From Heroes To Survivors

The slip and slide has been drastic for the hosts. But unlike the television series (reality or otherwise), South Africa will not have to wait long before the next battle is upon them.
Call it the bane or the boon of the fast paced format, but South Africa have just a day between their two Group B matches to sort out their flaws and survive in the ICC Champions Trophy. Their match then against New Zealand occupies pivotal importance, one they simply cannot afford to take lightly.
South Africa’s captain, Graeme Smith, took it on the chin and refused to give rustiness as an excuse, although he now knows that bravado must give way to serious action. There is now more than stake than having once again lost the ICC ODI top ranking.
Perhaps New Zealand would have enjoyed a more relaxed South Africa because the situation can now work both ways. Either the South Africans get nerve racked and end up slipping further against Daniel Vettori’s men or get so charged up after their defeat against Sri Lanka that they decimate Vettori’s already struggling team, whose batting has been prone to slide.
For South Africa, they must beat New Zealand in order to stand a chance to get to the semi finals, and if they do, England await them, no doubt pleased at what they have seen and take heart from it.