A view from the Gully (12 June 1999)

12 June 1999

A view from the Gully

Tawfiq Aziz Khan

A semifinal berth for South Africa was almost a certainty when the Super Six matches started on June 4. The most satisfying part of this match against New Zealand was to see their opening pair in good form and putting on runs for the second time in the tournament. Till now the Proteas had to bat down to number 8 or 9 but this was a match when the top and middle orders were sufficient to put on enough runs on the board. It was for all purposes a hearty batting practice for South Africa before their last match against Australia tomorrow.

This encounter between the two top favourites is of some consequence for the Proteas in as much as their choice of an opponent in the semifinals. If Australia win they will have six points on the top with South Africa and if Pakistan win against Zimbabwe Friday they will also have six points. So the run rate and related rules will come into play to decide the top three teams in the Super Six. If New Zealand win against India today and South Africa win against Australia and Zimbabwe defeat Pakistan the scenario will be different. And if India beat New Zealand, Zimbabwe beat Pakistan and South Africa win against Australia there will be some other calculations. So these matches are of vital importance to all the six teams as far as semifinal slots are concerned. Since Zimbabwe are almost certain for the semifinals all three other teams would like to play against them instead of meeting a stronger opponent at that stage.

Thursday's match went out of hands of the Kiwis as soon as Cronje won the toss and decided to bat. If Geoff Allott is taken out of the New Zealand attack there is hardly anything to talk about. Normally the Kiwi attack has not been acclaimed by the critics. True they have a handful of medium to slow medium bowlers who can bowl for fifty overs without any rip and bite required at this level of the game but that will never win matches for them. Ninety-three runs from the last ten overs may be some indication of the class of bowling Kiwis have.

This World Cup is a tournament of personal triumph for Geoff Allott who has taken a record 19 wickets in a single tournament and that too on debut leaving behind Roger Binny of India, Craig McDermott of Australia and Wasim Akram of Pakistan. Hearty congratulations to this brilliant left-arm bowler from Christchurch. Allott could only bowl 10 overs. So, the Proteas merrily went on to a very respectable total which was difficult to overhaul. New Zealand needed runs from Nathan Astle, Mathew Horne, McMillan and Chris Cairns but they did not oblige. They were nowhere near their normal self nor they were allowed any liberties by Donald, Pollock and Kallis. In desperation they threw about their bat and perished. Unless they can win against India today they might as well take a flight back home.

Source :: The Daily Star