South Africa and Sri Lanka, 2015 Cricket World Cup
The players sing the national anthems before the ICC Cricket World Cup's first quarter final at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Sri Lanka's squad is in blue and the South Africans in green. While the results of all four quarter finals were widely predicted, the next phase is less clear. South Africa plays New Zealand in the first semi-final and, on Thursday, the SCG will host Australia vs India. I favoured the South Africans to win the World Cup at the start, citing their fast bowling and all-round batting and fielding strength, but they have a hard assignment; overcoming a committed New Zealand team on home turf at Auckland, where the ball will swing. New Zealand's batsmen and bowlers are all firing as a team. Although Brendon McCullum's fast scoring is renowned, comparitive averages suggest it's actually his aggressive captaincy that's the main asset, and it's bringing out the best in his players. Fast bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee have performed admirably. South Africa have the players to win but lost to Pakistan and have yet to shed their 'choker' tag.
Having said that, AB DeVilliers scored 162 against West Indies and is leading from the front, and both Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have taken more than 160 one-day international wickets each. And they made short work of Sri Lanka in the quarter final. South Africa's 'weak link' has been spin but Imran Tahir is having the tournament of his life, with 15 wickets at 18.86 so far and 4-26 against Sri Lanka.
The scorecard from the 1st quarter final is here: www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/engine/ma...
South Africa and Sri Lanka, 2015 Cricket World Cup
The players sing the national anthems before the ICC Cricket World Cup's first quarter final at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Sri Lanka's squad is in blue and the South Africans in green. While the results of all four quarter finals were widely predicted, the next phase is less clear. South Africa plays New Zealand in the first semi-final and, on Thursday, the SCG will host Australia vs India. I favoured the South Africans to win the World Cup at the start, citing their fast bowling and all-round batting and fielding strength, but they have a hard assignment; overcoming a committed New Zealand team on home turf at Auckland, where the ball will swing. New Zealand's batsmen and bowlers are all firing as a team. Although Brendon McCullum's fast scoring is renowned, comparitive averages suggest it's actually his aggressive captaincy that's the main asset, and it's bringing out the best in his players. Fast bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee have performed admirably. South Africa have the players to win but lost to Pakistan and have yet to shed their 'choker' tag.
Having said that, AB DeVilliers scored 162 against West Indies and is leading from the front, and both Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have taken more than 160 one-day international wickets each. And they made short work of Sri Lanka in the quarter final. South Africa's 'weak link' has been spin but Imran Tahir is having the tournament of his life, with 15 wickets at 18.86 so far and 4-26 against Sri Lanka.
The scorecard from the 1st quarter final is here: www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/engine/ma...