Nailing middle overs shifts World Cup 2023 dynamics

Hyderabad: Be it with bat or with the ball, middle overs have been the key to success in the ongoing World Cup breaking the common belief that powerplay and death overs are the most vital phases in a cricket match. The ongoing World Cup 2023 has proved that the team's performance in middle overs in both departments plays a vital role in success and all the top teams have excelled in that area to occupy the top position in the points tally.

In the World Cup 2023, India, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia's domination in the middle overs resulted in these teams securing the top four positions in the points table respectively. Men in Blue, who are currently sitting at the top comfortably, have won all of their matches so far. The rampaging Proteas, are positioned second in the points table with four wins, similar to Kiwis, who are placed just below in third position due to a better net run rate (NRR). The five-time champions, Aussies couldn't get the start they wanted, but have made an amazing comeback with three straight wins.

The runner-ups of the last two World Cup events, New Zealand have mastered the middle overs so far, with batters and bowlers both pulling off exceptional performances. In the last five matches, Kiwi batters are ranked second in the list of teams scoring the most runs in middle overs with 853 runs at an average of 171 runs with a strike rate of 97.15.

The two-time world champions, India are having a great run in the ongoing edition winning all five matches. Rohit and Co have smashed 776 runs, scoring with an average of 155.2 while striking at 95.45. South Africa has also dominated the World Cup with the bat and ball as well, except for a defeat from minnows Netherlands.

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->

All team's performances with bat in Middle overs
Team	Matches	Runs	Outs	Avg runs scored per innings	SR
New Zealand	5	853	9	170.6	97.15
India	5	776	12	155.2	95.45
South Africa	5	920	17	184	102.22
Pakistan	5	844	20	168.8	93.78
Sri Lanka	5	800	19	160	98.28
Australia	5	773	21	154.6	88.65
Bangladesh	5	648	20	129.6	74.65
England	5	752	28	150.4	100
Afghanistan	5	652	28	130.4	76.53
Netherlands	5	612	31	122.4	77.86

Proteas are leading the run-charts with 920 runs at an average of 184 in the 30-over span between 11 and 40 overs in five matches. This many runs came at a strike rate of 102.22, which is again the best among all the participating teams in the ICC event. The mighty Australians failed to live up to the expectations and suffered a batting collapse against India and South Africa getting bundled out on 199 and 177 respectively in the first couple of games. Aussies has scored 773 runs averaging 154.6 in middle overs.

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->

All team's performances with the ball in Middle overs
Team	Matches	Runs	Wickets	Economy	Avg	SR	Dots
New Zealand	5	750	29	5.18	25.86	29.93	431
South Africa	5	745	27	5.64	27.59	29.33	451
Australia	5	737	24	5.63	30.71	32.75	360
India	5	725	23	4.83	31.52	39.13	469
Netherlands	5	872	19	5.81	45.89	47.37	429
Afghanistan	5	731	18	5.23	40.61	46.56	411
Sri Lanka	5	841	18	6.06	46.72	46.22	391
Bangladesh	5	907	17	6.16	53.35	52	377
Pakistan	5	869	17	6.19	51.12	49.59	403
England	5	774	13	5.86	59.54	60.92	332

Turning our attention towards how bowling units have fared in the middle overs, New Zealand have trumped other teams and that is one of the reasons for the Blackcaps being one of the top sides of the tournament. Kiwis have picked 29 wickets with a strike rate of 29.93 while averaging 25.86, which is the best by any team so far in the tournament in the middle overs.

Indian bowlers are placed behind them with an impressive economy of 4.83 runs per over. Indian bowlers have picked 23 wickets collectively at an average of 31.52. Notably, speedster Jasprit Bumrah has been the leading wicket-taker for the team with 11 wickets. South Africa's bowling has been lethal, picking a wicket after every 29.33 deliveries in the grand tournament. Proteas are ranked second in the list of teams with the most wickets in middle overs, claiming 27 wickets with an average of 27.59. The five-time world champions, Australia's bowling unit has done extremely well by picking up 24 wickets striking at 32.75 while averaging only 30.71.

Teams placed between 5th and 10th position have lost more than 17+ wickets in the middle overs, which has cost them matches numerous times. The defending champions England and giant killers Afghanistan have lost 28 wickets, the joint second most by teams while the minnows Netherlands have lost the most 31 wickets in the middle overs. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have lost 20, 20 and 19 wickets respectively. The Netherlands, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and England had a poor tournament with the ball so far as they leaked 40 or more runs to pick up a wicket striking at a horrid rate of more than 45 in the middle overs. These teams have also conceded runs at more than 5.75 runs per over.

Overall the middle overs data suggest that in order to win the title, all the teams will have to excel in the middle overs on most of the occasions. Teams doing fine in the middle overs are occupying top spots in the points table is the biggest testament that depicts the significance of middle overs. On the other hand, teams like England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have missed the trick as they couldn't capitalise either with bat or ball. From here on, England cannot afford to lose in the tournament as one more defeat will knock them out. Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka still have a good chance to make it to the knockout stage in case they win all the remaining games and other match results go in their favour.