New Delhi [India], February 11 (ANI): The league stage of the ICC World Take a look at Championship (WTC) 2023-25 concluded with Australia securing a historic sequence victory within the subcontinent, defeating Sri Lanka by 9 wickets. With this triumph, Australia sealed their spot within the last, the place they’ll face South Africa at Lord’s in June. In keeping with ICC, let’s take a look at how every workforce fared on this cycle.
South Africa completed on the prime of the league stage with a factors proportion of 69.44. They dominated at residence, securing sequence wins in opposition to Pakistan and Sri Lanka whereas drawing in opposition to India. Their away type was equally spectacular, with victories over West Indies and Bangladesh. Their solely setback got here in New Zealand, the place they had been lacking a bunch of their first-choice stars. Profitable eight out of 12 matches and drawing one, the Proteas secured their place of their first-ever ICC World Take a look at Championship Ultimate.
Australia earned the chance to defend their title with a factors proportion of 67.54, ending second within the league standings. They started their marketing campaign by drawing the Ashes in England earlier than dominating Pakistan 3-0 at residence. A minor setback got here when West Indies held them to a sequence draw, however victories over New Zealand and Sri Lanka, together with a historic residence triumph in opposition to India, secured Australia’s place within the last in opposition to South Africa in June.
India narrowly missed out on a 3rd consecutive World Take a look at Championship last, ending third with a factors proportion of fifty. They started their marketing campaign with a sequence win within the West Indies, adopted by a hard-fought attract South Africa. Momentum picked up with dominant residence victories in opposition to England and Bangladesh. Nevertheless, a surprising residence whitewash in opposition to New Zealand and a difficult tour of Australia in the end derailed their hopes of reaching the ultimate.
New Zealand completed fourth within the standings with a factors proportion of 48.21, experiencing a rollercoaster marketing campaign with seven wins and 7 losses from 14 matches. Spectacular victories in opposition to South Africa and India had been offset by defeats to Australia and England, maintaining the Kiwis simply out of attain of a spot within the last at Lord’s.
England performed essentially the most matches within the cycle, a powerful 22, and secured 11 victories. Nevertheless, over-rate penalties proved expensive, with Ben Stokes’ facet shedding a complete of twenty-two factors as a consequence of sluggish over charges. Regardless of sequence wins in opposition to Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and West Indies, these deductions saved them from climbing increased, in the end ending fifth with a factors proportion of 43.18.
Sri Lanka performed 13 matches within the cycle, profitable 5 and shedding eight, which noticed them end sixth within the standings. Their solely sequence victories got here in opposition to Bangladesh and New Zealand, as they struggled to provide main upsets. This left them with a factors proportion of 38.46 and a sixth-placed end.
Bangladesh endured a difficult marketing campaign, ending seventh with a factors proportion of 31.25 and failing to win a house sequence on this cycle. Their highlights included sequence attracts in opposition to New Zealand and West Indies, together with a historic whitewash of Pakistan away from residence. Nevertheless, heavy defeats to India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka saved them out of rivalry for a spot within the last.
West Indies endured a disappointing marketing campaign, struggling to compete with their opponents and ending eighth with a factors proportion of 28.21. Their solely vivid spots had been sequence attracts in opposition to Bangladesh, Australia, and Pakistan. Nevertheless, heavy defeats to India, South Africa, and England noticed them slip to the second-lowest place within the standings.
Pakistan had a turbulent marketing campaign on this World Take a look at Championship cycle, ending final with a factors proportion of 27.98. They endured heavy away defeats to Australia and South Africa, together with a surprising residence whitewash by Bangladesh. Whereas they managed a sequence draw in opposition to the West Indies and a big victory over England, it wasn’t sufficient to raise them from the underside of the desk. (ANI)
