With a dominating 42-run victory over Ireland in Brisbane, Australia have continued to remain alive in the race for a semi-final spot.
This was a decent margin of victory, but Aaron Finch would have wanted the victory difference to be even bigger as Australia continue to remain considerably behind England in terms of NRR which might come into the equation later on.
The hosts now have 5 points in 4 matches – they started with a big 89-run loss to New Zealand which hurt their NRR significantly, followed by a victory over Sri Lanka, then their game with England was washed out.
New Zealand, the table toppers of Group 1, have 5 points in 3 games (win over Australia, washout vs Afghanistan, and win over Sri Lanka); both of New Zealand’s victories have been by massive margins – 89 runs and 65 runs – which has taken their NRR to +3.850, effectively sealing their semi-final spot.
England are placed third in the group with 3 points in 3 matches – win over Afghanistan, loss to Ireland and washout vs Australia. Their NRR is better than Australia’s. But England’s next game, on Tuesday, is against New Zealand, and they need to win it because Australia’s last game is against a relatively weaker opponent, Afghanistan.
Ireland have 3 points in 4 matches, followed by Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, both of whom have 2 points in 3 matches.
Here is the updated points table of Group 1 after the AUS vs IRE match:
Group 2 has more tighter and complicated things. South Africa, with 2 wins and 1 washed-out game, have 5 points and are all but in the semis. So are India with 4 points in 3 games, but next face Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. South Africa’s remaining 2 games are against Pakistan and the Netherlands, a victory in any one of them will see them through to the semis.
The match with Bangladesh is crucial who also have 4 points in 3 games. So, both India and Bangladesh can’t afford a slip-up now which would give Zimbabwe (3 points in 3 matches) and Pakistan (2 points in 3 matches) some life again. The Netherlands have all their 3 games so far.
Here is the updated points table of Group 2 after the AUS vs IRE match:
