After few hiccups the firm favorites made to the semifinals. Australia and New Zealand are cohosts. In limited over format of the game in the home conditions they are very difficult to beat. The present teams are also very balanced. Hence there is no drama in them moving ahead to quarter finals. India is the reigning champion and South Africa is one of the three top teams in all formats over the last few years. Now Australia plays India at SCG and New Zealand locks horns with South Africa at Den Park Auckland to decide who plays who at MCG in the final on 29 March 2015 .

Of the four teams, Australia has won the championship four times and India earned twice. New Zealand and South Africa never even featured in the final. On their path to the finals New Zealand and India lost no match. Australia lost to New Zealand in a hotly contested low scoring match and South Africa was outplayed by India. Two top teams in Pool A and B qualified for the semifinals beating their opponents comprehensively. There were no controversies in three of the four quarterfinals. South Africa proved too good for pathetic looking Sri Lanka. New Zealand overwhelmed West Indies with aggressive batting and intelligent bowling. Pakistan batted poorly but bowled well against Australia. But in the end superior batting skills got Australia through. India got the favor of ICC umpires in posting a difficult target for Bangladesh. Then again umpiring mistakes restricted Bangladesh response. At the end India recorded comfortable win. Spirited Bangladesh could create keener contest had they not have to receive the harsh umpiring decisions. Even if now India moves on to retain their championship the quarterfinal controversy will keep a dark spot on their achievement.

New Zealand looks by far the strongest side of the tournament. They have won all the matches they played so far. However they played all their matches so far in their own condition. Sri Lanka, England, Afghanistan, Scotland in the pool matches. Australia was crushed to their lowest score of the tournament. But Starc led Australian attack almost snatched the match in a low scoring match. Only Bangladesh batted and bowled superbly against them. With a little bit of luck and imagination Bangladesh could cause a major upset of tournament.
Now with the battle lines already drawn we may preview the semifinals.

Australia Vs India Semi Final at SCG:

Over the last three months these two teams played each other in different formats of the game with Australia dominating all. India looked very ordinary in the Carlton Mid tri nation ODI series designed to give undue advantage to three elite teams of ICC –India, England and Australia. Come world Cup India turned into a different team. It is not difficult to research what caused the sudden change? In bilateral series and triangular ODI pitch doctoring to suit Indian advantage was not possible. But there is a strong rumor that in all 7 matches that India played so far pitches suited Indian way of cricket. All matches had flat wickets where Indian batsmen who struggled all through Indian summer suddenly struck form. Some controversial umpiring de4cisions always went in their favor. They are world champions, they have several world class performers. In the matches of equals some crucial marginal decisions make hell of a difference. In the semifinal at SCG India will play against home team and will definitely start as underdogs. Under the eagle eyes of Australian media it will not be possible to manipulate. If India wins they have to curb the flamboyance of Australian stroke makers and confront hostile pace of Australian bowlers. This writer will rate Australians favorites for the match. Aaron Flinch and David Warner give flying start to the innings. Steve Smiith at number three is proving his mettle as the most effective Australian batsmen under any circumstances. Captain Clark although a shade below his nest form can still produce quality innings. Shane Watson just survived the hottest bowling spell of the World Cup from Wahab Riaz. Mitch Marsh/ James Faulkner whoever plays can deliver quick runs to maintain the tempo. Wicket Keeper batsman Haddin is fluent and aggressive. If required Starc, Johnson and Even Hazelwood /Cummins can contribute. Unless SCG wicket is a slow  turner suiting Indian spin attack Indian bowling will be bread and butter for the Australian batting.
Indian batsmen hardly had to encounter quality pace attack apart from South Africans at falt MCG deck. They have not played against Australia or New Zealand. Neither they played Pakistani pace attack in the current form. Mitchell Starc, Hazelwood and Jonhson will create issues for Indian batting. Throughout the summer Indian top order struggled against Australian pace attack. Only Virat Kohli and Ajinka Rahane looked at all confident. Apart from these two Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have to bat well and give good start. Raina and Dhoni at late middle order may find extra pace too hot to handle. For any chance to win India has to bat well and bat deep.

Indian pacers have learnt a lot from long stay in Australia. Sami, Yadav and Mohit are bowling at right length and Line. But Australians play pacers comfortably on their wickets .Ashwin and Jadeja hold the key to Indian success against Australia
If batting and bowling together make marginal difference between the two sides fielding makes huge difference. Australians fielding always creates 20-30 runs difference. They chase and save many boundaries, checks singles and makes direct throw run outs very often. They not only grabs all catches but take some stunners. India has to match Australian fielding. Australians will again find them as minority as galleries will be occupied by colorful cheering Indians. In any case the semifinal will be played with great festivity. I would predict an Australian win as they will have additional motivation for Phil Hughes – their departed mate.

South Africa Vs New Zealand Semi Final

South Africa started the tournament as firm favorites. New Zealand in their own condition is extremely difficult team to beat. Moreover, this team comprising of many talented players are in red hot form. This match will bring two evenly balanced top teams fighting tooth and nail. Southee, Boult, Milne and Anderson will match Dayle Steyn, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Kayle Abott in fire to fire.   

Auckland Wicket assists seam and swing. Winning the toss and bowling will be a factor. New Zealand will have edge in spin as veteran battle hardened Dan Vittori is better in his trade than Imran Tahir although they are two different type of spinners. Batting will be evenly matched. Guptill is in superlative form. He just scored the highest World Cup innings with a score of unbeaten 237. New Zealand scored mammoth 393/6 against West Indies. His partner is blaster McCullam. If he stays for 10-15 overs he can bat any team out of the game. New Zealand has quality top and middle order in Williamson, Taylor, Anderson and Elliot. South African attack which will mostly depend on Steyn, Morkel, and Parnell will struggle to contain Kiwi middle and late middle order. Kiwi bats deeper and this may tilt the balance. South Africa will rely heavily on Amla and Du Plessis at top order and on redoubtable Ab de Villiers at the middle. di Villiers is X –factor.  He has already played some out of the world innings in the tournament and may make the difference any time. His one man army can destroy any team on his day. Miller and Duminy has to fire if South Arfica has to compete.The two teams will match even in fielding. This semifinal is any body’s game. The team appearing with their A game on the day will win.

The winners will move to MCG for Epic Final. There can be trans-tasman dog fight or India South Africa final making the hosts on lookers. Let us keep our fingers crossed.

BDST: 1617 HRS, MAR 21, 2015