T20 World Cup 2024, Semi-final Qualification Scenarios: India Almost Assured Semi-final Spot; Australia on the Verge of Elimination After Loss to Afghanistan
Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib, left, and teammate Rahmanullah Gurbaz celebrate the dismissal of Australia's Glenn Maxwell during the men's T20 World Cup cricket match between Afghanistan and Australia at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Afghanistan’s win over Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024 Group 1 Spear 8 fixture at the Arnos Vale Ground, Aros Vale, St Vincent has jeopardized the 2021 Champions’ chances of qualification for the semi-finals.
Afghanistan got the better of Australia by 21 runs on a tricky wicket after they posted 148/6 riding on openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60) and Ibhram Zadran’s (51) and a superlative bowling effort led by Gulbadin Naib (4/20). Australia were all out for 127.
With one more game to go Australia found themselves third on the points table and their final Super 8 league game is against the unbeaten India at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia. While Afghanistan will be playing Bangladesh in their final Super 8 league game at the same venue as today’s game.
India through to the Semi-finals
The Australia defeat means, India are more or less through to the semi-finals as even if they lose to Australia in their next match, they are assured to finish at the top of the table, unless Afghanistan manage a huge victory over Bangladesh and pip India’s NRR, provided India lose to Australia.
Australia on the verge of being knocked out
With one win and one loss, Australia are currently third on the points table, and with their final league game against India, it is looking very tough for them to qualify, given Afghanistan are hot favourites to win against Bangladesh, who have lost both their Super 8 games so far and are already eliminated.
For Australia to qualify for the semi-final, they will need to beat India on Tuesday and hope Bangladesh beat Afghanistan on the next day. If Australia lose to India and Afghanistan also lose to Bangladesh then NRR will come into play to decide the second team to go to the semi-final from Group 1.
If both Australia and Afghanistan win their respective games, the equation will once again come down to NRR. In that case, for Afghanistan to push their case for a spot in the semi-final, they will have to win big against Bangladesh.
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