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The World Cup story so far

The World Cup is near the halfway stage and the Super Eight line-up is almost complete. Although this World Cup is perhaps to be remembered for the wrong reasons, there have certainly been some surprises on the field as well.

Ireland's progression at the expense of Pakistan has been the major shock, but just as notable is the absence of India in the second stage. As long as Bangladesh cope with the unfamiliar favourites tag against Bermuda - who lost their opening two games by an average of 250 runs - there will be no Indian or Pakistani involvement in a World Cup second phase for the first time ever.

As well as learning that a smaller nation is capable of upsetting a big one, we have also found out that in general terms the gulf in class remains as big as ever. Scotland and the Netherlands were on the on receiving end of hammerings from Australia and South Africa, although the Dutch were nearly as convincing in thrashing their European rivals in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon in Group A.

Bermuda's two defeats to date have been among the three largest in World Cup history by a team batting second, as the minnows tried to exploit any favourable bowling conditions by generally fielding first when they won the toss. On the plus side, Canada and Kenya's batting was far from overawed in Group C, whilst Ireland proved their Pakistan win was not a fluke by battling to a crucial draw against Zimbabwe.

Despite Ireland and Bangladesh's heroics, perhaps the most notable performance came from Australia on Sunday. This tournament was deemed to be wide-open, but the Aussies head into the second phase as the hot favourites that they were prior to having their preparations derailed by England and New Zealand. They trade at 2.58 to lift their fourth World Cup crown.

The Baggy Greens' 83-run win over South Africa was in many ways as brutal as their victories over the group minnows. Matthew Hayden struck the fastest ever World Cup ton, inspiring his side to their highest ever total in the competition. It is significant that it came against their biggest rivals - totals of 334 for six against Scotland and 358 for five against the Netherlands were mere warm ups.

In defending their record total of 377 for six with ease, Australia also answered those who had suggested they struggle when bowling second. The four biggest ever successful run chases have all come against the Aussies, and all since December 2005. South Africa couldn't maintain their early scoring rate and ended up well short in the battle to take points through to the Super Eights.

The significance of the outcomes of the games between each group's qualifiers has grown due to the early exits of Pakistan and India. A second phase containing Bangladesh and Ireland will seemingly reduce the Super Eight stage to effectively a 'Super Six' - and those teams who have already lost one of their five matches against a big gun face an uphill struggle.

The surprise qualifiers can of course secure another giantkilling, but it seems likely that we have had all the shocks in the tournament already. The six major nations have had plenty of acclimatisation and will not take the Irish lightly, whilst Bangladesh have only won five of their 97 clashes against the major eight Test playing nations.

It therefore seems that the four in-form teams - Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies - are well placed to make up the semi final positions. England and South Africa will have no room for leeway and must rediscover their form quickly in respective Guyana clashes with Ireland and Sri Lanka.

The small Caribbean grounds always seemed likely to be conducive to high scoring, and the big hitters have not disappointed. Australia made the boundaries at the smallest venue of all, Warner Park in St Kitts, seem very small indeed. They shared 11 sixes and all seven batsmen scored at more than a run all a ball, just the second ever instance of this happening in ODIs.

Australia hit the tournament's 10th score in excess of 300, which surpasses the nine that were recorded in South Africa in 2003. The Aussies proved that these don't just come against the minnows, so expect more fireworks in the Super Eight stage.

Unsurprisingly the Baggy Green batsmen lead the way in the runscoring charts. Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Matthew Hayden all feature in the top four, behind the in-form Graeme Smith. Ponting is trading at 4.8 in the top runscorer market and is sure to be in with a shout when the tournament finishes at Barbados on April 28.

The high scoring nature of the matches has obviously made life difficult for bowlers. Most of the big guns have been able to rest their star pacemen, but the top of the wicket taking charts still contains some surprising names.

Muttiah Muralitharan and Glenn McGrath are not surprisingly in contention in this market with six wickets apiece - the latter needs another half dozen to break Wasim Akram's World Cup record - but few will have expected Brad Hogg to lead the way at the tournament's halfway stage.

The spinning postman has eight wickets at an average of 13, and punters have recognised his suitability for the West Indian wickets - he trades as current second favourite, at 7.4. McGrath is available at a tasty 9.6.

The West Indies will kick off the second phase, just as they did the group stage. Their opening day win over Pakistan was put into context by Ireland, but a win against Australia in Guyana on Tuesday would certainly make the rest of the field take notice.

The hosts shared one win apiece with the World Cup holders in the Champions Trophy and have won five of their last 10 completed matches. The West Indies trade at 9.8 to become the first sole hosts to lift the trophy.

• Cricket
• Cricket World Cup