As heavy showers are expected for Match 41 between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Bengaluru on November 9, Pakistan may be feeling confident about securing a position in the ICC World Cup 2023 semi-final.
On the day of the match, there is a 90% likelihood of rain in the city and a 54% risk of thunderstorms, according to AccuWeather. Strong showers are expected between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m., suggesting that the city may see another deluge.
Rain will only be beneficial to New Zealand should Pakistan lose to the reigning champions. In their most recent match against Pakistan in Bengaluru, New Zealand fell by 21 runs due to DLS, and the game was abandoned in the middle of the second innings.
If the Kiwis defeat the Lankans in the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday, they'll in pole position to advance to the semi-finals. A loss will not eliminate them from the running, but it will make it more difficult for them to advance unless Pakistan loses their game against England.
With one match left in the league stage, New Zealand and Pakistan are even on eight points apiece. But with a higher net run rate than Pakistan (0.036), the Kiwis (0.398) are in front in fourth place.
Qualification scenarios
Pakistan will need to thrash England by 180 runs if New Zealand defeats Sri Lanka by 50 runs. Babar Azam's team will need to win by 131 runs if New Zealand wins by one run.
Afghanistan are also still in the race to progress despite a crushing defeat against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. But their chances seem bleak as they will take on South Africa in their final league game and need to win that match by a massive margin.
Even if Afghanistan defeats the Proteas, their prospects of making it to the semifinals are virtually nonexistent due to their net run rate of -0.338. Afghanistan has also scored eight points in eight games thus far in the World Cup.
Afghanistan winning over South Africa and Pakistan and New Zealand losing their last games will take them to the semi-final.