Uganda

Race to the semi-finals: T20 World Cup Qualifier B

Uganda

The top two teams in Group A are already decided, though the final positions of the USA and Zimbabwe will be determined by their meeting at the Queens Sports Club.

Group B meanwhile is wide open, with last-placed Hong Kong still mathematically in the hunt for a semi-final spot.

Winners of the two semi-finals on Friday will book their tickets for Australia 2022, with the winner of the final to sort the First Round groups for the tournament proper.

First though is Thursday's final day of group action. Here's what each team needs to do to reach the T20 World Cup Qualifier B semi-finals.

T20 World Cup   Qualifier B

Watch Highlights of Every Match at the Qualifier B for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022

Current Position: 1st - Four Points - NRR of 3.857
**Last game:**Zimbabwe
**What they need to do:**Already through, aiming for top spot with final group stage win

After two wins for both the Americans and tournament hosts Zimbabwe, the teams face off in a shootout to decide who tops the group and avoids the top team in Group B in semi-final.

USA began their campaign with an emphatic win over Jersey, backing up the performance with a thumping 132-run win over Singapore. Steven Taylor has been the form batter of the tournament, adding a score of 58 to his opening day hundred.

While the team lose spearhead quick Ali Khan to a fractured arm, the squad picked for the tournament was bowler heavy, and should have the depth to carry his load.

Current Position: 2nd - Four Points - NRR of 3.350
Last game: Zimbabwe
**What they need to do:**Already through, aiming for top spot with final group stage win

The hosts are effectively in the same situation as the USA, with only a tie or a no result meaning the Americans will finish higher if they were to share the points.

Under new coach Dave Houghton, Zimbabwe put their foot on the gas early by posting a mammoth 236/5, with Sikandar Raza's 87 (40) the best performance in a strong overall outing with the bat.

Raza has been joined by a number of elder statesmen with the bat, with Sean Williams chiming in with two fifties in a consistent start to the tournament.

Current Position: 3rd - Zero Points - NRR -1.066
Last game: Singapore
Knocked out

Jersey had their moments in the first two matches of their campaign, but two defeats against USA and Zimbabwe means their bid for tickets to Australia is over.

At one stage Chuggy Perchard's side had Zimbabwe in a corner at 115/7 off 17.1 overs, only for Luke Jongwe's 29* (13) balls to take the hosts to 146 from their allotted overs. Jersey could only muster 123/5 in response, missing a golden chance to turn the group upside down.

With the teams above them dropping no points in the first two days of group action, Jersey are out of reach even with a win over Singapore.

**Current Position:**4th - Zero Points - NRR -6.075
**Last game:**Jersey
Knocked out

It's been a forgettable campaign for Singapore, who gave a disappointing account of themselves after some decent form heading into Qualifier B.

Despite sharing the spoils in a series at home against Papua New Guinea in the build-up, they were undone in convincing fashion by both USA and Zimbabwe, and have a poor net run rate to show for it.

Naming a squad with one fewer player than any other team, it appears the side were willing to race Tim David in at the eleventh hour, though the overall performance of his countrymen suggests the side would have still found things difficult even with the star batting all-rounder's impact.

Group A Standings

Current Position: 1st - Four Points - NRR of 2.725
Last Game: Uganda
**What they need to do:**Win guarantees top spot, small defeat prevents unlikely slip.

Scott Edward's side have been the pick of the bunch thus far in Group B, currently leading the group with two wins. They have the chance to top the group with a win over Uganda, and will want to avoid a semi-final with the top team in Group A.

The Dutch have one foot in the door for the semi-finals already, and should qualify in a top two spot even with a defeat to Uganda. In saying that, there is a scenario (albeit highly unlikely) where they could miss out altogether.

For that to happen, the Dutch would have to lose to Uganda by a margin of 60 runs or more, or have Uganda chase down a score in around 11 overs for them to be in jeopardy. Even if that was the case, a Hong Kong win over Papua New Guinea would mean the Dutch qualify regardless of the result.

Current Position: 2nd - Two Points - NRR of -0.485
Last Game: The Netherlands
**What they need to do:**Most likely win and rely on other results

There are plenty of possible permutations and combinations in Group B, and Uganda are in the thick of the possibilities in second spot.

A hefty defeat means their hopes of progression will be quashed, and even a win doesn't guarantee progress, given the Netherlands' strong net run rate and PNG's favouritism against Hong Kong.

The Cricket Cranes stunned Hong Kong in a final-over thriller to open their account, though fell by eight wickets to PNG at the Athletic Club.

Current Position: 3rd - Two Points - NRR -0.657
Last Game: Hong Kong
What they need to do: Win over Hong Kong and hope other results go their way

The Barramundis are in third spot but arguably have an easier path than the Cranes, as they take on Hong Kong on the final day of group play.

Losing to the Netherlands by 52 runs threatened to derail their tournament, though a strong eight-wicket win against Uganda put their campaign back on track. Assad Vala's 93*

Current Position: 4th - Zero Points - NRR -1.169
Last Game: Papua New Guinea
**What they need to do:**Win over PNG comfortably, hope other result goes their way

A win by at least 13 runs, or chasing down a PNG target with 10 balls to spare or more means their net run rate will be superior to their opponents, meaning it'd come down to a net run rate comparison if Uganda were also to lose to the Netherlands.

Nizakat Khan's side have been nowhere near their best, particularly with the bat, making 87/9 and 116 in their two matches thus far. Partnerships have been hard to build, with Kinchit Shah's 37 against Uganda and Nizakat's 60 against the Netherlands not supported at the other end.

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