SA vs Australia – who will be runner’s up?

Will Australia feature in their fourth consecutive world cup final? Or does SA have a surprise in store for them?

The last time the Aussies did not win the World Cup was in 1996 when they lost to Arjuna Ranatunga’s side. Australia had beaten the West Indies in the semi-finals courtesy Dr Warne, mean while Sri Lanka’s semifinal had to come to an unexpected end when the crowd at Eden gardens (Calcutta) could not accept an Indian defeat and started the most disgraceful riot in the history of this game.

Australia has a tough opponent in SA tomorrow. South Africa will be looking to take revenge for all the mis fortunes that they had to suffer either in Australia (1992) or by the hands of Australia (1999). Currently it seems that the only way to defeat the rampaging baggy greens is by putting them in first and trying to restrict them for a total lesser than 350. Without a worth while spin option in the South African ranks restricting the Aussies for 350 is a tall ask. The South African bowling is one that suites the stroke playing Australian batsmen. The big wicket will be that of the Australian captain Ricky Ponting. The first 10 overs of the Australian innings will be extremely crucial, and if the South Africans manage to get 3 wickets by then, we will have a good game. If they fail in doing so, Australia will post a huge target which will require a lot of luck to chase.

In the South African batting, the openers have the key to success. With Smith and AB both in blistering mood even a target of 350 against a commendable Australian bowling attack will not be a daunting task. South Africa has the experience and level headedness of Kallis to follow and the very dangerous Gibbs and Boucher, who can take apart any bowler on their day, to capitalize on a brisk and healthy start their skipper and AB can give them.

Tomorrow’s game has all the ingredients in it to be the highest scoring game of the tournament. It is a McGrath vs Pollock battle in the bowling department, and most likely the Australian genius will come on top. On the batting side of things, the performances of both captains will be extremely crucial. Can Greame Smith produce the innings of his life and take SA to their first ever World Cup final, or will Ponting, who averages only 21.5 in the 6 semi finals he has played in his career, do justice to his stats and make sure the Aussies feature in yet another World Cup final?

Most likely on Saturday, we will have a rematch of the 1996 finals. The Australians, for once, will be the team seeking revenge. I will not rule out a possibility of a nail biter semifinal triumph and the silver medal berth for the Australians just like in 1996. Time will tell!