So with the final three games finally here, we look forward with much anticipation to the two semi finals over today and tomorrow. But with the champions gone and New Zealand the only non-sub continental tem remaining, much fun waits!

Today – Sri Lanka v New Zealand

This game is somewhat a carbon copy of the preview between South Africa and New Zealand – will the favourite fire or will the underdog bark?

Sri Lanka

One wonders how much the game against England was really a test for them considering the way England have gone this World Cup. But you can only beat your opponents as they say and that’s exactly what they did.

How to beat NZ?

If there’s one thing we’ve found out from New Zealand this tournament is that their spin options have done minimal damage, even with luck (sorry Amla). If the top order can get over the quick bowlers like Southee and Oram, Sri Lanka will do well.

Sri Lanka has a strong bowling and batting line up, but last time against England their fielding was a disgrace. They dropped Eoin Morgan that many times I wanted to put my Puma’s on and run onto the field. Even if that hindered their performance.

Pakistan will testify what could happen if you drop catches against New Zealand. Ross Taylor hit a wonderful century after being dropped – on zero. In a World Cup semi final blood will be pumping, so the Lankans really need to step up in the field.

New Zealand

Spirited performance by New Zealand against South Africa. Backs against the walls stuff and you feel as if they really are playing for all that has happened to their country of late. They’ve had their fair share of luck on their way to the semi, but we shouldn’t be surprised, they’ve made the semi’s in three of the last four world cups.

How to beat SL?

New Zealand has played well, but they’ll need to step it up a whole notch to trouble the Sri Lankans. Their batting needs work and they need someone other than Ross Taylor to anchor that middle order. Jess Ryder stepped up last time to some degree, but really we’ve seen minimal resistance against bigger opponents.

The bowlers should be confident after South Africa, anyone should be after the way they turned it around against South Africa. The key really does lie with SL captain Sangakkara. If they can poach some early wickets, they’ll trade any of them for his scalp. Add to that Jayawardene and the two openers and it’s a formidable task.

However, besides those four Sri Lanka really haven’t been tested in the middle-lower order. So the key will be early wickets for New Zealand, unsettle the top order and all of a sudden you’ve got batsmen in the middle who’ve barely played this world cup.

——

Tomorrow – India v Pakistan

The hype has been building as we gear up for another chapter in the epic rivalry between these two neighbours. It’s being lapped up as India’s batsmen versus Pakistan’s bowlers (just as every game involving India has). But Pakistan probably do have the best bowling line up in the competition as India probably have the best batting line up.

India

Their bowlers really stepped up against Australia as did their fielding. They saved a good ten to twenty runs against the Aussies and if they’re just as determined against the Pakis they’ll do well. The lower middle order is still a little concern, the most captain Dhoni, who has been hard to watch during this World Cup with the willow.

How to beat Pakistan?

Bowl them out. Sounds ridiculously simple, but as the Canadians will tell you, rock the boat early and the whole thing will sink. West Indies wasn’t even a real match for Pakistan and their middle order isn’t anything special. They’ve got the other Akmal, Younis, Misbah and Afridi. Take out Akmal and you’ve got three pretty out of form batsmen.

India has the bowlers to do the damage and they should take courage of their ability to hold Australia to a par score at their last outing. Zaks has been one of the best players of the tournament and his ability to reverse the old ball in the middle of the innings will be crucial. Add to that a genuine all-rounder in Yuvi and a fearless Ashwin and the talent is there.

Sehwag will be after a big score after failing pretty much in all of his innings after his game one hundred. To be fair to India, they’ve all shared the workload with regular contributions, but they might need someone to anchor the innings against Pakistan. Don’t forget they’re at home, so expect a fiery crowd to be at their best against India’s biggest rival in sport.

Pakistan

Have been absolutely ruthless with the ball in the tournament. Umar Gul has added a pace aspect to an otherwise spinning line up. In saying that though, Pakistan has the best spinners in the competition. However, there are some concerns regarding that middle order when it comes to batting.

How to beat India?

South Africa has been the only ones to do it and they did it by exposing the fragilities of some young and inexperienced players. Kohli and Raina (who should play) are good players but as we saw against Australia with Kohli, they sometimes tend to get a little carried away.

Pakistan also needs to target whoever plays as the second seamer. Frankly, this is definitely India’s Achilles heel. Whoever plays out of Munaf, Sressanth or Nehra – the top order needs to go after them because they would be silly trying to take risks of Zaks.

India’s primary spin options in Yuvi, Bhaji and Ashwin are solid, but Misbah and Younis need to rise to the occasion and prove how good they are against spin. If Pakistan builds up with wickets in hand, they can leave Afridi and Razzak to do the damage late on.

PREDICTIONS

We think Sri Lanka will power home against New Zealand. NZ lack depth in batting and bowling whilst Sri Lanka is the exact opposite. Sri Lanka will also have a home crowd behind them, a bridge to far for the valiant Kiwis. SL by 5 wickets / 55 runs.

As we said before the competition even started in our team previews, we’re sticking with an India v Sri Lanka grand final. India should be pumped after their win over Australia and one feels their golden generation of players that is coming through is good enough to beat Pakistan. India by 3 wickets / 20 runs.