The second round of matches has opened up Group 1, with Australia’s chances of reaching the semi-finals still very much alive. It’s everything to play for in Group 1 as six sides compete for two spots in the final four of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. We examine the current situation of affairs.
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New Zealand is the only unbeaten team in Group 1 after two games, and their 89-run victory against Australia has given them a significant advantage in the Net Run Rate column as well. A Net RR of +4.450 is almost as good as an additional point, assuming they do not suffer a catastrophic defeat in the next four matches.
The washout and shared points against Afghanistan might still work against the Kiwis, but with the rest of the group stealing points from each other, the Black Caps remain in the lead in the qualifying battle.
Net Run Rate Matters a lot in T20 World Cup 2022
On NRR, Sri Lanka and England lead the remainder of Group 1 by a reasonable margin, but with three sets of matches remaining, there’s plenty of opportunity for that to change. And England’s defeat to Ireland has altered the group’s complexion.
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Australia’s shattering loss to New Zealand in the group opener had left them in a hazardous situation, not just because of the outcome, but also because of the influence on NRR. The tournament hosts know they can’t afford to lose another game – two defeats aren’t mathematically fatal to a team’s qualification hopes, but qualifying with only three victories in the Super 12 stage would certainly require a lot of luck in T20 World Cup 2022.