Cricket World Cup 2015 Tables: Latest Points Totals After Sri Lanka vs. Scotland

As was widely expected, Sri Lanka (363/9) put Scotland (215 all out) to the sword with a confident display to move, at least for the time being, into second place in Pool A at the Cricket World Cup.

With the four qualifiers from Pool A already decided and New Zealand having secured top spot, the Lions have put the pressure on Australia and Bangladesh as they seek to avoid finishing as the lowest qualifier and a date with in-form India.

Likewise, Pool B is delicately poised with India set as the runaway winners and South Africa, Ireland, Pakistan and West Indies fighting it out to join them in the quarter-finals.

Here are the current standings:

	M	W	L	NRR	Points
New Zealand	5	5	0	3.090	10
Sri Lanka	6	4	2	0.371	8
Australia	5	3	1	1.597	7
Bangladesh	5	3	1	0.211	7
England	5	1	4	-1.001	2
Afghanistan	5	1	4	-1.881	2
Scotland	5	0	5	-1.769	0

	M	W	L	NRR	Points
India	5	5	0	2.157	10
South Africa	5	3	2	1.462	6
Pakistan	5	3	2	-0.194	6
Ireland	5	3	2	-1.014	6
West Indies	5	2	3	-0.511	4
Zimbabwe	5	1	4	-0.595	2
UAE	4	0	4	-1.691	0

Pool A

Sri Lanka's win against Scotland makes the final round of matches in Pool A very interesting indeed, the presence of India looming large over whichever nation ends up fourth.

Kumar Sangakkara's record-breaking fourth consecutive ODI century was something to behold:

The 37-year-old's efforts will rightly draw the plaudits, as they did from sports broadcaster and writer Danny Kelly:

Sangakkara's century was not only one of the biggest highlights of the World Cup so far, but it sets up the Pool perfectly as Australia and Bangladesh face their final matches.

Both can overtake the Lions, and Australia will likely do so as they take on a hapless Scotland squad on Saturday.

Bangladesh, however, face a much tougher prospect when they take on New Zealand. The Black Caps have won every match so far.

Though there is always the possibility that New Zealand will rest players or take their foot off the gas having already qualified, the co-hosts will be determined to keep up momentum and perform well on home soil.

According to Agence France-Presse, via the Bangkok Post, New Zealand wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi said: "It's a World Cup and you are playing for your country so if you need more motivation than that you probably shouldn't be here. Everybody will be up for it."

With the bowling prowess of Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who have 13 wickets apiece, and Daniel Vettori, who has 12, the Black Caps look set to keep up their winning ways in Hamilton.

Pool B

In Pool B, India secured the No. 1 spot when they dismissed Ireland on Tuesday:

For the four teams below them, they all have a chance with three places remaining.

That said, South Africa play the winless United Arab Emirates in their final game, so they're almost guaranteed two points and a qualification place, most likely second due to their vastly superior net run rate.

This leaves Ireland, Pakistan and West Indies tussling for the last two spots.

ESPN Cricinfo's Freddie Wilde handily sums up each team's route to the quarter-finals:

Ireland and Pakistan face off in what's sure to be a thrilling encounter, with the winner making sure of their place in the next round.

West Indies take on UAE in their final game and, barring an upset, will in all likelihood emerge victorious. However, this would only put them on six points, meaning they will need to go all out to make their net run rate higher than the loser of Pakistan vs. Ireland.

Should that be Ireland, Windies have an excellent chance of sneaking into the quarter-finals.

However, Ireland will be desperate to qualify after rallying so well in this World Cup, and they can upset the odds once again to squeeze past a strong Pakistan side here.