2015 World Cup - Finals

First topic message reminder :

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.

Far out, this is quite tense.

ebop wrote:Far out, this is quite tense.

Understatement of the decade! What a match this is!

5 from 2 needed.

Elliot hits it out of the ground for 6

New Zealand into the final

Congrats to NZ.

Not sure they held their nerve as much as SA lost theirs but a hugely impressive win nonetheless

So sorry for them...they Choked...again

Wow... what a match. What a finish!

Unbelievable scenes!

Well done New Zealand!

Crazy last two overs. Catch in the middle of nowhere. Standard run out missed. Basic of basic catches dropped.

Many congratulations to NZ on making their first WC final

Well played NZ. Great finish.

Oh man, I'm so proud of the Black Caps!!! Fantastic game, thank you SA for the epic match and I'm sorry someone had to lose that.

And Elliott does it in style

I am sorry for kingraf and biltong ...as well as AB and Morkel etc. but I do salute the Kiwis for that . Some chase

SA unlucky with the rain . Who knows ? But NZ undefeated so far and I can't begrudge them the place in the final.

Great match for a neutral !

Absolutely fantastic match. Well done NZ

alfie wrote:And Elliott does it in style

Yes, good effort by the former Surrey man!

We choked at the death. Absolutely horrendous. well done to NZ, but Quinton had a pretty basic run out to complete. Why on earth how on earth. This might actually be worse than '99

Feel for SA. Rain hurt them far more than NZ. But as raf said, SA had some fairly routine chances to win this.

kingraf wrote:We choked at the death. Absolutely horrendous. well done to NZ, but Quinton had a pretty basic run out to complete. Why on earth how on earth. This might actually be worse than '99

That duminy moment was the one - completely lost their nerve

What about the near collision between Duminy and Behardien?
That could have been an even more tragic moment... lucky JP didn't collect him properly.

Raf, biltong & Gerry commiserations. I feel just as shocked as you guys do!
Too many stuff ups let NZ off the hook several times. The pressure was so intense though.

ebop, tman, laurie, kia, canelion & Co.... well done!!!
NZ will make a great finalist whether they meet either India or Australia.

The roar when that ball went into the air....spine tingling stuff.

No disrespect to LD and any other Aussies but that match merited being a Final.

Congratulations NZ, I hope you go on from here and win your maiden world cup.

But just once I would like a feckin knockout match that is fair go for both teams.

Bryce Lawrence, Duckworth Lewis can all go F.. Themselves

Olly - Should have heard the raw in the cafeteria when the ball went up off Grant Elliots bat. And the sighs when it landed nowhere. Was a cracking Atmosphere, well it was until we lost. Then everybody went off and found a corner to cry in

It's difficult watching a cricket semi final in Madrid. People are still looking at me as though I'm a rabid loony but I just don't give a hoot.

My heart goes out to SA and their supporters. They were brilliantly poised and a full 50 overs would've been an imposing total. They are right to ponder what might've been if rain hadn't come. Sport really can be cruel sometimes and this system is not the best for making it an even contest.

That said, I have witnessed one of the great ODI matches with the biggest stakes and unchartered waters for both sides. If Australia and India can approach anything like that, people will forget about how drawn out and unremarkable the pool games were.

NZ is not famed for its crowd support but that has to be one of the best atmospheres in the game. The only thing that was missing was someone in a Tui shirt catching Elliott's six that won the game for NZ but that might have caused spontaneous crowd combustion so just as well.

Work is a write off today. Neither side deserved to lose after that performance so hold your heads up high Proteas and all eyes are on who will be the other finalist.

My fingers are a bloody mess and I still have butterflies in my stomach not to mention hundreds of eyes on me as I skip merrily through the streets of Madrid. Vamos las gorras negras!!!!

aucklandlaurie wrote:
No disrespect to LD and any other Aussies but that match merited being a Final.

For sure. It had everything... and came down to the final 2 balls.

When they began the chase I was thinking, yeah... it's possible and gettable... but my head told me that they they had such a huge task ahead and they probably won't get there - if the wickets start to fall on a regular basis.

The timing of their reply was perfect.
Out in front early, then surviving through the slower stuff from Tahir/Duminy and still keeping the scoreboard moving along.

I just thought it was going to be too big to hunt down.
Even near the end I thought they might just fall short. It had that freakish uncertainty about it... it was thrilling to watch.

Well in my view and not juts based on this game...but the entire tournament...De Villiers is too frivolous/ casual / non-serious to be a captain.

And I saw this in Sehwag and Afridi also......the very talented / mercurial players just do not make "considered serious strategists" .......they leave too many exit windows open for the opponents

The've gotta put Amla is as the all format captain and let ABDV focus on batting.....and perhaps keeping wickets in ODIs also...so they can play anotehr allrounder or bowler in the 11

kingraf wrote:We choked at the death. Absolutely horrendous. well done to NZ, but Quinton had a pretty basic run out to complete. Why on earth how on earth. This might actually be worse than '99

Bad luck, Raf!

As well as South Africa being undone by the fielding stuff ups in the closing overs, I would also flag that you seemed caught between two stools when Duminy came on as early as the 10th over immediately following Williamson's dismissal. It was understandable in a way as you needed to have Duminy (or a combo involving him) bowl 8 overs as cheaply as possible at some stage and just after the fall of the second wicket wasn't a bad place to start. However, from the safety of my armchair, I would have kept Tahir on (he was so on the money in his first over) and really pushed for a third wicket then.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:It's difficult watching a cricket semi final in Madrid. People are still looking at me as though I'm a rabid loony but I just don't give a hoot.

My heart goes out to SA and their supporters. They were brilliantly poised and a full 50 overs would've been an imposing total. They are right to ponder what might've been if rain hadn't come. Sport really can be cruel sometimes and this system is not the best for making it an even contest.

That said, I have witnessed one of the great ODI matches with the biggest stakes and unchartered waters for both sides. If Australia and India can approach anything like that, people will forget about how drawn out and unremarkable the pool games were.

NZ is not famed for its crowd support but that has to be one of the best atmospheres in the game. The only thing that was missing was someone in a Tui shirt catching Elliott's six that won the game for NZ but that might have caused spontaneous crowd combustion so just as well.

Work is a write off today. Neither side deserved to lose after that performance so hold your heads up high Proteas and all eyes are on who will be the other finalist.

My fingers are a bloody mess and I still have butterflies in my stomach not to mention hundreds of eyes on me as I skip merrily through the streets of Madrid. Vamos las gorras negras!!!!

Yeah, pondering what might have been is becoming an illness for our teams, ponder Bryce Lawrence, ponder D/L

I am fedup of pondering during world cups.

aucklandlaurie wrote:
No disrespect to LD and any other Aussies but that match merited being a Final.

it is disrespectful and presumptuous at this point your disclaimer notwithstanding.
after two more games ...... unfold and the last act of the drama is played.....such statements are pre-mature

Biltong wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:It's difficult watching a cricket semi final in Madrid. People are still looking at me as though I'm a rabid loony but I just don't give a hoot.

My heart goes out to SA and their supporters. They were brilliantly poised and a full 50 overs would've been an imposing total. They are right to ponder what might've been if rain hadn't come. Sport really can be cruel sometimes and this system is not the best for making it an even contest.

That said, I have witnessed one of the great ODI matches with the biggest stakes and unchartered waters for both sides. If Australia and India can approach anything like that, people will forget about how drawn out and unremarkable the pool games were.

NZ is not famed for its crowd support but that has to be one of the best atmospheres in the game. The only thing that was missing was someone in a Tui shirt catching Elliott's six that won the game for NZ but that might have caused spontaneous crowd combustion so just as well.

Work is a write off today. Neither side deserved to lose after that performance so hold your heads up high Proteas and all eyes are on who will be the other finalist.

My fingers are a bloody mess and I still have butterflies in my stomach not to mention hundreds of eyes on me as I skip merrily through the streets of Madrid. Vamos las gorras negras!!!!

Yeah, pondering what might have been is becoming an illness for our teams, ponder Bryce Lawrence, ponder D/L

I am fedup of pondering during world cups.

I know how that feels, mate, and sadly there are no words of comfort for now. All I can offer is a virtual

Biltong wrote:Congratulations NZ, I hope you go on from here and win your maiden world cup.

But just once I would like a feckin knockout match that is fair go for both teams.

Bryce Lawrence, Duckworth Lewis can all go F.. Themselves

Cheers Biltong, your guys didnt leave anything out on the Park tonight they gave their guts, and we know how and why you feel like you do, D/ Lewis games never seem to result in equitable targets.

Gotta feel so sorry for Steyn too. He got carted early and then was so unlucky doing his hammy in towards the end there.
It was too much to watch almost... the fact that he withstood the pain and sent down those last few deliveries whilst almost hobbled.

Similar to Chris Gayle. Two legends of the game who deserved a more fitting send-off. Or at least to be fully fit in their last World Cup game.

KP_fan wrote:

aucklandlaurie wrote:
No disrespect to LD and any other Aussies but that match merited being a Final.

it is disrespectful and presumptuous at this point your disclaimer notwithstanding.
after two more games ...... unfold and the last act of the drama is played.....such statements are pre-mature

Jeez man settle down, could I respectfully suggest that you reread my post until you understand it.

Was the DL target that unfair today? SA did not have much batting to come. The assumption (from commentary I have seen, not on here) seems to be that De Villiers was just getting in so 350+ was a definite. Basically assumes that you can't get him out once he is in and he will score at a 200+ SR.

But what if he had got out with quite a few overs left, surely then there was a good chance to restrict the score to around 330.

To be fair, lately that's a reasonable assumption

GSC wrote:To be fair, lately that's a reasonable assumption

He has to get out some time doesn't he though? He is human afterall. Actually I'm not sure he is human!

VTR wrote:Was the DL target that unfair today? SA did not have much batting to come. The assumption (from commentary I have seen, not on here) seems to be that De Villiers was just getting in so 350+ was a definite. Basically assumes that you can't get him out once he is in and he will score at a 200+ SR.

But what if he had got out with quite a few overs left, surely then there was a good chance to restrict the score to around 330.  

I did this calculation when the rain came and they said reduced target.

We were going at 13 runs and over, missed out on 7 overs. You can safely work on somewhere between 70-90 would have come from them.

So 350-360 was on.

That means if it was a 50 target the required run rate would be 7, so if the team batting second has 43 overs, their target should be adjusted by at least .5 of a run rate.

so 7.5 required run rate would be a fair target. We set up tp bat 7 per over target over 50 overs, not 43

Here's my issue with the DL today. When we went off - had not an extra ball been bowled in our innings, NZ woulda needed 268 off 38 overs. We come back on, at 216/3 (DL adjusted over fifty runs), cane NZ for 65 off the last five overs, at thirteen an over, and the new adjustment is only 17 runs. Yes we conceded two wickets, but that was with the knowledge that there was only five overs left. Or to explain the utter ridiculousness of DL better - when we bowled Pakistan all out for 222, they were adjusted upwards by ten runs. Despite being all out, and having played a larger chuck of their innings. We went at 13 an over in our last five overs, had five wickets in hand, and only had an adjustmemt of seven more runs. It's ridiculous

Fair points, perhaps the DL needs revisiting now that the pattern of the game has changed i.e. 10+ an over in the final few overs is the norm these days.

Terrific game of cricket in the end........ congratulations to New Zealand, hard luck South Africa.
The rain certainly disadvantaged South Africa, but they let themselves down on the field with all those missed catches and run-outs. Had they taken their chances, the outcome most likely would have been different.......

DL needed revisiting a long time back....... It favors the chasing side.......

The second semifinal:

Well the way I look at it .....all pressure is on Aus...the number one team in the world, in great form, home favorites, have self confessed wood on India...it's their game to lose.

India would do well not to build pressure on themselves....like they haven't so far.
The redeeming feature for Ind has been their patience and un-flustered batting + the bowling of 3 seamers and Ashwin.

They have batted within themselves...just crawling over 300 each time.....but ensuring they have a safe total and not a short one in trying to overreach to 350.

for Ind
Bat first....and get to 270.....and let pressure of elimination work on Aus
Bowl first.......do nothing fancy...same percentage cricket they have shown all the time...and hope they bowl out Aus cheaply...trying to overreach 350.

I do think whoever wins this will win the final......as NZ have not played any games in Aus..not in this world cup....not for a long time

Was winning the toss and opting to bat first with rain in the air but forecast to clear in the evening an unfortunate toss to win (in hindsight)? McCallum said he would have batted first if he'd won the toss.

Few things

- Re AB's captaincy. The idea that he's too relaxed or whatever to be captain is plainly ridiculous. I don't even understand what that means, unless one thinks that the players dropped the catches, missed run outs because they thought "AB is chilled, he'll understand if I miss this one". Got to remember he managed to drag the game back from 100/1 after eleven odd, to the penultimate ball. His captaincy is at times rather negative, but you can't question his industry, and determination. Hope he stays on.

- The fifth bowler. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Reckon AB should have bowled himself more, and Duminy less. He bowled really well, and would have had infinitely better figures had he not gone for a bit of tap looking for wicket taking deliveries. You can understand why JP was trusted of course, and I'd have gone with him to bowl more myself, but AB got it to swing a bit, and NZ couldn't really get under him. Might have been worth a go early on.

- The fielding. Jesus wept. Does seem like we find new ways to chuck things away. Quinton missing that run out bordered on unbelievable. Duminy probably wanted it TOO much.

- Vernon Philander - Seems unfair, as Steyn went for a lot of tap, but I'm genuinely tired of Vernon now. He's half fit, and has it in his mind that he is fast enough to bowl half trackers on 65m boundaries. He needs to go. Now.

- New Zealand. I hate you all of you. Including you, you Atletico Madrid supporting so and so! Nah, kidding. Congratulations, DL was what it was, but it took serious nads to chase down 300 in a semi final. Deserved finalists, and I'd be happy if your Golden Generation can cross the line.

Personally, from here I hope Aus win. I'm a sucker for a storyline, and Clarke's summer couldn't even be written in Hollywood, especially if he wins. Arguing with selectors over his fitness. Whitewash Test defeat in Dubai. His one hamstring going. More arguments with selectors. Losing his best friend. His back going, his other hamstring going. His race for full fitness. Been am odyssey

kingraf wrote:

- Re AB's captaincy.

-

Lost to Ind, Pak and NZ in this world cup....

Won just one game in the CT..which was the other major tournament....

pretty mediocre on the big stage....not as a one off but a track record over a reasonable data size.

Reasons.....as in my original post

Amla would serve them well as an all form captain.......letting ABDV bat and keep wickets also freely...giving them depth of options.

Can't judge him off a world cup. Look at his record. Won a series in UAE, won a series in Sri Lanka, won a series in New Zealand. We were #1 in the world until two or three months ago. You're joking if you honestly think his track record doesn't stand up to scrutiny. The India game was the only one which was under par captaincy, but everyone has those.

As for CT, hardly a fair comparison, we had players out, and Robin Peterson batting at #3. Was a hobbling team.

kingraf wrote:
- Vernon Philander - Seems unfair, as Steyn went for a lot of tap, but I'm genuinely tired of Vernon now. He's half fit, and has it in his mind that he is fast enough to bowl half trackers on 65m boundaries. He needs to go. Now.

Who would you have had instead and why? That's a genuine question as I don't follow SA cricket closely enough to know the other options, and I thought Parnell was ahead of Philander these days

Abbott was bowling well, then they dropped him. That was a weird decision.