Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

03:30 GMT start.

Tight one to call this but I think SA will win the battle of the heavyweight batsmen. Can't see Sanga getting five in a row.

All depends on the toss i reckon. If SL bat first then they'll win.

Yes, SL have to bat first and get 300. Then they can put pressure on SA.
To choke or not to choke is the question for SA.

Sri Lanka comfortably for mine.

Amazes me people still back SA to win pressure games when they fold under the slightest bit of pressure even in group matches.

tightest one to call IMO... for me South africa just... one day they have to shake off this choker tag

Like the rest, I'm finding this the toughest QF to call. Sri-Lanka rely a little to heavily on Dilshan, and Sangakkara, so for that reason, I'm going to say the Saffers.

SL favorites imo slightly. Saffers pace attack might not get much out of SCG wicket. Immy and Dumminy can be tackled well by the likes of Dilly,Sanga,Mahela,Angelo and Thisarra. The middle order bowling will be a huge concern for Saffers against Lanka on this wicket. Lanka has a weak pace bowlign apart form Malinga, but Dilly, Lahiru and one specialist spinner will be doing lot of bowling against Saffers. SL have players with huge experience who also have handled the big match pressure much better than Saffers. This is at least very competitive on paper.

shankycricket wrote:Sri Lanka comfortably for mine.

Amazes me people still back SA to win pressure games when they fold under the slightest bit of pressure even in group matches.

Like Ginger, I am backing SA to go some of the way to shake off the choker tag (even if the win the whole tournament, it won't be gone yet), and their big name players to fire. Although, SA would probably like it to be at any other Aus venue.

SA narrowly.

I'm hoping SA

dan08 wrote:All depends on the toss i reckon. If SL bat first then they'll win.

I agree. SL can definitely win this if they win the toss and put SA under pressure with runs on the board, but with Malinga short of his best and a bowling attack that's otherwise not brilliant, I doubt they can restrict SA batting first.

Whoever wins the toss and bats will take this, I reckon.

This is the only tie people seem to be divided on. The game without an underdog. But it's tempting to think that there will be an upset elsewhere, somewhere along the line.

Bangladesh. Could it be that in years to come, BD will be seen to have come of age in this competition, as SL did in 96? They have a well balanced bowling attack, a couple of X factor batters, and the hitherto underrated Mahmudullah...

But no, hard to see. It would be a great story, but India have all those virtues, and more.

Pakistan. Not even going to imagine this one. Australia are the biggest favourites of the round. They are at home, where they are frightening efficient. The biggest danger for the co-hosts doesn't come from a broken Pakistan team, but from me, a lone operator on a cracked netbook in a small house on the outskirts of a middle sized British city, jinxing them. So Pakistan? No.

West Indies. If the giant is going to be killed anywhere it will be here. A few NZ players have been more of less non functional, and one half of the team is carrying the other half. Southee has gone two games without swing. An early loss of McCullum would rob NZ of 50 runs from their total. Sometimes WI start the motor and it fires. More often it doesn't. But, I put my X here.

And SAvSL? I just think SL are more likely to function on any given day.

So, SL, Aus, India and... well, NZ, because it's only rarely that the planets align.

A team with S at the beginning.

Another early start tomorrow. I agree with the bat first win scenario. Chasing over what will be probably be over 300 under lights won't be easy.

Herath may be back.

No1 v No2 ODI batsmen in the world.

What a contest this could be.