Last Updated on 11 months by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: A look at the margin Pakistan needs to beat England by to pull off a miracle qualification to the World Cup semi-finals
The New Zealand-Sri Lanka match had plenty riding on it. Not only did the Black Caps have their own fans glued to the important clash, but Pakistan and Afghanistan had their fingers crossed for a Sri Lankan victory.
However, New Zealand won easily with five wickets and 160 balls to spare after restricting Sri Lanka to 171 despite a fighting last wicket partnership between Dilshan Madushanka and Maheesh Theekshana. As a result, Pakistan now need a miracle to qualify for the 2023 World Cup semi-finals, while Afghanistan need to beat South Africa by 487 runs, which would be the cricketing miracle to end all cricketing miracles.
Pakistan need to win by 287-run margin to qualify
Babar Azam’s team must bat first against England at Eden Gardens and need to win by at least a mammoth 287 runs to qualify. Fakhar Zaman’s superb form since returning from injury provides hope for the huge score they need to give themselves a chance, but they need absolutely everything to go right, from the toss right through to execution.
If Pakistan bat second, they have next to no chance of qualifying as they will need to win with approximately 284 balls to spare.
If Pakistan score a huge 450 batting first, they will qualify if they restrict England to 161 or fewer. However, any score of 386 or less, and Pakistan must bowl England out for under 100 to qualify.
The scenario is eerily similar to the 2019 World Cup. After a slow start to their campaign in England, Pakistan then strung wins together but needed to beat Bangladesh by 316 runs to qualify for the semi-finals of that edition. They ended up winning by 94 runs with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking 6/35, but their campaign came to an end.
As things stand in the 2023 World Cup, high-flying India will take on New Zealand in a repeat of 2019 World Cup semi-final. Australia will take on South Africa in the other semi-final.
