England and New Zealand head into their final World Cup group match on Wednesday, each knowing that a win would see them into the semi-finals.
Even a defeat would not spell the end of either team’schances of emerging as one of the top four from the 10-team round-robin phase.
Were England to lose in Chester-le-Street, Pakistan couldleapfrog them into the top four with victory over Bangladesh.
Given that they play each other in their final pool match,only one of Bangladesh — who also still have to face India — or Pakistan candraw level with New Zealand in the event the Black Caps lose on Wednesday.
And, with both Asian teams well behind on net run-rate, itwould take a big New Zealand loss allied to a commanding Pakistan victory ortwo Bangladesh wins by big margins, to deny the 2015 losing finalists a placein the last four.
But right now, England and New Zealand’s World Cup destinyis in their own hands.
England travel to the northeast buoyed by a 31-run win overan India side that were previously unbeaten.
Sunday’s success against India, the team that recentlyreplaced England at the top of the one-day international rankings, came afterback-to-back defeats by Sri Lanka and reigning champions Australia had led manypundits to question their tournament nerve and nous.
But the pleasing aspect for England, other than the result,was that the defeat of India was built on many of the factors that have beenkey to their ODI revival since a first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup.
Jonny Bairstow (111) and Jason Roy, who made 66 followinghis return from a hamstring injury, put on 160 for the first wicket before thein-form Ben Stokes hit 79, his third successive fifty, to boost the total to337-7.
England, bidding to win their first World Cup, then keptthings tight in the field, with Chris Woakes impressive and recalled pacemanLiam Plunkett (3-55) once again taking wickets through the middle overs.
“Winning a game like this, under the pressure we wereunder, can only stand us in good stead, potentially for the New Zealand gameand hopefully after that,” said Woakes.
“You don’t actually play much knockout cricket, so toput ourselves in the heat of the battle — obviously we’d rather have qualifiedby now — could potentially help us.”
By contrast, New Zealand head into the match followingsuccessive losses to Pakistan and Australia that have put a taken the gloss offa promising campaign.
An attack led by left-arm quick Trent Boult, who took ahat-trick hero against Australia, and featuring the express pace of LockieFerguson is a testing proposition for any side.
New Zealand could now recall another paceman in Matt Henryat the expense of spinner Ish Sodhi, given the Riverside is not renowned forturning pitches.But while several England batsmen have madehundreds at the World Cup, New Zealand appear dangerously over-reliant oncaptain Kane Williamson and fellow senior batsman Ross Taylor for runs.