The final group match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Dubai is crucial for New Zealand and Pakistan, as both teams are vying for a spot in the semifinals. India is also in the mix, but their fate is no longer in their own hands.
New Zealand’s Journey So Far
New Zealand started their World Cup campaign with a commanding win, beating India by 58 runs. However, they faced a tough defeat against Australia, losing by 60 runs. The White Ferns bounced back in their third match, defeating Sri Lanka by 8 wickets. With two wins and one loss, New Zealand is currently third in Group A, behind Australia (who have won all four matches) and India.
Pakistan’s Road to the Semifinals
Pakistan kicked off the tournament on a high, defeating Sri Lanka by 31 runs in their opening match. But things went downhill as they lost to India by 6 wickets and were later beaten by Australia by 9 wickets. With just one win in three matches, Pakistan currently sits in fourth place in the group.
How Each Team Can Qualify for the Semifinals
New Zealand:
New Zealand has the simplest path. They just need to beat Pakistan in their final match, and they will qualify for the semifinals. The margin of victory doesn’t matter—any win will secure their spot.
Pakistan:
For Pakistan, things are trickier. Not only do they need to beat New Zealand, but they also need to win by a large margin. This is because their net run rate (NRR) is currently -0.488, while India’s NRR is +0.322. Pakistan’s victory needs to be big enough to surpass India’s NRR and take the second spot in the group.
India:
India’s hopes rest on Pakistan. For India to qualify, they need Pakistan to beat New Zealand. However, Pakistan’s win must not be by such a large margin that India’s NRR drops below Pakistan’s. If Pakistan wins by a narrow margin, India could still retain their second place and move to the semifinals.