Friends,
At the end of what has been an exhilarating month at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, it boils down to the final day of the league stages to determine two of the quarter-finalists from Pool B.
India and South Africa are already through.
Now, on what promises to be a Super Sunday (March 15), West Indies play United Arab Emirates at McLean Park in Napier. Meanwhile, in Adelaide, Ireland will be looking to repeat history (from 2007) and secure a berth in the knockouts when it clashes against Pakistan.
Here's what each team needs to do in order to cement their quarter-final spot:
West Indies
With just two wins in five matches, a win over UAE is non-negotiable for West Indies. However, it isn't a straightforward equation.
While the winner of the Pakistan v Ireland game will go through, West Indies will be caught in a battle of net run-rates if Ireland beats Pakistan. In that eventuality, Pakistan and West Indies will be locked on points. Therefore, a big margin of victory is imperative on Sunday for Jason Holder's side.
Its task will also somewhat be made tougher, as bad weather has been forecast. If a result is not possible in Napier, both teams would share one point and the West Indies will be knocked out.
Pakistan
Pakistan has the best net run-rate among the sides in the race. With three wins in five games, a straightforward win will see Pakistan through. However, the side's good deeds over the last three games could open the back door even if it loses to Ireland, provided West Indies doesn't beat UAE by too big a margin.
Ireland
Despite winning three matches, Ireland faces a do-or-die battle against Pakistan due to its inferior net run-rate. A win would take other results out of the equation. A loss for Ireland would bring it down to a net run-rate fight with West Indies.
If there is a weather-forced no-result in the West Indies v UAE game, both Pakistan and Ireland would progress irrespective of the result in their game although the result will still be key for the final classification in the group.
With the two co-hosts finishing first and second in Pool A, a journey to either Wellington to play New Zealand or to Adelaide to play Australia awaits two of these sides. What bigger incentive could there be than a Quarter Final spot at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
| ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 | ||||||||
| Points Table | ||||||||
| POOL A | ||||||||
| POS | TEAM | MATCHES | WON | LOST | TIED | N/R | NET RR | POINTS |
| Q | NEW ZEALAND | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.564 | 12 |
| Q | AUSTRALIA | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.257 | 9 |
| Q | SRI LANKA | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.371 | 8 |
| Q | BANGLADESH | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.136 | 7 |
| 5 | ENGLAND | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.753 | 4 |
| 6 | AFGHANISTAN | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -1.853 | 2 |
| 7 | SCOTLAND | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | -2.218 | 0 |
| POOL B | ||||||||
| POS | TEAM | MATCHES | WON | LOST | TIED | N/R | NET RR | POINTS |
| Q | INDIA | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.827 | 12 |
| Q | SOUTH AFRICA | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.707 | 8 |
| 3 | WEST INDIES | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -0.053 | 6 |
| 4 | PAKISTAN | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -0.194 | 6 |
| 5 | IRELAND | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -1.014 | 6 |
| 6 | ZIMBABWE | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -0.527 | 2 |
| 7 | UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | -2.032 | 0 |
