Tuesday evening’s match between South Africa and Bangladesh marked the midpoint of the 2023 World Cup, a tournament that’s yet to produce a close finish.
The one-sided nature of the matches in India hasn’t gone unnoticed, prompting speculation on whether the ten-team format has been a success or not.
Regardless, there’s still plenty of cricket to be played over the coming weeks, and all ten nations technically still have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. However, some teams are better positioned than others ahead of the second half of the tournament.
Watch every match of The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Live with no ad breaks in play on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
Travis Head in doubt for CWC return | 02:04
India
1st: 5-0, +1.353
Remaining Fixtures: England, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Netherlands
It’s been smooth sailing for the host nation thus far.
India is the only undefeated team remaining in the tournament, with their spot in the knockouts all but secure.
Virat Kohli has been near his destructive best with the bat, registering scores of 103* and 95 against Bangladesh and New Zealand respectively, while captain Rohit Sharma has contributed multiple explosive cameos during the Powerplay.
Indian seamer Mohammed Shami was brought back into the starting XI for Sunday’s match in Dharamshala, taking a five-wicket haul against the Black Caps, while opener Shubman Gill has seamlessly returned from his illness scare.
They’re the tournament favourites, and it will take something special to stop them from lifting their third World Cup trophy next month.
India tops WC standings in win over NZ | 03:52
South Africa
2nd: 4-1, +2.370
Remaining Fixtures: Pakistan, New Zealand, India, Afghanistan
Despite last week’s shock loss to the Netherlands, South Africa has enjoyed a superb World Cup campaign to date.
The Proteas knocked off powerhouse nations Australia and England with ease, courtesy of some destructive batting from their talented middle order. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock started his final World Cup campaign with back-to-back hundreds against Sri Lanka and Australia before cracking another century against Bangladesh.
The South Africans are undeniably missing Anrich Nortje’s added pace, but there’s enough depth in their bowling attack to take them deep into the tournament.
Klaasen ROARS at Wood after hitting ton | 00:29
New Zealand
3rd: 4-1, +1.481
Remaining Fixtures: Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Despite effectively having a 13-player squad, New Zealand is on track to book its spot in the semi-finals for a fifth consecutive World Cup campaign.
Veteran stars Kane Williamson and Tim Southee have been nursing injuries throughout the tournament, while bowler Lockie Ferguson missed the opener against England with a niggle of his own. Yet despite the lack of flexibility at their disposal, the Black Caps are sitting second on the World Cup standings with one loss to their name — against hosts India.
Rachin Ravindra has been a revelation at No. 3, while spinner Mitch Santner is currently the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 12 scalps at 16.91.
The Blacks Caps need to win two of their remaining four matches secure a semi-final berth, net run rate dependant.
New Zealand continue perfect WC start | 02:37
Australia
4th: 2-2, -0.193
Remaining Fixtures: Netherlands, New Zealand, England, Afghanistan, Bangladesh
After a slow start to its World Cup campaign, Australia has bounced back with consecutive wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa, despite battling injury and illness, has returned to form with back-to-back four-wicket hauls, while David Warner is in ominous form after his record-breaking century in Bengaluru.
However, Australia’s middle order remains a glaring cause for concern — Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell are yet to register a fifty in the campaign.
Regardless, Travis Head will boost the squad’s batting depth when he returns from the wrist injury that kept him sidelined for the first half of the tournament.
The key question will be at who’s expense. Smith and Labuschagne loom as the obvious players to make way.
Warner & Marsh tons seal win for Aussies | 04:13
Pakistan
5th: 2-3, -0.400
Remaining Fixtures: South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, England
It’s all starting to fall apart for Pakistan.
After starting their World Cup campaign with back-to-back wins, the Pakistanis are staring down the barrel of an early exit after suffering a trio of defeats to India, Australia and Afghanistan.
Captain Babar Azam has been far below his best with the bat, while the team’s spinners have hardly troubled their opposition, collectively taking six wickets at 100.33.
The Pakistanis are desperately missing bowler Naseem Shah, while star quick Shaheen Afridi has only offered a glimpse of his excellence with the ball. Meanwhile, the fielding has been … let’s say inconsistent.
Pakistan will need a repeat of their 1992 miracle for any chance of winning a second World Cup title.
WARNER UNLEASHES! Dropped catch haunts | 01:09
Afghanistan
6th: 2-3, -0.969
Remaining Fixtures: Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Australia, South Africa
Afghanistan has suddenly emerged as dark horses to qualify for the semi-finals after clinching surprise wins over England and Pakistan. The Afghans had only managed one World Cup victory before this year’s tournament, over Scotland in 2015.
Young gun Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been in blistering form at the top of the order, registering crucial fifties against England and Pakistan, while superstar spinner Rashid Khan has hardly offered any freebies in the middle overs
However, Afghanistan will need to win all four of their remaining group stage matches to progress through to the knockouts, a mighty tall order considering upcoming fixtures against Australia and South Africa.
Afghanistan shock Pakistan in upset win! | 01:43
Netherlands
7th: 1-3, -0.790
Remaining Fixtures: Australia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, England, India
The Netherlands have become everyone’s second team over the past fortnight.
The Dutch band of misfits dominated headlines they took down South Africa in Dharamshala last week, also putting up a decent fight against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Australia-born captain Scott Edwards has been superb with the bat, while each of their bowlers have contributed at different stages throughout the tournament.
The Netherlands are unlikely to qualify for the semi-finals, but with upcoming fixtures against Bangladesh and Afghanistan, they have an opportunity to make this the nation’s most successful World Cup campaign in history.
Netherlands pull off famous upset | 01:40
Sri Lanka
8th: 1-3, -1.048
Remaining Fixtures: England, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, New Zealand
It’s fair to say Sri Lanka’s World Cup dream is over.
Sri Lanka’s only victory of the tournament has come against fellow qualifiers the Netherlands, and they’ve got a trio of tough matches on the horizon.
Inexperienced bowler Dilshan Madushanka has been absolutely superb throughout the tournament, but the Sri Lankans don’t have much else to celebrate. Captain Dasun Shanaka was ruled out of the campaign with a thigh injury, replaced by Chamika Karunaratne, while Matheesa Pathirana is nursing an injury of his own.
If they don’t topple reigning champions England on Thursday, the Sri Lankans might as well start packing their bags.
Record WC run chase achieved by Rizwan | 01:05
England
9th: 1-3, -1.248
Remaining Fixtures: Sri Lanka, India, Australia, Netherlands, Pakistan
Who could have predicted this?
England, the reigning champions who revolutionised white-ball cricket after their disastrous 2015 World Cup campaign, are sitting bottom of the standings at the midpoint of the tournament.
Jos Buttler’s men essentially need to win seven consecutive matches to win a second World Cup title, which considering their recent performances against Afghanistan and South Africa appears to be incredibly unlikely.
All-rounder Ben Stokes came out of ODI retirement for the tournament, but contributed a grand total of five runs in the team’s opening four matches as he battled injury.
Meanwhile, pace bowler Reece Topley, the team’s leading wicket-taker with eight scalps, has returned home with a broken finger, replaced in the squad by the inexperienced Brydon Carse.
England’s World Cup defence in tatters | 01:21
Bangladesh
10th: 1-4, -1.253
Remaining Fixtures: Netherlands, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia
Bangladesh’s batters simply haven’t delivered in the World Cup as of yet, and their chances of qualifying for the knockouts are approaching zero.
The Tigers are without reliable opener Tamim Iqbal at the top of the order, while Taskin Ahmed has been out of action with a shoulder injury. The batting line-up has been chopped and changed throughout the tournament, with players shuffling up and down the order without apparent reason.
Thankfully for Bangladesh, their semi-finals dream isn’t over, but almost every result will need to go their way from here on out.
Bangladesh burn review on crazy call | 00:32
Remaining World Cup fixtures
October 25
Australia vs the Netherlands, 7.30pm – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
October 26
England vs Sri Lanka, 7.30pm – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
October 27
Pakistan vs South Africa, 7.30pm – M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
October 28
Australia vs New Zealand, 4pm – HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala
The Netherlands vs Bangladesh, 7.30pm – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
October 29
India vs England, 7.30pm – BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
October 30
Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka, 7.30pm – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
October 31
Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 7.30pm – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
November 1
New Zealand vs South Africa, 7.30pm – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
November 2
India vs Sri Lanka 7.30pm – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
November 3
The Netherlands vs Afghanistan, 7.30pm – BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
November 4
New Zealand vs Pakistan, 4pm – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
England vs Australia, 7.30pm – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
November 5
India vs South Africa, 7.30pm – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
November 6
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, 7.30pm – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
November 7
Australia vs Afghanistan, 7.30pm – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
November 8
England vs the Netherlands, 7.30pm – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
November 9
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 7.30pm – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
November 10
South Africa vs Afghanistan, 7.30pm – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
November 11
Australia vs Bangladesh, 4pm – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
England vs Pakistan, 7.30pm – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
November 12
India vs the Netherlands, 7.30pm – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
November 15
Semi-final 1: First place vs Fourth place, 7.30pm – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
November 16
Semi-final 2: Second place vs Third place, 7.30pm – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
November 19
Final: Winner of Semi-final 1 vs winner of Semi-final 2, 7.30pm – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Discussion about this post