Regardless of the New Zealand cricket team's finish to the Super Eights at the World T20 overnight they can be grateful for the easier draw.
Put it this way: Australia, India, Pakistan and South Africa each had two wins in pool play but were shuffled into one group; Sri Lanka, the West Indies, England and New Zealand, who each had a win and a loss, made up the other. Two teams from each Super Eights group went to the semi-finals. The latter group certainly made for more palatable opposition.
The disparity in group strength came about as a quirk of the draw from tournament seedings.
New Zealand were ranked as the second best team in group D (D2) behind Pakistan.
To help with scheduling for fans, media and teams, they kept that position in the draw regardless of whether they finished first or second in the group. Sensibly, it means accommodation and travel can be pre-arranged and the International Cricket Council operation can run with fewer hindrances.
Going into last night's survival match with the West Indies, New Zealand could still make the semi-finals, despite losing three matches in a row (albeit one after an initial tie to Sri Lanka). They had only beaten Bangladesh in the tournament to that point.
The World T20 must be one of the most forgiving tournaments in world sport when semi-finals can be made under such circumstances.
You could not do it at a rugby or football World Cup. Similarly the West Indies and England both lost two matches at the tournament yet remained on the cusp of the top four going into the final round.
Despite the skewed groupings, hosts Sri Lanka still shape as favourites to be the fourth different winner of this tournament after India (2007), Pakistan (2009) and England (2010).
They lost a pool match only by virtue of a seven-over-a-side farce against South Africa. Even if they lost to England last night it would have required a net run-rate conspiracy of epic proportions for them to have been ousted.
Irrespective, there was anticipation heading into the final day of the Super Eights with so many ifs, buts and maybes mixed with the double header format at Pallekele.
Strong Sri Lankan performances help, but the crowds also deserve credit for bringing the tournament to life.
Staying in Kandy for the last fortnight, one is left in no doubt Sri Lanka is a country steeped in cricket lore. Fans embrace the game with passion. They have been worthy hosts.
In the Colombo Super Eights group, Australia, led by strong Shane Watson all-round performances have made the most headway. They had what looked an insurmountable net run rate advantage over the group, going into last night's match against Pakistan. India also played South Africa.
- Andrew Alderson flew to the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka courtesy of Emirates Airline (www.emirates.com/nz).
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