England’s performance in the World Cup 2023 has been extremely disappointing so far, with four losses out of five games, including a crushing defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka. However, due to the tournament format, there is still a chance for them to make it to the top four. If they manage to win their remaining four matches, which is a difficult task considering their poor performances, and if other results work in their favor, they could even finish third with 10 points.
Here is one scenario that shows how this could happen:
– New Zealand loses all their remaining four matches and stays on eight points.
– India wins three of their four games, only losing to England, while South Africa defeats all teams except India. In this case, India (16 points) and South Africa (14 points) will secure the top two spots.
– Australia defeats New Zealand but loses their other matches, while Afghanistan beats Netherlands and Australia. Both Australia and Afghanistan will finish on eight points.
– Sri Lanka defeats New Zealand and Afghanistan, while Pakistan defeats Bangladesh and New Zealand. Sri Lanka and Pakistan will also finish on eight points.
– In this scenario, England’s 10 points will be enough for third place, with five teams on eight points competing for the fourth spot.
It is worth noting that Pakistan currently has four points from five games, and if they lose their upcoming match, they can only reach a maximum of 10 points. If the result of the England vs Pakistan match is reversed on November 11 (the last league match for both teams), Pakistan will take third spot with 10 points, and England will be one of the five teams fighting for the fourth place on eight points.
A victory on Sunday will maintain India’s perfect record in the tournament and increase their points tally to 12 from six matches. However, while the above example demonstrates that eight points might be enough for qualification, there is also a possibility that 12 points may not be sufficient. If India loses their remaining games and stays on 12 points, it is possible for five other teams to reach the same total. In that case, the net run rates will come into play.
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