Pakistan keep semi-final hopes alive after handing New Zealand 1st defeat
England can be knocked out, Pakistan still in the hunt
ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Pakistan rode on some fine batting performances from Babar Azam and Haris Sohail and a fiery spell of left-arm fast bowling from Shaheen Afridi to hand New Zealand a 6-wicket defeat on Wednesday. With two wins on the trot, Sarfaraz Ahmed's men have moved to the 6th spot on the points table.
England have 8 points from 6 matches now and next face 3 of the most consistent teams in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. They take on Australia on June 25, India on June 30 and New Zealand on July 3
Qualification Scenarios: Three Spots, Seven Contenders as Home Stretch Approaches
A terrific all-round performance by Pakistan at Edgbaston saw them register a convincing six-wicket win over New Zealand, thereby significantly increasing their chances of making the semi-finals. Chasing New Zealand’s 237 for 6, Pakistan romped home, with 5 balls to spare, mainly courtesy an unbeaten 101 from Babar Azam and 68 from Haris Sohail.
Pakistan now have 7 points from 7 matches and have moved to number 6 in the points table.
This was New Zealand’s first loss of the tournament. Their head to head against Pakistan in World Cups just got worse (from 2-6 to 2-7).
Also See |India vs West Indies
HIGHLIGHTS
- Pakistan have climbed to the 6th spot of World Cup 2019 points table
- Babar's classy hundred handed New Zealand their 1st defeat of World Cup 2019
- Shaheen Afridi broke the back of New Zealand's batting unit with a fiery spell
Here is how the top 4 teams stand in the 2019 World Cup and their remaining matches in the tournament:
- New Zealand [6 matches, 11 points]: vs Pak (June 26) | vs Aus (June 29) | vs Eng (July 3)
- Australia [6 matches, 10 points]: vs Eng (June 25) | vs NZ (June 29) | vs SA (July 6)
- India [5 matches, 9 points]: vs WI (June 27) | vs Eng (June 30) | vs Ban (July 2) | vs SL (July 6)
- England [6 matches, 8 points]: vs Aus (June 25) | vs India (June 30) | vs NZ (July 3)
- Bangladesh (7 points) - 11 points if they beat (India, Pak)
- Sri Lanka (6 points) - 12 points if they beat (SA, WI, India)
- Pakistan (5 points) - 11 points if they beat (NZ, AFG, BAN)
The West Indies also have an outside chance of qualifying but for that to happen, they need to win their remaining three matches against India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan by big margins and then hope for England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to lose their games. Only then will they have a mathematical chance of advancing.
- West Indies (3 points) - 9 points if they beat (IND, SL, AFG)
- South Africa (3 points) - Out of qualifications race
- Afghanistan (0 points) - Out of qualifications race
The Dark Horse: Can Pakistan do a 1992?
There is an unreal similarity between Pakistan’s journey to the knockouts in the 1992 World Cup and their remarkable fightback in this World Cup.
Their wins over South Africa and New Zealand mean that they are now at number 6 with 7 points from 7 matches. The win against New Zealand was crucial as now Pakistan have a very real chance of finishing with 11 points – with their two remaining matches against Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
They would then hope that England do not win more than one and Sri Lanka lose at least one match.
In such a scenario, Pakistan will make it to the semi-finals.
Also Read | 10 ICC Cricket World Cup hat-tricks
PREDICTION:
Going by form and momentum in the tournament and overall strength and weakness of a team, these seem to be the most plausible top 4 after the group stages:
1. India (win all their remaining matches to end with 17 points)
2. Australia (win both their remaining matches to end with 16 points)
3. New Zealand (lose to Australia and England to end with 11 points but have a higher NRR than Pakistan)
4. Pakistan (win both their remaining matches to end with 11 points)
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