#CWC22
Follow UsWe are at the fag end of the league-stage of the 2022 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia are the only side so far who have qualified for the semis. Theoretically, all other seven teams are alive in the competition and we look at what each of them need to do to progress further in the tournament.
Australia
(Matches 6 | Won 6 | Lost 0 | Points 12 | NRR +1.287 | Remaining game: Bangladesh)
Meg Lanning and Co. have been as dominating as everyone expected them to be. Australia have won all their six games so far and considering their last league-stage match is against Bangladesh, the six-time champions are most likely to remain unbeaten going into the knockouts. The likes of New Zealand and West Indies were hammered, while England, India and South Africa did put up some fight but it was nowhere enough to defeat Australia. They already have 12 points to their name and are going to finish the league-stage as the table-toppers.
South Africa
(Matches 5 | Won 4 | Lost 1 | Points 8 | NRR +0.092 | Remaining games: West Indies, India)
South Africa started the tournament with four consecutive wins but still haven’t confirmed their place in the semi-finals. The Sune Luus-led side got the better of Bangladesh, Pakistan, England and New Zealand but lost to Australia on Tuesday. The equation is quite simple for South Africa as all they have to do is win one of their remaining two fixtures and they will confirm their spot in the last-four. Even if they lose against West Indies and India, South Africa can still progress further but their mediocre NRR of +0.092 could hurt them. They are next scheduled to face West Indies on March 24 and would want to seal the deal then and there itself instead of waiting for their last game against India.
India
(Matches 6 | Won 3 | Lost 3 | Points 6 | NRR +0.768 | Remaining game: South Africa)
The Women in Blue will qualify for the semi-finals if they defeat South Africa on March 27, thanks to their superior NRR. In fact, India currently have the second-best NRR after Australia. Mithali Raj and Co. have won all of their three games by more than 100 runs and that might come in handy if they fall short against South Africa. The game between South Africa and West Indies will happen on March 24 and that will make things clearer for India. If South Africa emerge victorious against West Indies, India will most likely qualify even if they lose their last league match.
West Indies
(Matches 6 | Won 3 | Lost 3 | Points 6 | NRR -0.885 | Remaining game: South Africa)
West Indies will have to come up with a miraculous effort against South Africa if they want to make it through to the semi-finals. They would have been in a much better position if they wouldn’t have lost to Pakistan in Hamilton. What’s more, West Indies have the worst NRR in the competition, thanks to their heavy defeats against India (155 runs) and Australia (seven wickets). Yes, they have won three matches but they have come at the margins of three runs, seven runs and four runs respectively. The ideal scenario for them would be to beat South Africa and then hope either India or England lose at least one encounter. And, if they lose, West Indies will be eliminated.
England
(Matches 5 | Won 2 | Lost 3 | Points 4 | NRR +0.327 | Remaining games: Pakistan, Bangladesh)
The defending champions started the tournament with three consecutive defeats (vs Australia, West Indies and South Africa) but are still in a much better position than some of the other contenders when it comes to qualifying for the knockouts. England also have a pretty decent NRR and if they defeat Pakistan and Bangladesh, who are slightly weaker opponents, the Heather Knight-led side will make it through to the last four. However, things could get tricky even if they lose one of their remaining fixtures or if one of their games is washed out.
New Zealand
(Matches 6 | Won 2 | Lost 4 | Points 4 | NRR -0.229 | Remaining game: Pakistan)
The hosts will need a lot of things to go in their favour if they want to see themselves in the knockouts. New Zealand have lost three games by extremely close margins - three runs v West Indies, two wickets v South Africa and one wicket v England, but West Indies losing to Pakistan has somewhat kept them alive. For them to move further, New Zealand need to defeat Pakistan by a good margin and then hope West Indies and England lose all their remaining games, which is close to impossible.
Pakistan
(Matches 5 | Won 1 | Lost 4 | Points 2 | NRR 0.878 | Remaining games: England, New Zealand)
Pakistan did end their 18-match losing streak when they defeated West Indies by eight wickets but it’s highly unlikely that the Bismah Maroof-led side will make it through to the semi-finals. Their remaining two encounters are against quality opponents and even if they manage to win both these games, Pakistan will need many things to go in their favour even before they start thinking of a place in the semis. In simple words, Pakistan would need West Indies, England and New Zealand to lose all their last league-stage games.
Bangladesh
(Matches 5 | Won 1 | Lost 4 | Points 2 | NRR -0.754 | Remaining games: Australia, England)
Theoretically, Bangladesh can still get to six points but their last two encounters are against Australia and England. They have only won one match but the Nigar Sultana-led side has been impressive in their first World Cup, especially in the bowling department. They did defeat Pakistan by nine runs, and if not for their batting, they could have also got the better of South Africa and West Indies. However, they did lose to New Zealand and India by massive margins.
