Cricket ODI World Cup 2023

91 runs off the first 10
90 runs off the last ten
136 off the middle overs

Jansens awful first over gave India the perfect start

Proteas have a mountain to climb but can do it with the batting that they have.

The gulf between India and the rest is enormous.

CnC 306 wrote:

The gulf between India and the rest is enormous.

Yip I agree - Proteas will have to beat Australia to get into the final - the problem is that the game is at Eden Gardens where Zampa will be a factor; if we do manage to get into the final we have chance - although on today's showing we would be big outsiders, but if we win the toss and bat it might give us a chance

Today it would not have made a difference, but I thought Bavuma made some mistakes - yes he couldn't do anything about Jansen who must have taken a big dip in his confidence - but the captain should have bowled Maharaj in the first 10 overs and took him off after 5 or 6 imo; Shamzi consistently bowled down the wrong line and Ngidi rarely comes to the party - not sure about his injury but it might be a better call to bring Coetzee in

The Indian bowlers were (again) very good - and they showed why they bowled out Sri Lanka for 55 and kept Australia to around 200

For as long as I can remember no SA team have ever being able to cope with spin on the sub continent. Somethings never change

That was embarrassing...this team is undeserving of hope because they do not give 100%...

TNaicker wrote:

That was embarrassing...this team is undeserving of hope because they do not give 100%...

Don’t lose the faith as they will win the cup as it’s in the stars. Believe me.

@cnc...I've voiced my reasons for not giving too much attention to this team...

I didn't eat for two days after the 1992 loss, I couldn't watch cricket for 6 months after the 1996 defeat to WI, I still can't watch the last over of the 1999 semi final, I was at the ground when they couldn't read what runs were required and played out two dot balls in 2003, I remember the thumping they got against Aus in 2007, the collapse to lose to NZ in 2011, the politics prior to the semi final in 2015 and their failure to qualify for the knockout stages in 2019...they have taken my hope and belief and support and stomped it with constantly shooting themselves in the foot...so, no more hope left to give to them...

It may be written in the stars but I've just looked out the window and though night here, I cannot see any stars...prescient?

You poor thing never mind all will be forgotten and forgiven in two weeks time when they lift the trophy

CnC 306 wrote:

You poor thing never mind all will be forgotten and forgiven in two weeks time when they lift the trophy

If they do win, I wouldn't care...

They are more likely to lift their bags onto a trolley (if the players actually do that !!) after the semis than to lift the trophy...

SA's weaknesses are so obvious and threefold...
- batting second (all three times - Netherlands, Pakistan and now India - we batted second, we were in trouble),
- a top 3 of De Kock, Bavuma and van der Dussen can lead to the middle order being exposed early and
- Ngidi (injury prone), Jansen (can spray and a bit too much onto the pads) and Shamzi (needs the wicket to help otherwise batsmen line him up) are inconsistent support for Rabada...

The fixes may be obvious but transformation requirements will likely prevent Coetzee coming in for Ngidi so they'll go the Lizaad Williams / Sisanda Magala route...

Reeza Hendriks should be opening with De Kock with Markram at 3 and Bavuma coming in at 4 or 5 with van der Dussen dropped but I can't see that happening so we plod on to our inevitable exit because making the right decisions is not right...

Enjoy...

Thought SA's approach was all wrong when put into bat. Must remember, they had already qualified for the semi's, so whether they lost by 2 or 200 runs was immaterial. The loss of wickets was because of the fear of going out.

In the semis, whoever plays India will bat first. Nobody knows how India will react under pressure (chasing say +300) and a few early wickets down.

Admittedly India are by far the best side in the tournament under local conditions, but you cannot go into a semi final/final without hope - you might as well leave India now.

SA v NZ final

NZ will beat India in the semi final no bother although I was hoping that Pakistan could get through and play India. The pressure on India would be immense as they dare not lose to Pakistan I would like to see how India perform when they are under that much pressure

Best prices

With what I am reading above

Evens sounds reasonable for India 🇮🇳

Australia 4/1
South African 9/2

New Zealand 🇳🇿 10/1

Pakistan 30/1