Women World Cup Semifinal Race: The ICC Women’s World Cup is reaching its business end as teams are gearing up for a place in the semi-final. With former champions Australia guaranteed a place in the final four, the race for the remaining three spots is heating up. For three spots, apart from India, the contenders are South Africa, England, New Zealand and West Indies. Follow Live Updates on Cricket on InsideSport.IN.
South Africa, currently second are in pole position with eight points, but teams like India, West Indies and defending champions England are far from certain to book their place in the semis. With solitary wins to their name, Bangladesh and Pakistan are almost out of the competition, awaiting final confirmation. On the flip side, this is what the rest of the pack need to punch their ticket in the final four.
Women’s World Cup Semifinal Race: Check what India, England, South Africa & West Indies need to do to qualify for semifinals
Points Table:
| POS | TEAM | PLAYED | WON | LOST | N/R | TIED | NET RR | POINTS |
| 1 | Australia | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.287 | 12 |
| 2 | South Africa | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.092 | 8 |
| 3 | India | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.768 | 6 |
| 4 | West Indies | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -0.885 | 6 |
| 5 | England | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.327 | 4 |
| 6 | New Zealand | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.229 | 4 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.754 | 2 |
| 8 | Pakistan | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.878 | 2 |
South Africa: The Proteas need a win in their remaining two matches in the group stages to book their place in the semis. However, the task won’t be easy as they face fellow top-four contenders West Indies and India in their final two encounters. They recently lost their unbeaten run despite scoring 271 against Australia.
- SA have eight points five matches.
- SA next play West Indies and India with both still in the race.
- One win out of two will see them qualify for the semifinals.
Next Opponents: South Africa, West Indies
Women’s World Cup Semifinal Race: Check what India, England, South Africa & West Indies need to do to qualify for semifinals
ICC Women World Cup: Who needs what to qualify for the semis as teams face anxious final round of matches?
India – Mithali Raj’s Indian side will also face an uphill task in their remaining encounter as they have accumulated six points from their first six matches. The win against Bangladesh has eased pressure on the 2017 runners-up, but the final encounter against South Africa will act as a virtual quarter-final, anything less than a win India could be packing their bags early.
The race for the #CWC22 semi-finals spots heats up 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Lz4ZhLnXcW
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 22, 2022
- India have six points from as many games.
- India need to beat South Africa in their remaining match.
- With a positive NRR, India are still in the running for semifinals but the South Africa match will be their do-or-die match.
Women’s World Cup Semifinal Race: Check what India, England, South Africa & West Indies need to do to qualify for semifinals
Next Opponents: South Africa
West Indies – Like India, West Indies’ situation isn’t different as they face South Africa in their only remaining game, but anything less than a win against the Proteas might see them board the flights early. They too have six points from six games and a win will certainly guarantee them a place in the knock-outs.
- West Indies and India are level on points but WI are behind on a negative net run rate.
- WI will also play South Africa next and it will be their must-win match.
Next Opponent: South Africa
Women’s World Cup Semifinal Race: Check what India, England, South Africa & West Indies need to do to qualify for semifinals
England – The defending champions are in a do-or-die situation as they try to book their place in the final four. Victories in their remaining two matches will see them make the cut, depending on what happens in the other encounters as Net Run Rate (NRR) could play a decisive role. Thankfully for England, they play against Bangladesh and Pakistan, two teams who have underperformed. However, with just four points in five matches, they will need to be at their formidable best.
- Defending champions are fifth with 4 points from five matches.
- They have two matches left and if they win both, they will be able to qualify.
- They play Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Next Opponents: Pakistan, Bangladesh
ICC Women World Cup: Who needs what to qualify for the semis as teams face anxious final round of matches?
New Zealand – The fate of the hosts is not in their hands as they will have to wait for a sort of miracle to make the semis. Currently, on four points from six games, they can reach a maximum of only six points and will have to hope for South Africa to beat both India and West Indies, while also hoping England don’t win their remaining games. But, these equations will only come into play if they beat Pakistan on Saturday (March 26) and if they fail to do so they will have to sit out as audience during the semi-finals.
- NZ are placed sixth on the table with four points from six matches.
- NZ will have a do-or-die clash against Pakistan.
Next Opponent: Pakistan
Women’s World Cup Semifinal Race: Check what India, England, South Africa & West Indies need to do to qualify for semifinals
Bangladesh and Pakistan – Mathematically, both Bangladesh and Pakistan still have the opportunity to make the semis but will need to win their remaining matches with a significant margin and hope other results go their way. They both sit on two points from five games each.
- Both are all but out of the semifinals race.
- If both win their remaining two matches, they will be mathematically in but considering their tough opponents, their chances look bleak.
Bangladesh’s Next Opponents: Australia, Bangladesh
Pakistan’s Next Opponents: England, New Zealand
Women’s World Cup Semifinal Race: Check what India, England, South Africa & West Indies need to do to qualify for semifinals
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Editors pick
