Explained: How Australia's 60-run win over New Zealand impacts India's 2024 Women's T20 World Cup semifinal chances
Defending champions Australia hammered New Zealand by 60 runs in match No. 10 of the ICC Women's 2024 T20 World Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, October 8. Batting first after winning the toss, the Aussies put up 148-8 on the board and then cleaned up the White Ferns for 88 in 19.2 overs.
Beth Mooney top-scored for Australia with 40 off 32, while Ellyse Perry contributed 30 off 24. Amelia Kerr, however, starred with 4-26 to keep the batting side under 150. New Zealand, though, crumbled in the chase as Megan Schutt registered sensational figures of 3-3, while Annabel Sutherland picked up 3-21. For the Kiwis, Kerr (29) and Suzie Bates (20) were the only batters to offer some resistance.
With the thumping victory over New Zealand, Australia have moved to the top of the Group A points table in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Aussies now have four points from two matches, with an impressive net run rate of +2.524. Australia's win also makes India's qualification path to the semifinals trickier.
How can Team India qualify for the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup semifinals?
After a 58-run loss to New Zealand, India made a good comeback in the Women's T20 World Cup to beat arch-rivals Pakistan by six wickets in Dubai. However, they are still fourth in the Group A points table, with a net run rate of -1.217.
Despite their loss to India, Pakistan (+0.555) find themselves in second position, while Kiwis (-0.050) have moved down to third. Pakistan, New Zealand, and India all have two points each
For the Women in Blue to progress to the semifinals of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup, they need to win both their remaining matches by huge margins so they can finish in the top two in Group A. India will face Sri Lanka in Dubai on October 9 and Australia in Sharjah on October 13.
If Harmanpreet Kaur and co. emerge victorious in both their remaining games, they will finish the league stage with six points. However, if New Zealand also win both their remaining games and the Aussies beat Pakistan they will also finish on six points. Unless India achieve huge wins in their remaining two games, their big loss against New Zealand in their opening match could come back to haunt them.
Meanwhile, Pakistan are also still in the hunt for a place in the semifinals. They have a decent net run rate of +0.555. If they beat Australia and New Zealand, they will also finish on six points. Assuming, India also beat the Aussies and the Kiwis beat Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand will be stuck on four points, while India will finish the group on six points. This, though, is a highly unlikely scenario.