Finally with all squares decided and every results settled, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 nears its business end. 10 teams have now been reduced to four. League stage has given away to the knockouts – more prominently the semi-finals. Some teams disappointed while few others arrived late but India, Australia, England and New Zealand toppled, thrashed and edged everything coming their way to reach the final four stage. All four teams remain two wins away from lifting cricket’s ‘Holy Grail’ but one defeat and they could be heading home. With lots at stake for these four teams, take a look at who play whom and where in the semi-finals of CWC 2019. ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 – Points Table.

India are chasing their third Cricket World Cup title, while Australia are aiming for a record sixth. England and New Zealand will be hoping to lift their maiden World Cup title. India topped the points table with 15 points from nine games. Australia from the same number of matches had 14, while England and New Zealand had 12 and 11 points respectively. The round robin format of CWC 2019 states that the top-ranked team will face the fourth-placed side, while second and third placed teams will square-off against themselves. Michael Vaughan Trolls Sanjay Manjrekar for Picking up Sanjay Manjrekar in Playing 11 For Semi-Finals of CWC 2019.

Semi-Final 1:

India vs New Zealand, Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, July 9 (Tuesday).

Table leaders India will face fourth-ranked New Zealand in the first semi-final of CWC 2019. Both India and New Zealand had similar starts to the tournament with India trailing New Zealand at one stage but a hat-trick of defeats consigned the Blackcaps to the fourth place. They eventually breathed a sigh of relief after Pakistan failed to maximise their run-rate.

The Kane Williamson-led side began the tournament on a high with five consecutive victories and it was this run of five straight wins that helped New Zealand sneak into the semi-finals at the cost of Pakistan, who beat them in the league phase encounter. Their game against India in the league stage was abandoned due to rain.

India, on the other, arrived as the pre-tournament favourites and finished the league stage in a similar position. Their only blip came against hosts England – a team they might face again if they both qualify for the Final – but apart from that, it was normal business for India.

Semi-Final 2:

England vs Australia, Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham, July 11 (Thursday)

Hosts and another pre-tournament favourite, England survived an elimination scare to make the semi-finals round. Defeats to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia put them in a must-win situation, but England bounced with convincing victories over India and New Zealand – two semi-finalists – in their final two league games. They finish third and are once again the favourites to reach the final.

Australia came to CWC 2019 in a mess. With an unstable batting line-up and a misfiring bowling unit, things were expected to grey and cold for the defending champions. But with a second-place Finish – could have been on top had they beaten South Africa in the final league game – and by becoming the first team to reach semis, Australia showed why they could never be counted out. Mitchell Starc Equals Glenn McGrath’s Record of Bowler With Most Wickets in a Single Edition of World Cup.

After two scratchy wins against Afghanistan and West Indies, followed by a defeat to India, the five-time title holders went on a six-match winning streak before losing to South Africa in a thrilling end to the league stage. They face hosts  England – a team they have great memories against – and will want to reignite their rich past to make their eighth final appearance.

ICC has also kept two reserve days - one each for both the semi-finals - incase rain intervenes and play is no longer possible on that day. July 10 and July 11 are the two additional days reserved for the first and second semi-final respectively. Teams that clinch the semi-final battles will meet in the final on July 14.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 07, 2019 05:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).