RUSTENBURG - The Proteas, South Africa's national cricket team, will be carrying the aspirations of an expectant continent tomorrow when they face New Zealand's Kiwis in a quarterfinal match of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Kenya and Zimbabwe – Africa’s other representatives in the competition – both failed to progress past the group stages, leaving the Proteas as the only side from the continent still in the race for top honours. That no African team is yet to win the tournamnet since its inception is one glaring feature of the Cricket World Cup.
In this year’s edition of the tournamnet, Kenya have proved the most dissapointing African side and their loss to Zimbabwe last Sunday means that they ended their campaign with six loses in as many matches. And although Zimbabwe at least managed two wins, the failure to reach the quarterdfinals will be a bitter pill to swallow for a country that has progressed beyond the group stages in the past – in 1999 and 2003.
South Africa’s comprehensive 3 wicket victory over India has made them serious contenders to go all the way. A 6 wicket defeat to England (South Africa’s only loss so far) in their third match, is the only glitch of an otherwise impressive campaign in both the batting and bowling departments.
While few would argue that South African pace spearhead Dale Steyn is the best bowler in the world at the momemnt, a collective effort from a side that boasts the batting talents of Jaque Kallis, Greame Smith and others will be required to snuff out the Kiwis.
Post published in: Cricket