Cricket 2007 World Cup Predictions

The opening rounds of the Cricket World Cup for 2007 are now completed and we move into the "Super 8s" phase of the competition, starting today (27 March). The top 8 teams - the top 2 from each of the 4 groups that formed the opening round - now play each other, except for the teams which have already played in the opening round. The 'winning' teams from the first round carry 2 points through to the "Super 8s" phase, while the remaining 4 teams start on 0 points. From here on, each win is worth 2 points, a draw or a tie is worth 1 point.

So Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies and New Zealand start with 2 points, while South Africa, England, Ireland (yes, Ireland!) and Bangladesh start with 0 points. Ireland make it through to the "Super 8s" in their first ever appearance at a World Cup at the expense of Pakistan, while Bangladesh also make it through for the first time, having knocked out cricketing heavyweight India.

Following the "Super 8s" phase, the top 4 teams play in the 2 Semi-Finals, with the winning Semi-Finalists playing each other in the Final on 28 April.

Here's a glimpse into the crystal ball to see how the matches turn out from here (winning team in BOLD, with the accrued points tally after each game):

27/3 - AUSTRALIA (4) vs West Indies (2) (the host nation plays the reigning World Champions, both teams starting on 2 points very keen to impress at this stage, play out a frenetic run-feast, West Indies bring out the very best in Australia in a close finish before a huge crowd)

28/3 - SOUTH AFRICA (2) vs Sri Lanka (2) (South Africa smarting from the loss to Australia a few days previously and behind on the table, too desperate for Sri Lanka)

29/3 - NEW ZEALAND (4) vs West Indies (2) (West Indies deflated after their close loss to Australia just 2 days previously, ground down by a solid allround performance from the Kiwis)

30/3 - ENGLAND (2) vs Ireland (0) (too much pride in this one, there's no way the English will let the mere Irish get over the top of them in the game they invented)

31/3 - AUSTRALIA (6) vs Bangladesh (0) (the World Champions will NOT allow a repeat of Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, 2005!)

1/4 - WEST INDIES (4) vs Sri Lanka (2) (West Indies after 2 losses and Sri Lanka after one loss, both desperate to get back into winning ways. West Indies rely on brilliance from the big stars to keep their semi-finals hopes barely alive, Sri Lanka now in danger of elimination)

2/4 - NEW ZEALAND (6) vs Bangladesh (0) (a closer match than New Zealand would have expected, hanging on in a thriller to go to the top of the table with the Aussies)

3/4 - SOUTH AFRICA (4) vs Ireland (0) (still trying to make up points on Australia, South Africa will not let this opportunity pass by - a big win)

4/4 - SRI LANKA (4) vs England (2) (Sri Lanka after two straight losses happy to meet England, a team they have had the wood on since their tour there in 2006, a comprehensive win to keep their hopes alive in the tournament)

7/4 - SOUTH AFRICA (6) vs Bangladesh (0) (South Africa are ruthless against lesser teams, keen to improve their net run rate as much as possible, too strong by a way, now level with the Aussies and Kiwis)

8/4 - ENGLAND (4) vs Australia (6) (brilliant performance from England's mercurial star Flintoff knocks the Aussies off their perch and gives them a sniff of hope, to the delight of all the other teams in the comp)

9/4 - NEW ZEALAND (8) vs Ireland (0) (it would be nice to see Ireland come away with another win, but we won't see it against New Zealand, Fleming and Vettori dominant as the Kiwis take outright lead in the comp)

10/4 - WEST INDIES (6) vs South Africa (6) (brilliant performances from Chris Gayle and one of their seamers knock the wind out of South Africa's sails, a big loss, keeping the Windies fans' faith alive)

11/4 - ENGLAND (6) vs Bangladesh (0) (England cock-a-hoop after their defeat of Australia get the scare of their life from the Bengalis, who take them all the way to the line)

12/4 - SRI LANKA (6) vs New Zealand (8) (lacklustre showing from the Kiwis, bamboozled by Murali and classy batting from the Lankans who need the win too much and are now almost back on track)

13/4 - AUSTRALIA (8) vs Ireland (0) (Australia won't let this go by, McGrath claims the all-time World Cup wickets record, a thumping win)

14/4 - SOUTH AFRICA (8) vs New Zealand (8) (New Zealand still at sea from the loss to Sri Lanka, South Africa also unimpressive but good enough)

15/4 - BANGLADESH (2) vs Ireland (0) (Bangladesh after pushing England so desperately, themselves get a scare from the Irish who come close to causing another upset)

16/4 - AUSTRALIA (10) vs Sri Lanka (6) (secretly fearing Sri Lanka more than any other team, the Aussies take Murali apart in a rampaging statement of intent)

17/4 - ENGLAND (8) vs South Africa (8) (solo brilliance from Pietersen eclipses a big South African scoreline, England now in with a real hope of making the semis)

18/4 - SRI LANKA (8) vs Ireland (0) (Sri Lanka in a must-win game make no mistakes)

19/4 - BANGLADESH (4) vs West Indies (6) (Windies knocked off balance by a highly focused Bangladesh who claim another big scalp, a huge disappointment for local fans, it'll all be down to the last "Super 8s" match for the hosts)

20/4 - AUSTRALIA (12) vs New Zealand (8) (tense, low-scoring match, Aussies overcome a blinding Bond spell and just scrape home, cruelly ending New Zealand's campaign in the process)

21/4 - WEST INDIES (8) vs England (8) (West Indies win under huge pressure, too good in all departments for England on the day and putting them out of contention after run rate is considered)

Points table after Super 8s

Australia 12

Sri Lanka 8

South Africa 8

West Indies 8

England 8

New Zealand 8

Bangladesh 4

Ireland 0

This leaves a rare 5-way tie on points for 2nd between Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, England and New Zealand, finishing in the order indicated on net run rate. Which leads us to the

Semi-Finals

24/4 - SRI LANKA vs South Africa (Sri Lanka very, very focused after a form slump in the middle of the Super 8s, come good at the right time while South Africa have just run out of steam)

25/5 - AUSTRALIA vs West Indies (West Indies so often disappointing in the biggest matches, but not this time as Australia is lucky to get over the line)

Final

28/4 - AUSTRALIA vs Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka not fully recovered from the Aussies' calculated attack in their previous encounter. Ponting's men coming in to this comp much less favoured than previously, out to prove a point and send McGrath into retirement a winner)

Article Source: http://www.new.citynewslive.com

Prachar Stegemann is a member of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team and helps to organise the popular Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon and Sri Chinmoy Triathlon Festival in Canberra, Australia. www.srichinmoyraces.org/au

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