Published: Mar 26, 2015, 02:34 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 26, 2015, 02:34 PM (IST)
Karachi: Former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith has claimed that his nation’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 semifinal against New Zealand has been compared to the semifinal between them and Australia in the 1999 edition of the tournament because of the fluctuating nature of the game. READ: New Zealand vs South Africa ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Semi-Final: SA innings highlights
South Africa lost the World Cup semifinal on the last moment to New Zealand in an electrifying match at the Eden Park on Tuesday. The match saw rain halting it during South Africa’s innings and AB de Villiers‘ men being denied the chance to reach their first tournament final on the second last ball of the match. Match Report: New Zealand vs South Africa
In his column for The Express Tribune, Smith stated that there have been comparisons between this match with the 1999 World Cup semifinal between South Africa and Australia due to the fluctuating nature of the game. READ: Grant Elliott did his selectors a favour
Smith pointed out that the 1999 semifinal is widely regarded as the greatest ODI ever played and the 2015 World Cup semifinal between South Africa and New Zealand definitely pushed it close.
The batting great stated that there has been much debate as to the effect that the rain had on South Africa’s innings, adding that he believes that it definitely halted the momentum of the innings which played into the hands of New Zealand by allowing them to regroup.
Smith claimed that they would have backed themselves to score at a minimum of ten to the over for the final twelve overs if given the chance and would have believed a score in the region of 340 was well within their grasp.
Smith claimed that even though New Zealand had to score at almost seven to the over, they would have felt more comfortable having to maintain this rate across 43 overs as opposed to 50 overs, which in turn meant that the start McCullum gave the hosts was much harder to pull back due to the reduced nature of the innings.
Smith also said that the rain also created a wet outfield which altered the composition of the ball by making it a lot softer when South Africa bowled.
Smith insisted that at the 1999 World Cup, when Australia were in a precarious position and faced with having to win all their remaining games to progress to the semifinals, Steve Waugh spoke about the importance of taking every half chance that presented itself.
Smith also stated that in a tight game with so much at stake, neither team is going to put in a flawless performance, but added that South Africa missed the half chances that counted, which ultimately cost them.
