2015 World Cup - Semifinal 1 - New Zealand v South Africa

booth70

New Zealand v South Africa
Eden Park
Auckland
01:00 GMT..... 24/03/2015

booth70

Between the two teams they have been in the semis 9 times but no further

Who will break the duck tomorrow?

Form guide ..... Last 20 completed matches between the two countries

South Africa 13 - New Zealand 7

pelevin

At the semi-final stage will the real tournament finally stand up?! Mentally NZ seem to be very strong, not showing signs of stage-fright, which maybe would be their biggest enemy. Enough talent in both teams that it's down to who does it on the day though I think I'd more expect NZ to win.

booth70

Adam Milne out..... Could be a big blow to NZ's chances

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2015-injury-robs-new-zealand-of-speedster-adam-milne-20150322-1m5940.html

Gillespy

McClenaghan was a bit wayward in the one game he played too. Mills is there but he has no pace. Disappointing for Milne but Southee or Boult would be bigger losses. Of course, that's if it swings, no swing and his loss will be felt cause he is proper fast.

Rjd2

Gillespy wrote: »

McClenaghan was a bit wayward in the one game he played too. Mills is there but he has no pace. Disappointing for Milne but Southee or Boult would be bigger losses. Of course, that's if it swings, no swing and his loss will be felt cause he is proper fast.

Milne is good at the death and can be very good in the middle overs, he will be missed. I like Henry a lot, but he is similar to Southee and Boult and someone you can get hold off, although the talent is their clearly.

Interesting to see what they do.

Cricket fan

I'm definitely rooting for New Zealand, although I wont mind as long as one of SA and NZ end up as winners.

This world cup has been good and all, but I cant help but get the feeling the whole thing is a bit, well, soulless.

The fact that we've had about 3 proper classic matches (Ire vs Zim, NZ vs Aus, Pak vs SA) says a lot about how one-sided things have been. Lets hope things kick off from this point on and we see some close games.

booth70

SA win toss and bat

Philander in for SA ; Henry in for NZ

feargale

My money is on NZL.

axe2grind

SA could be 2 or 3 down already but NZ have missed 2 catches, nervy start

And Boult makes up for his drop by bowling Amla!!

positron

SA started off like they were in a hurry. Maiden first over. 10 runs off second, 10 runs off third. 5 runs and a wicket off fourth.. Crazy start. NZ has put an anchor on SA's plans, whatever it was...

Rjd2

Sorry, but it while its a magnificent average, the fact that Amla has never shown up in a knock out game kills him in limited overs cricket.

positron

31/2. Early stages yet but not looking good for SA.

booth70

positron wrote: »

31/2. Early stages yet but not looking good for SA.

Good bowling conditions early on.....SA have done well not to lose more than 2 wickets

It's easing off now .....batting getting easier and these 2 setting the stage for AB

300 still on....

Giggsy11

Unlucky South Africa, once again rain might have killed them. They would have scored around 350 if the game was 50 overs game but now its 298 in 43 overs. Yeah required run rate is higher but more runs better for bowlers in this era.

Rjd2

I assumed Abbot was injured, but he was dropped? Absurd decision.

Vern getting hammered here.

Rjd2

NZ

71 of 5 overs

Not bad:P

Vern already been hidden away, one over for 18.

Can't emphasise enough, how moronic the decision to drop Abbot for him is.

mrkiscool2

NZ are just like *fcuk this, let's get this done early so we can go for pints!" Great batting from McCullum

Rjd2

Morkel is so good.

No reason why he shouldn't be the best bowler in the world, just so inconsistent and drops his head to quickly.

However 2 wickets and the potential to be a career defining game for him today possible. They will need him and Tahir, not sure if Steyn and Vern will offer to much here.

mrkiscool2

Silly from Taylor. He should not have tried to run a single there! Stupid wicket to give away especially when they were starting to get the partnership going!

Rjd2

Its been happening for the guts of the last 12 months with Taylor though, very concerning.

He needs to be their at the end to finish this off.

Steyn has flopped so far.

mrkiscool2

Wish the commentators would stop talking about run rate until it creeps near 8.5 an over. Still got their powerplay and the last few overs to smack the ball. Get to 200 by 30 would have always been the target for NZ, then unleash hell on them in the last 13 overs.

Rjd2

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

Wish the commentators would stop talking about run rate until it creeps near 8.5 an over. Still got their powerplay and the last few overs to smack the ball. Get to 200 by 30 would have always been the target for NZ, then unleash hell on them in the last 13 overs.

Agreed,

If just one of Anderson, Ronchi or Elliot here at the death they will feel comfortable.

South Africa need a few breakthroughs now.

mrkiscool2

Absolute let off there for NZ. They were getting in a groove and all De Villers needs is to hold on to that ball and SA are back in control!

booth70

85 off 60

It's NZ'S game to lose from here

Rjd2

They so needed that run out.

Its very tense, but got to back NZ here, wickets are needed urgently.

mrkiscool2

Such a good game here. Still very much up in the air but New Zealand taking more and more of a grip on it. A wicket is badly needed

BarryD

Rjd2 wrote: »

I assumed Abbot was injured, but he was dropped? Absurd decision.

Yeah, he did the damage against us and was pretty consistent in other matches.

Getting interesting now, though

Big over from Morkel.

Rjd2

The Elliot selection was inspired, few would have called for his selection instead would have wanted Neesham, heck I never considered selecting him even though I always liked him.

That is the type of selections that you pay your selectors for, well done them.:)

Pudsy33

Ronchi gone. Huge

mrkiscool2

What a match. Before the wickets I would have put Ireland vs Zimbabwe and Afghanistan vs Scotland ahead of it, not now!

KevIRL

297 and a tie will do nz as they finished higher in the group stage they would progress

mrkiscool2

2 runs a ball needed! This is going to be close! A 6 would change the course of it though!

Rikand

omg! What a finish to that game!

BarryD

What a finish - fair dues to NZ & Elliott

Surely man of the match by sustaining that at the end.

axe2grind

Amazing!!!

tmq

great effort black caps.... south africa, chokers again? (dropped catches, missed run outs)

mrkiscool2

This is why I love cricket. Games like that. Absolutely amazing!

Rjd2

So pleased for Elliot, but rubbish from Steyn all game. He is in serious decline.

Dozen Wicked Words

Delighted for New Zealand, fantastic game of cricket, best of the tournament for me. The Australia India game has a lot to live up to now!

sid waddell

Sport doesn't get much more dramatic than that!

tmq

In fairness to S.A. the rain didn't do them any favours.

booth70

Steyn been rubbish at the shorter format for a long time now.....

NZ deservedly in the finals based on how well McCullum has captained and come out firing each time and how well they have bowled all tournament......

Easily the best semifinal in a World Cup since 1999

axe2grind

tmq wrote: »

great effort black caps.... south africa, chokers again? (dropped catches, missed run outs)

Not at all, NZ won rather than SA losing. NZ had plenty dodgy moments as well, both teams showed their nerves throughout.

booth70

axe2grind wrote: »

Not at all, NZ won rather than SA losing. NZ had plenty dodgy moments as well, both teams showed their nerves throughout.

Both teams did try their very best to lose at different stages in the game but what a spectacle it was

tmq

its a bit tough on NZ now they have to go to Melbourne for the final... very different atmosphere, and the MCG is much bigger.

Giggsy11

Again rain didn't help South Africans but credit to NZ for the way they chased the score.

Fantastic match.

Rjd2

tmq wrote: »

In fairness to S.A. the rain didn't do them any favours.

Its a tough one, but they had 2 absolute sitters to run out players and the last over from Steyn was garbage. Choke is a harsh word, but they blew it ultimately.

mrkiscool2

booth70 wrote: »

Both teams did try their very best to lose at different stages in the game but what a spectacle it was

I totally disagree with this. South Africa had one or two chances to take wickets but apart from that they were beaten by a very good New Zealand side who were lucky the rain feel when it did.

Rjd2

booth70 wrote: »

Steyn been rubbish at the shorter format for a long time now.....

NZ deservedly in the finals based on how well McCullum has captained and come out firing each time and how well they have bowled all tournament......

Easily the best semifinal in a World Cup since 1999

Agreed on all that. Again I know I have banged on about it a bit now, but Abbot a specialist death bowler not playing after a quality campaign was lunacy.
Their was no justification for that selection, none whatsoever, and it cost them along with the horror fielding.

booth70

mrkiscool2 wrote: »

I totally disagree with this. South Africa had one or two chances to take wickets but apart from that they were beaten by a very good New Zealand side who were lucky the rain feel when it did.

What I meant was that given both teams had never been past the semifinals the pressure was getting to both teams in terms of wickets lost , run out chances missed , catches missed

Both teams didn't know how to close the match out when they had a chance and that is what made the match a classic that it ended up being