India claimed their first win in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, beating Pakistan by six wickets, but their journey to the semifinals remains fraught with challenges.
On Sunday, October 6, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan, after electing to bat, posted a modest total of 105/8 in their allotted 20 overs. In response, India cautiously chased down the target in 18.5 overs. Shafali Verma led the way with 32 off 35 deliveries, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the innings with an unbeaten 29 off 24 balls. The star of the match, however, was Arundhati Reddy, whose brilliant spell of 3/19 in four overs earned her the Player of the Match award.
Despite the victory, India’s slow scoring rate, finishing with a run rate of less than six, did little to improve their net run rate, which had been severely damaged after their crushing 58-run defeat to New Zealand in the opening game. With one win and one loss from two matches, India currently sits fourth in the group standings with a negative net run rate of -1.217, placing them in a precarious position to qualify for the semifinals.
India’s next fixtures include a must-win match against Sri Lanka, followed by a daunting clash with the six-time champions Australia. To keep their semifinal hopes alive, India will need a commanding victory over Sri Lanka to boost their net run rate, followed by a likely showdown with Australia. If India beats Sri Lanka convincingly and edges Australia, their chances of progressing will improve significantly.
However, India’s fate isn’t entirely in their own hands. If New Zealand manages to defeat Australia in their upcoming match, India could qualify for the semifinals with six points, provided Pakistan doesn’t win more than one of their remaining matches.
If India loses to Australia after winning against Sri Lanka, they will need favourable results from other teams. For instance, they would hope for New Zealand to lose both remaining matches against Australia and Pakistan or for Australia to lose both games, which would create a three-way tie on four points. In this case, qualification would be decided by net run rate.
India clinch their first victory of the campaign!
A 6-wicket win over Pakistan to bounce back in style.#CricketTwitter #T20WorldCup2024 pic.twitter.com/Jg41Ov3BZn
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 6, 2024
On the flip side, if both India and Pakistan win their remaining matches and New Zealand beats Australia, there will be a three-way tie at six points. Once again, net run rate will become the deciding factor, making India’s need for a dominant win over Sri Lanka even more critical.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has yet to register a victory in the tournament, suffering heavy defeats at the hands of both Pakistan and Australia. India will be hoping to exploit Sri Lanka’s poor form and improve their net run rate, currently sitting at -1.667, before their final group-stage fixture against the defending champions on October 13.
The top of Group A is currently led by New Zealand with an impressive net run rate of +2.900, followed by Australia at +1.908, with both teams remaining unbeaten so far. Pakistan sits third with a net run rate of +0.555 after their victory over Sri Lanka and taking the game deep against India, while India follows with a net run rate of -1.217. Sri Lanka trails at the bottom of the group.
India’s path to the semifinals is difficult, but not impossible. To avoid relying on other teams, they must win their next two matches and, crucially, do so with a strong net run rate, ensuring they stay in the hunt for a spot in the knockout stages.
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