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While they’ve never won a World Cup, proud cricketing nation South Africa couldn’t have entered New Zealand in better form; earning the right to be equal favourites to take home the trophy.
Star batsmen Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers had been in blistering form, no more information required!
Game 3: South Africa vs Zimbabwe, Seddon Park, Hamilton
The Proteas lost the toss in Hamilton and were sent in to bat in cloudy conditions by Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura, a decision that looked like it was going to pay dividends at the 20-over mark.
The ball was certainly playing tricks early as left-hander Quinton De Cock (7) was forced to depart early after pushing a length ball directly to cover. South Africa continued to struggle with the new ball early and it wasn’t long before Amla (11) was the next victim after collecting an in swinging inside edge onto the stumps at the end of the ninth over.
Dangerous duo Faf Du Plessis and AB de Villiers soon departed as well, the tournament favourites in an embarrassing 4-83 situation, with many beginning to cheer on the underdogs.
David Miller and JP Duminy started steady, making sure no wickets were lost with singles being the key to their hundred partnership. With 10 overs to spare the onslaught truly begun as Miller and Duminy took to the Zimbabwean attack, dispatching them all around Seddon Park.
Miller (138*) and Duminy (119*) ended with a world record fifth wicket partnership of 256 runs, including a staggering 146 off the last 10 overs, the Proteas reaching a whopping 4-339 total.
Zimbabwe skipper Chigumbura tried everything to get a breakthrough, ending up with a total of eight bowlers. Leg spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi was the pick, with figures of 1/34 off his eight overs.
It was always going to be a tough ask to chase down 340 against arguably the worlds’ best side, but Zimbabwe managed to dig deep early as opener Chamu Chibhabha and veteran Hamilton Masakadza put on a brilliant 105 third-wicket stand to be 2/146 at the halfway mark. Masakadza ultimately top scored with 80, which included a brilliant six over cover (off Steyn) to bring up his half century.
Things slowly started to taper off for Zimbabwe and when Brendan Taylor was dismissed for 40 it was done and dusted. The innings eventually died a slow death at the 49th over and the Proteas managed to avoid early embarrassment to get their campaign off to a winning start.
Every bowler managed to bowl well for South Africa, but spinner Imran Tahir (3/39) and paceman Vernon Philander (2/30) were the best.
Result: South Africa won by 62 runs.
Game 4: India vs Pakistan, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
India continued their iconic World Cup streak, easily accounting for arch-rivals Pakistan in front of 41,000 frantic fans at Adelaide Oval.
This was India’s first international win on Australian soil (across all formats) this summer, coming at the right time as they prepare to retain the World Cup.
Adelaide was a sea of blue and green all weekend as fans flocked to witness the famous contest between India and Pakistan take place in the Land Down Under. Outside the recently redeveloped Adelaide Oval was several packs of Pakistani supporters flying their flags, skin covered in green and white. For their part, the Swami Army were in full flight, with drums being belted to the continual chant of “India, India, India!” It was a day to remember before the action inside the ground had even begun!
The Indians won the toss and skipper MS Dohni unsurprisingly decided to bat on a steamy 38-degree day. The two nations had their national anthems belted out across the stadium, with all the fans getting right into the spirit of things.
ODI highest scorer Rohit Sharma made his way to the crease alongside Shikar Dhawan and seven-foot giant Mohammad Irfan was given the new ball to steam in from the Riverbank end.
The Indian openers started steadily, not letting the occasion get the better of them. Singles were greeted with a huge roar from the crowd, which was estimated to be 60 per cent Indian, 25 per cent Pakistan and 15 per cent ‘other’.
Sharma hit a few boundaries and looked as though he was set before he mishit a pull shot, lobbing into the hands of Misbah ul-Haq at mid-off, a dismissal that has been the downfall of Sharma on a number of occasions.
Sharma’s early departure brought Virat Kohli to the crease, India’s newest favourite son playing in his second World Cup on his favourite ground in the world. Kohli managed to consolidate a 129-run partnership with Dhawan, before once again building an innings with Suresh Raina, joining forces for an entertaining 110-run stand.
While Kohli played the mature role, rotating the strike and making sure he was still in towards the end, Raina had the freedom to go after the Pakistani attack (especially Shahid Afridi and Yasir Shah), smashing a near run-a-ball 74, which included 5 fours and 3 sixes.
Kohli went on to score 107 in another man of the match performance at the Adelaide Oval; a ground where he has now scored four international centuries. India managed exactly 300, a total could have been so much more if not for a late collapse of 5-27.
It was promising to see the Pakistani bowlers toil hard towards the final stages of the innings. Right-arm fast Sohail Khan bowled exceptionally well to end up with career best figures of 5/55.
Pakistan got off to a horrendous start in their innings after veteran (and former South Australian redback) Younis Khan departed for just six after gloving a sharp Shami bouncer to the keeper. Younis had only opened the batting twice before in his 252 game ODI career for scores of 4 and 0, an odd decision to say the least.
Ahmed Shezad (47) and Haris Sohail (36) tried to produce something, but they struggled to score any significant runs and were both caught trying to cut towards the flight of the ball off Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin respectively.
Skipper Misbah ul-Haq came to the crease at the 17-over mark and witnessed six wickets fall around him, three of which from controversial Indian reviews that will undoubtedly be talked about over the coming days. Misbah managed to muster up a frustrating 76, which included 10 boundaries, before he eventually lobbed a bouncer to mid on to see Pakistan now completely hopeless at 9/220.
In his 13 years playing, which has included 143 innings and 39 half-centuries, Misbah has never made an ODI hundred!
The last hour and a half was a boring affair, as Pakistan died a slow, painful death before India cleaned up the tail, Mohammed Shami taking 4/35, while fellow quicks Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharm picked up two each.
Man Indian supporters will have partied all night on Adelaide’s notorious Hindley Street after claiming a sixth consecutive World Cup victory over rivals Pakistan.
Result: India won by 76 runs.
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