Latest ICC World Cup 2023 Points Table: South Africa Move To 1st Position After Defeating Australia

World Cup 2023: South Africa reaffirmed their status as serious contenders as their pacers fired in tandem after Quinton de Kock's blazing century, paving the way for a dominant 134-run win over Australia in the World Cup in Lucknow on Thursday.

If de Kock showed his class with a masterful 109 off 106 balls to take the Proteas to 311/7, the fast bowlers were at their ruthless best, bundling Australia for 177 in 40.5 overs for their second consecutive win.

The loss will severely dent Australia's confidence. They were also outplayed by India in their opener and sit second last in the 10-team table.

With this win, South Africa now sits on the top of the ICC World Cup 2023 point table.

South Africa, New Zealand, India and Pakistan have won both their World Cup fixtures so far and have collected four points each. South Africa's superior Net Run Rate (+2.360) have kept them ahead.

The Kiwis (NRR: +1.958) will face Bangladesh on Friday and have a chance to topple South Africa from the first position.

The Indian team has moved to third position in the points table after South Africa's victory on Thursday. India (NRR: +1.500) is followed by Pakistan (NRR: +0.927) and both teams will face each other in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

The 10 teams at the Cricket World Cup 2023 are set to play each other once with little margin for error as only the top four in the standings will progress to the semi-finals.

England are placed fifth with two points. Bangladesh team is on the sixth position with a win and a loss in two matches.

Australia, Sri Lanka, Netherlands and Afghanistan are yet to win a game in the ongoing tournament. Afghanistan is the bottom-placed team on the ICC World Cup 2023 points table with an NRR of -1.907 in two matches.

A high-flying New Zealand will firmly bank on their potent batting line-up to ward off Bangladesh's capable spin attack on a slow Chepauk pitch and consolidate their position on top of the table during their World Cup match in Chennai on Friday.

New Zealand have received a major boost as regular captain Kane Williamson and senior pacer Tim Southee are now available for selection against Bangladesh.

Williamson and Southee had missed the Kiwis' matches against England and Netherlands. Tom Latham stood in for Williamson as New Zealand captain in those games.

MA Chidambaram track could offer another turner like it did in the match between India and Australia the previous Sunday. In that match, the Indian spinners had taken six wickets and the tweakers could come into focus on Friday as well.

Despite a walloping at the hands of England in their last match, this could be Bangladesh's secret point of joy going against the Kiwis.

Their spin trio of captain Shakib Al Hasan, Mahedi Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz has taken 11 wickets from two matches. The Tigers will pin their hopes on those three to weave their magic on New Zealand to notch up a crucial victory.

(With PTI inputs)