We are more than halfway through ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, and in Group 1, there is some space opening up for the teams. England has won all their three matches, and Bangladesh has lost all their three matches. The template has been simple in the UAE – bowl first and chase down the target with ‘ease’ or a sensible batting approach. In nine matches, only once has a team won batting first. In this piece, we look at how things have unfolded for all the six teams in Group 1, stats of their best performers, and what the qualification scenario looks like.
England
England was one of the favorites coming into the tournament, and they have been true to their expectations. They have won all three matches and have followed a simple, at times luck-favoring template of chasing in these conditions. They dismantled the defending champions West Indies for 55, and chased the target in less than 15 overs against them and Australia. England, through that, has managed to keep a very high net run rate, and they are favorites to reach the next round unless some crazy things happen in their following matches and the group. England though, should not take the foot off the pedal, as if they lose both their matches, Australia and South Africa can finish in the top two if those teams manage to win their remaining matches.
Jos Buttler and Jason Roy have scored 66% of the team runs and have played their natural game. In the bowling department, everyone has chipped in with wickets and all six bowlers used, have at least three wickets each. England have not batted first even once in the tournament, and their middle-order remains untested, that could be one of the areas they will like to focus on in their remaining matches against Sri Lanka and South Africa.
South Africa
South Africa did get off to a poor start against Australia but have managed to win their next two games and with a positive net run rate, are at the number two in the points table. Their main bowler, Rabada, has not found a good rhythm yet, but the other bowlers have picked up wickets and have been economical. Dwaine Pretorius, has been South Africa’s highest wicket-taker with six wickets in three matches.
South Africa faces Bangladesh and England next and would want to win them both and keep their fate in their hands. They have a good net run rate in comparison to Australia, which could come in handy if two teams find themselves at the same number of points.
Australia
The template of the win has been the same for Australia too. Bowl first and chase down the required target. David Warner, who ‘seemed’ to be out of form before the tournament, played a match-winning innings against Sri Lanka scoring 65 of 42 balls. With two wins in the first two games, Australia was sent in to bat by England, and that match result could affect Australia’s chances of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, this trio has done it all for Australia in the longest format and now are the pace battery for them in this tournament too. Apart from Jos Buttler, who took on Starc and scored 28 in 11 balls with three fours and two sixes, this trio has controlled the flow of runs, which has helped Adam Zampa pick up wickets at the other end. Zampa has five wickets in three matches. Australia plays Bangladesh and West Indies in their remaining matches, and they would want to win both of them given their negative run rate. Unless a big margin win for Australia, they can only go ahead on more points and not on net run rate.
Sri Lanka
The team could have been in a better situation if they managed to defend 25 runs in the last two overs against South Africa. Failing to do so, they find themselves in a spot of bother with only one win in three matches. They played the qualifying rounds too before the start of the tournament and had the much-needed time in the middle. Wanindu Hasaranga, who is currently the second-best bowler according to the ICC rankings, has picked up five wickets in three games in the group stages. The issue has been the form of the other bowlers who have found it difficult to pick up wickets in the last three matches. The other bowlers in total have managed only six wickets in the group stage.
Sri Lanka, to give themselves a chance, depending on other results, need to beat England and West Indies in their coming matches, which will be a tough ask for them, especially considering the poor form of their bowlers and the destructive batting line-up of both the teams they will play.
West Indies
The defending champions have not been able to bring their attacking game in this tournament. Winning one in three games is a bad situation, but the manner of their first defeat has put a dent in their confidence and their net run rate. Apart from Evin Lewis and Nicholas Pooran, all the other batters have a strike rate of below 110. Holder has a strike rate of 300, but he has played only five balls in the tournament. The failure of Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetymer, and Kieron Pollard has put a lot of pressure on the team. Lendl Simmons’ 16 of 35 balls against South Africa showed the lack of intent and clarity. It looks like the team does not know which gear should they be playing in.
West Indies play Sri Lanka and Australia, and the team is capable of winning both the matches, but it all depends on their intent and game plan. Fans, who like the entertainment the West Indies team provides, would be hoping for a more natural game from them that brings out their best.
Bangladesh
The team from Asia came into the mega event with series victories against Australia and New Zealand in similar conditions. They also played the qualifying rounds, but have lost all three matches in the group stage. The batters have managed to score some runs, with the likes of Mohammad Naim and Mushfiqur Rahim scoring a 50 each in the group stage. Shakib Al Hasan and M Rahman have only picked up two wickets each in the group stage, and that has hurt Bangladesh. Over-reliance on their best players to win them the crucial moments has been a long-standing issue for them. With Bangladesh facing South Africa and Australia in their next matches, they seem to have only an outside chance of qualifying. It’s a mathematical chance along with plain hope.
There are six more matches, and each game will be crucial not only for the teams involved but also for the other teams, depending upon the qualifying scenario. The last match in this group is between England and South Africa, which most probably could either be a must-win game for South Africa or a game that decides who finishes on top in the group. Mathematically, no team has qualified or is out of the tournament, which will pull more eyes to the remaining matches.