Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup received a timely boost after England defeated New Zealand in a thrilling Super Eight encounter, dramatically reshaping the group standings.
With the result, England secured the top position in the group with six points, confirming their place in the last four. However, the battle for the remaining semi-final spot from the group is now set to be decided between Pakistan and New Zealand.
The decisive moment will come in Pakistan’s final Super Eight clash against Sri Lanka on Saturday. Pakistan must not only defeat Sri Lanka but do so by a significant margin to surpass New Zealand on net run rate.
If Pakistan fail to register a comprehensive victory, New Zealand, currently on three points, will advance to the semi-finals based on superior net run rate.
Sri Lanka will be without key batter Kusal Mendis
In a major setback ahead of the crucial encounter, Sri Lanka will be without key batter Kusal Mendis, who has been ruled out of the match against Pakistan. His absence is seen as a significant blow to Sri Lanka’s batting lineup and could impact the dynamics of the contest. The stage is now set for a high-stakes showdown, with Pakistan’s semi-final fate hanging on
On the other hand, in a dominant display during the crucial Super Eights clash of the T20 World Cup, South Africa outclassed West Indies by nine wickets to storm into the semi-finals with authority.
Batting first, West Indies posted a competitive total of 176 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Jason Holder led the charge with a solid 49, while Romario Shepherd provided late fireworks with an unbeaten 52 to push the total to a challenging score.
However, South Africa made light work of the chase. The Proteas came out with aggressive intent and maintained control throughout the innings. Captain Aiden Markram anchored the run chase with a superb unbeaten 82, showcasing composure and class under pressure. Quinton de Kock contributed a brisk 47 at the top of the order, setting the tone early, while Ryan Rickelton played a valuable supporting role with 45 runs.
Read more: Star Sri Lankan batsman will not play against Pakistan
