300 and win by just one run against Sri Lanka, Pakistan would need to beat England by 130 runs (with the same total) to surpass New Zealand in net run rate.
The competition remains intense, and cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the outcome of these pivotal matches.
