And then there were four. After four weeks of cricket and one week of rain the Cricket World Cup has its semi-finalists – four deserving teams of class and poise. We therefore have to wave goodbye to six nations who have thrilled and frustrated in equal measure.

World Cups are as much about the losers – the fallible yet joyous competitors who colour the tournament’s early stages – as they are the eventual victors, and at this year’s tournament the gap between the top four and the rest proved smaller than some anticipated.

But who will board that return flight with their tails between their legs and who with a report to be proud of? Find out below.

Confirmed semi-final fixtures:

India vs New Zealand (Tuesday at Old Trafford)
Australia vs England (Thursday at Edgbaston)

Who do you think will make the final? #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/9kZj4gtmWX

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 6, 2019

Pakistan: 3/5

Pakistan’s form going into the tournament was woeful (excluding matches against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan they had won three ODIs in the year prior to the World Cup) and therefore a fifth-placed finish and a late run at a semi-final berth represents something of a success. The year 2019, however, wasn’t 1992 and, for all the quality of Pakistan’s personnel, in retrospect they will look back on the limp loss to West Indies in their opener as a crucial result. The wait for a World Cup win against India also continues.

Sri Lanka: 4/5

Afghanistan’s rise has been joyful, but this was the tournament where the honeymoon ended. No wins represents a disappointing campaign for a side which was expected to provide at least one upset. They did run favourites India close and had they gone about their chase of 225 with a bit more intent they might have pulled off the result of the tournament. Muddled thinking and naivety, however, was characteristic of a side who sacked their captain on the eve of the tournament and sent home star wicketkeeper Mohammed Shazhad halfway through.

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