South Africa’s three-spinner attack has opponents in a twirl

After the shock and turmoil of Ireland’s historic victory at the cricket World Cup this week, normal service was resumed Friday.

The usual order of things was restored by New Zealand, who easily reached tournament minnows Zimbabwe’s 162-run target without losing a wicket, and the West Indies, who skittled out co-hosts Bangladesh for just 58 runs, finishing off the day’s play after a total of just 31 overs of the possible 100.

Likewise, the day before, Test nations Pakistan and South Africa had demolished Canada and the Netherlands.

What is becoming increasingly clear is that the run rates and totals being scored in this tournament – particularly on the shirt-flat wickets in India, such as at Bangalore and Delhi – are going to exceed all previous records.

Long gone are the days when 6 runs per over was seen as something special: 320-340 runs off the 50 overs looks like it may become the “par” score for all teams as we approach the quarter-finals.

The coming week’s group matches are again a bit of a mixed bag, with only one or two looking more competitive than others. But they start with a real cracker of a game on Saturday, when Sir Lanka take on the three-time defending champions Australia in Colombo.

The game is so tight in prospect that the books can’t split the sides, offering the Sri Lanka and the Australia win as joint-favorite at Evens. Probably best for punters to sit back and enjoy this one, then, where we reckon the Sri Lankans, on home turf, will have more guile in the spin department and better middle order batting than the dogged, but not brilliant, 2011 vintage Aussies.

Sunday’s games will see the Irish brought back to reality with a bang, as they will get thumped by India in Bangalore. The co-hosts are 1/25 to win this one. Lightning, surely, can’t strike twice, with Ireland on offer at 20/1 to win the game.

In Chennai, South Africa, with their three-spinner bowling attack, are rapidly emerging as the team everyone thinks might challenge India in the final. Just the sort of game, then, that Andrew Strauss’s England side could do without off the back of the demoralizing defeat to Ireland.

Back South Africa now, at 2/1, to make the final next month. The Springboks’ 7/2 odds to win the tournament may also be attractive – India remain favourites, at 11/4; Australia and Sri Lanka are now 11/2 joint third favourites to win the tournament. Tellingly, England have slipped to 12/1 shots to win the World Cup.

South Africa are 3/5 to win their game against England (17/10), which makes total sense.

Monday sees a match of the minnows, Canada and Kenya: 5/6 on the Canadians looks the bet.

The next big game is Tuesday in Kandy, when New Zealand meet Pakistan.

After winning their first three games, the Pakistanis, too, are looking like a force going forward in the tournament, and at 2/3 should be backed to beat 5/3 shots New Zealand in this game.

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