After a week of World Cup action, here we are. There have been some surprise wins and some strong performances from the pre-tournament favourites.
We take a look at the crucial second week of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 as its moving time in the Pool stages.
West Indies’ victory against Pakistan and the weather in Brisbane has thrown the battle for quarter-finals berths in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 wide open.
Ireland had already made Pool B interesting with its win over West Indies last week, but the Windies’ comprehensive result against their higher-ranked opponent in Christchurch proved a game-changer.
Currently, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates are yet to claim any points in Pool B, while Ireland and Zimbabwe have signalled themselves as potential quarter-final contenders with wins.
Meanwhile in Pool A, Bangladesh picked up a point it may otherwise not have when rain prevented a ball being bowled in its clash with No.1 ODI team Australia.
Here are next week’s matches which could be make-or-break for the quarter-final hopefuls.
New Zealand v Australia, Auckland, February 28
Barring any major upsets, this match will decide who finishes on top of Pool A and meets the fourth-ranked qualifier from Pool B. There’s no need to hype this match up. The two host nations and tournament favourites face-off in a replay of the famous World Cup match at the same venue in 1992, which New Zealand won by 37 runs.
England v Sri Lanka, Wellington, March 1
Another match England needs to win to keep itself ahead of Bangladesh in the battle for a quarter-final berth. A loss against Sri Lanka would be devastating to England, which is returning to the scene of its thrashing against New Zealand for the match. The teams played 12 times in 2014 – five times in England and seven in Sri Lanka – and Sri Lanka won 10 games to England’s two.
POOL B
Assuming the world’s second and third-ranked ODI teams, India and South Africa, claim the top two positions in Pool B, it leaves the third and fourth spots open. With West Indies’ mixed results from two matches and Pakistan’s two losses, it looks as though Pakistan, Zimbabwe, West Indies and Ireland will be fighting for the two remaining spots.
West Indies v Zimbabwe, Canberra, February 24
This match at Manuka Oval will go a long way to deciding the fate of these two teams in the tournament. West Indies revived its hopes of making the knock-out stages when it defeated Pakistan, while Zimbabwe has won win from two matches. The teams have not played in an ODI since February 2013, when West Indies won a home series 3-0.
Ireland v United Arab Emirates, Brisbane, February 25
Ireland started the World Cup with a bang but if it wants to make the quarter finals, it needs to beat the United Arab Emirates at the Gabba. The last time the teams met was in a Twenty20 match in March last year, which Ireland won by 21 runs.
Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Brisbane, March 1
Again, both teams will be desperate to win this match at the Gabba to set themselves on a path to the knock-out stages. Pakistan won’t have played since its loss to West Indies in Christchurch on Saturday, while Zimbabwe will be backing up after playing West Indies at Canberra. The teams have not met in an ODI since August 2013, when Pakistan won an ODI series 2-1.
Other matches which could be crucial before the finals:
England v Bangladesh, Adelaide, March 9 (Pool A)
Zimbabwe v Ireland, Hobart, March 7 (Pool B)
Pakistan v Ireland, Adelaide, March 15 (Pool B)
Â
Courtesy: ICC