Following Afghanistan’s historic T20 World Cup victory over Australia, it remains mathematically possible for each nation in the Super Eights to qualify for the semi-finals.
On Sunday morning, Rashid Khan’s team outclassed Australia by 21 runs at Kingstown’s Arnos Vale Ground to keep their T20 World Cup dream alive for another 48 hours.
The result means that both groups remain wide open heading into the final round of Super Eight fixtures. The top two teams from group qualify for the knockouts, with at least six nations having a realistic chance of progressing beyond the Super Eights.
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Phenomenal fielding sends Aussie stars | 00:41
GROUP 1
Remaining fixtures: India vs Australia, Afghanistan vs Bangladesh
It was assumed tournament favourites Australia and India would cruise through to the semi-finals, but Afghanistan’s shock triumph in St Vincent has left both nations vulnerable.
The situation for India is simple — Rohit Sharma’s men need to defeat Australia in Gros Islet on Tuesday, while their healthy net run rate of 2.425 should keep them safe if they lose by a narrow margin.
However, the Australians face a nervous wait after Tuesday’s game, even if they emerge victorious.
Mitchell Marsh’s men will equal India on four points if they win their final Super Eight match, while the winner of Tuesday’s clash between Afghanistan and Bangladesh will also finish on four points.
In such a scenario, the two nations with the higher net run rate will qualify for the semi-finals, meaning Australia needs to thump India to ensure safety.
For example, if Australia toppled India by one run on Tuesday, Afghanistan would only need to defeat Bangladesh by 36 runs to surpass their net run rate.
The Afghans also have the added advantage of knowing the exact required net run rate because their match against Bangladesh starts a few hours after Australia’s game concludes.
Oddly enough, it would also be possible for Australia to lose against India and still progress to the knockouts if Bangladesh defeats Afghanistan by a narrow margin.
Current T20 World Cup Group 1 standings
1. India — 4 points (+2.425 NRR)
2. Australia — 2 points (+0.223 NRR)
3. Afghanistan — 2 points (-0.650 NRR)
4. Bangladesh — 0 points (-2.489 NRR)
Remaining Fixtures
All times AEST
Tuesday, 25 June at 12.30am — Australia v India, Gros Islet, St Lucia
Tuesday, 25 June at 10.30am — Afghanistan v Bangladesh, Arnos Vale, St Vincent
GROUP 2
Remaining fixtures: USA vs England, South Africa vs West Indies
South Africa remains undefeated in the T20 World Cup, but the Proteas are at serious risk of being eliminated from the tournament if they lose to host nation the West Indies on Monday.
Reigning champions England are expected to thump the United States of America in its final Super Eight match, equalling South Africa on the Group 2 standings with four points.
If England’s net run rate surpasses that of South Africa, which is very likely, the winner of Tuesday’s clash between the Proteas and the West Indis would join them in the knockouts — the contest in North Sound would, for all intents and purposes, serve as a quarter-final.
It would be a cruel way for South Africa’s campaign to end, particularly since the African nation has won more matches than England, who scraped into the Super Eight courtesy of Australia’s victory over Scotland.
The United States of America has been the feel-good story of the T20 World Cup, but the associate nation needs to thrash England and hope the West Indies lose to South Africa by a massive margin for any chance of progressing further than the Super Eights.
Current T20 World Cup Group 2 standings
1. South Africa — 4 points (+0.625 NRR)
2. West Indies — 2 points (+1.814 NRR)
3. England — 2 points (+0.412 NRR)
4. USA — 0 points (-2.908 NRR)
Remaining Fixtures
All times AEST
Monday, 24 June at 12.30am — USA v England, Bridgetown, Barbados
Monday, 24 June at 10.30am — West Indies v South Africa, North Sound, Antigua