Analysing the situation of qualifications into the Semi – Finals in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, and how teams have performed and what it all means, and what could happen!
New Zealand faced England for a match of a kind in Auckland in what could be seen as a virtual eliminator as now it becomes the toughest task for the loser, New Zealand, to get through to the Semi – Finals by qualifying for it in the Top 4. West Indies faced Pakistan in a rain affected truncated 20 overs a side and was handed a surprise loss which makes it tougher for them now to make it through but they still have a chance in a manner similar to New Zealand. India and New Zealand have the strongest chances of qualification apart from the already qualifies Australia and on the verge of qualifying South Africa. A situation has now arrived where the final two spots of the Semi – Finals could be decided both on just scoring 6 points with NRR becoming the supreme factor. two teams are in a situation! So, what’s happened and what could happen – ALL ANALYSED!
TWO TEAMS IN GREEN FROM THE SUBCONTINENT HERE TO SPOIL SEVERAL PARTIES
Especially, BANGLADESH – The debutants! Bangladesh was not expected to be as strong a performer by many as they have turned out to be. They are brave fighters who have fought till the end in their matches and most importantly have shown the requirements to still have a chance of upsetting big teams, teams bigger than Pakistan, and that is all down to their bowling and the belief. Their batting has let them do, and at times it seems clueless as they are not getting used to the bounce, the pace and even the different spin but their bowlers are able to use it well enough as well. They haven’t been part of very high scoring games even while chasing because they have gotten their bowling good with options of variety and a good knowledge of matchups.
Them beating Pakistan means that Pakistan had to wait till their truncated match against West Indies for a win, and now have just 1 win in 5 games, which although does mean mathematically that they can qualify, they will be facing England and New Zealand and as games are more of ODI full length, their chances reduce and hence, they alongwith Bangladesh are out of the qualification race based on their performance and weakness. But their victory against West Indies sets the contest up for those still in the race in an even more exciting manner. A crucial factor in their victory was that it was just a 20 – over a side match as it allows them to be at less disadvantage of that lack of depth (2nd worst batting depth) against any side that has a fairy balanced and positive share of bowling capacity to batting capacity, with the other team also looking to play much faster wherein there spin department which is able to extract a lot of natural spin from the delivery action itself is able to shine, whereas in full 5 over matches, the oppositions are able to play them out.
So, this might be it for these two teams when it comes to being the stuck spanner in the dreams of other teams but what they have already made possible is what sets it all up, especially Bangladesh in terms of NRR, as there fighting and the choice of not necessarily stick to conventional ways of playing has seen them challenge teams like South Africa to keep their NRR in check and not let it run away.
ENGLAND HAVE GOTTEN A LOT SET UP FOR THEM
They may have performed very bad, and have still not shown a comprehensive, overall, all – round performance with some of their silent issues also suddenly shining through for the past couple of months, but now they are to face two sides who are fundamentally in worse shape – Pakistan and Bangladesh. If England’s players are able to play just simply their own cricket (they do not need to experiment here because there bowling line up is a notch better because they get their spin with Sophie Ecclestone, and then the pace bowling puts their foot way forward), then England are staring at 4 victories by the end of the League Stage. Their close defeats and then two victories have resulted in them holding a positive Net Run Rate. Meaning that if they win both their matches, which they have about a 85% chance of winning (not more as of now because Bangladesh’s spin attack could create some inroads in the nervy line – up), they will 100% beat West Indies( current NRR: – 0.885 on 3 match wins with one match remaining) on Net Run Rate, and even if India win both theirs, which they have a more than 50% chance of doing, and can also beat England on NRR, then also England will qualify with New Zealand having no chance of winning more than 3 matches in total!
Their fielding errors will also be forgiven in these wo remaining matches because of the overall difference in quality of players.
INDIA SHOULD BE GETTING THROUGH TO YET ANOTHER SEMI – FINAL
The Indian side has managed to make their life difficult much more than it should have been, with them still having fair chances of losing out on a berth but with one match against Bangladesh being a confirmed victory for them, and then them facing South Africa which will be a majorly 50 – 50 match, and the fact that the only major challenge to them is West Indies who face South Africa as well, but a greater disadvantage than India do in terms of both the existing Net Run Rate and the matchup, India are almost assured of a semi – final berth alongside England, in what position they qualify is upto their performance.
Against Bangladesh, India need to bat first, and set a total. They need to get batting practice in those conditions and take their time. Shafali Verma, and Yastika Bhatia as well as Rana and Raj need some more time in the middle not under the pressure of posting a 350 total or be against a bowling line – up like that of Australia. his is required for them to get that warm – up in the middle in a real match scenario before facing South Africa. The bowling line – up definitely has scope to improve but the batting line – up has faultered , the bowling line – up just needs another Jhulan Goswami who is a bit more back in form. Bangladehs provides the batting line – up a good opportunity. Not a weak bowling line – up but weak enough for them to have a day out, and it is needed that they perform strong otherwise the momentum will be against them and so might be the tide with then even New Zealand ready with their match against Pakistan.
Against South Africa, both sides in their current form are facing issues such as key players faultering, a opening partnership not setting in, and bowlers performing but miss out in key periods. One difference when they meet will be that, India would be playing after a gap 4 days whereas South Africa has 3 matches in a period of 6 days, one extra match than India in the same time span. Fatigue will be a key factor, especially as they face Australia followed by West Indies. South Africa will have an edge in terms of player strengths with a batting line – up that is more versatile even when looking at the end of middle order but India will have an edge with their spin department and the way they have now cultures and are utilizing Vastrakar.
All in all, England have a very high chance, India have the highest chance, West Indies might be able to sneak a sniff but South Africa has a proper advantage over them as West Indies are a story of 2 – 3 wickets and that’s all. New Zealand do not have fate in their hands anymore, with them almost guaranteed a win but with their NRR, and 3 teams at a stage of winning 4 matches (out of whom all 3 can), they are now down to hoping South Africa dominates, and others lose badly, what they themselves can do is to try and crush Pakistan completely.
|THE BATTLES INTENSIFY|
spielens 