SA against Aus juggernaut
On a roll with an all-win record in the tournament so far, a rampaging Australia would look to beat a demoralised South Africa and seal a semifinal berth in their second Super Eights match here on Sunday.
The George Bailey-led side's nine-wicket win over 2007 champions India last night must have done a world of good to their morale after topping Group B with wins over Ireland and the West Indies and they would start as favourites on Sunday.
South Africa, on the other hand, would have to regroup after they shockingly let slip the Super Eights game against Pakistan from a winning position. The Proteas virtually had the game in their bag before allowing Umar Gul to run away with the match later.
The South Africans cannot repeat such a costly mistake against Australia on Sunday as that would mean exit for them and would only strengthen the "chokers" tag labelled on them in big tournaments.
The main worry for South Africa would be how to stop the swashbuckling Australian openers Shane Watson and David Warner, who have become the most successful pair in the T20 Internationals, from dictating terms on their bowlers.
The fast bowlers -- Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Watson -- also came through against India as they produce pace and bounce on a slowish Premadasa strip though they were expensive against the West Indies in their group match.
Left-arm spinner Brad Hogg has taken two wickets from the three matches he has played so far without being expensive and he can be handful if the pitch assists slow bowlers.
Faced with a do-or-die situation South Africa would be looking up to fast bowler Dale Steyn and veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis to come up trumps tomorrow while also hoping that the top-order, including Hashim Amla, post a big total.
Amla and his opening partner Richard Levi have not done much in the two matches after remaining not out in the group match against Zimbabwe and they need to fire against Australia if they want to stay afloat in the tournament.
The Proteas have a solid batting line-up with the likes of Kallis, J P Duminy and captain AB de Villiers coming down the order but they could score just 133 against Pakistan on Friday.
In the bowling front though, it will be interesting to see who does better tomorrow between a relatively inexperienced Australian attack and the South Africans who have veteran fast bowlers in the likes of Steyn, Kallis and the Morkel brothers.
In the spin department, another veteran Johan Botha has not done much in the three matches he played so far, having taken just one wicket but he can come in handy at the slowish Premadasa pitch tomorrow.
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