Part of a misfiring middle-order which saw New Zealand upstaged South Africa in 2011 World Cup quarter-final in Dhaka, FAF DU PLESSIS occupies the crucial No 3 slot in a line-up that is billed as one of the hot favourites for the title this time.

Better known for his batting with the ability to score runs all around the wicket apart from a handy off-spinner, du Plessis has made a decent start with scores of 24 and 55 (against India) in the 2015 World Cup.

With the retirement of Jacques Kallis last year, the South Africans were definitely worried but du Plessis, who is the country’s T20 captain as well, has given them the much-needed cushion with his calm presence, on and off the field.

West Indies never looked like posting 300-plus total against Pakistan in Christchurch last Saturday. That was until ANDRE RUSSELL arrived in the middle to score at an astonishing strike of 323.07 as he bludgeoned 42 from mere 13 deliveries.

Russell, who has yet to prove his worth consistently as an all-rounder, ran off with the man-of-the-match award with three wickets with his seamers. If West Indies do go all the way then the 26-year-old Jamaican will be one of the reasons of their success.

At the last World Cup, Russell shone in patches and took 4-49 in a closely-fought game that his team ultimately lost against England in Chennai. South Africa would be hard-pressed to contain if Russell fires on all cylinders.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Can’t believe what I have achieved in this game. Thanks to Hamid and Shapoor for not letting my effort go in vain.”— Afghanistan batting hero Samiullah Shinwari, who made 96, thanking Shapoor Zadran and Hamid Hassan who saw the team home by one wicket against Scotland.

STAT OF THE DAY

14.19 — Scotland’s batting average in their 11 World Cup games. It’s the lowest among all teams which have played at least 10 matches in World Cups. They are followed by Canada (averaging 16.54 in 18 matches), Bangladesh (17.06 in 28) and Netherlands (19.80 in 20). The second lowest for a Test-playing country is Zimbabwe’s 22.69 in 54 World Cup fixtures.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2015

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