ICC Champions Trophy: India vs South Africa, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka and washouts

London: All started off as many have predicted as the first two games of Group B in the ICC Champions Trophy were won by South Africa and India beating Sri Lanka and India respectively.

While the Proteas side then played and lost against Pakistan and Sri Lanka downed India and this meant all the equations in Group B were turned on its head and now, the last two games – India vs South Africa on Sunday and Pakistan vs Sri Lanka on Monday – become a virtual quarterfinals with the winners of both the games marching into the semifinals.

However, with the omnipresent rain always lurking, there also remains a possibility of either or both the games being washed out. In that case, it will all come down to mathematical calculations – not so tricky like the Duckworth Lewis though.

While the defeat against Sri Lanka has brought some added pressure on Virat Kohli and Co, as the game against AB de Villiers-led Proteas side has become a do-or-die encounter, if rain spoils the proceedings and the match does not take place, meaning both the teams have to share a point, then India will definitely enter the final four because of their better NRR and if the Pakistan versus Sri Lanka game gets washed out, then South Africa will become the second team from Group B to enter semis.

(Photo: Screengrab from ICC website)