So far only Australia has guaranteed their place in the semis with a number of teams, England included, needing a win from their final game to secure their place. England must beat New Zealand on Wednesday to make sure of their semi-final place but can look to other results to secure their place qualifying if Pakistan fails to beat Bangladesh and Bangladesh fail to beat India.
Their game against India was crucial and Johnny Bairstow and Liam Plunkett were absolutely fundamental to that win. England looked like their hopes of progressing had faltered slightly with two consecutive losses but their World Cup campaign was given a lifeline with a really impressive display to beat the only unbeaten team left in the tournament.
Edgbaston was absolutely alight with raucous crowds and a party atmosphere and the teams on the field really did put on a display. You have to love the way the fans ride on every ball, lifting players and adding pressure as the game twists and turns. Jonny Bairstow did what all openers need to do, put together a solid partnership and Jason Roy was the perfect batsman to have at the other end of the crease despite returning from a recent injury. Johnny Bairstow’s 111 gave England the platform to get the team off to a great base of 160 for the first wicket.
Roy went on to make 66 and although later in the innings, Ben Stokes’ 79 helped put England’s run total to 337-7 and set the gauntlet out for the Indians and require them to pull off the highest chase in World Cup History. It's hard to write the India team off when they have Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ms Dhoni, Hardik Pandya all in their line-up. I think there is something in any supporters’ mentality that makes you start to question it.
England needed a sound bowling attack and despite a few unnerving partnerships emerging from the India team, delivered enough pressure to hold the run rate back. India needed 102 from the last 10 overs and despite MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya creating some fireworks and entertaining the travelling fans, England held strong and restricted India to 306-5.
England needs to beat the Black Caps at Chester-Le-Street, to finish second or third in the group and secure themselves a second semi-final potentially offering the India team a rematch for revenge at Edgbaston on 11 July.
You have to feel that India will make it through needing to beat either Bangladesh or Sri Lanka to be certain of a place in the last four.
