1st Semi-Final: New Zealand v South Africa at Auckland Mar 24, 2015

[JJ]

Taylor ???

That guy has really got me worried after last night. .

8 games now and he is still the weak link..

He looked much more fluent and focused last night to me - the runout was bad, but I don't see him as the weak link at all

 

[Meth]

Taking to a Brisbane cabbie today and reflecting on how B Mac has instilled so much self belief in this team. I was definitely nervous, but never in any doubt that they could win it...and more importantly, neither were they. It might take a while for us to reach the heights of self belief that Australia enjoy, but we are taking all the right steps.

 

[Meth]

He looked much more fluent and focused last night to me - the runout was bad, but I don't see him as the weak link at all

I have been a Taylor critic in the past- clearly supremely talented but often doesn't kick on. But I have felt like he has made some solid contributions in support of in form batsmen in this tournament. Not the star, but a contributor

 

[JJ]

Problem now is, which t-shirt does one get? B Mac Attack, Steady the Ship Williamson, the Hairy Javelin, or Air Vettori?

 

[The Charlatan]

That was a cracking finish to the game. Elliot and Vettori kept their heads and got the bikkies.

Duminy should be shot for butchering Berhardien's catch.

 

[The European Polynesian]

You can't put blame on them for doing what every captain would do. They would have been idiots not to bat first.

For the most part I've found this tournament a little meh due to the bat first, score big, other team falters trying to keep up with run rate games that happen too often with the new rules.

That's part of the risk you take when batting first though, surely. You don't really know what is par and/or how you should pace your innings. Maybe you can't blame them for batting first but the rain should have been taken into account with that decision.

 

[_goParra]

what a game!! just goes to show you dont need abuses, sledging or dirty mind games for two teams to produce a cracking game.

 

[JJ]

That was a cracking finish to the game. Elliot and Vettori kept their heads and got the bikkies.

Duminy should be shot for butchering Berhardien's catch.

Berhardien didn't get a hand on it anyway and not sure he actually saw Duminy coming till incredibly late - and imagine what Ponting would have to say, having a good fielder on for a cart horse at a critical time!!

Sounds like the noise was deafening - Duminy messed up, but you have to appreciate his commitment

 

[JJ]

what a game!! just goes to show you dont need abuses, sledging or dirty mind games for two teams to produce a cracking game.

Regardless of what happens in the final, I am incredibly proud of the way in which NZ have played - incredibly aggressive and positive, but I don't think there's been any peripheral bullshit, just enjoyment and a laser like focus... and there is nothing soft about them - McCullum is hard as nails

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Yessss!!!!

We cut it fine but we got there and rightfully so.

Hopefully Taylor stops running his partners out.

 

[The Charlatan]

Berhardien didn't get a hand on it anyway and not sure he actually saw Duminy coming till incredibly late - and imagine what Ponting would have to say, having a good fielder on for a cart horse at a critical time!!

Sounds like the noise was deafening - Duminy messed up, but you have to appreciate his commitment

Duminy was on top of him as he's taking the catch though, easy to be distracted and drop the bundle there when someone is charging in at your flank.

In any case, NZ have been the most impressive team this tournament and it's great to see them making the final. I just hope the Aussies pull it off against the Indians and we can have ourselves (hopefully) another classic finish.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Problem now is, which t-shirt does one get? B Mac Attack, Steady the Ship Williamson, the Hairy Javelin, or Air Vettori?

You forgot The Woodchopper

 

[Kiwi]

Elliott you God!!!!!

Steyn going down killed RSA.

Well played NZ.

I give them no chance vs Australia though at the MCG.

Because you know we haven't beaten Australia in this world cup yet....

 

[Twizzle]

you also haven't played outside NZ yet

conditions wont be the same as you had for the entire series which you would think would count for something

 

[JJ]

you also haven't played outside NZ yet

conditions wont be the same as you had for the entire series which you would think would count for something

Yeah, I said way back if we made the final that was the worry for us - tbh I really don't see India beating us if they get past you - McCullum wants Australia though... will be interesting, batting first at the MCG is huge....

 

[Red Bear]

NZ have had better teams then this current one,Shane Bond,Daniel Vettori,Brendan Mcullum all in the same team in there prime,Chris Cairns a better allrounder than Corey Anderson,Stephen Fleming,Nathan Astle and Craig Mcmillian better than Martin Gumby and Grant Elliot(stats may not say so but they played in way better era than these donkeys)

When Vettori and Bond were at their peak their batting was tits. This is a much better balanced side. Bats down to 8/9 (well as good as an 8 and 9 can be), good up front with new ball, rate Henry and Milne (both not at their peak obviously).

And a very strong, together unit. Big fan of them. Think their test team is far and away the best it has been in years also

Ummm NZ would have been chasing 350+ if it wasn't for the rain. Maybe 375.

And you're saying the rain wasn't an issue? Oh dear.

How do you know? They were well placed but it was hardly guarenteed. A few wickets start to fall and 350 doesn't happen.

And as mentioned 298 in 43 is a bloody big chase

lol @ Steyn overrated.

Easily one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time.

In an era when everything is in favour of the batsmen he has stats comparable to any fast bowler during the last 90 years.

I don't know if steyn is a great ODI bowler though. He can turn it on but he's not up with the best one day bowlers. Fantastic bowler in test cricket though


Anyway that was an awesome game of cricket. Best I've seen in a while. Listened to everything pre rain break, then had uni, got out of class in time for the last 7 or 8 overs, was tense as anything but very happy with the result. Morkel bowled very well for the Saffa's but the batting effort was outstanding

 

[Bobby DIGital]

I kind of want to play India. If we beat them we can say we've beaten 7 our of the other 9 test playing nations at this world cup (8 this summer cos we roasted Pakistan 2-0 just before the WC began). The only team we wouldn't have played would be Zim.

But to play Aus in the final and win would be pretty neat.

 

[Twizzle]

we gotta get there yet

 

[WaznTheGreat]

NZ are a very good team but if we make it to the final and lose to them it would mean we lost to them twice in the same WC which would be like the All Blacks losing twice to the Wallabies in the same WC,a decent Aussie cricket team would never lose twice to the Kiwi's in a WC just like a decent All Blacks wouldn't lose twice to the Wallabies in a WC.

This is the worst Aus team ever if that happens(worst Aus team ever if they don't even get past India)

 

[Twizzle]

Have we ever not made a final ?