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AUCKLAND. — The four best teams have made the semi-finals of the World Cup and New Zealand’s clash with South Africa at Eden Park is going to be “one heck of a show”, according to coach Mike Hesson.
Hesson’s side advanced to their third successive semi-final, and seventh overall, with a 143-run victory over West Indies in Wellington on Saturday, courtesy of Martin Guptill’s record 237 not out.
South Africa were also impressive in their nine-wicket destruction of Sri Lanka last Wednesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground after they lost two matches in pool play.
Australia play India in the other semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.
“I think the best four teams are in the semi-finals and I don’t think many people could disagree with that,” Hesson told reporters in Wellington before they headed to Auckland to prepare for their showdown with the Proteas.
Neither side have made the World Cup final, with South Africa considered the great underachiever in the tournament, though Hesson dismissed suggestions that would resurrect any underlying psychological barriers for either side.
“I don’t think there is any baggage for anyone. It’s a one off game and we’re all here for the party,” he said.
“I’m sure we’ll both turn up.
“Two sides playing good cricket and that’s going to be a heck of a show.”
South Africa may have a slight advantage in recent head-to-head form, having taken apart New Zealand in two matches in Mt. Maunganui last October, though Hesson felt that had little bearing on what would happen on tomorrow.
“That was the start of a six-month campaign and I think it was fair to say South Africa were better prepared than us for those fixtures,” he said.
“They hit us pretty hard early and we didn’t respond very well. But we’ve had a few matches since then.”
Hesson, who took over the side in 2012, has overseen a turnaround in New Zealand’s fortunes as they have won both Test and one-day series and improved their ranking in all forms of cricket.
The team also has players chipping in with valuable contributions up and down the order and in the bowling unit.
“Something pretty big has happened over the last year or two,” he said. “We’ve gone from nine in the world to four because we have been playing some pretty good cricket. And you only get there because we have some pretty good players.
“The biggest thing has shown us is that players have been quite selfless and their putting own personal targets or milestones are slightly behind where the team needs to be.
“Not everyone can take wickets or score hundreds every day but there are lots of little cameos along the way that’s what makes this team what they are.”
In the other semi-final the spotlight will also fall on Virat Kohli.
By his own lofty standards, Kohli has had a modest World Cup so far.
But his Indian teammates all think the elegant stroke-maker will live up to his reputation as a big-match player when it matters.
Known equally for his silken touch with the bat and a penchant for run-ins with opposition players, Kohli also found himself embroiled in controversy after swearing at a journalist over a story about his personal life.
The batting mainstay was censured by the Indian board for his ugly outburst against the travelling Indian journalist in Perth and advised to maintain his cool. After his 107 against Pakistan in Adelaide, he has scored 46, 33 not out, 33, 44 not out, 38 and 3 and Dhoni backed him for a big one soon.
“I don’t think there has been any poor shot selection. He is a dominant batsman who likes playing his shots when he goes in to bat,” Dhoni said.
“It’s quite difficult but at the same time I feel it is important to keep focussing on the process. It’s just around the corner and big players always score in big games.”
By his own lofty standards, Virat Kohli has had a modest World Cup so far.
But his Indian teammates all think the elegant stroke-maker will live up to his reputation as a big-match player when it matters.
And few games matter more than Thursday’s semi-final against Australia. For Kohli, it’s a golden opportunity to get back amongst the runs.
“I don’t think he has batted badly. When he has got an opportunity he has scored runs,” India’s World Cup captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said.
“It’s not that he has scored a century every time he has gone out to bat. But everybody relating his performance with the test series and expecting a hundred in every innings from him.”
Kohli’s lean run at the World Cup has been puzzling, partly because of his great record in One Day Internationals and his great form this summer.
He has scored 22 ODIs, averages almost 52 from 157 matches in the format and is among India’s best batmen.
He replaced Dhoni as test captain for India’s last match against Australia in Sydney in January and scored four hundreds in the series and averaged over 86.
But his form in ODI has fallen away. He made a century in India’s opening World Cup match against Pakistan but hasn’t made a fifty since. — Reuters.
Online Reporter