2015 World Cup - Finals

March

Semi-finals

24 Semi-final 1, South Africa v New Zealand, Auckland (01:00 GMT)

26 Semi-final 2, India v Australia, Sydney (03:30 GMT)

Final

29 Final, New Zealand v Australia, Melbourne (05:30 BST)


* * * * * * * *

Having no clear favourites for the semi's makes for an intriguing couple of games.

I'm at that stage of the tournament where I could care less about competitive matches and the spectacle. If we have to thrash every single team we play... and then bowl the most negative line in history... so be it. It's all about the W

kingraf wrote:I'm at that stage of the tournament where I could care less about competitive matches and the spectacle. If we have to thrash every single team we play... and then bowl the most negative line in history... so be it. It's all about the W

I can't call tomorrow's game. Nervous, King?

Incredibly so. We can win, and we won our ODI last series in New Zealand 2-0. In fact I think we've won our last five series in New Zealand, across all formats. Man for man I think we're a better team, and of that team, I'd really only want Trent Boult... and maybe Corey Anderson. It's a knockout match however, and they have enough matchwinners to take it away very quickly. Quietly hoping for a win. Quietly confident of a win. But definitely aware of the fact that defeat is a possibility which looms large.

The big thing, is how will the Kiwis respond to a home game with a final on the line. do they rise to it, or be crushed by it?

ebop wrote:msp83, correct me if I'm wrong, but I recall England only managed 123 at the 'same' ground that has such sub-standard boundaries. Eden Park with its even more substandard boundaries threw up one of the lowest scoring thrillers of the tournament.

Doesn't disprove anything I wrote earlier, for the England game the NZ opening bowlers were swinging the ball and it was England afterall!. As for the other game, again there was life for the bowlers and Boult and Starc in particular, were quite good making the best of it....... But for the QF, there was not much for the bowlers, and even the NZ bowling lineup, one of the best in the world at present, went at over 8 an over for 30 overs....... The combination of such stupid boundaries with a lifeless track, just horrendous....... Had someone like a McCullum or a Gayle managed to stay on for say 40 overs, we would have had the first ODI triple ton....... And AB, Mr Freaking Genius can score the most effortless 400+....... Not good for the game though, and in that context, I can understand what Graeme Swann said.......
LD, great batsmen v great bowlers is one thing, but if the likes of Guptill are scoring ODI double tons effortlessly, then there indeed is a problem.......

msp83 wrote:Doesn't disprove anything I wrote earlier, for the England game the NZ opening bowlers were swinging the ball and it was England afterall!.

Indeed England are pretty rubbish. Any tier one team losing to this current ODI side should hang their heads in shame. Not many teams in that group admittedly.



As to Guptill, he is a very good player able to build an innings. However if you were equally critical of the conditions when Rohit Sharma got his 250+ - well then I will forgive the disrespect you have shown to a very good cricketer.

LondonTiger wrote:

msp83 wrote:Doesn't disprove anything I wrote earlier, for the England game the NZ opening bowlers were swinging the ball and it was England afterall!.

Indeed England are pretty rubbish. Any tier one team losing to this current ODI side should hang their heads in shame. Not many teams in that group admittedly.



As to Guptill, he is a very good player able to build an innings. However if you were equally critical of the conditions when Rohit Sharma got his 250+ - well then I will forgive the disrespect you have shown to a very good cricketer.

Those who are regular here, should know what my views are on Sharma!!!
Both as a player in general, and even on that innings....... Would rate his WC hundred against Bangladesh way above those 2 double tons and his most other innings.......
I stopped strictly following ODI games in India after that 264 game, now mostly go through cricinfo scorecards and match reports or a few overs in between.......

Yep. Msp has been rather scathing at times of Sharma. I also agree with him. Martin Guptill should not be scoring double hundreds in fifty overs. High five to him for getting it, but if ever there was a more scathing indictment of the current conditions... well that and Jason Holder being eight overs for 40 runs against de Villiers, and ended up ten overs for 104.

Rain...

How bad?

Like Katrina

Had a heavy shower go through about half an hour ago, not raining at the moment, low cover grey skies, Im about 10 K away from Eden Park as the crow flies.

kingraf wrote:Rather strange way of thinking Kpf. During the quarters you said Windies beating NZ would make a mockery of the format. Now that there are no upsets... it's made a mockery of the format

it would have been a mockery
now it is downgraded to " Not competitive"

msp83 wrote: but if the likes of Guptill are scoring ODI double tons effortlessly, then there indeed is a problem.......

msp...runs scored against WI, BD, Zim, Scot, IRE in ODIs don't count
runs scored against WI, BD, Zim, Ind in tests don't count

To be fair they couldve saved everyone a lot of time effort and money, especially England, by just playing these last 3 games. The right teams are in the semi finals at least, but its been painfully tedious at times getting here. Even the "excitement" of Ireland not qualifying because they arent good enough was a side show to the actual battle for the cup, which realistically was only ever going to be won by one of these 4.

Of course it would rain as we make the charge. Beginning to think we're genuinely cursed at this world cup thing

Don't worry, raf. It's not over yet!

Great match this, it's gonna be a tough chase for the black caps.
Miller is owning Southee these last few overs. Great controlled slogging.

Brutal stuff from McCullum!

Do feel sympathy for South Africa, though, in having their momentum scuppered by the weather.

Excellent knock from McCullum has given the kiwis a great chance - although you feel Taylor will need to bat deep to hold the innings together

It's gonna be Close!

well the rain curtailment did not help SA...because the D/L adjustments do not factor for ABDV and Miller's accelerations at the end.

now looking at the score card......161-4 NZ in 24 overs........I have a feeling they will go down.......fighting, but go down nevertheless.

from NZ persepctive Anderson has to play the inning of his life with Elliot, Ronchi, Vettori having to play the support roles of their life....if they have to be a first time finalist finally

Good match despite the rain.

NZ on course to run it down as far as scoring rates go ; but I think they need these two to bat a fair proportion of the overs. Not sure I trust their later order. SA will still feel a wicket puts them back in it...

Anderson is the big wicket now

Excellent match so far. Glad I am nuetral for this one!

Blimey ! I've heard of dropping the World Cup but that run out going begging may have the same effect...can't think of a concise term for it though.

Four over power play now and I reckon this will decide the game one way or the other...

Getting toight for sure.

Was disappointed to see Taylor run someone out 'again' but hey. With Anderson, Elliot and Ronchi we still have a small chance. But it's SAs to lose from here.

ebop wrote:Getting toight for sure.

Was disappointed to see Taylor run someone out 'again' but hey. With Anderson, Elliot and Ronchi we still have a small chance. But it's SAs to lose from here.

NZ clear favourites at the moment I would say! Nice try at reverse psychology though

Haha, nah mate, it honestly feels like SA have the momentum here. 1-2 wickets more and we're done.

ebop wrote:Haha, nah mate, it honestly feels like SA have the momentum here. 1-2 wickets more and we're done.

Well I agree with the latter part, but you have two players in and a fifth bowler that can be targetted. 9 an over is manageable in the last 10 overs these days. Going to be a good finish anyway!

pendulum has swung NZ's way now......bad fluffed R.O by ABDV of all people .
that would be the choke moment if SA are to lose

Run rate got up close to nine there ...but that latest over brought it back.
Really appears NZ's game to lose from here : sure a quick two wickets might change that ; but they will have to come soon.
Tahir now and he is surely the best chance of a breakthrough...

Very good game. So much depending upon Imran Tahir's last 2 overs ....

Yeah, that was a massive let off KP. The pendulum is damn near hovering in the middle and twitching after every ball. NZ hate spin with a passion, this is a big moment with Tahir on. Doing alright so far, come on boys!

guildfordbat wrote:Very good game. So much depending upon Imran Tahir's last 2 overs ....

Well his first one was a bit of a car crash! AB on now!

Fifty each and these two have played splendidly

Five from Steyn Morkel and Tahir and I guess AB is bowling the other two...

Under eight per over now. But they might get nervous as The Prize gets closer ?

Excellent over from Morkel and he gets the break ! Anderson holes out ...think the ball hit the wire on the way though ?

...gone anyway. Don't think it made any difference the fielder was always getting under that.

Chance for SA ....pressure on the new man Ronchi

That was odd and seriously clutching at straws. Ok, we'll know in 10 minutes how it's going to end.

No more de Villiers...Steyn 2 plus Morkel and Tahir and nine per over...

Should be NZ ...

Yup, our goose is cooked.

Ronchi gone and that makes it tricky...

I'd send Southee in to have a swing.

ebop wrote:Yup, our goose is cooked.

Still a chance. If you can somehow hit a couple of sixes, that would probably result in getting over the line

Another run out missed ! this is close !

VTR wrote:

ebop wrote:Yup, our goose is cooked.

Still a chance. If you can somehow hit a couple of sixes, that would probably result in getting over the line

Yes. Going to need a six or two now...23 off two...

NZ only need a tie to go through, this is so close!

Oh no, there's been some chances!

Duminy collides with the fielder to make them drop an easy catch

NZ need 12 from 6

Here we go

All up to Elliott ...and Steyn