The 12 remaining teams will vie for four semi-final spots as the tournament heads towards an exciting conclusion
The format
While it is called the Super Six, there are still 12 teams left in the tournament, as the top three sides from the four groups in the group stage have made it to the next round. These include – in that order – Bangladesh, Australia and Sri Lanka from Group A; England, Pakistan and Rwanda from Group B; New Zealand, West Indies and Ireland from Group C; and India, South Africa and UAE from Group D.
In the Super Six, teams will be divided into two groups of six each, but each team only plays an additional two matches in this round. For instance, Bangladesh, who topped Group A, will now play South Africa and UAE, who had finished second and third respectively in Group D. Similarly, Group D toppers India will play Australia and Sri Lanka, who were second and third in Group A. Thus, these six teams comprise Super Six Group 1.
Over to Group 2 in Super Six, which consists of England, West Indies, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan and Rwanda. England had topped Group B, and will thus play West Indies and Ireland, who had come second and third from Group C. On the other hand, New Zealand, who were first from Group C, will meet Pakistan and Rwanda from Group B in the Super Six.
Who are the favourites after the group stage?
The four group toppers are best placed to make the semi-finals after the Super Six stage. Bangladesh, England, New Zealand and India were group winners, with three wins out of three. While India, England and New Zealand dominated each of their games, Bangladesh were tested to a degree by Australia and Sri Lanka, but otherwise looked comfortable. With two wins carried forward for each of the table toppers, if they win their two super six games, they will cruise to the semi-final. No other team will be able to reach four wins.
Key fixtures
India vs Australia on January 21 will headline the Super Six line up. Bangladesh’s opening-day win over Australia means India will now have arguably the toughest Super Six fixtures against Australia and Sri Lanka. What is more, India play Sri Lanka the very next day on January 22.
New Zealand have had it quite easy so far after restricting Indonesia and Ireland to 74 each, and West Indies to 68 in the group stage. While they took 27 of 30 wickets, they lost just one across the three matches, having had to bat for less than 24 overs so far. But their biggest test will be against Pakistan on January 24.
Stand-out players
India’s Shweta Sehrawat leads the run-scoring charts with 197 runs in three games, along with the tournament’s highest individual score of 92* against South Africa. Sehrawat has faced 116 balls so far without yet being dismissed. Shafali Verma, India’s captain and Sehrawat’s opening partner, is striking at 233.96, the highest by some distance in the tournament, with scores of 45 from 16 deliveries, and 78 off 34. But she missed out in the last group game against Scotland.
