Results of Champions Trophy 2009

The Pakistan and Australia match has just finished, with the outcome of Australia’s triumph. This doesn’t only mean loss for their opponents, Pakistan, but also for the men in blue, India. India’s blow is one much bigger than that to Pakistan. This is because Pakistan are still in the tournament, and will be playing versus New Zealand in the semi finals. Due to the Aussies victory, India are now officially out of the Champions Trophy. This is because of the win/ loss differential. Australia have 2 wins and 1 draw, or in other words one match washed out, and that was against India. They’ve beaten the two other teams in their table, Pakistan and West Indies. As a win gives 2 respectable points, and a draw 1 point, Australia have finished at the top of the table of Group A with 5 points. Pakistan are in second place with 4 points, as their loss against the Aussies accounts for no points at all. The last two places, which haven’t exactly been determined yet, are India and West Indies which at the moment have 1 point and no points respectively.

West Indies were out after losing to Australia. Pakistan were definitely in the semi finals after beating India. So the contest for that second spot in the semis was between the ever famous rivalry of Australia and India. Australia had the upper hand, as they already won against West Indies and drew with India, do give them a second place head start before the last two matches in their group. The net run rates for Australia and India were +1 and -1.08 respectively.

This meant Australia had to lose to Pakistan and India had to win against West Indies if India wanted to be in the semi finals. But that’s not all. If all that had happened, Australia and India would have the same number of points, 3 each. So that’s when net run rate would come into hand. For India to overtake Australia net run rate wise, the matches outcome would have to exceed 104 runs. That meant if Pakistan and India won, it would have to exceed 104 runs. If Australia had won or even drew with Pakistan, India would be out of the tournament. And that’s exactly what happened.

Knowing I’m a die hard India cricket fan, I don’t bother to watch the match between them and West Indies. I’m simply alternating between my article and Cricinfo, where I’m looking at the ball by ball coverage.

India have destroyed West Indies batting and bowled them out for a mere 126 in only 36 overs. Even though India have no Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and now even Sachin Tendulkar who is out for a couple of days due to food poisoning, they look in good form to get a decent victory out of this match. At this exact moment, it is the dinner break, with India 34/2 in 10 overs.

Moving on to the other half of the trophy, Group B.

It has been a huge turn around here. The under dogs have prevailed. While everybody was thinking that the men at home, South Africa and the lions from Asia, Sri Lanka would reach the semi finals because of their recent form, it has turned the other way around. England and New Zealand have comfortably reached the semi finals with 2 wins and 1 loss each. Sri Lanka and the home crowd South Africa were eliminated with only 1 win and 2 losses each. England reached the semis with ease after winning their first two games versus Sri Lanka and South Africa. New Zealand at one point looked to be eliminated after losing to South Africa in their first game. But they defied the odds and won against both Sri Lanka and England afterwards to finish in the remaining 4.

These are all the results of the matches seen so far-

Match 1- South Africa vs Sri Lanka   – Sri Lanka won by 55 runs (D/L)

Match 2- Pakistan vs West Indies    – Pakistan won by 5 wickets (Target 134)

Match 3- South Africa vs New Zealand  – South Africa won by 5 wickets (Target 215)

Match 4- England vs Sri Lanka  – England won by 6 wickets (Target 213)

Match 5- Australia vs West Indies  – Australia won by 50 runs

Match 6- India vs Pakistan – Pakistan won by 54 runs

Match 7- New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – New Zealand won by 38 runs

Match 8- South Africa vs England- England won by 22 runs

Match 9- Australia vs India – No result (Match washed out by rain)

Match 10- England vs New Zealand- New Zealand won by 4 wickets (Target 147)

Match 11- Australia vs Pakistan – Australia won by 2 wickets (Target 206)

Match 12- India vs West Indies- result not obtained yet

So those are the results right now, as for the semi finals, here is how it will work-

Semi 1- Australia vs England @ Centurion on 2nd October 2009

Semi 2- Pakistan vs New Zealand @ Johannesburg on 3rd October 2009

Final will be on the 5th of October at Centurion. Who do you think will be the Champion of Champions?