Two weeks into the Cricket World Cup, Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium will lastly see some actual motion. This is a most venerable metropolis — and venue — for Indian cricket. The sport first discovered its roots on this metropolis’s maidans (native parks) a century in the past, and the crowning second arrived in 2011 when India beat Sri Lanka to carry its second World Cup.
England’s Ben Stokes attends a observe session.(AP)
This event arrives Saturday at a vital juncture — defending champion England must win its subsequent sport in opposition to South Africa to enhance its possibilities of advancing to the semifinals. Both groups are in an analogous way of thinking — shell-shocked at their latest losses to Afghanistan and the Netherlands, respectively.
Afghanistan beat England in New Delhi by 69 runs to file solely its second World Cup win. Two days later, the Netherlands beat South Africa in Dharamsala by 38 runs. England is worse off at this stage. It misplaced to New Zealand within the opening sport by 9 wickets, and is fifth within the standings with two factors from three video games. Those two factors got here from its 137-run win over Bangladesh in Dharamsala — a adequate margin of victory to enhance its run-rate.
“Just because we have lost a game to Afghanistan, it doesn’t make us bad cricketers or anything like that,” stated opener Jonny Bairstow after that loss.
“There’s a reason why the guys won the T20 World Cup last year. There’s a reason why the guys won the 2019 World Cup, and we are defending champions.”
England has additionally been the most costly crew within the powerplay, conceding 7.23 runs per over within the first powerplay in its three video games. Chris Woakes and Mark Wood have struggled to make an impression, and their type is a significant trigger for concern. It was additionally impacted by Ben Stokes’ hip harm, and the mercurial cricketer is all set to return to motion in opposition to South Africa.
“I am one person in a team sport,” stated Stokes forward of the sport. “It is not the case where I do come in, then all of a sudden we are going to do well. Everyone on the field is a match winner for England and can do something individually to win us the game.”
South Africa, in the meantime, is third within the standings with 4 factors from three video games. It gained the opening two video games in spectacular trend — beating Sri Lanka by 102 runs in Delhi after scoring the event’s highest 428-5, after which beating Australia by 134 runs in Lucknow. It enjoys a wholesome internet run-rate of 1.385, regardless of the surprising reversal in opposition to the Netherlands.
It was the second time in 12 months that the Dutch facet tripped South Africa at an ICC occasion. The Proteas misplaced within the 2022 T20 World Cup too and it value them a spot within the semifinal. Thankfully for them, this reversal has come earlier within the competitors and it is just a matter of getting going once more.
“I guess that’s why we love sport,” said South Africa coach Rob Walter. “A few days ago, we played outstandingly well and then, not well. There are no weak teams in this tournament. If you are not switched on and you don’t win key moments, you will get the wrong results.”
Going up in opposition to England, South Africa is well-placed with each bat and ball. In-form Quinton de Kock is among the many top-five run scorers with 229 in three video games, together with two centuries. Pacer Kagiso Rabada is among the many high bowlers — fifth with seven wickets in three video games at a mean of 19.86.
In truth, South Africa enjoys a definitive tempo benefit over England. Woakes is averaging 67.5 in three video games, whereas Woods is at 44.66. In comparability, Lungi Ngidi has picked up 4 wickets at 31 in three video games, whereas Gerald Coetzee (31.25) and Marco Jansen (28.83) have offered good assist. It might be the deciding issue on this high-profile conflict on the Wankhede Stadium.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
