Cricket World Cup 2015 Table: Updated Pools After South Africa vs Ireland Result
South Africa proved once again why they are one of the hotly tipped favourites to win the 2015 World Cup as they crushed Ireland by 201 runs in Canberra on Tuesday.
The Proteas smashed a total of over 400 for the second consecutive Pool B clash, with Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis both scoring centuries as South Africa posted 411 after having scored 408 against West Indies on Friday.
Ireland fell well short in the chase, being bowled out for just 210. South Africa now look to be building well into the tournament after an initial slow start against Zimbabwe was followed by a crushing defeat to India.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Here are the latest pool standings after Tuesday's action:
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Net Run Rate | Points |
| New Zealand | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.59 | 8 |
| Sri Lanka | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.13 | 6 |
| Bangladesh | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.13 | 3 |
| Australia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -0.31 | 3 |
| Afghanistan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -0.76 | 2 |
| England | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -1.20 | 2 |
| Scotland | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -1.74 | 0 |
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Net Run Rate | Points |
| India | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.63 | 6 |
| South Africa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.95 | 6 |
| West Indies | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -0.31 | 4 |
| Ireland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -1.14 | 4 |
| Zimbabwe | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -0.72 | 2 |
| Pakistan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -1.37 | 2 |
| UAE | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -1.33 | 0 |
South Africa won the toss at the Manuka Oval on Tuesday and elected to bat, an ominous sign for any opposing team when facing the Proteas, per cricket writer Freddie Wilde:
Following the early fall of Quinton de Kock—for one in the third over—Amla and Du Plessis got to work on punishing the Irish bowling.
The pair put on 247 runs together, with Amla leading from the front as he smashed 14 fours and four sixes. According to Opta, Kevin O'Brien took a fair amount of punishment in particular:
Du Plessis eventually fell for 109 off 109 balls before Amla was dismissed by Andy McBrine for 159.
However, there was to be no end to the onslaught, as David Miller and Rilee Rossouw came to the crease and added further quick-fire runs, per ByTheMin Cricket:
South Africa arguably have the best ODI batting lineup in the world, and they showed again on Tuesday why they are so very dangerous, even without a significant contribution from skipper AB de Villiers, who added just 24 runs.
In response, Ireland crumbled to 48-5 inside 11 overs, as Kyle Abbott and Dale Steyn shared five early wickets.
Andrew Balbirnie and O'Brien then added some respectability to the score with a sixth-wicket stand of 81, but Ireland were eventually bowled out for 210 in 45 overs.
It was the first loss of the competition for the Irish, and their net run rate took a beating, but they are still well placed to make it to the knockout rounds.
However, they need to up their performance for key upcoming clashes with Zimbabwe and Pakistan, their Pool B rivals, with cricket statistician Mazher Arshad shedding some light on the situation:
South Africa, meanwhile, need only to beat one of Pakistan or the United Arab Emirates to guarantee qualification to the quarter-finals.
They will, of course, be looking to win both convincingly in order to pick up the easiest draw possible in the last eight, and in this kind of form, only a fool would bet against them doing just that.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
