1st Semi Final - New Zealand v South Africa (4th March)

[James]

1st Semi Final - New Zealand v South Africa (4th March)

 

[Heboric]

Will Matt Henry be back, is it a pop and go job ?
Hopefully the lads had their bad luck in the Zim game. That Markram dismissal was so rough.

 

[nick-o]

Should have been the final.

 

[Arachnödouche2.0]

Only been following scorecards of SA's last two games but has their batting been a bit patchy of late?

 

[Heboric]

Only been following scorecards of SA's last two games but has their batting been a bit patchy of late?

Always room for improvements, but much better than 2024 IMHO.
At least everyone had a go, not just the top order.

 

[Stefan9]

Only been following scorecards of SA's last two games but has their batting been a bit patchy of late?

Beat West Indies by 9 wickets with 3.5 overs to spare previous game wouldn't call that patchy.
Got in trouble vs India but still managed to post 188.

Got in some early trouble vs Zim but still won easily.

Every batsman except Jansen and Bosch has contributed at some point during the tournament.

 

[honestbharani]

RSA will have to adapt very quickly to Colombo. NZ is that one annoying team who specialize in catching the favorites with their pants down in crucial games. lol

 

[Fuller Pilch]

RSA will have to adapt very quickly to Colombo.

The game is in Kolkata for whom Allen, Seifert, and Ravindra will be playing in the IPL

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Will Matt Henry be back, is it a pop and go job ?

Not sure. If we hadn't choked against England he would've had an extra day to get back for the 2nd semi. The plan is he'll get back but who knows? Ferguson also came back and returned for a baby a week or so ago

We still have Duffy and Jamieson (and Neesham) who can come in - perhaps all 3 for Henry, Sodhi, and McConchie depending on the pitch. We also have Ben Sears over there on standby if someone needs to be replaced in the squad.

 

[Moss]

If this were to be played in SL would be a tougher contest to call, but SA should be clear favourites going into this one. Still, having foot-slogged India for most of the last 2 months and faced South Africa once already, NZ should have some intelligence gathering to put to use. The bowling though (sigh).

 

[honestbharani]

The game is in Kolkata for whom Allen, Seifert, and Ravindra will be playing in the IPL

haha somehow I thought it was going to be in Colombo either way.

Kolkata is a chasing ground. Either team can win if they play a decent game after winning the toss tbh.

 

[straw man]

If this were to be played in SL would be a tougher contest to call, but SA should be clear favourites going into this one. Still, having foot-slogged India for most of the last 2 months and faced South Africa once already, NZ should have some intelligence gathering to put to use. The bowling though (sigh).

Yup, especially if no Henry.

But hey we're in the semi finals, there's always a chance.

 

[ashley bach]

Got a bad feeling about this one. Our bowling in Indian conditions is appalling and the Proteas have a gun batting lineup.

Going to need to be an in flagrante delicto job

In other words we need to catch them with their pants down

 

[thundaboult]

Nz with a massive psychological advantage against SA in KO cricket. Will be a big factor. Backing them for this one. But as someone who admires SA cricket as well, gonna enjoy the result of this game either way it goes.

 

[Sunil1z]

NZ vs SA semi final at Eden Park ( oh sorry Eden Garden)

 

[NZTailender]

Got a bad feeling about this one. Our bowling in Indian conditions is appalling and the Proteas have a gun batting lineup.

Going to need to be an in flagrante delicto job

In other words we need to catch them with their pants down

We in no way remotely deserve a finals berth tbf, but I guess tournament structures aren't about deserving, it's being able to turn up on the day and perform when needed.

 

[Zinzan]

As I said in another thread, I'm picking NZ to upset SA on Thursday & go on to make the final, not that we're a better side than SA, we're not, it's just that's how things roll.

 

[Zinzan]

We in no way remotely deserve a finals berth tbf, but I guess tournament structures aren't about deserving, it's being able to turn up on the day and perform when needed.

Not quite following this, If NZ aren't deserving of making the semis in your view, what other team deserves to be in their place & why?

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

We've played one good team the entire tournament and lost.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

We've played one good team the entire tournament and lost.

Disagree ..

NZ defeated Afghanistan,
Afghanistan are a quality team but they were done dirty by the ICC, not only in the toughest group but their first two games were NZ and SA they weren't allowed to ease themselves into the competition. I would have backed them to qualify from Sri Lanka's group or England’s group.

And then beating the hosts is never easy. Against England it was only a tactical error that cost the game.