Two big ones to come (26 May 1999)

26 May 1999

Two big ones to come

Tony Becca

The World Cup is hotting up.

After a quiet start which saw the first six matches during the first four days going according to the bookmaker's odds, the past 13 over eight days have provided a few upsets with number eight New Zealand knocking off number two Australia, number nine Zimbabwe shooting down number six India, and although that was not much of a surprise, with number three Pakistan clipping number two Australia.

With all the other matches going according to the odds, favourites South Africa top Group A with a perfect record of three from three and with two go, one against Kenya and one against Zimbabwe, they have already booked a place in the next round.

The situation is identical in Group B where Pakistan lead with three from three and with two to go, one against New Zealand and one against Bangladesh, are on the way to the next round.

The upsets, however, have left the other four places up for grabs - especially the two from Group B.

In Group A, number four England, with three from four, appear set to make it - even if they lose their last match to India who, with Zimbabwe to play South Africa and unlikely to improve on their two victories, could finish with three victories and a place in the Super Six if they can beat the odds and defeat England and if they are not surprised by number seven Sri Lanka who, with losses to England and South Africa and victory over Zimbabwe, have so far, by their performances, proved the bookies right.

The big fight, however, is in Group B where New Zealand, with Pakistan and 1000-1 Scotland to play, are on two from three, number five West Indies, with Scotland and Australia to play, are on two from three, and Australia, with 500-1 Bangladesh and West Indies to play, are on one from three.

If the matches go the way of the odds as they did in the early exchanges, then it should be one from two for New Zealand to leave them on three from five, one from two for the West Indies to leave them on three from five and two from two for Australia to leave them on three from five. That would make it a three-way tie with the two to advance determined by run rate.

The important matches to come in the first round, therefore, are Sri Lanka versus India and England against India in Group A, West Indies versus Australia in Group B, and if the favourites, according to the bookmakers, win each one, if India defeat Sri Lanka, England defeat India and Australia defeat the West Indies, and all the other matches go as expected, it would be a three-way tie between India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe for the third place from Group A, and a three-way tie between New Zealand, the West Indies and Australia for the second and third place from Group B.

If, however, the underdogs surprise, it would be South Africa, England and Sri Lanka from Group A, Pakistan, the West Indies and New Zealand from Group B, with India and Australia, two of the top six according to the bookmakers, failing to make it.

The possibilities are fascinating, and the questions are these: can the defending champions surprise India, can the West Indies knock out Australia?

They could.

The Windies, however, including Brian Lara, will have to be at their best - not only because their batting at the top is suspect and their batting at the bottom almost non existent, but also because Australia, with their long batting and brilliant fielding, appeared to be coming into their own against Pakistan.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)