New Delhi: The final match of the World Test Championship (WTC 2023) will be played at The Oval London from 7 to 11 June. For this, a close fight is going on between India and Sri Lanka. Actually, both the teams are contenders for this, but the equations are becoming such that the contest has reached an exciting turn.
Kiwi team has a target of 285 runs
In the ongoing match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka has given a target of 285 runs to the Kiwi team. After New Zealand scored 28 runs losing one wicket on the fourth day, now on Monday, on the fifth day, they have to score 257 runs in 90 overs to win. On the other hand, on Monday itself, the Test being played between India and Australia on the fifth day has reached the verge of a draw. Australia trail by 88 runs after India scored 571 in the first innings. In such a situation, if there is a draw between India and Australia and New Zealand achieves the target of 257 runs, then how will Team India qualify for the final? Let’s know…
Some such equations are being made for Team India to reach the finals.
- If the fourth Test between India and Australia is drawn and New Zealand defeats Sri Lanka in the first Test, then India will qualify directly for the final. A win for New Zealand or a draw between those two teams will seal India’s route to the final.
- If Australia wins the India-Australia match, then Team India will have to completely depend on a win or a draw for New Zealand. Even in such a situation, India will qualify for the final.
Stat of the day 👌👌
In the first innings of the fourth #INDvAUS Test, #TeamIndia had a Fifty-run stand for each of the first six wickets 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Vvs6WiwTTD
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 12, 2023
- If India wins the fourth test, it will qualify for the final.
- If Sri Lanka defeats New Zealand in the first Test and India’s match ends in a draw, then Team India will have to depend on the next match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
- If Sri Lanka wins both the matches against New Zealand and India draws the match then the Sri Lankan team will qualify for the final.
A further 257 runs to win at Hagley Oval. Tom Latham (11*) and Kane Williamson (7*) see the team to stumps Day 5 🏏 Catch up on the scores | https://t.co/8l62KZ2FPr 📲 #NZvSL pic.twitter.com/LUeZB1OsWB
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 12, 2023
- In simple language, to qualify in the WTC Final, India will have to hope that New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in at least one match after the draw (most likely) in the fourth Test or at least one match between them. Let there be a draw. That is, India will need only a win or a draw from New Zealand, regardless of a draw or loss from Australia. This will make India’s job easier.
This is the math of points table
- Australia – 68.52 percentage points, 148 points
- India – 60.29 percentage points, 123 points
- South Africa – 55.56 percentage points, 100 points
- Sri Lanka – 53.33 percentage points, 64 points
South Africa and New Zealand are already out of the final race. In such a situation, if Sri Lanka wins both the Tests, then it will get 88 points with 61 percent marks. While India will come in third place with 59 percent marks. In such a situation, Sri Lanka will qualify for the final by defeating India.