Cricket World Cup 2015 Quarter-Finals: Dates, Live Stream, Odds, Predictions
The two co-hosts of the 2015 World Cup, New Zealand and Australia, eased through to the quarter-finals and will be looking to make the last four as they aim for home glory.
The Kiwis face West Indies in the quarter-finals after topping Pool A with a perfect record, while the Aussies face a tricky task against mercurial Pakistan.
Pre-tournament second-favourites South Africa will be hoping to finally win a World Cup knockout match, but they face a very challenging Sydney match-up against Sri Lanka, with defending champions India set to take on Bangladesh.
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Here are the full details for all four quarter-final clashes as well as match odds (in brackets):
| Fixture | Date | Time (GMT) | Venue | Prediction |
| South Africa (4-9) vs. Sri Lanka (7-4) | March 18 | 3:30 a.m. | Sydney | Sri Lanka Win |
| India (1-6) vs. Bangladesh (4-1) | March 19 | 3:30 a.m. | Melbourne | India Win |
| Australia (2-9) vs. Pakistan (3-1_ | March 20 | 3:30 a.m. | Adelaide | Australia Win |
| New Zealand (2-7) vs. West Indies (5-2) | March 21 | 1:30 a.m. | Wellington | New Zealand Win |
All matches can be viewed on Sky Sports 2 and live streamed via Sky Go.
New Zealand vs. West Indies
New Zealand return to Wellington for their quarter-final against West Indies, and the ground at which they bowled out England for 123, courtesy of Tim Southee's 7-33.
The seam bowling pair of Southee and Trent Boult will be key against the Windies—who have a strong batting lineup—and if they can get the ball to swing, they should be damaging.
They have taken 28 wickets between them so far in the tournament, backed up brilliantly by the spin of Daniel Vettori, who has 13 scalps of his own and a terrific boundary record, per Opta:
Chris Gayle can destroy any bowling attack in the world if given the opportunity, but he is unlikely to be given an inch by the Kiwis, with West Indies' key batsman also not 100 per cent fit after having to sit out the last group game against UAE.
New Zealand hold the edge in the conditions, the bowling attack, a destructive batting lineup and a tremendous skipper in Brendon McCullum.
Considering the Black Caps' form and quality, they should make it seven wins from seven in the tournament on Saturday and move on to the semi-finals.
Prediction: New Zealand win
South Africa vs. Sri Lanka
Of the players still left in the tournament, no batsman has scored more runs than AB de Villiers, apart from quadruple centurion Kumar Sangakkara.
The respective performances of both players will be vital to the outcome of Wednesday's Sydney clash. If both score big, it's anyone's game, if neither do, it's similarly open.
But if Sangakkara goes big and De Villiers doesn't—or vice-versa—that could decide the game.
De Villiers returns to the sight of his blistering 162 against West Indies and he will be looking for help from the openers in the quarter-finals.
The bowling units are fairly evenly matched—Dale Steyn and Lasith Malinga the blockbuster attractions—but Sri Lanka's experience could be telling, as could South Africa's historic inability to win a single World Cup knockout match.
Prediction: Sri Lanka win
Australia vs. Pakistan
Pakistan could not have had a worse start to their World Cup campaign as they were thrashed by India and West Indies, but they turned things around with four consecutive victories, including a final win against Ireland which secured their passage to the knockout rounds.
Australia, on the other hand, have been largely consistent, losing only to New Zealand as they thrashed Scotland, England, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan—their match against Bangladesh was rained off.
In Mitchell Starc they have the tournament's leading wicket-taker, and they have match-winners throughout the side in David Warner, Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson, hence their favourites tag, per ICC:
Pakistan just simply don't have that sort of depth in their side and a partisan Adelaide crowd will make it an even tougher task for the subcontinent outfit.
Australia have been more consistent and more destructive with both bat and ball and should prevail against Pakistan barring an uncharacteristic collapse.
Prediction: Australia win
India vs. Bangladesh
Ahead of the tournament Down Under, India were wretched, unable to win a match and with a bowling attack described by former England captain Michael Vaughan as " like a pub team," per BBC Sport.
However, they have turned things around in some style, per cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, winning all six of their group games and taking all 10 wickets in each match:
MS Dhoni and his side seem to have an immense ability to turn their form around when it really matters, and as well as their strong bowling attack, they have key batsmen in terrific form—three of whom have scored centuries at the tournament.
Bangladesh have done very well to make the knockout stages, their key victory coming against England, and they do have form in beating India having prevailed against them in the group stages at the 2007 World Cup.
But they are heavily reliant on Mahmudullah with the bat and will surely be unable to prevent India from marching on to the semi-finals.
Prediction: India win
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