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Team India crushed Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka by 82 runs match number 12 of the ICC Women's 2024 T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, October 9. Batting first, India posted 172-3, the highest total in this year's T20 World Cup thus far. The Women in Blue impressed with the ball as well to knock over the Lankans for 90 in 19.5 overs.
Openers Smriti Mandhana (50 off 38) and Shafali Verma (43 off 40) came to the party for India against Sri Lanka, adding 98 in 12.4 overs. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur then played a captain's knock, clobbering 52 off 27 with the aid of eight fours and a six. Defending the total of 172, pacer Arundhati Reddy and leg-spinner Asha Sobhana registered identical figures of 3-19.
With the comprehensive win, India moved up to second position in the Group A points table, keeping their hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup semifinals alive. On that note, here's a detailed look at the semifinal qualification scenarios for India, Australia, New Zealand, and Pakistan.
Australia (4 points, +2.524)
Defending champions Australia are sitting pretty at the top of the T20 World Cup points table in Group A, with four points from two games and an impressive net run rate of +2.524. They can top the group by winning their remaining two matches. If they beat Pakistan and lose to India, they will finish on six points. Australia can still qualify for the semis if New Zealand lose one of their remaining games.
Even if the White Ferns win their remaining two games and end the group stage with six points, the Aussies still stand a better chance of qualifying based on their superior net run rate. In the unexpected event of Australia losing their remaining games, they will be stuck on four points. Such a scenario could make things in Group A rather interesting.
India (4 points, NRR +0.576)
As mentioned earlier, the Women in Blue have moved to second place in the Group A points table after their big win over Sri Lanka. They have four points from two matches and a much improved net run rate of +0.576.
India's last T20 World Cup match in Group A will be extremely tough. They will take on defending champions Australia in Sharjah on Sunday, October 13. If India beat Australia, they will end the group stage with six points. However, if the Aussies get the better of Pakistan and New Zealand win their remaining two games, India, Australia, and the White Ferns will all end the group stage with six points each.
As per a report in Cricbuzz, if India defeat Australia by five runs, then New Zealand would need a combined winning margin of 42 runs against Pakistan and Sri Lanka to go past India's NRR (assuming the teams batting first score 130).
If India lose to Australia, they will have to hope that Pakistan and New Zealand win only one of their remaining two games, so they can't go past four points. In such a scenario, the net run rate will decide who joins Australia in the semifinals of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup.
Pakistan (2 points, NRR +0.555)
Pakistan have two points from two matches, with a net run rate of +0.555. They beat Sri Lanka by 31 runs before going down to arch-rivals India by six wickets. They are currently in third place in the Group A points table.
If Pakistan beat Australia and New Zealand in their remaining two group games, they will finish on six points. However, they would also need the Aussies to beat India. In such a scenario, India will remain on four points, while Australia and Pakistan will qualify for the T20 World Cup semifinals, with six points each.
New Zealand (2 points, NRR -0.050)
After beating India by 58 runs, New Zealand suffered a 60-run loss against Australia in their second match of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup. They are currently in fourth position in Group A with two points from two matches and a net run rate of -0.050.
New Zealand, though, are still in the hunt for a top-two finish. If they beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan in their remaining two matches, they will get to six points. Also, if Australia beat India and Pakistan, they will not only top the group but also knock out the two Asian teams from the semifinal race.
On the other hand, if Australia beat Pakistan, but go down to India, the Women in Blue will also get to six points. In this scenario even if New Zealand win both their remaining matches, they will need to finish with a better run rate than India to book their place in the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinals.
