Scenarios for Pakistan’s qualification for ODI World Cup 2023 semifinal
1992 ODI World Cup winners, Pakistan are in contention (barely) for the semifinal of the ongoing 2023 edition. Ahead of the 41st match of the ongoing tournament, they needed Sri Lanka to beat New Zealand. Had that happened, the qualification scenario for the 1992 winners would have been manageable. Apart from this, even if the Blackcaps had won by one run, the Green Brigade had to either win by 130 runs or chase down any target inside 29 overs.
However, talking about the NZ vs SL match, the 1996 winners, the Lankans were asked to bat first. They lost five wickets for 70 runs in just 9.3 overs. Things got worse as they lost nine wickets for 128. Despite the last pair of Maheesh Theekshana and Dilshan Madushanka took the team to 171 all-out. Batting second, the two-time World Cup finalists needed to chase down the target in just 25 overs.
After all, they needed to ensure Pakistan’s qualification scenarios became difficult while playing against England on November 11. Despite losing five wickets, the team managed to get past the target in just 23.2 overs. Thanks to this, the Kane Williamson-led side has pretty much ensured their place in the first semifinal against India on November 15.
Pakistan need to beat England by unrealistic margins to get past New Zealand
Talking about the scenario, the number one is that if Pakistan bats first, they need to win by 287 if they get to 300 runs. If they bat second, they need to win the game in only 16 balls whatever the target is.
Here are the possibilities of Pakistan qualifying for the semi-finals
If England score 50 runs and Pakistan chase it in 2 overs.
England score 100 and Pakistan need to chase in 2.5 overs.
If England score 150 then Pakistan need to chase it in 3.4 overs to qualify.
If England score 200 then Pakistan will have to chase the target in 4.3 overs and if the defending champions give a target of 400 runs then the Green Army will have to chase the target in 6.1 overs to qualify for the semi-finals of ODI World Cup 2023.
Pakistan now has to beat England at the Eden Gardens on Saturday by an #unattainable margin
by around 287 runs while batting 1st
or
by about 284 balls to spare while chasing!#NZvsSL #NZvsSL #SLvNZ #SLvsNZ#CWC #CWC2023 #CWC23 #PakvsEng #PakvEng #EngvsPak #CricketTwitter— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 9, 2023
Scenarios for both Pakistan and Afghanistan are next to impossible. Afghanistan needs to win by at least 438 runs to surpass New Zealand on NRR. Pakistan have to win by at least 287 or, assuming England are kept to 150, chase down the target in 3.4 overs.
Source @ESPNcricinfo
— Anubhav shahi 48 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@anni_sun_naa) November 9, 2023
Updated scenario:
If Pakistan bat first and score 300, they need to restrict England to 13.
If Pakistan bowl first and dismiss England for 100, they need to chase down the target in ~2.5 overs!#NZvsSL #NZvSL #SLvNZ #SLvsNZ #CWC #CWC23 https://t.co/52tBLZfrRV
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) November 9, 2023
Qualification scenario for Pakistan:
Score 300, restrict England to 13.
Score 400, restrict England to 112.
Score 450, restrict England to 162.
Score 500, restrict England at 211. pic.twitter.com/dv6GFKbyf0
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 9, 2023