South Africa will pose plenty of questions with pace
New Zealand's ability to play quality pace bowling will be examined
by South Africa in their Cricket World Cup semifinal in Auckland on
Tuesday.
Tonight, the Black Caps disposed of the West Indies in their
quarter-final encounter in Wellington and the seam bowling of the men
from the Caribbean was inconsistent. Kiwi opener Martin Guptill blasted
them to all corners and nothing will be taken away from his
record-breaking knock of 237 not out but the Proteas are on another
level.
In Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kyle Abbott and Vernon Philander, they
have an imposing pace battery which can rile any side regardless of who
is selected.
Leg-spinner Imran Tahir has also taken 15 wickets at the World Cup.
It was only two years and two months ago when the Black Caps were shot
out for 45 on the first day of a test match in the Republic.
Steyn and Morkel combined for five wickets, and Philander took the
other five.
Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson - New Zealand's
likely top three for Tuesday - all played in that test and some scars
may still remain. The Black Caps were also exposed by the electric pace
and movement of Australian left-armer Mitchell Starc when he took 6-28
during last month's Pool A thriller at Eden Park when New Zealand
escaped with a one-wicket win.
Starc skittled the New Zealanders after they built up for the World
Cup with games against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, who rarely tested them
with the new ball. Tahir, however, will be South Africa's semifinal
wildcard. The leg-spinner bagged 4-26 in the Proteas' quarter-final win
over Sri Lanka.
Quality leg-spin bowling is rarely seen on the international stage
and Tahir has taken 70 wickets in 37 one-day internationals at 19.94
after making his debut for South Africa in 2011. - NZME. |