State of Play in Group 1: Qualification hinges on decisive final match
Australia’s superb showings in the group stage saw them become the first side to qualify for the semi-finals as guaranteed group winners.
But the team that will join them in the knockout stage will be decided by the last fixture in the group, with either New Zealand or South Africa set to go through.
New Zealand’s stunning win over Sri Lanka on Sunday saw them move level on points with the Lankans, but above them on the table thanks to the huge Net Run Rate swing.
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But… the White Ferns' NRR is still significantly lower than South Africa’s. So should the Proteas beat Bangladesh on Tuesday, then it would be they who finish as the highest of the three teams with four points.
Were Bangladesh to pull off a surprise win, their first of the tournament, then it would be New Zealand who will go through.
Australia were favourites to win this group before the tournament started, and they lived up to that billing with four straight wins in the group stage.
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The nature of their crushing 97-run win over New Zealand in their opening game was particularly significant, as it not only saw them beat the next highest-ranked side in the group, but also set the Aussies up with a massive NRR advantage.
The huge ten-wicket win over a previously unbeaten Sri Lanka effectively secured Australia’s spot in the semis, and they wrapped up that top spot by beating South Africa.
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That stunning win over South Africa in the opening game and the follow-up victory over Bangladesh gave Sri Lanka a chance of reaching the semi-finals for the first time in this tournament’s history.
But they slipped to heavy defeats against Australia and New Zealand to miss out on that chance.
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The results shouldn’t perhaps have been surprising, given that their final two opponents were ranked first and third in the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Women's Team Rankings respectively
But nevertheless, it will be a matter of regret for Sri Lanka that they didn’t put up a better showing after that great start.
South Africa v Bangladesh – Tuesday 21 February
Group 1 comes down to this, with a big crowd expected at Newlands for the evening match – the final fixture of the entire group stage.
If South Africa win they go through. If they fail to win then it will be New Zealand who progress.