Australia, India Win; Now it's Knife-Edge Sunday
India finished top of Pool B with six wins out of six matches while Australia took the second spot in Pool A crushing Scotland. Now it's up to Pakistan, Ireland and West Indies to tussle for a quarter-final spot on Sunday.
India and Australia wrapped up their World Cup group campaigns in style Saturday, paving the way for a knife-edge Sunday where Pakistan, West Indies and Ireland will tussle over the last two quarter-final spots. (Full Coverage | Standings |
Defending champions India, who had already made the last eight, ruined Brendan Taylor's farewell party with a hard-fought six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Auckland for their sixth win in six games in Pool B.
Suresh Raina survived two dropped catches during his unbeaten 110 -- his fifth one-day international century -- as India chased down a 288-run target in 48.4 overs.
Taylor had anchored Zimbabwe's 287 all out with a punishing 110-ball 138 in what was his last international after signing a deal with English county Nottinghamshire. (Australia Rout Scotland to Take Second Spot in Pool A)
The skipper smashed 15 boundaries and five towering sixes in his second successive century after making 121 against Ireland, although Zimbabwe had already been eliminated from a tournament in which they lost five of six games. (Dhoni Welcomes Pressure Placed on India)
Raina was dropped twice -- on 47 and 71 -- as he and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made an undefeated 85, put on a match-winning and unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 196 after India had been in trouble at 92 for four.
India can look ahead to a quarter-final in Melbourne against Bangladesh on March 19. (Starc Looks to Carry on Sparkling Form)
"I had a good partnership with MS Dhoni. We lost wickets early on but what we did was really good. When my team needed me most I needed to deliver," said Raina.
Taylor, who shared partnerships of 83 with Sean Williams (50) and 106 with Craig Ervine (27), admitted his side had not been consistent enough.
"We played some brilliant cricket, and have been shoddy at times. It hasn't been a lot in it though, just a few dropped catches, and maybe finishing off the death bowling, but overall we have played some good cricket," said the 29-year-old.
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Australia wrapped up second spot in Pool A behind New Zealand as Mitchell Starc took for for 14 to help rout Scotland by seven wickets in rainy Hobart. (Pakistan 'Just Another Game': Porterfield)
Scotland collapsed to 130 all out in an innings which featured five noughts and where only Matt Machan, with 40, looked dangerous.
Two places left
Australia captain Michael Clarke then promoted himself to the top of the order ahead of their quarter-final in Adelaide on March 20 by making a run-a-ball 47.
"Now it's the knockout stages. We need to play at our best and I think if we do, we can win," said Clarke.
Scotland have still to win a World Cup match -- having now taken part in three editions -- a run of 14 games. (Pakistan's Best Chance vs Australia in Adelaide: Imran)
Australia are still awaiting their quarter-final opponents although it seems likely they will avoid South Africa who appear set for a Sydney clash with Sri Lanka on March 18.
Six of the eight quarter-finalists are known -- New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and South Africa.
That leaves 1992 champions Pakistan, 1975 and 1979 winners West Indies and non-Test side Ireland battling for the remaining two places out of Pool B. (Cyclone Pam Threatens West Indies Quarters Hopes)
Their fates will be decided on Sunday, with Pakistan facing Ireland in Adelaide almost eight years to the day since they were knocked out of the 2007 World Cup by the Irish.
It will be an emotional occasion for Misbah-ul-Haq's team as that defeat in Jamaica was followed the day after by the death of their coach Bob Woolmer.
In Napier, the West Indies should beat the United Arab Emirates to grab fourth spot but they will have one eye on the skies.
Cyclone Pam, thousands of kilometres away in the South Pacific, could blow away their chances if it brings heavy rainfall to New Zealand's North Island.
A washout would send Jason Holder's men tumbling out of the tournament -- they need two points from a victory, the solitary point awarded for a no-result will not be enough.
Further complicating matters, the West Indies must soundly beat the UAE by 70 runs to ensure a place in the last eight.