Proteas conclude warm-up matches and gets more than they bargained for

The competitiveness at the International Cricket Council’s 2015 World Cup will intensify as the top teams in the world take each other on.

This was dearly felt by a geared-up Castle Lager Proteas team when they took on New Zealand in their last warm-up match.

The ICC 2015 World Cup has started in all earnest with the two hosts Australia taking on England and New Zealand to show their skills against Sri-Lanka on Saturday February 14 respectively.

South Africa will face the stern opposition from near neighbours, Zimbabwe in their opening encounter on Sunday February 16 in the early hours of South Africa time. (03:00 South African time)

“Zimbabwe is an unpredictable team and in all measures a good one. This is a tournament and we will take each game one by one,” said head coach of the Proteas Russel Domingo. “We will not get in front of ourselves and will play to win each play-off game.”

“We know that we are called chokers in the past, but this is our tournament now and we will play according to our abilities. We have a good balanced team, our batmen will support the bowlers and vice versa,” said ODI captain AB de Villiers, before leaving the shores of South Africa to lead his team against the world’s best.

The competitive start of the World Cup can’t come soon enough for the Castle Lager Proteas, judging from their off-colour performance in their final warm-up match against New Zealand at Christchurch on Wednesday.

The hosts won by a massive 134 runs, after compiling an impressive 331/8 in their 50 overs, and then running through the Proteas top order, who were 62/6 midway through the 14th over.

Trent Boult, who finished with 5/51, did most of the damage before JP Duminy (80 off 98 balls, eight fours) and Vernon Philander (57 off 84 balls, four fours) brought some respectability to proceedings with a seventh wicket stand of 121.

Their final total of 197 was still a poor effort, particularly the fact that they did not even bat until the end of the 45th over.

The New Zealand innings was a consistent one, in which virtually every player plus extras reached double figures, without anybody going on to play a big innings. There were, in fact, only two half-centuries from Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson.

Philander, Kyle Abbott and Wayne Parnell took two wickets each.

The Proteas rested Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn, while AB de Villiers returned to lead the side. Farhaan Behardien was not able to bat or bowl, because of a back injury.

Castle Lager Protea team will be announced before the match for their first ODI in the ICC 2015 World Cup.