South Africa scoring rate under focus (17 May 1999)

17 May 1999

South Africa scoring rate under focus

Trevor Chesterfield

CHELMSFORD (England) - As the static over the airwaves about South Africa's ear plugs controversy loses its crackle the team came under a new spot light yesterday. This one is about the consistency of the run rate which has other World Cup teams looking at the favourites scoring methods.

Bob Woolmer, the coach, gives an enigmatic smile when the question pops up about the team 's targets in the various overs of a limited-overs match. But the general idea is for South Africa to have around 75 runs on the board by the time the restrictions are removed after 15 overs. It was 75 against India at Hove last Saturday and in the two warm up matches we had scores of 86 after 15 overs against Kent in Canterbury and 78 against Middlesex a week ago at Southgate.

When questioned once on the 15 overs target, the skipper Hansie Cronje, admitted that the 75 runs target was part of the planning: whether setting or chasing targets. Nothing wrong with that, just adjusting sights in terms of working out run rates.

It gives Cronje, and Woolmer, an idea of how they are progressing. If they are under it is means stepping up the run rate over the next five to 10 overs; if they are ahead it is a bonus, but does not mean the side is going top relax the run-scoring tempo. Especially in a tournament such as the World Cup where net run rate can be crucial in a side's placing in the Super Sixes.

The ploy to use Mark Boucher at three and continue with Jacques Kallis at four is to give South Africa a settled top four and so far it has worked well. It is going to be in use against Sri Lanka at Northampton tomorrow where the 5/2 favourites play their second Group A game.

South Africa are unlikely to make any changes to the side which beat India and with Steve Elworthy's calf muscle injury a thing of the past the full squad is likely to be considered, but at this rate the first time fringe players will get a chance is in Amsterdam against Kenya.

As Sri Lanka rethink their World Cup strategy after losing to England at Lord's, Arjuna Ranatunga knows it is going to be a far tougher to keep their hopes alive of retaining their crown if they are beaten by the professionally run South Africans.

The team who shook the game by winning the 1996 tournament in Lahore have been working hard to overcome the disappointment their heavy defeat by England.

It is only the second time the two sides will have met in the World Cup with Sri Lanka winning the first encounter at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on a chilly March day in 1992. The tea islanders won off the penultimate ball of that match and countries were drawn in opposite sections in 1996.

Cronje is as usual confident yet cautious, warning against taking any side too lightly in Group A. It is an understandable view. But the side's strength is more than just the all-rounders; it is also up front and should Gary Kirsten fail again he is going to be under pressure for the game against England.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield