Wednesday, March 23, 2011

South Africa Vs New Zealand – 3rd Quarter Final, Match Preview

South Africa Vs New Zealand – 3rd Quarter Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

South Africa look well balanced and well rounded with all their bases covered superbly. They have excellent spin options with leg spinner Imran Tahir, off spinner Johan Botha and a left arm spinner in Robin Peterson. Their fast bowling attack is the most feared and awkward to face in world cricket at the moment with both Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel breathing fire down the opposition batsmen. The batting seems to be in a pink of health too with Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB De Villiers and JP Duminy all amongst the runs. Only Greame Smith has not fired till now and he will be keen to play a captains knock in the knock out stages of the tournament!!!

New Zealand have their own match winners in Brendon Mc Cullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor. They have all had a good run in this tournament and will be hoping to continue the trend. The middle order for the black caps though has been extremely shaky and inconsistent till now with Scot Styris, James Franklin and kane Williamson failing in almost all the matches. Their bowling though will be bolstered by the return of their talismanic skipper Daniel Vettori and he will be ably supported by Tim Southee, Nathan Mc Cullum, Jesse Ryder and Scot Styris.

On paper this may seem a mis-match but South Africa are known to crumble in the knock out stages of a big tournament like the World Cup where as the Kiwis are known to punch well above their weight in the same!!!

Key Battles to look out for in the match between South Africa Vs New Zealand, 25th March - Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Bangladesh

1. Hashim Amla, De Villiers Vs Daniel Vettori

2. Kiwi fielding Vs Proteas fielding

3. Imran Tahir, Johan Botha, Robin Peterson Vs Brendon Mc Cullum, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor

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