ODI World Cup final-four locked: India to play New Zealand in a repeat of the 2019 semifinal in Mumbai | Cricket-world-cup News
And then there were four.
Even though Saturday’s double headers didn’t conclude the league stage business of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakan failing to chase the impossible target of 338 set England in 6.4 overs means that New Zealand have become the fourth and final team to make the cut for the knockouts.
The Kiwis will face India in what is a repeat fixture of the first semifinal of the 2019 ODI World Cup, where Kane Williamson and Co pipped the men in blue in a contest that stretched across two days after rain marred the action in Manchester. It won’t be the only semifinal that’ll see familiar foes meet each other.
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The contest to decide the other final had already been confirmed before Saturday with South Africa and Australia having made it as the second and third team respectively. The two teams have met twice before at this stage of the competition – 1999 and 2007 – and on both occasions, the five time world champions have prevailed and went on to win the whole thing.
What’s confirmed now is the venue of the two semifinals – with India and New Zealand to play at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15 and the 1999 tournament semifinals to lock horns at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on the day after.Most Read
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It’ll be a third time that these two teams play each other in the knockouts of an ICC tournament since 2019 – having also featured in the 2021 World Test Championship Final, which was also won the Black Caps.
New Zealand, who beat Sri Lanka in their final league stage fixture, gained a massive Net Run Rate (NRR) boost to accompany their 10 points and ensure that they were all but into the final four. England batting first would slim the chances even further for Babar Azam and Co. India on the other hand, had become the first team to qualify for the semifinals, having remained unbeaten across all eight of their games so far.
Australia’s win against Bangladesh in their last league stage match made little difference to their travel plans post the game in Pune. While the five-time world champions have the same points as the Proteas (14), the latter finish second thanks to a better NRR.
