State of play in the Group Stage: Who's set to qualify and who could miss out?
The action-packed World Cup group stage has been played in a league format, with all eight teams facing each other once, and the top four teams to qualify for the semi-finals.
Australia and South Africa are the only two teams that have guaranteed qualification to the semi-finals of the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup coming into the final matchday, with Pakistan and Bangladesh the only two unable to progress to the final four.
The conclusion of the group stage will decide which two from West Indies, England and India will reach the semi-finals, with New Zealand still also mathematically in the running but requiring a hugely unlikely swing in net run rate to progress.
Here’s how each team are placed as things stand.
ENGLAND
Matches remaining: 1
- 27 March v Bangladesh
England aren't totally in the clear just yet in terms of qualifying for the semi-finals, though it would take a monumental disaster for Heather Knight's side not to progress.
The defending champions were facing an early elimination after starting the tournament with losses to Australia, West Indies and South Africa, though they produced a stunning performance against familiar foes India to keep their campaign alive. The last-wicket thriller against New Zealand put them well and truly back in the running, and the win over Pakistan boosted their net run rate.
They still would need to beat Bangladesh in their last match in order to overrun the West Indies.
INDIA
Matches remaining: 1
- 27 March v South Africa
It’s been a mixed-bag from India so far at the tournament. They had huge wins over Pakistan, West Indies and now Bangladesh, getting points on the board and boosting their net run rate. But losses to New Zealand, England and Australia made things tricky for them.
The massive 110-run win over Bangladesh boosted India's NRR to +0.768, though the washed-out game and England going above them in net run rate has made things tricky for them. They will face South Africa in the final game of the league stage and a win (or a no-result) will ensure that they will qualify for the semi-finals. India can still qualify with six points but they will need a favour from Bangladesh, who will need to beat England in their final game of the group stages.
WEST INDIES
Matches completed
The no-result against South Africa means the West Indies finish with seven points from seven matches, and Stafanie Taylor's troops must now sweat on other results.
Stafanie Taylor’s side came into the tournament ranked seventh in the world, but produced shock wins against hosts New Zealand and defending champions England to set up an exciting remainder of the group stage.
A narrow win against Bangladesh gave them further hope of sealing a qualifying berth. But the big loss against Pakistan has hurt their chances of making it to the semis.
They require one of England or India to lose on the final day if they are to reach the final four.
NEW ZEALAND
Matches completed
It's been a roller-coaster of a group stage for the World Cup hosts.
A loss to West Indies in the opening match of the tournament was a blow to New Zealand, as was the heavy defeat to tournament-favourites Australia. But wins over Bangladesh and India kept them in the hunt for the final four spots throughout the group stage.
However, a loss in a thrilling game against South Africa was followed by a last-wicket defeat to England to leave the White Ferns' future out of their hands. They must hope for South Africa and Bangladesh to win extremely heavily against England and India to force a massive swing on net run-rate if they are to somehow emerge with a final-four spot, but chances are extremely slim.
AUSTRALIA - QUALIFIED
Matches completed
The world’s top-ranked team are in dauntingly good form and became the first team to qualify for the final four with their win over India, their fifth victory of the group stage.
They were given a scare by Bangladesh in their final group game, but held their own to become the only team to win all their league matches, finishing with 14 points.
SOUTH AFRICA - QUALIFIED
Matches remaining: 1
- 27 March v India
South Africa's no-result against the West Indies on March 24 moved South Africa to nine points, meaning they will qualify for the semi-finals irrespective of the result against India.
South Africa's formidable bowling attack tied down Bangladesh and Pakistan in the opening two matches, before a crucial win over England put the Proteas in the driving seat for one of the top-four spots.
With the close win over New Zealand in Hamilton, they were within touching distance of confirming a final four spot, with only a loss to Australia to end their unbeaten run.
BANGLADESH - ELIMINATED
Matches remaining: 1
- 27 March v England
The World Cup debutants weren’t tipped to compete for the top four places, but their first win at the tournament (and therefore their first-ever win at a Cricket World Cup) means they will depart the tournament relatively satisfied.
Victory over Pakistan was well-earned and they were remarkable against Australia in a truncated match, giving the tournament favourites a fright and bowling exceptionally well to reduce the Aussies to five down.
With only one game left Bangladesh are out of the World Cup. But they can still influence the outcome for the rest if they give England a tough fight in their final group game.
PAKISTAN - ELIMINATED
Matches completed
Five defeats in six, including a surprise loss to Bangladesh, means that Pakistan are out of the running for the semi-final places.
They did turn things around in the encounter against West Indies, producing a brilliant performance to finally snap their losing streak. Bismah Maroof’s side have played some good cricket in patches, but a defeat to England meant the last-ditch bid for a semi-final spot fell short.
Once the top four teams are confirmed, the semi-finals will be held on March 30 and 31, with the first at Basin Reserve in Wellington and the second at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The final of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022 is scheduled for April 3 at the Hagley Oval.
