T20 World Cup Standings: permutations and how NRR will decide the remaining semi-final places
The Super 8 stage is in full flow and the t20 world cup standings are shaping a narrow sprint to the semi-finals, with two semi-finalists already confirmed and four spots still up for grabs. The tournament final is scheduled for Sunday, 8 March, and the remaining fixtures will settle which teams advance to the knockout phase.
England and South Africa clinch semi-final berths
England were the first team to qualify for the next phase after convincing wins over Sri Lanka and Pakistan in their opening Super 8 fixtures, and they advanced after three straight wins that included a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand. South Africa have also joined them in the last four, progressing after victories over India and the West Indies.
The Proteas snapped India's 12-match unbeaten streak in T20 World Cups before rolling over the West Indies. West Indies recovered to 176/8 in that match, but South Africa raced to 177/1 in 16. 1 overs for a nine-wicket win. Captain Aiden Markram led the charge with an unbeaten 82. Another victory against Zimbabwe will ensure South Africa finish top of Group 1, and they head into their final Super 8 fixture in Delhi on Sunday aiming to extend a 100 per cent record; that Delhi match is scheduled for 9. 30am UK.
India versus West Indies at Eden Gardens on 1 March decides Group 1
Group 1 — West Indies, South Africa, India and Zimbabwe — still has one place to be decided. India and the West Indies meet on 1 March at Eden Gardens with a semi-final berth on the line. India and West Indies are level on two points after both lost to South Africa and beat Zimbabwe; the winner of the Kolkata match, scheduled for 1. 30pm UK, will progress.
India recorded a 72-run win over Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe were eliminated after their defeat by India on 26 February. The West Indies began the Super 8s with a swashbuckling win over Zimbabwe but then suffered a brutal loss to South Africa that ended their unbeaten run. The West Indies, two-time former champions, must beat India on Sunday to confirm their semi-final berth; a loss would see them miss out.
T20 World Cup Standings in Group 2: New Zealand, Pakistan and the NRR math
Group 2 — England, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — has England already through and guaranteed top spot. New Zealand face a nervy wait after their defeat by England; that loss opened the door for Pakistan to take the second qualifying place on net run-rate. Salman Ali Agha's side can change the equation with a big win over Sri Lanka.
Pakistan must beat already-eliminated Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday (1. 30pm UK) and do so comprehensively. Pakistan's current run-rate sits at -0. 461 compared with New Zealand's +1. 390, and if Pakistan bat first they would need to beat Sri Lanka by around 64 runs to overhaul New Zealand's net run-rate and qualify for the semi-finals.
How net run-rate will determine tied teams
Net run-rate is the common method for differentiating teams level on points in a limited-overs cricket tournament. It measures a team's average margin of victory or defeat: a side with several big wins will have a positive net run-rate, while those who have suffered sizeable losses will have a negative one. To understand net run-rate you first need to get your head around run-rate.
The t20 world cup standings already show NRR shaping outcomes: West Indies are currently above India on net run rate and would advance if their weekend fixture were rained off, while the Pakistan–New Zealand contest for second place in Group 2 comes down entirely to the run-rate gap and the scale of Pakistan's required victory over Sri Lanka.
Schedule to the final and remaining permutations
A total of eight teams progressed to the Super 8 stage and each team plays three matches, facing each of the other teams in their respective group once; after those fixtures the top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals, with the winner of each Super 8 group facing the runner-up from the other.
Remaining Super 8 fixtures listed in the schedule include South Africa vs Zimbabwe and India vs West Indies, both on Sunday March 1, and Pakistan vs Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday (1. 30pm UK). If India do qualify by beating the West Indies they are likely to finish second behind South Africa in Group 1 and would meet the top-ranked team from Group 2 in the semi-finals. The tournament final is set for Sunday, 8 March.
