ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Points Table: New Zealand Defeats Sri Lanka; Put One Foot In Semi-Finals
Pakistan will have to defeat England by a huge margin in order to qualify for the semis. If they fail, NZ will qualify.
New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by 5 wickets in the 41st match of the ODI World Cup 2023. With the victory, the Kiwis have almost booked the fourth and final spot in the semi-finals.
The Kane Williamson-led team is currently fourth on the points table with 10 points in nine league matches. They are most likely to play against India in the 1st semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium on November 15.
Pakistan (+0.036) and Afghanistan (-0.338), who also have eight points apiece, can also potentially reach 10 points with a win over England and South Africa in their respective final league match. But they will have to play out of their skin to surpass New Zealand's Net Run Rate (+0.743).
In the 40th game of the tournament, Ben Stokes' attacking century was well complemented by the bowlers as England cantered to a 160-run win over the Netherlands in Pune on Wednesday to stay in the hunt for a place in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Though England and Netherlands are out of reckoning for the semifinals, the contest between the two lowest-placed sides gain significance when it comes to qualifying for the Champions Trophy as only the top seven teams from the ongoing showpiece will qualify for the event.
The win took England to the seventh spot in the points table on account of better run rate. The defending champions will take on Pakistan in their last match in Kolkata on Saturday.
After their massive defeat, the Netherlands is the bottom placed team in the points table with four points in eight matches.
On Tuesday, Glenn Maxwell conjured up magic when Australia thought it was all over, striking an astonishing double century to singlehandedly lift his team into the semifinals of the World Cup with a three-wicket win over Afghanistan in Mumbai.
With his unbeaten 201 off 128 balls, which came on the back of some unbelievable hitting, Maxwell forced the thousands of heads totting the stands at the Wankhede Stadium to think if there eyes were deceiving them.
As Australia chased down 292 after slumping to 91 for seven in 18.3 overs and staring at annihilation, everyone rubbed their eyes in disbelief as Maxwell went about his task batting on one leg after battling pain and exhaustion.
Afghanistan thought they had the match wrapped up, but Maxwell had other ideas. With some slice of luck, he launched into an over-eager Afghan attack, smashing 21 fours and 10 sixes to end the game in 46.5 overs.
With 12 points and a match left, Australia joined India (16 points) and South Africa (12 points) in the last four stage while 11 incredibly talented Afghanistan cricketers, who had almost ensured that their fairy tale story does not reach its epilogue, found themselves on the wrong side of the result.
Australia, who are currently placed third on the ICC World Cup 2023 points table are likely to face South Africa in the semi-finals. The Proteas are placed second on the points table with India on top.
ICC World Cup 2023 Latest Points Table
Bangladesh, who became the first team to be officially eliminated from the tournament is eighth on the points table with four points followed by Sri Lanka.
(With PTI inputs)
