What Each Team Needs To Do To Make It To The World Cup Semifinal

Team India, on Thursday, thrashed West Indies by 125 runs in a lopsided contest to all but secure their passage to the last four. The win also meant India remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament. With few games remaining in the league stage now, the race for the semifinals has spiced up. So, here we take a look at what all the teams need to do to progress ahead.

1. Australia (12 points):

Played: 7 | Won: 6 | Lost: 1 | NR: 0 | NRR: 0.906

The defending champions have become the first team to make it to the semifinal. They now have the luxury of using their remaining two games to carry out any experiment. At the same time, Australia will also like to win both the games in order to have the momentum by their side when they play the semifinal.

2. New Zealand (11 points):

Played: 7 | Won: 5 | Lost: 0 | NR: 1 | NRR 1.028

New Zealand suffered their first loss of the competition this week when Pakistan beat them by 6 wickets. While the defeat has not hurt their semifinal chances much but it could cause problems later on. With 11 points, New Zealand can still make it to the semifinal but they will have to depend on other results. The road ahead for the Black Caps is only going to get tougher as they will face Australia and England in their last two games. They need just one more point to confirm their spot in the last four.

3. India (11 points):

Played: 6 | Won: 5 | Lost: 0 | NR: 1 | NRR 1.160

The only unbeaten side in the World Cup, India have their one leg in the semifinal already. The Men in Blue need just one more point to make it to the last four. They will face England, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in their last three games. One point will be enough for India to progress ahead in the World Cup. But with the momentum on their side at the moment, they will be keen to make the most of it and win the maximum number of games.

4. England (8 points):

Played: 7 | Won: 4 | Lost: 3 | NR: 0 | NRR 1.051

No pre-tournament favourite has capitulated as much as England. The World Cup hosts were the red-hot favourites to win the tournament but are now in a spot of bother. Three losses in the competition have put them on the verge of elimination. What makes things even tougher for them is the opponents in their remaining two league games – India and New Zealand.

One win from the two games will not guarantee a semifinal spot for them although they can progress if other results go their way. But if they win both of their games, they will sail through.

5. Bangladesh (7 points):

Played: 7 | Won: 3 | Lost: 3 | NR: 1 | NRR -0.133

Bangladesh have done really well in the tournament although the results have not gone their way more often than not. They still have a chance to make it to the semifinal but will have to win at least one of their remaining two games and hope that the other results go their way. Even if they win both of their league games, they will have to depend on other results to make it to the last four. Bangladesh will take on India and Pakistan in their last two games.

6. Pakistan (7 points):

Played: 7 | Won: 3 | Lost: 3 | NR: 1 | NRR -0.976

Pakistan are also in with a chance of making it to the semifinal. Their win over New Zealand have put them in a good position. They now need to win at least one of their remaining two games and hope that the other results go their way. Even if they win both of their remaining games against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, they will end up on 11 points and will have to depend on other results,.

7. Sri Lanka (6 points):

Played: 6 | Won: 2 | Lost: 2 | NR: 2 | NRR -1.119

It was Sri Lanka who really spiced up the competition by beating England and now they too stand a chance of making it to the semifinal. The Islanders have won just two of their six games but two washed-out games mean they have six points.

Victories over West Indies and South Africa alone could well be enough to secure a semi-final spot, while winning all three of their games will put them in prime position. But even then the other factors could come into play if England also win both their games and finish on 12 points. In case two teams finish on the same point, the team with more wins will progress ahead.

The other teams in the competition – West India, South Africa and Afghanistan are out of the World Cup already.