World Cup 2023: Updated semi-final scenarios after Pakistan pip New Zealand, Australia defeat England

Trust the Pakistan cricket team to make any tournament interesting, all the more so if it’s the ICC World Cup.

World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table

The Men in Green were on the brink of elimination after their narrow defeat against South Africa, which at the time was their fourth in six games. Their seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh was necessary for them to stay alive in the tournament, but even then they needed a miracle to make it through to the semi-finals.

That was all the more so after New Zealand posted a humongous 401/6 on the board at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the first game of the Saturday double-header, thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s 94-ball 108 along with skipper Kane Williamson’s 79-ball 95 on comeback from injury. And Pakistan lost their first wicket with just six on the board.

In-form opener Fakhar Zaman and captain Babar Azam, though, refused to give up just yet and would go on to produce one of the most defining partnerships in recent memory. Fakhar would carry on from where he left off against Bangladesh, slamming a 63-ball ton that is Pakistan’s fastest in World Cup history, and would go on to remain unbeaten on 126.

Babar would provide him valuable support from the other end with an unbeaten 66, stitching an unbroken 194-run stand for the second wicket as Pakistan raced to 200/1 after 25.3 overs before the players were forced to retreat following a second spell of rain that would ensure no further play was possible.

1️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ not out
8️⃣1️⃣ balls
1️⃣1️⃣ sixes
8️⃣ fours
1️⃣5️⃣5️⃣.5️⃣5️⃣ strike-rate

One of the most special @cricketworldcup knocks you will ever see! Player of the match @FakharZamanLive #NZvPAK | #CWC23 | #DattKePakistani pic.twitter.com/dO0TIfPidx

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 4, 2023

Since the Pakistan chase had crossed the 20-over mark, it was possibly to declare a winner on the basis of Net Run Rate and since Pakistan were found to be 21 runs ahead of the par score, they live to fight another day in the 13th edition of the showpiece event.

Pakistan dramatic reversal of fortunes as far as their semi-final chances are concerned, which some on social media have labelled ‘Qudrat Ka Nizam‘ (law of nature) has had quite the impact on the World Cup semi-final scenarios.

The second match of the Saturday double-header however, went more or less along expected lines with Australia handing England a 33-run defeat at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.

It was at this venue where England had begun their title defence on a disastrous note with a nine-wicket hammering against New Zealand on 5 October. Nearly a month later, their title defence officially comes to an end with the defeat against the ‘Old Enemy’.

Defeat.#EnglandCricket | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/CQeGaRHvno

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 4, 2023

Australia were off to a shaky start after being invited to bat by the Englishmen, losing both openers with just 38 runs on the board. Marnus Labuschagne however, came to Australia’s rescue with a patient 71, forging important partnerships with Steve Smith (44) and Cameron Green (47) worth 75 and 61 respectively as Australia ended up posting a competitive 286 on the board. Chris Woakes led the way with four for 54.

England, in reply, lost the wicket of Jonny Bairstow off the very first delivery of the chase, but managed to stay alive in the chase thanks to fighting half-centuries from Dawid Malan (50) and all-rounder Ben Stokes (64), the latter producing his first innings of note in what will be the final ODI assignment of his career.

All-rounders Moeen Ali (42) and Chris Woakes (32) too chipped in with valuable knocks but weren’t able to build the kind of partnership that would have taken them to the distance as the Aussies kept chipping away with wickets at regular intervals.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was adjudged the Player of the Match for his all-round display — having scored a 19-ball 29 that helped Australia get past 280 towards the end of their innings, before collecting 3 for 21 from 10.

Here’s a detailed look at what’s in store in the remainder of the tournament:

— South Africa have officially become the second team to qualify for the semi-finals after Pakistan’s victory.

Bringing the Protea Fire to the semi-finals

South Africa are through to the penultimate stage of #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/v83TdskoUr

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 4, 2023

— England have officially been eliminated from the race to the semi-finals after their defeat against Australia. They join Bangladesh among the teams knocked out.

— Pakistan remain alive in the race to the semis thanks to their victory. For them to go through however, not only will they have to beat England in their final match, they’ll also depend on the result of the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka match. Pakistan will also hope Afghanistan don’t catch up with them on the points table.

— Despite their fourth defeat on the trot, New Zealand (+0.398) still have the edge over Pakistan (+0.036) in terms of Net Run Rate. A victory over Sri Lanka in their final group stage outing should see them through unless Pakistan overtake them on NRR with a massive victory over England.

— Afghanistan will not only have to beat Australia and South Africa in their remaining games but will have to win them by big margins to go past Pakistan and New Zealand on NRR, should they end up winning their matches as well.

— Sri Lanka and Netherlands remain mathematically alive in the tournament thanks to Pakistan’s victory.

Brief scores:

New Zealand 401/6 in 50 overs (Rachin Ravindra 104, Kane Williamson 95; Mohammad Wasim 3/60) lost to Pakistan 200/1 in 25.3 overs (Fakhar Zaman 126*, Babar Azam 66*; Tim Southee 1/27) by 21 runs (DLS Method).

Australia 286 in 49.3 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 71; Cameron Green 47; Chris Woakes 4/54) defeated England 253 in 48.1 overs (Ben Stokes 64, Dawid Malan 50; Adam Zampa 3/21) by 33 runs.