Virtual Semi Final

So this is what it has come down to, a playoff against India for a spot in Saturday's final. Although India's batting has been woeful thus far in the tournament, their greater big-match experience probably gives them the edge. That and the fact that they've made a habit out of bouncing back from disparaging defeats such as the one on Sunday against the Lankans.

If NZ pull this off it'll be quite an achievement. Jacob Oram, who bowled tidily in the previous games is out with injury which further weakens a brittle batting lineup. Kane Williamson is also in doubt. In such a situation what I'd really want is for Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins and Grant Elliott to shrug off a run of poor form and lack of matchplay, and put their hands up. You can't have to rely on just two middle order batsmen when guys like Vettori and McCullum are not around.

Similarly I hope the frontline bowlers tighten up after being relatively expensive in the Sri Lanka games. The game could potentially hinge on the Mills/Tuffey vs Sehwag (incidentally, Sehwag's first ODI century was against NZ in Colombo in the corresponding tri-series knockout game, 2001. Tuffey and Mills won't forget that knock in a hurry).

I can't help but feel the Lankans were rather lucky their previous game against NZ was rained off; they had scored 203 off 44 overs, and Taylor had sent them in knowing fully well a revised target was on the cards. In the event of a D/L affected target in 20-25 overs being set, NZ's big hitters would've surely backed themselves to get home.