Mohandas Menon, the famed statistician tweeted, “India will now need to beat South Africa by 31 runs or by 24 balls to spare to go ahead of Pak's Net Run Rate.” © Getty Images
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
An inspired Pakistan team trumped Australia by 32 runs to strengthen their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals at the ICC World T20 2012 in Sri Lanka. With the Pakistan victory India’s chances of qualifying become a bit tougher as they have to beat South Africa by a specific margin. South Africa have been knocked-out of the competition.
Here is the equation India needs to qualify for the semi-finals. Mohandas Menon, the famed statistician tweeted, “India will now need to beat South Africa by 31 runs or by 24 balls to spare to go ahead of Pak's Net Run Rate.”
Thus, if India bats first, they have to beat South Africa by 31 runs and if they are chasing then they have to overhaul the Proteas challenge in 16 overs.
Menon also tweeted, "Depending on what India/S Africa make batting first the margin could vary by 1/2 runs or 1/2 balls." We would only have a clear picture once the first innings is done.
Pakistan batted first and scored 149 and in reply Australia struggled and ultimately finished on . Australia needed 112 to qualify and they sealed it when Michael Hussey smashed a boundary off the first ball off the last over.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and an analyst for the site’s YouTube Channel. He shot to fame by spotting a wrong replay during IPL4 which resulted in Sachin Tendulkar's dismissal. His insights on the game have come in for high praise from cerebral former cricketers. He can be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nishad_44)
Video: Watch the preview to the India-South Africa clash at the ICC World T20 2012
