Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule: Updated Fixtures, Timetable and Predictions
Ireland narrowly beat the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday in Brisbane in arguably the most exciting game of the 2015 World Cup so far, the men in green coming through by two wickets with just four balls to spare at the Gabba.
The performances of the associate nations has been one of the key features of the tournament so far—a sentiment echoed by The Cricketer—with the UAE, Ireland, Afghanistan and Scotland all playing to a very high level:
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In the coming days of World Cup action, a handful of huge clashes between the so-called heavyweights of cricket are set to take place.
Read on for the complete updated schedule for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, as well as predictions for a couple of key upcoming encounters.
| Date | Start Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue |
| Feb. 27 | 3:30 a.m. | South Africa v West Indies | Sydney |
| Feb. 28 | 1 a.m. | Australia v New Zealand | Auckland |
| Feb. 28 | 6:30 a.m. | India v UAE | Perth |
| March 1 | 10 p.m. (day before) | England v Sri Lanka | Wellington |
| March 1 | 3:30 a.m. | Pakistan v Zimbabwe | Brisbane |
| March 3 | 3:30 a.m. | South Africa v Ireland | Canberra |
| March 4 | 1 a.m. | Pakistan v UAE | Napier |
| March 4 | 6:30 a.m. | Australia v Afghanistan | Perth |
| March 5 | 10 p.m. (day before) | Bangladesh v Scotland | Nelson |
| March 6 | 6:30 a.m. | India v West Indies | Perth |
| March 7 | 1 a.m. | South Africa v Pakistan | Auckland |
| March 7 | 3:30 a.m. | Zimbabwe v Ireland | Hobart |
| March 8 | 10 p.m. (day before) | New Zealand v Afghanistan | Napier |
| March 8 | 3:30 a.m. | Australia v Sri Lanka | Sydney |
| March 9 | 3:30 a.m. | England v Bangladesh | Adelaide |
| March 10 | 1 a.m. | India v Ireland | Hamilton |
| March 11 | 3:30 a.m. | Sri Lanka v Scotland | Hobart |
| March 12 | 1 a.m. | South Africa v UAE | Wellington |
| March 13 | 1 a.m. | Bangladesh v New Zealand | Hamilton |
| March 13 | 3:30 a.m. | England v Afghanistan | Sydney |
| March 14 | 1 a.m. | India v Zimbabwe | Auckland |
| March 14 | 3:30 a.m. | Australia v Scotland | Hobart |
| March 15 | 10 p.m. (day before) | West Indies v UAE | Napier |
| March 15 | 3:30 a.m. | Pakistan v Ireland | Adelaide |
| March 18 | 3:30 a.m. | Quarter-final 1 | Sydney |
| March 19 | 3:30 a.m. | Quarter-final 2 | Melbourne |
| March 20 | 3:30 a.m. | Quarter-final 3 | Adelaide |
| March 21 | 1 a.m. | Quarter-final 4 | Wellington |
| March 24 | 1 a.m. | Semi-final 1 | Auckland |
| March 25 | 3:30 a.m. | Semi-final 2 | Sydney |
| March 29 | 4:30 a.m. BST | Final | Melbourne |
New Zealand vs. Australia
The clash of the co-hosts, Saturday's Auckland match between New Zealand and Australia should be one of the highlights of the group stage.
Not only is it an encounter between two great rivals, but two of the best ODI sides in the world, and predicted by many to be a forerunner for Melbourne's final on March 29, per cricket writer Freddie Wilde:
It is also likely to be key in deciding who takes the all-important top spot in Pool A, which will likely lead to an easier quarter-final opponent.
The Kiwis started their tournament terrifically with a thumping 98-run victory over Sri Lanka, in which their fine batting unit piled on 331 runs.
However, they were run very close by minnows Scotland, the Black Caps winning by only three wickets as they chased a target of 143 for victory.
Most recently, though, the Black Caps crushed England by eight wickets, Tim Southee and skipper Brendon McCullum starring in Wellington, per England Cricket:
Australia were similarly comprehensive against England in their opener as they picked up an 111-run victory on opening day, Aaron Finch scoring 135.
However, the Aussies have not played a match since then, their second scheduled fixture against Bangladesh being rained off in Brisbane.
Thus, while Australia will be very fresh, New Zealand are likely to be in much better nick having played and won three matches already.
This could prove the difference at Eden Park, as both sides bat deep with explosive hitters throughout, while their bowling attacks are well-matched.
It is set to be a tight encounter with likely high scoring and an electric atmosphere guaranteed, but the Black Caps seemingly hold the edge given their home advantage and tournament form.
Prediction: New Zealand to win narrowly.
England vs. Sri Lanka
The other two heavyweight sides in Pool A meet on Sunday as inconsistent duo England and Sri Lanka face off in Wellington.
As noted above, England were humbled by both New Zealand and Australia in their opening two matches, while the Sri Lankans were soundly beaten by the Kiwis in the tournament's first match.
Sri Lanka looked slightly improved in beating Afghanistan by four wickets in their second match, but they certainly were nowhere near their best as they were run alarmingly close by relative minnows.
However, an impressive 92-run victory over Bangladesh on Thursday showed a vast improvement—Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara both contributing centuries to Sri Lanka's mammoth total of 332-1.
England will have taken great heart from an emphatic 119-run victory over Scotland—which included a fine century for opener Moeen Ali—but it was still far from a complete display, per The Sunday Times' Simon Wilde:
Thus, Sunday's clash sees two sides with much to prove—particularly England—and two sides who many saw pre-tournament as the likely other two quarter-finalists from Pool A behind New Zealand and Australia.
England have decent momentum coming into the fixture at the Westpac Stadium and must take advantage of the form of their openers, Ian Bell having supported Ali well against Scotland, per Opta:
However, Sri Lanka are arguably a stronger outfit than England, the likes of Lasith Malinga, Mahela Jayawardene, Dilshan and Sangakkara able to win games of cricket by themselves.
The conditions should favour England, though, and they must build on their winning momentum against Sri Lanka after a shocking start to the tournament.
Prediction: England to win narrowly.
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