Defeat to the West Indies would leave South Africa needing to scale heights akin to Mt. Cook if they are to prevail at the Cricket World Cup.
Sunday’s thrashing by India in Melbourne means, barring a complete turning off of their intensity in the remaining three weeks of Pool play, the defending champions will top Pool B and play the fourth placed side in Pool A.
Judging by the early running in this tournament, that looks like being one of Sri Lanka, England or Bangladesh.
For the South Africans two short term goals exists – the first is of course to make the quarter-finals, something they should do barring a catastrophic turn of events, and the second is to avoid playing the two host nations when they get there.
In order for that to occur they’ll need to finish in second place at least.
New Zealand have been the hottest team in the event so far with their dismantling of England being one of the statement performances of the competition.
It was eclipsed by India at the MCG on Sunday however, a thoroughly efficient and clinical display from the world champions signalling their intent and thrusting them above South Africa into the bracket as tournament favourites alongside New Zealand and Australia.
South Africa has to win their remaining group games to hold onto second place, something that would have seemed simple coming into the tournament. However the hammer blow they suffered in Melbourne would certainly have scarred their psyche, which has raised the stakes even more ahead of Friday’s clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
West Indies faced Zimbabwe in Canberra today, and given the confidence they earned from beating a hapless Pakistan in Christchurch last Saturday nothing can be taken for granted, ahead of their meeting with the Proteas at the end of the week, notwithstanding South Africa’s dominant display against them at home recently.
The Irish are certainly a threat next Tuesday in Canberra – they carry a chip on their shoulder over the treatment of Associate Members by the ICC.
With plenty to prove and one big scalp in their locker already, they’ll be fired for the match up with AB de Villiers’ side at Manuka Oval.
Who knows what Pakistan will provide in Auckland. They look to be falling apart completely, but that is often when they’re at their most dangerous, while the UAE, for all their endeavour, should still not hold any concerns for the Proteas.
A top two finish therefore, still ensures an ‘easier’ quarter-final in so much as England and Sri Lanka aren’t playing nearly as well as the hosts. But there’s still three weeks to go to the knockout matches and a whole lot can still change before then, including form. - The Star