Cricket World Cup 2015 Tables: Pool a and B Results and Likely Qualifiers
Pakistan's shock 29-run win over South Africa during Saturday's 2015 Cricket World Cup action means for the first time during the tournament, the play-off candidates from both pools look all but set.
Bangladesh and Australia hold a three-point lead over England and Afghanistan in Pool A with two matches left to play, and the latter two teams have a mountain to climb when it comes to net run rate.
The situation isn't as dire for West Indies in Pool B, but they'll need a big win over United Arab Emirates in their final match and hope Pakistan or Ireland drop some vital points before the end of the group stage. Here are the latest results of the 2015 Cricket World Cup:
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| Pakistan (222) beat | South Africa (202) | by 29 runs (D/L method) | |
| Ireland (331/8) beat | Zimbabwe (326) | by five runs |
The current group standings:
| New Zealand | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +3.589 | 754/110.2 | 649/200.0 |
| Sri Lanka | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +0.128 | 1113/195.4 | 1112/200.0 |
| Australia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +1.804 | 910/150.0 | 525/123.1 |
| Bangladesh | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +0.182 | 829/148.1 | 812/150.0 |
| England | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1.201 | 966/200.0 | 963/159.4 |
| Afghanistan | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1.953 | 747/199.3 | 1130/198.2 |
| Scotland | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.423 | 854/200.0 | 982/172.3 |
| India | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +2.246 | 896/158.0 | 685/200.0 |
| South Africa | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +1.462 | 1537/247.0 | 1176/247.0 |
| Pakistan | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -0.194 | 1189/247.0 | 1237/247.0 |
| Ireland | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -0.820 | 1127/195.1 | 1319/200.0 |
| West Indies | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -0.511 | 1309/248.0 | 1349/233.0 |
| Zimbabwe | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -0.595 | 1393/246.0 | 1552/248.0 |
| United Arab Emirates | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.691 | 875/200.0 | 1008/166.1 |
Likely Qualifiers
Pool A
Time is starting to run out on England's chances of sneaking into the quarter-finals, but all hope isn't lost just yet. Monday's clash with Bangladesh is a must-win match for Peter Moores' men and, per England Cricket, captain Eoin Morgan isn't overlooking their opponents one bit:
In light of both teams' recent fortunes, Morgan's comments sound almost comical. Bangladesh have won seven of their last eight one-day internationals, and via the Mirror's Dean Wilson, they beat the Three Lions in their last meeting at the World Cup four years ago.
Shakib Al Hasan has been in fine form, leading the Tigers' bowlers and also leading the team in batting average, with 80.50. In fact, Bangladesh have three batsmen with a higher average than England's top batsman, James Taylor.
But as bad as England's batting has been, their bowling attack has been even worse. Moeen Ali leads the group with an economy of 5.41—the rest of the group sit well above 6.00.
Under Moores, the team has looked as toothless as the years prior, and The Independent's Ian Herbert is one of many calling for the coach's head:
Behind England, Afghanistan can also mathematically still make the play-offs, but if Bangladesh, Australia or Sri Lanka win either of their last two matches, the race is over. Add in net run rate, all it takes is one of England's or Afghanistan's matches to get rained off to send them packing.
Likely qualifiers: New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Australia seem like locks to make the next round, and unless some minor miracle happens, Bangladesh will join them.
Pool B
Pakistan's upset over South Africa puts them two points ahead of West Indies, with both sides playing just one more match. Windies face a UAE squad that hasn't even come close to winning a match, while Pakistan go head-to-head with Ireland, who currently sit in fourth.
Ireland's five-run win over Zimbabwe was crucial heading into the final stretch, a very close affair that could end up being decisive. Cricket Ireland echoed what just about every fan must have been feeling after the final ball was bowled:
Ireland have the advantage of playing two more matches before the end of the group stages, but neither will be easy. Defending champions India haven't lost an ODI in ages, and against Ireland's bowling—which was decimated by the Proteas—they should feast and come away with an easy win.
In other words, barring one of Ireland's matches getting rained out, it looks very likely Pool B will come down to their head-to-head with Pakistan, as shared by SportsJOE.ie:
Net run rate will likely be the key here, with West Indies all but guaranteed to win—and win big—against UAE and India likely to do the same against Ireland.
If this pool comes down to the final match, you have to back Pakistan on their current form. Their bowling remains explosive, and while their batsmen have yet to find their feet—Misbah-ul-Haq's 56 against South Africa is a good start—they should be helped by Ireland's lack of strong pace bowlers.
ESPN Cricinfo's Freddie Wilde also noted Pakistan are doing what they always do—play their best cricket when they have to:
Pool B is next to impossible to predict right now, but assuming Ireland don't have the fortune of getting a draw due to weather conditions in their remaining matches, they might end up on the wrong side of the schedule.
Likely qualifiers: India and South Africa are locks, Pakistan should beat Ireland on current form and West Indies somehow sneak into the quarter-finals on net run rate.
All statistics courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo.
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