Clash of Titans

Pune, Oct 31: One side endured the agony of a close defeat and other felt the ecstacy of victory in a rip-roaring game but when New Zealand and South Africa clash in a World Cup game here on Wednesday both will start on an even keel.
The current edition of World Cup has featured mostly lopsided games but if the two games stood out, one certainly was South Africa’s one-wicket win against Pakistan in Chennai and New Zealand nearly pulled off a sensational chase of 388 against Australia before finishing five runs short.
With both teams firmly in contention for semi-final berths, one can expect good game of cricket where batters of both sides are expected to set the tone of the match.
For New Zealand (8 points from 6 games) , the Dharamsala-leg after four straight victories didn’t pan out on expected lines and another loss would give the likes of Afghanistan (6 points) and Pakistan (4 points) a shot at semi-final qualification.
On the other hand, if South Africa (10 points from 6 games) win, the 12 points will almost put them in the last-four bracket alongside India.
Hence, it would be one of the most high-stakes game of the World Cup league stage and a team like Pakistan wouldn’t mind if New Zealand suffer a hat-trick of defeats.
Both teams have put up more than impressive bating performances in most of the games but the track at the Maharashtra Cricket Association ground in Gahunje hasn’t exactly been a belter with spinners getting sufficient help like Afghanistan spinners did against Sri Lanka in their seven-wicket victory.
The most interesting aspect of the contest is the form of batters from both sides which has been the reason of their success so far. (PTI)