The ODI World Cup 2023 is in full swing, and the race for the semifinals has reached a nail-biting phase. In a thrilling 41st match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, New Zealand faced off against Sri Lanka at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The contest saw New Zealand secure a crucial victory, further complicating Pakistan's qualification scenario for the tournament.
Pakistan's Uphill Battle
Following New Zealand's win against Sri Lanka, Pakistan now faces a formidable challenge. To secure their spot in the next stage of the tournament, Pakistan must defeat England at the Eden Gardens on Saturday. However, the catch is that they need to achieve an "unattainable" margin. To qualify, Pakistan must either win by approximately 287 runs when batting first or with about 284 balls to spare while chasing the target.
Match Summary:
New Zealand won by 5 wickets
Sri Lanka Innings: 171-10 (46.4 overs)
New Zealand Innings: 172-5 (23.2 overs)
In Sri Lanka's innings, Pathum Nissanka's early departure and impressive spells from New Zealand bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee paved the way for the Kiwis. Despite Angelo Mathews' commendable effort, Sri Lanka could only manage a total of 171 runs.
New Zealand's reply was spearheaded by Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, and Kane Williamson. The Kiwis eventually reached the target with five wickets to spare, securing a well-deserved victory.
The Points Table
This match had significant implications on the points table, affecting the World Cup standings:
India (Q): 8 matches, 16 points, +2.456 NRR
South Africa (Q): 8 matches, 12 points, +1.376 NRR
Australia (Q): 8 matches, 12 points, +0.861 NRR
New Zealand: 9 matches, 10 points, +0.922 NRR
Pakistan: 8 matches, 8 points, +0.036 NRR
Afghanistan: 8 matches, 8 points, -0.338 NRR
England (E): 8 matches, 4 points, -0.885 NRR
Bangladesh (E): 8 matches, 4 points, -1.142 NRR
Sri Lanka (E): 9 matches, 4 points, -1.419 NRR
Netherlands (E): 8 matches, 4 points, -1.635 NRR
With this victory, New Zealand finds themselves in a favourable position within the top four. Meanwhile, Pakistan's hopes now hinge on an incredible performance against England, as they aim to secure their place in the tournament's next stage.
Afghanistan's Slim Chances
While Afghanistan remains in the race, their net run rate lags far behind Pakistan and New Zealand. Their best chance to make it to the semifinals is if both Pakistan and New Zealand lose their last matches, and at the same time, Afghanistan defeats South Africa. In such a scenario, Afghanistan would secure a spot in the first semifinal against India.