Who Needs What To Seal Semi-final Spot In The Cricket World Cup 2023?

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There are still 14 group-stage matches to be played in the World Cup, yet the top four are essentially set in stone.

India, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia look poised to qualify for the semi-finals after each winning at least four of their opening six fixtures, creating a clear gap in the standings.

The hosts are the only undefeated team remaining in the tournament, looming as clear favourites to clinch a third World Cup title, while Pat Cummins’ Australia are in red-hot form with four straight wins.

Last week, the Australians became the first team in ODI history to score 350+ in three consecutive matches.

David Warner is at the peak of his powers, while the team’s top order has been bolstered by the return of opener Travis Head.

The race for a spot in the knockout stage of the Cricket World Cup 2023 remains wide open with all but one side still in contention, while no team has yet locked in their place in the semi-finals.

India are in the best place to clinch a semi-final spot following their six straight victories, as only Bangladesh has dropped out of contention.

They will play Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands in their remaining group-stage matches.

South Africa, with five wins in six games, would aim to secure four more points to guarantee a semi-final place. Their upcoming matches include New Zealand, India, and Afghanistan.

New Zealand, despite a strong start with four wins, also need at least two more victories from their remaining three matches to advance to the semi-finals. They will face South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan in their remaining fixtures of the tournament.

Australia, like New Zealand, would want two wins from their last three games to enhance their semi-final prospects. They will face England, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan's victory against Sri Lanka has improved their chances of reaching the semi-finals, but they need either Australia or New Zealand to lose by a significant margin or lose two games while winning all three of their remaining matches.

Sri Lanka, currently with four points, must win all three of their remaining matches, including matches against two of the top four teams, India and New Zealand. They also need at least two of the five teams above them not to exceed 10 points and to have a lower net run rate.

Pakistan can achieve a maximum of 10 points in the group stage and must win their matches against New Zealand and England while hoping that the current top four teams lose their remaining matches.

The Netherlands need to win all three of their remaining games with a large margin and hope that no more than three teams finish with 10 or more points in the tournament.

Here is what each team needs to do - and the other results that have to go their way - to finish in the top four and qualify for the knockout stage:

1. India

Wins: 6
Losses: 0
Net run rate: +1.405
Still to play: Sri Lanka (2 November), South Africa (5 November), Netherlands (12 November)

2. South Africa

Wins: 5
Losses: 1
Net run rate: +2.032
Still to play: New Zealand (1 November), India (5 November), Afghanistan (10 November)

3. New Zealand

Wins: 4
Losses: 2
Net run rate: +1.232
Still to play: South Africa (1 November), Pakistan (4 November), Sri Lanka (9 November)

4. Australia

Wins: 4
Losses: 2
Net run rate: +0.970
Still to play: England (4 November), Afghanistan (7 November), Bangladesh (11 November)

5. Pakistan

Wins: 3
Losses: 4
Net run rate: -0.024
Still to play: New Zealand (4 November), England (11 November)

6. Afghanistan

Wins: 3
Losses: 3
Net run rate: -0.718
Still to play: Netherlands (3 November), Australia (7 November), South Africa (10 November)

7. Sri Lanka

Wins: 2
Losses: 4
Net run rate: -0.275
Still to play: India (2 November), Bangladesh (6 November), New Zealand (9 November)

8. Netherlands

Wins: 2
Losses: 4
Net run rate: -1.277
Still to play: Afghanistan (3 November), England (8 November), India (12 November)

9. Bangladesh

Wins: 1
Losses: 6
Net run rate: -1.446
Still to play: Sri Lanka (6 November), Australia (11 November)

10. England

Wins: 1
Losses: 5
Net run rate: -1.652
Still to play: Australia (4 November), Netherlands (8 November), Pakistan (11 November)