World Cup Semifinals Race: With 6 Wins India in Prime Position to Qualify, England Mathematically Still Alive

India reclaimed the top spot on the points table with their sixth win in a row in the World Cup 2023. They outclassed England by 100 runs in a low-scoring clash on Sunday in Lucknow. It was another top-class performance from the Indian bowlers as they put up a collective show to dismantle England for just 129 in chase of 230.

The batters had a tough day in the office but quality knocks from Rohit Sharma (87) and Suryakumar Yadav (49) helped them post a challenging total 229/9 on the scoreboard.

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Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers for India with a four-fer, while Jasprit Bumrah also claimed three to dent England’s title defence.

Meanwhile, England have another horror show with the bat as they just failed to put up any fight with the bat and India kept taking wickets at regular intervals. It almost ends their title defence as the chances are minimal for them to qualify for the semifinals.

The 100-run defeat also impacted the NRR as they remain at the bottom of the table. England can qualify for semifinals mathematically but it looks highly unlikely at the moment.

Meanwhile, South Africa have been pushed to the second spot by India as they remained the only unbeaten side in the tournament. South Africa have won five matches out of six.

New Zealand and Australia hold the third and fourth spot on the points table with the same number of points – 8. However, with the better NRR, New Zealand are at an advantage here.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands defeated Bangladesh by 87 runs on Saturday to leapfrog the Bangla Tigers in the points table, rising to eighth place with their second win.

Bangladesh and England are the only teams who have lost five off their six matches in the tournament thus far.

Sri Lanka are in fifth place in the points table, with four points from five games, although their NRR of -0.205, in superior than Pakistan, who also have four points, but their NRR stands at -0.387.

With two wins from five matches, Afghanistan also have four points but their NRR of -0.969, keeps them narrowly ahead of Netherlands who despite having four points, trail in eighth place with an NRR of -1.277