THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015

South Africa goes easy on team

STELLENBOSCH: Led by unexpected praise from ers” and “useless, unbearable individuals.” pitch. The Times called it “A crying shame,” and the able to accept its World Cup eliminations as the nation’s outspoken sports minister, He was kinder to the cricketers. “You made us tabloid Daily Sun even called them “brave Proteas.” straightforward. In the 1992 semifinals it felt it was went easy on its cricket team after another painful proud as a nation as you fought until the last Most newspapers blamed South African bowling given an impossible task after rain led to a recalcula- loss at the World Cup. minute,” Mbalula said. “You are winners in my eyes and fielding errors for allowing New Zealand to pass tion; in 1999 South Africa was eliminated in the A long history of failure at the tournament has and I’m sure the whole nation agrees.” the victory target of 298, but a few alluded to a semifinals on run rate after a tie with Australia; and often put the Proteas at the sharp end of stinging Yesterday’s newspapers reflected the players’ bit- sense of injustice after South Africa’s innings was in 2003 the team itself made a mistake with the for- criticism from the demanding media and fans back ter disappointment - with some in tears after the interrupted by rain while going well, and then mula and finished a run short of progressing. home. But sports minister Fikile Mbalula said he was elimination - but there was no mention of “chokers,” shortened, and its total recalculated according to Most newspapers noted with despair that Grant still proud of the team after its nail-biting loss to the dreaded term previously given to the team for cricket’s complex Duckworth-Lewis formula. Elliott, the man who played the match-winning New Zealand in the semifinals on Tuesday. losing crucial World Cup games. South Africa coach Russell Domingo felt the total innings for New Zealand, was born in South Africa. Mbalula is famous for launching a scathing “World Cup tears” said the Afrikaans-language New Zealand was chasing should have been higher He left for New Zealand after deciding he’d proba- attack on South Africa’s soccer team after a loss in a Die Burger newspaper with a photograph of fast than 298, feeding some of the media’s questions bly never make the South African team. “World Cup tournament last year, calling them “a bunch of los- bowler Dale Steyn lying flat out on his back on the over the calculation. South Africa has rarely been taunts SA once again,” The Times said. — AP Balance and composure the keys to NZ progress

AUCKLAND: The calm, assured manner in match situation. which New Zealand chased down South “I was pretty calm for most of it but Africa’s imposing total on Tuesday to towards the end I started hoping ... the boys advance to their first cricket World Cup final would be able to pull it off. “I had immense is a hallmark of a team that has developed faith in them.” Faith is exactly what coach into a cohesive unit over the last two years. had in Elliot, whose innings of 84 justified his inclusion in the World Cup squad after somewhat surpris- ingly having been out of the team for 14 months. The 36-year-old was also a reassur- ing voice for powerful youngster Corey Anderson as they put on 103 runs for the fifth , which ultimately gave New Zealand the win. The highlight- ed the strength of New Zealand’s batting lineup, with a top order of McCullum, and offering contrasting approaches to run scoring. Guptill is technically proficient but can also blast away when needed, as was evi- dent in his World Cup record 237 not out against West Indies in the quarter-final. Williamson is the classic accumulator while McCullum’s swaggering aggression puts opposing attacks off their rhythm and gives New Zealand a flying start. The players from four to seven-, Elliott, Anderson and wicketkeeper -are a highly competent engine room designed to take the team through to MELBOURNE: New Zealand cricket play- imposing totals or to chase down targets. er Brendon McCullum arrives at All have contributed to helping their side to Melbourne Airport . New Zealand will victory over New Zealand’s domestic sum- play in the Cricket World Cup final in mer. Opening bowlers and Tim Melbourne, Sunday. — AP Southee are arguably the best new-ball pair at the tournament, with Boult the leading Brendon McCullum’s side sealed a four- wicket taker with 21, while Southee has the wicket win over South Africa when Grant best figures of 7-33. AUCKLAND: South Africa’s JP Duminy (left) collides with teammate South Africa’s Farhaan Behardien and drop a catch chance during their four Elliott swatted Dale Steyn over deep mid- “We have been confident all along in wicket loss to New Zealand in their Cricket World Cup semifinal on Tuesday. — AP wicket for a six, igniting euphoric scenes terms of what we do,” Hesson said. “We rarely seen at a New Zealand sporting know the brand of cricket we want to play, event. “I looked around the group and saw we are pretty confident that is a good style South Africa’s comedy of that everyone was pretty calm,” McCullum for us. “We have got a chance to put on a told reporters on Wednesday of how his good show on Sunday and we will prepare team dealt with the intense pressure of the for that.” — Reuters errors no laughing matter

SYDNEY: Another World Cup semi-final but with none of his eight overs on Tuesday pro- of ‘T-CUP’ (Thinking Clearly Under Pressure) another failure to get to the final has left many ducing a wicket. became apparent, with AB de Villiers South Africa fans questioning what their side “You’ve got an in form bowler (Abbott) fumbling a run-out of Corey Anderson and must do to reach one-day international crick- who’s got bounce and he’s got pace and has benefitting from another failed et’s showpiece match. bowled so well in the last couple of days. run out attempt and a dropped catch. Tuesday’s dramatic four-wicket defeat by You’ve got to be so brave to change that bowl- Anderson (58) helped Elliott added 103 for the New Zealand in a rain-affected clash at ing line-up,” former South Africa spinner Pat fifth wicket before the South Africa-born Auckland’s was the fourth time the Symcox told local radio. Elliott, raising his game, completed a match- Proteas had made it to the last four-and the Dale Steyn is widely acknowledged as the winning 84 not out. fourth time they hadn’t reached the final. In best fast bowler of his generation, his Test “I didn’t take that (run-out chance) unfortu- 1992 they were undone by the unfairness of average of just over 22 runs per wicket placing nately, but yes if you want to see it that way the rain rule then in force which left them him among cricket’s all-time greats. that I cost us then I’ll gladly take it,” said a dis- needing an impossible 21 off one ball to beat But a return off 11 in eight matches traught de Villiers. Former South Africa captain England, while in 2007 they were swept aside at this World Cup was modest for a man of his Graeme Smith, writing on the ICC’s website, by Australia. However, Tuesday’s clash had class and on Tuesday his 8.5 overs cost an said: “The Proteas missed the half-chances that echoes of South Africa’s 1999 tie with expensive 76 runs. Steyn also needed lengthy counted and it ultimately cost them. Australia-a result that saw the Australians into treatment for a leg problem during the final “Most tellingly they seemed to deviate from the final on superior net run-rate-in that the over, and this was a further setback for a South their pre-planned bowling strategy to Proteas squandered chances to win the game. Africa side who throughout the tournament, McCullum by bowling poor lengths which But this time around a selection decision may had to ‘fiddle’ 10 overs from a fifth bowler- allowed him to dictate the pace of the game,” SYDNEY: Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson (center) prepares to bowl during a have hampered South Africa even before the reviving a longstanding criticism they had he added. team training session. — AFP match started. been excessively cautious in selecting an extra Inevitably, South Africa’s latest World Cup Fast bowler Kyle Abbott, who took an excel- batsman rather than an additional bowler. loss will revive accusations of “choking”, yet in Johnson leads battle cry lent one for 27 off a tight six overs during the The Proteas may well have made a 350-plus recent years they have won Tests from improb- quarter-final victory over Sri Lanka, was score had not rain intervened, but a total of able positions against sides as good as SYDNEY: Australia captain Michael Clarke the odd occasion, you lose your cool and you dropped to make way for Vernon Philander- 281 for five, which left New Zealand needing a Australia-not the act of a bunch of mentally expects temperamental opener David Warner say something you shouldn’t-perhaps you who missed several matches including the last revised 298 in 43 overs, looked enough when weak players. to be on his best behavior in today’s World should get a fine or you might get suspended.” eight clash this World Cup with a hamstring the Black Caps were 149 for four. However, blows often come thick and fast Cup semi-final against India, but Mitchell Australia and India have had a tumultuous injury. Philander’s first over was savaged for 14 Yet it was from then on that the worth of in the one-day game, with the fall-out from Johnson is ready to step up the war. relationship on and off the field in recent runs by New Zealand captain Brendon England 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning this latest loss leaving South Africa with four Warner, who has already been warned twice years. The bad blood showed up during India’s McCullum and he was taken out of the attack, coach Clive Woodward’s oft-repeated phrase more years of World Cup hurt. — AFP for on-field verbal sledges, faces suspension Test and one-day series in Australia prior to the from the final, should Australia qualify, if he is World Cup when heated on-field exchanges found guilty of another misdemeanour at the led to several players being penalised. Three Sydney Cricket ground. Indian players, Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma and Kiwis daring to dream “David will be fine,” Clarke told reporters Shikhar Dhawan, and Australian left-arm fast yesterday. “He knows the rules, as we all do, bowler Mitchell Starc were charged for a and his rules are no different than the rest of breach of the ICC’s code of conduct. Warner ours.” But fast bowler Johnson said he did not was reported both in the Test and one-day expect any let up in Australia’s aggressive series, and was publicly told off by Cricket of World Cup glory approach, and was even willing to take the Australia boss James Sutherland to “stop look- lead if Warner did not sledge. ing for trouble.” Meanwhile, Clarke did not WELLINGTON: New Zealanders hailed the Black Long-suffering Black Caps fans have endured was a last-minute inclusion and many, including “I heard Davey (Warner) say he was not expect the SCG wicket to throw up any surpris- Caps’ cliffhanger World Cup semi-final win over many disappointments over the years but pun- himself, had favoured youngster Jimmy going to get involved in all that stuff,” Johnson es for Thursday’s semi-final, saying it will prove told Fox Sports. “Someone has got to do it and to be a good cricketing pitch. South Africa as one of the country’s top sporting dits said it was finally time to start believing the Neesham over the 36-year-old. I think I might put my hand up. It’s part of the There is growing speculation that the dry, moments yesterday and finally began dreaming team could deliver against either Australia or “It will now be remembered as one of the game.” Meanwhile all-rounder Shane Watson brown wicket will suit India more than the of even greater glory in the tournament decider India in Melbourne on Sunday. “Dare to dream, most inspired selections in New Zealand cricket accepted he too was on thin ice after being home team’s fast bowlers, but Clarke said: “I on Sunday. “One to go,” trumpeted the front New Zealand “ advised Fairfax cricket writer Fred history,” he said. Cricket World Cup’s New fined for exchanging words with Pakistan think the SCG in general is a really good wicket page of the New Zealand Herald, while the Woodcock, adding: “If you didn’t think these Zealand chief executive Therese Walsh said the paceman Wahab Riaz during Australia’s quar- for both both batting and bowling.” India have Dominion Post’s back page headline described Black Caps had the mental strength to go the atmosphere at Eden Park was the most intense ter-final victory. beaten Australia just once in 35 years in a one- victory over the Proteas at Eden Park as “The whole way, you should now, because they stood she had experienced at a match, reflecting the “I don’t want to get fined again or get sus- day international at the SCG and the hosts stuff that dreams are made of”. up under the pressure that defines teams.” way the event has gripped the country. “That pended so I know I’m going to have to be have won all six World Cup semi-finals they There was also relief at a four-wicket win NZ Herald columnist David Leggat even sug- euphoria at the end. I can’t remember another even more diligent with what I say, when I say have contested since the inaugural event in achieved with just one ball to spare that pro- gested the spectacle at Eden Park exceeded the time it’s been like that. People hugging, crying. It it and how I say it,” Watson said. “Based on my 1975. Australia will start as favorites, but Clarke pelled New Zealand into the final for the first Rugby World Cup final at the same venue in was an amazing New Zealand moment,” she told last fine, I am just about on my last warning.” insisted the expectations from home fans will time after a run of six losses in the semis. 2011, when New Zealand edged France 8-7 — Radio New Zealand. Walsh noted the match end- The International Cricket Council faced criti- not put undue pressure on his side. Former Black Cap bowler said unheard of praise in the All Blacks-obsessed ed New Zealand’s co-hosting duties, with the cism for being heavy-handed in fining both “Expectations will be there because we are the Brendon McCullum’s men had shown their class nation. “Rugby people will swear the 2011 final remaining semi-final set for Sydney today and Wahab and Watson, but chief executive David number one one-day team in the world,” he against a dangerous South African side and can’t be beaten for drama and sheer occasion,” the final in Melbourne on Sunday. Richardson insisted they had done the right said. “The reason you have that expectation on should be favourites in a tournament where he wrote. “Fair enough, but to these eyes, this “To get through the last six weeks, 23 games thing. you is because you’ve performed.” Organisers they remain undefeated after eight matches. was special.” across the country, with this fabulous weather, “I enjoyed the competitiveness ... it was just expect Indian fans to outnumber their “It looks at the moment like nothing daunts There was also praise for -born such exciting cricket,” she said. a pity it extended later in the game to some- Australian counterparts at the the 42,000- them,” he told commercial radio. “The bigger the Grant Elliott whose 84 not out, capped with a “Half the games were sellouts and we’ve had thing you wouldn’t want your kids to see,” said capacity SCG, but Clarke said: “That’s fine. We expectation, the more that’s asked, the bigger stunning six off the penultimate ball, made him hundreds of thousands of Kiwis through the Richardson. “Things get heated-we actually have played in India a number of times and they stand up. I honestly don’t think this World an unlikely match-winner. gates. It’s just taken the country by storm and like them to get heated from time to time. On they out-support us there as well. —AFP Cup final is going to daunt these guys.” The Herald’s Dylan Cleaver pointed out Elliott we couldn’t be happier.” — AFP