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| April 15, 2007 | Sunday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1428 |
It’s pressure time in the World Cup, says Smith
ST GEORGE’S, April 14: Pressure time has arrived in the World Cup, according to South African captain Graeme Smith. Speaking on Friday before his team's Super Eights match against New Zealand at the Grenada National Stadium on Saturday, Smith said: “At this stage of the tournament it's always going to be pressure time.”
He said, though, that the match isn't a crunch game.
“No matter whether we win tomorrow we still have to beat England (to qualify for the semi-finals). We know what we have to do and we want to come out and play like we did against the West Indies.”
Smith said he wanted a repeat of the sort of attacking performance that took his team to a match-winning total of 356 for four against the West Indies at the same ground Tuesday.
“We want to carry on playing that sort of cricket.”
Although beating England in Bridgetown on Tuesday may be essential for South Africa, who have a poor net run rate, Smith said New Zealand was an important match because of the influence it might have on the final Super Eights placings.
If South Africa beat New Zealand and the Kiwis lose to Australia in their final match, South Africa can push them down to fourth place – and a probable semi-final meeting with Australia in St Lucia – if they beat England.
Smith said New Zealand had reached a tough stage in their campaign but said South Africa would not under-estimate them despite their poor performance in losing against Sri Lanka in Grenada on Thursday.
“They're a well-balanced team and they've got a lot of options,” he said.
“On Thursday, they were put under pressure for the first time but they can easily bounce back. Often a day like that shows you what you need to do and the level you need to perform at. The defeat will put them under a bit more pressure but we're not going to take them for granted.”
Smith said all his players were fit, with Herschelle Gibbs having recovered from a calf injury.
“We know what this wicket plays like and most of our players are in pretty good form,” said the captain.
Smith acknowledged that South Africa's net run rate was poor.
“Net run rate could play a role but what's on our minds is that it is under our control. If we win the next two games we will cruise in to the semi-finals.
That's our focus. If we win the next two games it won't come down to run rate,” he said.—Agencies
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