India must beat SA by at least 32 runs

Colombo: Now that Australia have qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals – by virtue of a superior net run-rate despite losing to Pakistan – the scenario for India to become the fourth and final team in the knockout stage has been decided. Put in to bat by AB de Villiers, an unchanged India must beat South Africa by 32 runs if they score 160 or 31 runs should they make 140 to go past Pakistan's net run-rate and reach the semi-finals.

If they fail to do so, Pakistan will go through and join Australia, West Indies and hosts Sri Lanka. If India happen to win by 42 runs, they will top Group 2 ahead of Australia.

Pakistan's 32-run win over Australia on Tuesday at the Premadasa Stadium left India’s task clear-cut – beat South Africa by a bigger margin. Australia needed to score 112 to make the semi-finals and did just that, with Michael Hussey hitting a four in the final over of the chase though his team ended up losing. At the end of the match, Australia’s net run-rate was 0.464 to Pakistan's 0.272. Going into the final match of the Super Eights, India's net run rate was -0.452.

Pakistan\'s 32-run win over Australia has left MS Dhoni\'s team with their task cut out in the final match of the Super Eights.

South Africa have been eliminated by virtue of Australia crossing 112 against Pakistan.

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