ICC Champions Trophy 2017: India under pressure, race for semis intensifies
India suffered a stunning defeat against Sri Lanka at The Oval and this has thrown Group B wide open as all four teams are in the hunt for the semi-finals. Over in Group A, only England have secured qualification.
After a damp start to the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, the whole tournament has suddenly become exciting and unpredictable. Sri Lanka’s stunning seven-wicket win over India in pursuit of 321 has thrown the entire Group B open following South Africa’s loss to Pakistan in Edgbaston.
Over in Group A, thanks to rain, three teams are in the fray for the semi-finals, with only England having secured qualification. Here are the scenarios for all the seven teams for the play-offs.
Group A
England
M - 2, W - 2, L - 0, Points - 4
Matches remaining: vs Australia (June 10)
What they must do: England are assured of a semi-final spot. A win against Australia will seal top spot for them while a loss will demote them to second.
Read | David Warner accuses CA of hurting Australia’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign
Australia
M - 2, W - 0, L - 0, N/R - 2, Points - 2
Matches remaining: vs England (June 10)
What they must do: For Australia, their last game is a must-win. If they lose, they must hope that the New Zealand vs Bangladesh game ends in a washout. If the match is rained out and provided New Zealand vs Bangladesh game is also rained out, then Australia will qualify.
New Zealand
M - 2, W - 0, L - 1, N/R - 1, Points - 1
Matches remaining: vs Bangladesh (June 9)
What they must do: Their last game is a quarter-final. If they win, they are in the semi-finals. If they lose, they are out. If the game gets washed out, they must hope that England beat Australia by a big margin to dent their Net Run-Rate.
Read | New Zealand ready for tough Bangladesh test in ICC Champions Trophy: Trent Boult
Bangladesh
M - 2, W - 0, L - 1, N/R - 1, Points - 1
Matches remaining: vs New Zealand (June 9)
What they must do: If they win, they are in the semi-finals. If they lose, they are out. If the game gets washed out, they must hope that England beat Australia by a big margin to dent their Net Run-Rate.
Group B
India
M - 2, W - 1, L - 1, Points -2
Matches remaining: vs South Africa (June 11)
What they must do: Following their loss to Sri Lanka, the equation is simple for India. If they lose their last game, they are out. A win will see them enter the semi-final. However, if their last game is a washout, they might still pull through due to a good net run-rate.
South Africa
M - 2, W - 1, L - 1, Points - 2
Matches remaining: vs India (June 11)
What they must do: The Proteas’ situation is similar to India. They must win their last league game to enter the semi-final. If they lose, they are out. If the game is washed out, they can still sneak through provided the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan game is rained out as well.
Sri Lanka
M - 2, W - 1, L - 1, Points - 2
Matches remaining: vs Pakistan (June 12)
What they must do: With victory over India, Sri Lanka have kept themselves in the hunt for the semis and a win over Pakistan will seal their spot. If they lose, they are out. If the game is washed out, they might be knocked out as their net run-rate is poor compared to India and South Africa.
Read | ‘A different Pakistan turned up vs South Africa and got an unexpected win’
Pakistan
M - 2, W - 1, L - 1, Points - 2
Matches remaining: vs Sri Lanka (June 12)
What they must do: A win over Sri Lanka in their last game will seal their spot in the semi-final. If they lose, they are out. If their last league game gets washed out, they might be eliminated as their net run-rate is the worst among all the teams.
