Defending champions Australia became the first team to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 semifinals with a 64-run win over England at Lord's on Tuesday (June 25). New Zealand will take on Pakistan at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Wednesday (June 26).
Australia became the first team to seal a spot in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 semifinals as captain Aaron Finch hit a century and Jason Behrendorff claimed 5/44 to consign England to a second straight loss. As of now, Australia, New Zealand India and the tournament hosts occupy the top four spots. Here's what the other seven teams need to do in order be part of the semis, with Afghanistan and South Africa already out of the race (Till ENG v AUS match on June 25) (FULL SCHEDULE)
NEW ZEALAND
With five wins from six games, the Kiwis are second on the table with 11 points. Their fixture against India was washed out.
MATCHES LEFT: 3 (Against England, Australia and Pakistan)
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO QUALIFY FOR SEMIS
One more victory will confirm New Zealand’s spot in the last-four.
WHAT IF THEY DON’T WIN ANY OF THEIR REMAINING MATCHES
They stay on 11 points. However, they would really need luck to go their way in terms of other results: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan should lose at least one of their remaining games so that the three sides don’t end up with 11 points.
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AUSTRALIA - IN SEMIS
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INDIA
India survived a scare against Afghanistan to remain unbeaten in the tournament. So far, they have won four of their five games. Their match against New Zealand was rained off.
MATCHES LEFT: 4 (Against West Indies, England, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka)
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO QUALIFY FOR SEMIS
A couple of victories will secure their place in the semifinals.
WHAT IF THEY LOSE ALL THEIR REMAINING MATCHES
They stay on nine points and hope Sri Lanka don’t win more than one game and Bangladesh lose both their remaining games. Also, West Indies must lose one match to not have a chance of getting to nine points and Pakistan must not win two of their remaining three fixtures.
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ENGLAND
So far, the hosts have four wins from seven games.
MATCHES LEFT: 2 (Against India and New Zealand)
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO QUALIFY FOR SEMIS
Win both their remaining matches
WHAT IF THEY LOSE ALL THEIR REMAINING MATCHES
They stay on eight points and will be on the verge of elimination. However, they can still qualify for the semis if -
--> Sri Lanka lose all their remaining matches
--> Pakistan get defeated in at least two of their remaining games
--> Bangladesh lose both their remaining matches
--> West Indies lose one
NOTE - If both England and Sri Lanka end with eight points (considering Pakistan, Bangladesh and Windies finish with less than eight points), the NRR of ENG and SL will decide the semi-finalist.
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SRI LANKA
They have six points from as many games.
MATCHES LEFT: 3 (Against South Africa, West Indies and India)
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO QUALIFY FOR SEMIS
If they win all their remaining games, they should qualify for the knockout round. However, if they end on 10 points, they will have to hope that England lose all their remaining matches, Bangladesh do not win both their remaining games and Pakistan lose at least one.
WHAT IF THEY DON’T WIN ANY OF THEIR REMAINING GAMES
They will be eliminated
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BANGLADESH
So far, they have three wins from seven matches. Their encounter against Sri Lanka was washed out.
MATCHES LEFT: 2 (Against India and Pakistan)
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO QUALIFY FOR SEMIS
If they win all their remaining matches, Bangladesh will end with 11 points, and can still qualify -- if Sri Lanka lose at least one of their remaining three matches and England win not more than one.
WHAT IF THEY DON’T WIN ANY OF THEIR REMAINING GAMES
They will be out of the competition
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WEST INDIES
The two-time champions have just three points from six games.
MATCHES LEFT: 3 (India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan)
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO QUALIFY FOR SEMIS
They need to win all their remaining three matches and hope that -
--> England lose all their remaining matches
--> Sri Lanka win not more than one
--> Pakistan lose at least two
--> Bangladesh get defeated in both their remaining matches
WHAT IF THEY DON’T WIN ANY OF THEIR REMAINING GAMES
They will be knocked out
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PAKISTAN
Pakistan have lost three of their six games.
MATCHES LEFT: 3 (New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh)
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO QUALIFY FOR SEMIS
If they manage to win all their remaining three matches, they will end with 11 points. Also, they’ll have to hope that England don’t win more than one and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh lose at least one match each.
WHAT IF THEY LOSE ALL THEIR REMAINING GAMES
They will be out of the competition
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AFGHANISTAN AND SOUTH AFRICA - ELIMINATED