How Australia can make the T20 World Cup semi-finals

Hosts could qualify if they win against England, Ireland and Afghanistan, but NRR will matter if they slip up

2 min readUpdated: Oct 26, 2022 07:42 PM IST

A win over Sri Lanka gives the hosts a fighting chance to make the semi-finals, with their net run-rate recovering but still standing at -1.555, the worst in Group 1. (AP)

Australia’s net run-rate had taken a massive hit after their 89-run loss to New Zealand in their T20 World Cup opener in Sydney last Saturday. “We weren’t good enough with the net run-rate taking a bad hit. Four games left, (we) need to win everything and have some luck on our side,” captain Aaron Finch had said after that match.

On Tuesday, Marcus Stoinis smashed an unbeaten 59 off just 18 balls as Australia beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets with 21 balls to spare in Perth. The result gives the hosts a fighting chance to make the semi-finals, with their net run-rate recovering but still standing at -1.555, the worst in Group 1.

How can Australia go through to the T20 World Cup semi-finals? If Australia can win their remaining three games against England in Melbourne, Ireland in Brisbane and Afghanistan in Adelaide, they could qualify without any NRR troubles.

Ireland’s upset win over England in Melbourne has put Jos Buttler’s team in a difficult position. However, there could still be a three-way tie on eight points in Group 1 among Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, if Sri Lanka win their games against New Zealand, Afghanistan and England. In that case, NRR will come into the equation. This assumes New Zealand beat England and there are no more upsets from Ireland and Afghanistan.

AN HISTORIC WIN FOR IRELAND 🙌#T20WorldCup | #IREvENG pic.twitter.com/QvLpQYRpSL

— ICC (@ICC) October 26, 2022

That scenario will, however, require a mammoth effort from injury-hit Sri Lanka. Despite looking good in their opening Super 12 game against Ireland, Dasun Shanaka’s team were dismantled by Australia in Perth. Sri Lanka’s opening batter Danushka Gunathilaka and fast bowlers Dushmantha Chameera and Dilshan Madushanka have already been ruled out of the T20 World Cup.

Tanishq Vaddi

Tanishq Vaddi is a Sports Writer with the online team of The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. He primarily covers cricket and is known for his in-depth analysis and technical reporting on the game. Professional Background Role: He covers a wide range of cricketing action, including international matches (Tests, T20Is), domestic tournaments (Challenger Trophy), and major cricket leagues (IPL, WPL). Education: Tanishq holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from MVSR Engineering College and a PG Diploma in English Journalism (Print) from the Asian School of Journalism. Experience: Before joining The Indian Express in late 2022, he gained experience covering the startup ecosystem at YourStory and worked as a copywriter at Story Digital. Key Areas of Coverage Tanishq’s writing often focuses on the technical and psychological aspects of cricket. His notable work includes: Technical Analysis: Explaining bowling actions (e.g., Simon Harmer’s bounce) and batting techniques (e.g., Ben Duckett’s sweep shot). Interviews: He has interviewed prominent figures such as former England player Nick Knight, bowling coach Rajib Datta, and mental health coach Paddy Upton. Statistical Comparisons: Detailed career analysis, such as comparing Shubman Gill’s early career stats with legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Regional Cricket: Reporting on developments in South Indian cricket, including the appointment of Gary Stead as the head coach for Andhra. Notable Recent Articles "IND vs SA 2nd Test: How did Simon Harmer beat Yashasvi Jaiswal with bounce?" (Nov 2025) "2026 Under-19 World Cup: Bowling coach outlines India's preparation" (Nov 2025) "Nick Knight interview: Joe Root will score big runs in Australia" (Nov 2025) "Gary Stead appointed as head coach for Andhra for the 25/26 season" (Sept 2025) "Jason Gillespie explains what makes Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins so special, and why reverse swing will be key with Kookaburra ball" You can follow his latest reports on the Indian Express website or via his Twitter handle @TanishqVaddi. ... Read More

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