New Zealand’s dominant victory over Sri Lanka has significantly diminished the significance of the upcoming Pakistan vs England clash. The India vs New Zealand semi-final scheduled for November 15 at Wankhede Stadium appears almost set in stone, while Pakistan and Afghanistan find themselves on the brink of elimination from the race to the last four.
A mere coin toss on November 11 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata could be the deciding factor in Pakistan’s semi-final aspirations.
Should England captain Jos Buttler win the toss and choose to bat first, Pakistan faces the daunting task of chasing down the target in less than 3 overs to surpass New Zealand’s Net Run Rate, a near-impossible feat even if they manage to restrict England to less than 100 runs.
Conversely, if Babar Azam wins the toss and opts to bat first, Pakistan would need to outperform the World Cup 2019 champions by a margin of 287 runs or more, a highly challenging prospect for the Pakistani team.
It’s worth noting that there have been two instances in this ongoing World Cup where teams won by more than 300 runs. Australia, the five-time champions, secured a commanding 309-run victory against the Netherlands in Delhi last month. Similarly, India achieved a remarkable 302-run win over Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 2.
In terms of historical statistics at Eden Gardens, India holds the record for the highest total, having posted 404/5 against Sri Lanka in 2014. On the contrary, the lowest total at this venue, a mere 83 runs, was registered by South Africa earlier in this tournament, resulting in a 243-run loss against India.
This upcoming match carries significant implications for England as well. A victory against Pakistan would secure their place in the Champions Trophy 2025. Following a resounding 160-run victory over the Netherlands at Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Pune, England climbed to the seventh spot on the points table.
Even in the event of a loss to Pakistan, they must ensure that the margin of defeat is not substantial, as their qualification could be based on their net run rate (NRR).
