Matches (21)
PAK v WI [W] (1)
IPL (3)
County DIV1 (4)
County DIV2 (3)
Pakistan vs New Zealand (1)
WT20 Qualifier (4)
RHF Trophy (4)
NEP vs WI [A-Team] (1)
Verdict

What India and Australia need to do to qualify

West Indies' three-wicket win against Australia means that they have assured themselves of a place in the final of the DLF Cup. With two matches to go, the battle is between Australia and India to nail the second spot

S Rajesh
S Rajesh
18-Sep-2006


West Indies' victory against Australia has made India's task of qualifying for the final a lot tougher © Getty Images
West Indies' three-wicket win against Australia means that they have assured themselves of a place in the final of the DLF Cup. With two matches to go, the battle is between Australia and India to nail the second spot. Here's a look at what India and Australia need to do to join West Indies.
How India can qualify
India beat West Indies and Australia
In such a scenario, India will qualify for the final, regardless of whether they win with bonus points or not.
India lose to West Indies and beat Australia with a bonus point
The only way for India to qualify if they lose to West Indies is if they beat Australia and win a bonus point. India will then be level with Australia on seven points, but India will make it to the final on the basis of their head-to-head record against Australia (one win, no defeat).
India beat West Indies and their match against Australia is rained out
The most interesting scenario will occur if India beat West Indies with a bonus point, and then share two points with Australia. In such a scenario, all teams will have nine points. However, West Indies will be through to the final since the tournament rules clearly state that in the event of teams finishing on equal points the team with the most number of wins will qualify. West Indies already have two wins, while India and Australia would both have just one. With both matches between India and Australia having been washed out, the net run rate will decide which of the two goes through to meet West Indies in the final.
However, if India beat West Indies without a bonus point, they will be knocked out of the tournament unless they beat Australia.
India v West Indies washed out, and India beat Australia
India will end up with eight or nine points - depending on whether they win with bonus point or not. Either way, they will be through to the final.
How Australia can qualify
Australia, on the other hand, will obviously be through if they beat India. Here are the other scenarios when they can still make it to the final:
India lose to West Indies, and Australia lose to India but don't concede bonus point
India would then be on six points, one less than Australia. If Australia concede the bonus point, though, they will be out of the tournament.
India lose to West Indies, and their match against Australia is rained out
Australia will then be on nine points, with India only on four.
India beat West Indies without a bonus point, and their match against Australia is washed out
Australia would then have nine points to India's eight.
Both matches are rained out
Australia will end up with nine points to India's six.

S Rajesh is stats editor of Cricinfo.