Big win key for Aussies

NET RUN RATE VITAL

AUSTRALIA has one job to do in its final T20 World Cup Super 12 match against Afghanistan – win and win big.

The horror 89-run loss to New Zealand in Australia’s first match of the tournament put the side behind the eightball from the outset and the lack of a huge win is coming back to bite the defending champions.

Australia is third in the group behind New Zealand and England, with only net run rate separating the teams. Only the top two from each group will go through to the semi-finals.

New Zealand (+2.233) has by far the best net run rate, followed by England (+0.55) and Australia (-0.304).

There is a good chance that despite being on the same points, Australia will be the unlucky team to miss out on the knockout matches.

New Zealand play Ireland at 3pm on Friday, followed by Australia-Afghanistan at 7pm at Adelaide Oval. England play Sri Lanka on Saturday at 7pm at the SCG (all times in AEDT).

The three leading teams will be hot favourites and playing into Australia’s hands is that Afghanistan is the only team yet to claim a win in the group.

Australia will need to win by 50 or 60 runs over Afghanistan and hope Sri Lanka pushes England all the way in order to book a spot in the semis.

Australia missed a golden opportunity to eliminate the run rate deficit on Monday after allowing Ireland to escape from 5/25 to 137 all out.

England then claimed a 20run win over New Zealand on Tuesday, which made Australia’s path to the next round all the more difficult.

There are still paths for Sri Lanka and Ireland to make the semi-finals. Sri Lanka will be hoping Australia or New Zealand lose, before claiming a win over England, while the Irish would need a thumping win over New Zealand and the other results to go their way.

Australia will be sweating on the fitness of Aaron Finch and Tim David, both who suffered hamstring injuries in the Ireland win.

Former Australian vicecaptain Brad Haddin said Cameron Green and Steve Smith could play a role.

“This is going to be a real interesting selection because Afghanistan will be predominantly spin bowlers,” Haddin said.

“And Steve Smith does play spin better than anyone in the world, so do you go him in the middle order and move (Marcus) Stoinis up to the top? On the flip side you’ve got Cameron Green and we’ve seen Australia’s appetite to have him at the top of the order.”

However, the Aussies are still in a situation they never wanted to be in – hoping results go their way to progress.