World Cup final: preview
I’ve got a gift, it seems. Whenever I “big up” anything, it always goes the opposite way. For example, I thought the semi-finals were going to be awesome and they turned out to be totally one-sided. Sri Lanka’s win over New Zealand (despite proving my prediction to be totally wrong) wasn’t so surprising. New Zealand had absolutely no answer to some very skilful bowling, spearheaded by, you guessed it… Murali. 115* by Jayawardene in the first innings gave the Sri Lankans a total of 289, a target traditionally not beyond the New Zealand top order, but on the day, it was more than enough, as they were bowled out for a pitiful 209. Franklin and Patel did a good job at the end of the innings and really shaved off some embarassment by adding 64 between them. Other than that, there was little happening.
Conversely, Australia steam-rollered their way in to the finals with a thoroughly convincing demolition of South Africa, moreso than in their group stage encounter. Batting first, South Africa were bowled out for just 149 in 43 overs which the Australians managed with ease, albeit in a very slightly pedestrian 31 overs. The problem (for other sides) with the Australian batting lineup is that they all take it in turns to score quality runs. Most teams rely on one or two key batsmen to score their runs, Jayawardene and Jayasuriya for Sri Lanka, KP and erm, KP, for England, Lara for West Indies and so on. Australia have no such reliance. Matt Hayden has scored the majority of Australian runs in this tournament but after he was out for 41 and Ponting out shortly after for just 22, any other team might have collapsed. Not so for Australia as Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds saw them home easily and without panic.
And that, I’m afraid is the reason that Australia will win this World Cup and will continue to dominate the International scene for the forseeable future. Their bowling is not the strength it used to be with the loss of Warne (and shortly McGrath) and Shaun Tait still decidedly raw, but when you have six world class batsmen in your top order, who consistently post totals of 300+ it makes little odds.
Come on Sri Lanka, prove me wrong again.
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1 opinion for World Cup final: preview
Spud
Apr 27, 2007 at 6:57 pm
You would have to put your money on Australia. They way they have played at this tournament has been outstanding. They have been ruthless in thrashing all who have played them. Sri Lanka must be on top of their game if they are to compete with them. If they can rattle the Aussies a bit then who knows. Australia have not played under pressure yet.
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