It was the final Group A match and a valuable "carry over" point was up for grabs today at St Kitts. Australia took on the newly crowned Number 1 ranked team - South Africa - with a few demons to exorcise.
Firstly, the last time these two sides met in an ODI, was that memorable game at the Waunderers where SA clinched their home series (3-2), by chasing down 434 and sewing seeds of doubt in the Australian bowling psyche, that would germinate fully 12 months later in NZ.
Secondly, Australia was now on a string of 6 consecutive losses to mainstream cricketing sides - the streak only broken by easy wins over Scotland and Holland.
Some of the Aussies must've been a little uneasy, batting first on such an impossibly small to defend ground backed by a pitch and infield resembling the Nullarbor Plain.
Even as Matty Hayden dispatched delivery after deliver into the crowd - as he set about doing a "Mick Lewis" to Shaun Pollock, you still had to wonder. It felt like Australia could make 500 - nothing mattered until we successfully defended it, this tiem against the best one day side in the world.
At 1 for 200 the demons were out - they were dancing and us supporters were all very worried indeed. The Saffers were cocky.
Watson changed momentum with a very good (and it has to be said, very lucky) return to run out De Villiers from the boundary. Then when Smith cramped up and was forced off the field - the Saffers had "given the suckers" a break and they snaffled it up! Bracken proved impossible to get away and with Gilly up to the stumps, it kept SA's top order from taking too many risks - risks they had to take. Then it was "Hoggy" - kept on ice through most of the Aussie summer, who once again exposed South Africa's adversity to decent spin by taking a couple of crucial wickets and pushing the target beyond the likley. McGrath too chipped in with a well directed bouncer to pick up Prince.
South Africa's hope faded and was delightful to hear Darryl Cullinen's back handed compliments become increasingly less "veiled" as South Africa's hopes slipped. Geez that guy hates Aussies - he has clearly not fully recovered ;-)
Anyway, let's not get any more excited about a Group round victory than this - suffice to say, it was relieving to finally defend a large total - being on a small ground with a great batting wicket makes it all the better.
England also accounted for Kenya today making sure they're through to the Super *s. so 6 of the mainstream countries through to the
Relief as Aussies finally defend a total
Are Pakistan the next Zimbabwe?
I don't have a lot to say in regards to the tragic passing of Pakistani coach, Bob Woolmer. I didn't know a lot about him - suffice to say, for an inconsequential blogger such as myself, you can have a dig at fellows like this from time to time, with no real evidence or merit - just because they are aligned with your oppositin, and nothing really comes of it. This is clearly over and above all that, and at 58 years old - a tragedy for his family. There are plenty of tributes for the man - here.
Pakistani cricket on the other hand, is now facing some very real issues. They are destined to bow out of the World Cup, in the round designed to give the associates a go. With controversy already surrounding Asif and Aktar, a perhaps overly passionate, some may say radical-cricket-fundamentalist supporter base at home, a parliament that seems to be getting involved and now the loss of their coach in such tragic circumstances, Pakistan faces the real prospect of some years of West Indes style irrelevance in the cricket world - maybe worse! It will be a long road back for them. Since the controversy of the forfeit at the Oval last year, they have really lost their way somewhat. Exciting when in full flight - ineffectual when not...
Who said no minnows?
Two amazing upsets - two results that would never have been achieved, if sides like Ireland and Bangladesh were never given a chance on the big stage. This is why it happens!
Bangladesh, perhaps slowly coming of age (remember they beat the Kiwis in a warm up, they beat Australia only 18 months or so back and at the last world cup they beat Pakistan), today, they've taken another huge step, beating India emphatically - with five wickets and 9 balls to spare. This win is more important than the previous wins mentioned - this one puts Bangladesh in with a real chance of being one of the qualifiers from Group B. This win has consequences.
Now Ireland beating Pakistan?! What is going on there? If there was controversy and speculation 8 years ago when they dropped their only game other than the final to Bangladesh - what is going to come of this? Beaten by Ireland! Unbelievable!
Could the final 8 look something like this?
Australia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
New Zealand
Kenya
West Indies
Ireland
(Gee I bet Australia and South Africa hope so!)
Two contrasting results
So how's the difference in the two results today - Bermuda going down to Sri Lanka by 240+ runs, Ireland and Zimbabwe tieing.
A tie between two associate countries will at least generate some interest in those games.
300 and plenty seems to be the order of the day for the big boys against the associate nations - which begs the question, what's a good total for two front line countries, in these conditions for this World Cup.
NZ take on England tonight - hopefully this provides a bit of a yard stick for upcoming games - both have met recently - in fact both have whipped the Aussies recently so a good close game should give us an idea of what scores are good and how some of the bigger games may play out in the weeks ahead.
An unpredictable opener...
It's only hours away now and two of the more unpredictable sides in the World Cup opener.
I've found myself in a tipping contest for the World Cup (at Oztips.com.au) and the first game -West Indies vs Pakistan - I found the trickiest for the week. Either side could win by 100, or turn in a shocker. Anyway, I decided on Pakistan, but it was a guess really. Let's wait and see.
The hours are shocking for us Aussies, with most games starting just after midnight - well at least the endings will be on while we're all getting ready for work - could be some late starts coming up...
Warm up games...
What do warm up games like these tell us? Well...nothing. But right now we'll take anything. Beating the POMS at anything is good, so a warm up game in the lead up to the World Cup will do - if for no other reason than to break that horrible streak, and see another English collapse - ah well, bring on the real stuff.
There's hope for us all...
I've got a good feeling about this World Cup.