If there was one occasion when Australia would not want to face India, it's in their next match at the
T20 World Cup
that could turn out to be Australia's last game in the tournament, thanks to their upset defeat against Afghanistan in St Vincent on Sunday (IST).
The Group 1 of the 'Super 8s' stage, comprising India, Australia, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, is now a battleground for the two semifinal spots.
T20 WORLD CUP: Points Table | Schedule
Australia needed to beat Afghanistan to join India as the two teams to progress to the semis, but Afghanistan's historic win means none of the teams have officially yet qualified for the semifinals from Group 1. However, India are virtually through and the second available spot is now a contest between Australia and Afghanistan.
Bangladesh are all but knocked out of the tournament, having lost both their matches.
The two remaining matches in the group --
India vs Australia
(8 pm IST, June 24) and
Afghanistan vs Bangladesh
(6 am IST, June 25) -- now hold the key to which two teams will progress to the last-four stage of the tournament.
CURRENT GROUP 1 STANDINGS
India: 2 matches - 2 wins | 4 points | NRR +2.425
Australia: 2 matches | 1 win | 1 loss | 2 points | NRR +0.223
Afghanistan: 2 matches | 1 win | 1 loss | 2 points | NRR -0.650
Bangladesh: 2 matches | 2 losses | 0 points | NRR -2.489
Here are the likely scenarios:
If Australia beat India and Afghanistan beat Bangladesh
In Australia win against India and Afghanistan go on to beat the Bengal Tigers, then both will end up locked at four points each and the net run rate (NRR) will come into play. A win for Australia and Afghanistan in their respective matches will also mean India joining them at four points and the two teams with better NRR willgo through.
If India beat Australia and Bangladesh beat Afghanistan
In such a scenario, India will go through as the group toppers, while Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh will be locked on two points each. The team with the best NRR will join India to progress to the semis.
If Australia beat India and Bangladesh beat Afghanistan
Those two results will put both Afghanistan and Bangladesh out of the race, leaving India and Australia as the two teams to enter the semis. The group topper in this case will be decided by NRR as both India and Australia will finish with four points each.
If India beat Australia and Afghanistan beat Bangladesh
This scenario will mean Afghanistan finishing as the clear number two team in the group with four points, progressing to the semifinals along with toppers India. Australia will exit the tournament, finishing No. 3 with just two points.
If India vs Australia is washed out
In this case, Australia will end up with three points. The Australians would then want either a washout in Afghanistan vs Bangladesh match or Bangladesh to beat Afghanistan. India will go through as group-toppers.
If Afghanistan vs Bangladesh is washed out
That will leave Afghanistan on three points, which means Australia will have to just beat India by any margin to advance to the semifinals. In case Australia lose, they will be left with two points and Afghanistan will qualify.
If both the matches are washed out
That will leave both Australia and Afghanistan at three points each, with the Aussies progressing to the semis as the second-placed team in Group 1, based on NRR.
English (US) ·