ICC World Cup 2011 Prediction For Final: India Vs Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka are set to meet New Zealand in the first semi-final of ICC World Cup 2011, at Colombo, on Tuesday, March 29. This will be followed by a much-awaited India-Pakistan clash at Mohali on March 30.

Before I give my predictions about how the semi-finals are likely to go, here's how the last two quarter-finals panned out:

Sri Lanka inflicted a facile 10-wicket defeat on England, in the last quarter-final, to set up a semi-final clash with New Zealand, who had earlier stunned South Africa, in the third quarter-final.

When England won the toss and elected to bat, there were those who thought Strauss had evened the odds against the hosts, on a wicket expected to favour the team batting first. After the loss of three wickets, with less than a hundred runs on the board, England recovered well and at 186 for 3 in the 43rd over appeared set to post a total well in excess of 250. The loss of two wickets in successive balls in the batting Power Play was a blow from which Strauss's men never recovered.

Though the target of 230 that England finally set Sri Lanka was never going to be enough, the ease with which Sri Lanka chased it down was a bit of an anticlimax.

The appointment of John Wright and Alan Donald as coaches, at the helm of the New Zealand squad, has paid off handsomely, after New Zealand beat South Africa, in what was billed by some as the battle of the chokers.

Electing to bat, after winning the toss, the Kiwis were reduced to 16/2 in the sixth over, and an early epitaph appeared in order. Ryder recovered his form when he needed it most and in the company of Taylor, steadied the ship. At 153/3 in the 38th over, Vettori's men appeared poised for a 250-plus total. A regular loss of wickets saw the Kiwis restricted to 221, a score that appeared modest on a ground where India had posted 370/4 in the cup opener.

The loss of Hashim Amla's wicket in the first over of South Africa's chase did nothing to change the perception that the target set was too low to trouble the Proteas. At 108/2, after 24 overs, this perception had gained strength. Even when, on the next ball, Kallis got out caught brilliant by Oram off Southee on the mid-wicket fence, there was no indication of what was to follow. De Villiers was still there, batting on 25, and appeared set for a big knock.

As it transpired, Duminy departed early and De Villiers was run out shortly thereafter and suddenly, the Proteas were 121/5. It was Jacob Oram's day as the big-built all-rounder took three wickets to drive the final nail in.

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