"There is a strong chance that the top 4 remains like this only" - Aakash Chopra on Australia's 2023 World Cup annihilation of the Netherlands
Aakash Chopra expects the current top four in the 2023 World Cup points table to retain their places at the end of the league phase.
Australia thrashed the Netherlands by 309 runs in Delhi on Wednesday (October 25) to consolidate their fourth spot in the standings. They posted a mammoth 399/8 and bundled out the Dutch for a paltry 90 to register the biggest win in ODI World Cup history.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra praised Australia for registering a comprehensive win and opined that the semi-final berths might have already been sealed. He stated (0:01):
"Who defeats the opposition by 309 runs in an ODI game? It seems like Australia are back on track. They defeated Pakistan, Sri Lanka before that and the Netherlands now. The defeats they suffered against India and South Africa in their first two games, those wounds have been healed slightly."
The former India opener added (4:35):
"The other teams might start getting slightly scared of Australia now. There is a strong chance that the top four remains like this only. Changes might happen from fifth to eighth but there might be no change at all in the top four."
India, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia occupy the top four positions in the points table currently. It might need a herculean effort from the other teams to displace any of these sides from the top four.
"No matter how good the Netherlands might have played, 400 runs were not going to be scored" - Aakash Chopra
![The Australian bowlers ran through the Netherlands batting lineup. [P/C: AP]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/10/67457-16982959336919-1920.jpg?w=500)
Reflecting on Wednesday's game, Aakash Chopra pointed out that the Netherlands were never going to chase down a 400-run target. He said (4:00):
"No matter how good the Netherlands might have played, 400 runs were not going to be scored. I don't think any team will be able to do that. We might not see 400 runs in a chase in this entire tournament."
Chopra praised the Australian bowlers for sharing the spoils during the Dutch chase. He elaborated:
"It was a one-sided game once 399 runs were scored, whether it was Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc or Adam Zampa - four wickets, he was also on a hat-trick at one point. Mitchell Marsh also bowled, picked up two wickets as well. It was perfect."
Adam Zampa (4/8) was Australia's most successful bowler. While Mitchell Marsh picked up two wickets, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins accounted for a dismissal apiece.