Which team will qualify for the last semi-final spot? Vijayhardik reports exclusively for Different Truths.

After the high-octane drama at the World Cup threw open the doors for the spot of the final semi-finalist. With the teams from the sub-continent finding their feet in the tournament and hosts England on the cusp of saying goodbye to it after a couple of losses makes every single match of the forthcoming fixtures exciting.

At the time when I was finishing my previous post ‘Surprises Light Up The World Cup’, Bangladesh was sitting pretty at the 5^th position making a case for itself to get into the semi-finals. Pakistan bouncing back after a defeat to India had beaten South Africa. They could ill afford to lose another game. England too was sailing in the same boat after losses to Sri Lanka and Australia. Only Sri Lanka was pinning hopes on mathematics as well apart from their performance.

Kicking off the week, with a place in the top four on the line was the game between Pakistan and New Zealand.

Kicking off the week, with a place in the top four on the line was the game between Pakistan and New Zealand. After surviving a scare against West Indies, New Zealand was keen to keep their slate clean and qualify into the semis. For Pakistan, it was a virtual knock out game. A loss would bring down curtains on their campaign.

The start of the match was delayed by a wet outfield. After the conditions were made playable, the match got off to a start with New Zealand deciding to bat first. The decision to bat first backfired and New Zealand were off to the worst start in the tournament. In the previous matches, the Kiwis depended on their captain Kane Williamson and the experienced Ross Taylor to get them out of early wobbles. However, it was not to be the case this time.

Both the experienced hands got out early, leaving New Zealand stuttering at 83/5 in the 27^thover. A spirited bowling performance led by the lanky left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi saw to it.

Both the experienced hands got out early, leaving New Zealand stuttering at 83/5 in the 27^th over. A spirited bowling performance led by the lanky left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi saw to it. The Black Caps found their saviour in the form of Jimmy Neesham who scored a gutsy 97 in the company of Colin de Grandhomme who chipped in with a half-century. Their contributions saw the team total swell to a decent 237/6 in their 50 overs.

But chasing 238 against the formidable Kiwi bowling line up and a highly agile and quick fielding unit was not going to be easy. New Zealand kept themselves in the game picking up a few early wickets and tying down the scoring rate. But they seemed to have missed a trick by going with the services of just one spinner on a slow pitch. Compounding to it, Tom Latham failed to hold on to a catch of Babar Azam behind the stumps when he was batting in the 40s of the bowling of Santner. Babar made full use of the second chance and guided his team to a six-wicket victory scoring a century in the process.

After Pakistan trounced New Zealand, it was supposed to be Sri Lanka’s turn against the down on luck South Africa. After their surprising win against England, they looked to maintain their winning ways.

After Pakistan trounced New Zealand, it was supposed to be Sri Lanka’s turn against the down on luck South Africa. After their surprising win against England, they looked to maintain their winning ways. But South Africa decided to finally turn up at the World Cup and showcased their talent and proved why they are a formidable unit. South Africa got the proceedings in control after the Sri Lankan batsmen got away to a flying start in the powerplay to bundle them out for 203.

In the run chase, South Africa lost the wicket of Quinton de Kock early to a Malinga yorker. But from then on, the Protea captain Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla took on the reins of the chase and stamped their authority on the run chase. They reached home with 13 overs remaining and Faf missed out on a well-deserved century as there weren’t enough runs to chase.

In the meanwhile, after surviving a scare against Afghanistan, India locked horns with West Indies at Manchester.

In the meanwhile, after surviving a scare against Afghanistan, India locked horns with West Indies at Manchester. After an improved batting performance, India put on a decent 268/7 deciding to bat first. There were a few apprehensions at the halfway stage as West Indies batting had a lot of firepower.

Ironically, it was the same firepower which sealed the fate of the West Indies. A great spell of fast bowling from Shami saw dangerman Chris Gayle and their middle order mainstay Shai Hope out quickly inside the powerplay. The spin twins proved to be too hot to handle for the Windies batsmen as they succumbed by playing big shots against them. The pacers came back on to finish the job and hand India a resounding 125 run victory.

It was again Pakistan’s turn to play. It was another virtual knockout match for the pleasure of the viewers.

It was again Pakistan’s turn to play. It was another virtual knockout match for the pleasure of the viewers. After giving the Indians a scare, Afghanistan was taking on common neighbours Pakistan at Leeds.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Afghanistan got off to a nervy start. A couple of quick wickets saw the scoring rate in check. Apart from a couple of notable innings from Asghar Afghan and Najibullah Zadran, the rest of the batting line-up frittered away starts and Afghanistan only ended up 227/9 in their allotted overs.

Pakistan did not want a repeat of the match against India. They wanted to win comfortably against Afghanistan and boost their net run rate.

Pakistan did not want a repeat of the match against India. They wanted to win comfortably against Afghanistan and boost their net run rate. It did look like they would achieve the objective. But a couple of quick wickets saw that dream evaporate. The wickets of Imam ul Haq and Babar Azam in quick succession saw Pakistan lose wickets at regular intervals.

With the scorecard reading 156/6 in 39 overs, Pakistan 70 odd runs away from victory with just 4 wickets, an unexpected Afghanistan victory was on the cards. The equation further reduced to 60 required in the last 8 overs. However, captaincy errors from Gulbadin Naib quashed the hopes of an Afghanistan win and Pakistan huffed and puffed to a 3-wicket win and pushed into the top four. It was now awaiting the good news of an Indian victory against England.

Away from the drama of the last spot in the top four, table toppers Australia was playing their trans-Tasman rival New Zealand.

Away from the drama of the last spot in the top four, table toppers Australia was playing their trans-Tasman rival New Zealand. Australia being the only team to qualify to the semis wanted to solidify their position at the top. New Zealand coming to the game after a defeat against Pakistan looked to book their berth in the semis.

Shrugging off their defeat, being asked to bowl first by the Aussies, the Kiwis had Australia in a spot of bother at 92/5. Reminiscent of their performance against the West Indies in the World Cup, Australia found new heroes this time. The Australian southpaws Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey with defining knocks of 88 and 71 respectively took their team to safety. Riding on their knocks Australia posted 243/9 on the board.

After Williamson’s departure, the Kiwi batsmen folded like a pack of cards and bundled out for 157 giving Australia an 87-run win.

New Zealand’s problems with batting cropped up once again in the run chase and the responsibility to control the run chase fell on the shoulders of Williamson and Taylor once again. Ross Taylor was the first to depart after stitching a 50-run partnership with Taylor and Williamson fell soon after at 118. After Williamson’s departure, the Kiwi batsmen folded like a pack of cards and bundled out for 157 giving Australia an 87-run win.

The next match between India and England was the match every cricket lover from every country was waiting for with bated breath. It was the match which would decide the fate of England in the tournament.

An England defeat would mean a lifeline for the Asian teams of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The print media and social media saw fans of Pakistan and Bangladesh declaring their support to India.

An England defeat would mean a lifeline for the Asian teams of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The print media and social media saw fans of Pakistan and Bangladesh declaring their support to India. The support was even reflected in the stands in the stadium.

England holding on to survival and India looking to stay unbeaten clashed at Edgbaston on a sunny morning. With Jason Roy back in the team and a relatively newer and flat pitch, England got off to a rollicking start after electing to bat first. They were shredding the Indian bowling apart. Racking up an impressive 160 in 22 overs, people were thinking 400 was on the cards. But some impressive bowling in the middle overs and excellent death bowling by Bumrah saw England restricted to 337/7.

India got their act to together after the powerplay and started to catch up with the scoring rate.

India losing the early wicket of KL Rahul began the chase with insipid batting in the powerplay. There was no urgency showed in that is required in the chase of a target in excess of 300. India got their act to together after the powerplay and started to catch up with the scoring rate. India courtesy a century from Rohit Sharma, his third in the World Cup was in the game till Pandya got out in the 45^th over.

Dhoni was in a familiar position. He had finished off many a game for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and for India in the international arena from similar situations. But for reasons unknown, the intent to finish the game was missing from both the batsmen Dhoni and Jadhav. In a run chase demanding 10 runs an over, they were scoring a run a ball.

Not only did the Indians fans find it disappointing, but it also put the hopes of Pakistan and Bangladesh in jeopardy. Now the fates of Bangladesh and Pakistan to reach the final four are not completely in their hands and now need to hope for favourable results.

Taking today’s result into consideration where India won a relatively close match against Bangladesh ended the Bangladeshi campaign.

The contest which was spicing up for the last spot in the top four has effectively ended barring some unexpected results. Taking today’s result into consideration where India won a relatively close match against Bangladesh ended the Bangladeshi campaign. Now Pakistan and Sri Lanka who remain in contention not only need to win their games but also hope for favourable results.

Photos sourced by the author from the Internet