Cricket World Cup 2023: Rating teams based on performances in fourth week

South Africa. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Cricket World Cup 2023’s fourth week ended with South Africa’s humongous 190-run triumph over New Zealand in Pune. With this victory, the Protea team replaced India to sit on the top of the table with 12 points. However, the Men in Blue regained the spot the next day with their massive 302-run victory against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium.

These two teams played quality cricket in the week and held the top positions on the points table while for New Zealand, it was a rough week as their performance plummeted by adding two more defeats in the competition. Following the blockbuster action in the fourth week, it’s time to rate the performance of all teams. 

Here are the ratings of all teams’ performances in the fourth week

10. Bangladesh- 3.5/10

Bangladesh. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Bangladesh’s struggle isn’t ending in this World Cup as their poor run in the competition continued in the fourth week. In their first game of the week, they registered an 87-run loss against the Netherlands at Eden Gardens. Following a low total of 230 runs, the Bangla side got bundled out on 142 runs in 42.2 overs.

After losing to the Dutch side, Shakib Al Hasan and his boys faced Pakistan in the same venue. At the toss, Shakib emerged victorious and elected to bat first. Against Pakistan’s quality bowling unit, Bangladesh failed to complete their 50 overs and got folded on 204 runs.

Defending the low total, the Bangla Tigers couldn’t pick up any wickets until 21.1 overs. At the end of the day, the Men in Green bagged a seven-wicket win over Shakib & Co. Except for Mehidy Hasan Miraz, all other bowlers went back to the dugout wicketless. 

9. England- 3.5/10

England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

England started their week with an eight-wicket hammering at the hands of Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. On the batting surface, the English batters completely floundered and got wrapped up on a paltry 156. The defending champions failed to save the total and eventually ended their day with the fifth loss in the tournament.

After losing three games in a row, the English side travelled to Lucknow to face the hosts India. Jos Buttler and Co. failed to stop India’s juggernaut at the EKANA Stadium, losing the crucial contest by 100 runs. Winning the toss, the England skipper invited India to bat first and his bowlers did a fine job, restricting the Men in Blue to 229 runs.

Pursuing 230 runs, the English batters completely struggled to accumulate runs in front of India’s disciplined bowling. Against India’s quality bowling unit, England capitulated to 129 runs. Their experienced batters Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Jos Buttler also looked ineffective in the contest.

8. The Netherlands- 5/10

Netherlands (Photo Source: Twitter)

The Netherlands clinched their second victory in the competition with their 87-run win over Bangladesh at Eden Gardens. Winning the toss against his counterpart Shakib Al Hasan, Scott Edwards decided to bat first, and riding on his 68-run innings, the Orange Army posted 229 runs on the board. 

Saving the low target with courage, the Dutch side folded Bangladesh on 142 runs. Paul van Meekeren exuded his confidence with the ball, picking up a four-wicket haul while Bas de Leede also took the prized scalps of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah. Aryan Dutt also dismissed dangerous Liton Das on two and provided the early breakthrough to his team.

Dutt bowled a 10-over spell and gave away only 26 runs with three maidens. His off-break bowling completely outclassed the Bangladesh batters. In the end, Meekeren received the Player of the Match award for his stunning bowling performance in the match.

7. Sri Lanka- 6/10

Sri Lanka. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Sri Lanka started their week with a bang, beating England by eight wickets in Bengaluru. The win became more special for the 1996 champions due to their spectacular bowling on the batting-friendly track. Sri Lanka’s pacers bowled incredibly against England’s star-studded batting unit to warp up Jos Buttler-led team on a paltry 156. 

Chasing the small target, Sri Lanka lost their opener Kusal Perera and captain Kusal Mendis early but Pathum Nissanka stood at the crease and took his team home with his unbeaten 77-run innings off 83 deliveries, with nine boundaries (seven fours and two maximums). 

The emphatic victory was expected to boost Sri Lanka’s confidence but they failed to continue the winning momentum due to their below-par performance against Afghanistan in Pune. Against the quality Afghan bowling attack, they scored only 241 runs in 49.3 overs. In the end, Afghanistan won the game with seven wickets in hand and scripted history with their maiden triumph against Sri Lanka in the World Cup tournaments.

6. New Zealand- 6.5/10

New-Zealand. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

New Zealand’s performance has slumped in the last couple of weeks. After winning four consecutive matches, the Black Caps have registered four losses in a row. In the fourth week, they lost their important matches against quality teams Australia and South Africa.

After losing to India in Dharamshala, the Kiwi side faced Australia in the same venue. New Zealand skipper Tom Latham won the toss and invited the Aussie side to bat first. On the batting pitch, the Men in Yellow looked sensational and posted 388 runs on the board. Replying to the massive total, the Kiwi side fell five runs short.

Their biggest defeat came against South Africa in Pune. Against the Protea team, they were tasked to chase 358 runs. Latham and his men failed to display their best in front of South Africa’s tight bowling and got dismissed on 167 runs in 35.3 overs. The 190-run loss has also impacted negatively on their net run rate.  

 5. Afghanistan- 7/10

AFG vs NED (Photo Source: Twitter)

Afghanistan have performed fabulously in this tournament and they are also in the knockout race along with Australia, New Zealand, and Pakistan. In the fourth week, they hit the headlines for their amazing seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium.  

The Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss in the game and he invited Sri Lanka to bat first. Fazalhaq Farooqi attacked Sri Lanka in the first powerplay, sending Dimuth Karunaratne back to the pavilion on his score of 15. Farooqi bowled remarkably until the end of the innings and tied the Sri Lanka batters’ hands.

Bowling 10 overs, the pacer picked up a four-wicket haul and played an enormous role in restricting Sri Lanka to an average total of 241 runs. The spectacular bowling show emboldened the confidence of the Afghan batters and they chased down the total comfortably in 45.2 overs. Farooqi received the Player of the Match award for his fine bowling performance.

4. Pakistan- 7/10

Pakistan Cricket Team. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Pakistan have made a comeback in the tournament recently, registering a 21-run win (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method) over New Zealand in Bengaluru. The success against the Kiwis was their fourth win in the tournament and they are currently in fifth position on the points table. 

Before the New Zealand challenge, the Men in Green locked horns with South Africa and Bangladesh. Against South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, their batters again failed to complete 50 overs, getting bundled out on 270 runs in 46.4 overs. However, Pakistan’s bowlers put up a great fight to defend the total but eventually the 1992 World Cup champions lost the game by one wicket.  

The Babar Azam-led side looked confident in the must-win contest against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens. At the iconic venue, the Green Army crushed the Bangla team by seven wickets and won the first game after losing their four consecutive matches in the competition. Fakhar Zaman became the recipient of the Player of the Match award for his blistering innings of 81 off 74.

3. Australia- 8/10

AUs vs ENG (Photo Source: Twitter)

Australia vanquished New Zealand at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium and won their fourth match in the competition. They defended 388 runs successfully, containing the Kiwi team at a score of 383 runs. Travis Head delivered a standout performance on his World Cup debut, hitting a scintillating ton. The left-handed batter scored his century in just 59 deliveries. 

Along with Head, David Warner also performed exceptionally. The veteran scored 81 off 65 deliveries with 11 boundaries (five fours and six maximums). Both openers stitched a 175-run opening partnership in just 19.1 overs. In the final overs, Glenn Maxwell (41 off 24) and Josh Inglis (38 off 28) also took New Zealand’s bowling unit to the cleaners with their ferocious batting.

Captain Pat Cummins made a cameo with his fierce 37-run innings off just 14 deliveries. New Zealand followed the total superbly but in the end, the Aussie bowlers held their nerves to help their team bag an intriguing five-run win.

2. South Africa- 9.5/10

South-Africa. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)

South Africa performed phenomenally in the competition’s fourth week. They beat Pakistan and New Zealand to end up on the top of the points table at the end of the week. The Protea side chased down 271 runs against the Babar Azam-led team at the MA Chidambaram Stadium with one wicket in hand.

Tabraiz Shamsi grabbed a four-wicket haul in his 10-over spell and became the Player of the Match. After Pakistan, South Africa mauled New Zealand in Pune. Winning the toss, New Zealand skipper Tom Latham elected to field first and his decision backfired when Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen looked superior against his bowlers.

Riding on marvellous centuries from both top-order batters, South Africa put up 357 runs on the board. The Kiwis looked nervous while chasing the colossal total and they gave up in the contest after scoring 167 runs in 35.3 overs. Dussen, who played a 133-run innings off 118 deliveries, became the Player of the Match at the end of the day.

1. India- 9.5/10

IND vs SA (Photo Source: twitter)

India remained an unbeatable side in the fourth week of the tournament. The Men in Blue brutally crushed the defending champions England by 100 runs in Lucknow. After five successful chases, Team India was put to bat first against the English side after losing the toss. 

England’s bowlers impressively started the game as their pacers Chris Woakes and David Willey provided early breakthroughs to their team. However, Rohit Sharma’s 87-run knock off 101 deliveries and Suryakumar Yadav’s 49-run innings off 47 balls helped India end at a score of 229 runs in 50 overs. 

India saved the low total confidently as their bowlers came heavily on Buttler and Co. The English team surrendered on 129 and the speedster Mohammed Shami again shone with the ball, claiming 4/22 figures in his seven overs. Jasprit Bumrah cleaned up Mark Wood and ended the game in style. The 29-year-old also picked up three wickets in the contest.