Race to ICC World Cup semifinals picks up steam: What's the math behind each team's fight for semis spot?
As of match number 31, the points table positioning has only got more interesting with no team having secured a place after six games played by each one. The hosts India are leading the table with remaining undefeated so far in the tournament and have 12 points in their kitty. Meanwhile, South Africa boast a splendid Net Run Rate (NRR) of +2.032 and 10 points in six matches. New Zealand and Australia are in the third and fourth position respectively with 8 points and a minor difference in the NRR.
That said, three league matches left for each team except Pakistan and Bangladesh, signal significant and genuine chances for teams including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Netherlands to claim a semifinals’ spot.
Semifinals qualification scenario for teams
India
Table toppers and the hosts are just a win away, rather a point away to register a place in the top-four. In their final three matches, even if one game ends up in a tie or no result or a win, team India will progress in the knockout stage of the marquee tournament.
If things come to a pretty pass and India lose their final encounters, only an Afghanistan defeat will get them a berth in the semifinals.
Team India will face Sri Lanka on November 2, South Africa on November 5 and the Netherlands on November 12 for their final league games.
So far the Men in Blue have marked six straight victories to their name.
South Africa
The Proteas team have been blazing guns in this tournament and a team which has put many teams to a defeat with its huge totals. Further, the team needs a total of three points to get themselves a semifinal berth.
The final three matches of South Africa are against New Zealand (1 November), India (5 November), and Afghanistan (10 November).
