The co-hosts New Zealand and Australia have qualified for the Quarter-Finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Pool A. India, South Africa, Pakistan and West Indies were the other four squads who reserved their berths in Pool B respectively.
The first Quarter-Final of the event will be played between Sri Lanka, South Africa and that will be the thrilling encounter altogether. All 14 participating teams have played six matches each and just one between Australia and Bangladesh concluded without any result because of rain.
The Lankan Lions won four matches, lost two, attained eight points at a net run rate of +0.371 and were placed third in their pool. The Proteas got the same result, identical points with a net run rate of +1.707 and will fight hard with the Islanders to enter the top four.
Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan – Tons v Scotland
Players to watch
Kumar Sangakkara wrote his name in the history books by dispatching fourth consecutive hundred in the World Cup. He powered 124 runs and shared 195 runs partnership for the second wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan who smashed 104 against Scotland. Their strong batting line-up includes Lahiru Thirimanne, Mahela Jayawardene and Kusal Perera while Angelo Mathews leads the side from the front as an all-rounder. Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Seekkuge Prasanna, Nuwan Kulasekara and Dushmantha Chameera form a formidable bowling unit.
AB de Villiers continued with his brilliant form in the tournament and was unlucky to miss his ton by one mere run vs. United Arab Emirates. Farhaan Behardien, David Miller and Rilee Rossouw chipped in with 64, 49 and 43 as Hashim Amla, Jean-Paul Duminy and Quinton de Kock can pile up useful runs. Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir are their main wicket takers with 13 and 11 whereas Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbott, Duminy, Behardien and de Villiers are assisting them superbly.
The Pitch
The wicket has proved equally good for the batsmen and bowlers in the matches played so far.
Teams
Sri Lanka – Angelo Mathews (C), Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lasith Malinga.
South Africa – AB de Villiers (C), Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Jean-Paul Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Kyle Abbott, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel.
The first Quarter-Final of the event will be played between Sri Lanka, South Africa and that will be the thrilling encounter altogether. All 14 participating teams have played six matches each and just one between Australia and Bangladesh concluded without any result because of rain.
The Lankan Lions won four matches, lost two, attained eight points at a net run rate of +0.371 and were placed third in their pool. The Proteas got the same result, identical points with a net run rate of +1.707 and will fight hard with the Islanders to enter the top four.
Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan – Tons v Scotland
Players to watch
Kumar Sangakkara wrote his name in the history books by dispatching fourth consecutive hundred in the World Cup. He powered 124 runs and shared 195 runs partnership for the second wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan who smashed 104 against Scotland. Their strong batting line-up includes Lahiru Thirimanne, Mahela Jayawardene and Kusal Perera while Angelo Mathews leads the side from the front as an all-rounder. Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Seekkuge Prasanna, Nuwan Kulasekara and Dushmantha Chameera form a formidable bowling unit.
AB de Villiers continued with his brilliant form in the tournament and was unlucky to miss his ton by one mere run vs. United Arab Emirates. Farhaan Behardien, David Miller and Rilee Rossouw chipped in with 64, 49 and 43 as Hashim Amla, Jean-Paul Duminy and Quinton de Kock can pile up useful runs. Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir are their main wicket takers with 13 and 11 whereas Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbott, Duminy, Behardien and de Villiers are assisting them superbly.
The Pitch
The wicket has proved equally good for the batsmen and bowlers in the matches played so far.
Teams
Sri Lanka – Angelo Mathews (C), Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lasith Malinga.
South Africa – AB de Villiers (C), Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Jean-Paul Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Kyle Abbott, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel.
