T20 World Cup Standings: permutations, NRR and who needs what this weekend
The latest t20 world cup standings show England and South Africa already through to the semi-finals while four remaining places hinge on results and net run-rate in Super Eight matches this weekend.
T20 World Cup Standings — who has progressed and how the Super Eights are structured
Eight teams reached the Super 8 stage and were split into two groups of four: Group 1 contains West Indies, South Africa, India and Zimbabwe; Group 2 includes England, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Each side plays three matches against the other teams in its group and the top two from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the winner of each Super 8 group meeting the runner-up from the other group.
South Africa's dominance: Markram leads the Proteas and a perfect record is on the line
South Africa are through after two impressive victories out of two. In a match where West Indies recovered to 176/8, the Proteas raced to 177/1 in 16. 1 overs, captain Aiden Markram finishing unbeaten on 82 in a comprehensive nine-wicket win. Another victory against Zimbabwe in their final Super Eights fixture will ensure South Africa finish top of Group 1; Sky Sports notes that game is scheduled in Delhi on Sunday (9. 30am UK).
India and West Indies set up a winner-takes-all in Kolkata
India remain in the hunt after a 72-run win over Zimbabwe — a result that one account frames as a big push toward the semi-finals and even says the 2024 finalists have confirmed their place in the knockout stages. Other coverage presents India and West Indies as effectively playing for a spot when they meet on Sunday, 1 March, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata; both sides are level on two points after each lost to South Africa and beat Zimbabwe. Sky Sports adds West Indies are currently above India on net run-rate and would advance if their weekend fixture is rained off.
Group 2 drama: England top the pool, New Zealand and Pakistan contest second spot
England secured a knockout place after victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan in their opening Super 8 fixtures and then sealed top spot with a thrilling four-wicket win over New Zealand. New Zealand face a nervy wait after that defeat: one line of coverage says if Pakistan fail to beat Sri Lanka on Saturday then the Black Caps will be through, while a Pakistan victory would leave second place to be decided by net run-rate. Pakistan's side, led in references by Salman Ali Agha, must win in Pallekele on Saturday (1. 30pm UK) if they are to push the issue.
Net run-rate permutations and the exact margins Pakistan need
Net run-rate (NRR) is the common method for separating teams level on points in limited-overs tournaments; it measures a team's average margin of victory or defeat, so big wins raise NRR while heavy losses push it negative. Sky Sports gives concrete figures for the Group 2 race: Pakistan's current run-rate stands at -0. 461 and New Zealand's at +1. 390. To overhaul that gap, Pakistan would need a comprehensive win over already-eliminated Sri Lanka; if Pakistan bat first they would need to beat Sri Lanka by around 64 runs to change the standings significantly.
Eliminations, schedules and the road to the final
Zimbabwe were eliminated after defeats by West Indies and India, including a loss to India on 26 February. Sri Lanka were eliminated following their defeat by New Zealand on 25 February. The remaining Super Eights fixtures listed across coverage are South Africa vs Zimbabwe and India vs West Indies, both scheduled for Sunday, 1 March, and Pakistan vs Sri Lanka on Saturday (1. 30pm UK) in Pallekele. The tournament final is set for Sunday, 8 March.
What comes next is straightforward on the schedule: Pakistan and Sri Lanka play in Pallekele on Saturday, then the decisive Super Eights matches — South Africa v Zimbabwe in Delhi and India v West Indies in Kolkata — take place on Sunday, 1 March, with semi-final places to be confirmed that day and the final on 8 March.
