New Zealand’s poor over rate in the Christchurch Test match cost them three WTC points, jeopardising their chances for a final berth slightly.
New Zealand and England were penalised three points (and 15 per cent match fees) apiece for slow over rates in the recently concluded Test match at Christchurch. While England were not in the race for the final, New Zealand were – and the penalty hurt their cause. This is how the teams stand after the deductions:
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | Points deducted | Points | PCT |
| India | 15 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 110 | 61.11 |
| South Africa | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 59.25 |
| Australia | 13 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 90 | 57.69 |
| Sri Lanka | 10 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 50 |
| New Zealand | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 69 | 47.92 |
| England | 20 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 22 | 102 | 42.5 |
| Pakistan | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 40 | 33.33 |
| West Indies | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 26.67 |
| Bangladesh | 11 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 25 |
New Zealand’s PCT dropped from 50.00 to 47.92, and England’s from 43.75 to 42.50. Both teams have two Test matches left in the league stage, against each other in the ongoing series – at Wellington from December 6 and at Hamilton from December 14.
How did the penalty hurt New Zealand?
Two wins will take New Zealand to 55.36 (this used to be 57.14 before the penalty). To qualify for the final, New Zealand have to ensure no more than one team finishes above them.
All is not over. A 2-3 defeat in Australia will take India to 53.51. Now, if Australia lose 0-2 in Sri Lanka after that, they will drop to 55.26. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will have to lose their Test match against South Africa and come down to 53.85.
That will put all three of them below the 55.36-mark. South Africa’s series against Pakistan will, in that case, be irrelevant to New Zealand’s cause.
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Is this the only way for New Zealand? Not quite. If Australia win all four of their Tests (in other words, beat India 4-1 and Sri Lanka 2-0), they will reach 71.05, but India will drop to 48.25. Alternately, if India win 4-1, they will reach 64.04 and Australia 55.26 (assuming a 2-0 win in Sri Lanka).
In either case, if Sri Lanka win their other Test, in South Africa, and South Africa draw 1-1 (or fare worse) against Pakistan, there will be only one team above 55.36 and New Zealand will go through.
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