How Can West Indies still qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup after losing to Netherlands?

Out of the six games left, West Indies need to focus on the immediate future and defeat the Netherlands to progress to the Super Six stage with four points and a superior Net Run Rate.

How Can West Indies still qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup after losing to Netherlands?

West Indies Team (Image via Windies Cricket)

Two-time World Champions, West Indies were stunned on Monday (26 June) as they were defeated by the Netherlands in the group-stage match at the 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifiers. Defending 374, West Indies almost conceded the total as the Netherlands took the game down the wire, leveling the scores. The Dutch then won the game by 22 runs in Super Over. This defeat has severely dented West Indies’ chances to qualify for the main event scheduled for October-November this year.

Although West Indies have qualified for the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers i.e. Super Sixes, the two-time champions face a severe threat of not finishing in the top two and eventually not qualifying for the 2023 ODI World Cup. 

YouTube video

However, there are still hopes alive for the Windies with as many as three games left. West Indies will play Sri Lanka, Scotland, and Oman in the Super Six stage and all three games will be important for the Men in Maroon.

Also Read: “The benchmarks should be the same for all the players,” Harbhajan Singh DEMANDS respect for Cheteshwar Pujara after his exclusion from squad for West Indies tour

How can West Indies finish in top two of Super Six stage?

shai hope nicholas pooran
Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran (Image via ICC Twitter)

West Indies head into the Super Six stage with no points whatsoever. The defeats against Zimbabwe and the Netherlands have made matters worse for the Windies as they are now the least favorite team to finish in the top two positions after the Super Six stage.

In such a scenario, the two-time champions will have to win all of their three matches and two of them seem very much achievable with Oman and Scotland pitted against them. However, the Windies face a serious threat from Sri Lanka who are firm favorites considering their dominant performances in the first round. 

But if the Windies manage to beat Sri Lanka along with the other two opponents and that too with big margins, they will have a solid chance to qualify. In case of fewer than three wins, West Indies’ ODI World Cup Qualification chances will be in jeopardy as their Nat Run Rate is not favorable either.

In case you missed!