 The third quarter-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will be held
on Friday, March 25, 2011. The game will be played between New Zealand
and South Africa and will be played at the Shere Bangla Stadium
in Mirpur.
South Africa's form in the tournament has been commendable but then the critics
will argue that their form in the lead-up to the knock-outs has always been good.
Where the South African side has changed is that they have been able to get in
good spinners in their line-up and hence get going with the task of picking up
wickets regularly in their games so far.
Click for Live Score Card of New Zealand Vs South Africa
It will be these very spinners that will look to take on the opposition when the
side plays New Zealand.
So far, South Africa have played six games in the tournament, and have lost only
one. The loss was to England in a game that they should have never lost - chasing
172 for a win at Chennai. On the contrary, the five wins have been rather easy,
except the thriller against India, as they crushed West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland
and Netherlands rather easily.
New Zealand's path to this stage has had its ups and downs. They were clinical
in their destroying of Kenya and Zimbabwe, winning both the games by ten wickets.
However, in between that, they were outplayed by Australia easily, while in another
game they beat Pakistan and then crushed Canada to set up a meeting with Sri Lanka
in their last game. Had they won the game, they would have finished second in
their group and played an easier opponent in England, but for now, they will need
to take on the favourites South Africa in the quarter-finals - a tough, tough
baptism by fire.
South Africa's batting has done well so far, with the likes of AB de Villiers
and Hashim Amla showing form, while the middle-order giving a lot of
support to the top order. This is the one plus that they have over some of the
other teams as they will look to overcome the opposition - even if they lose
early wickets, the side have enough in their tank to get going.
New Zealand will hope that Vettori returns back to the side after his injury issue.
He has not had the best of the tournaments but his presence will be the key to
the side's success and if New Zealand have to win, they need Vettori as their
main bowler and captain.
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