Cricket

Proteas bracing for clash with ‘quality’ New Zealand side

South Africa face the Black Caps of their subsequent World Cup sport on Wednesday.

Well settled close to the highest of the standings, Proteas coach Rob Walter is keen for his side to be examined by huge groups of their subsequent two World Cup video games, within the build-up to the playoffs.

After six of their 9 matches within the opening spherical of the worldwide showpiece, South Africa had been lying second with 10 points, simply two factors behind unbeaten hosts India and two factors forward of New Zealand in third place.

They had been set to face New Zealand of their subsequent fixture on Wednesday, nevertheless, earlier than squaring up towards India on Sunday.

“We’ve played some really good cricket so far – you could argue against lesser teams if you wanted to, based on  the log positions – but in our minds it’s really about seeing whether we can continue to replicate the way we’ve been playing against the other two top sides in the competition so far,” Walter stated yesterday.

Consistent performers

While India had been maybe thought of the group to beat within the build-up to the knockout phases, Walter admitted his side had been bracing in preparation for their assembly with a top quality New Zealand side.

The Black Caps took the runner-up spot on the final two editions of the World Cup. In addition, displaying outstanding consistency, they progressed to the semifinals or past on the final 4 successive 50-over World Cups and the final three T20 World Cup tournaments.

Walter, a former coach of the Otago Volts and the New Zealand A group, hoped his data of the opposition gamers would give the Proteas a possible upper-hand, however he admitted they had been anticipating a fierce battle towards the New Zealanders in Pune (beginning at 10.30am on Wednesday).

“They’re a very good side. I don’t see many holes in their make-up. They’ve got a lot of depth in different positions, and for the most part they’re highly experienced cricketers who have played a lot and achieved a lot,” he stated.

“They’ve performed in numerous World Cup finals throughout completely different codecs, so that they perceive learn how to win video games of cricket. That’s what makes them a top quality group.

“You don’t just get to so many finals and semifinals of competitions consecutively without doing something right and without playing good cricket.”


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