CLARE LOVELL, London | Thursday 11.50am.
THE top box-office clash of the World Cup’s first round pits bookmaker’s choice South Africa against home favourites England at The Oval on Saturday, the same day that London also hosts soccer’s F.A. Cup final.
Both already look likely to progress further but Saturday’s contest has an extra significance. “It’s the big one,” England batting coach Graham Gooch said. “Whoever wins this one will come away with a lot of confidence for the rest of the tournament.”
England’s confidence and that of their noisy ‘barmy army’ of fans is already high after seeing off champions Sri Lanka in the opening match last Friday and cantering to a nine-wicket win over outsiders Kenya with 11 overs to spare on Tuesday.
“I’m very, very happy with our performances so far,” Stewart said. “But the match against South Africa will be the biggest in the group. They are the favourites.”
South Africa’s batting strength was in evidence on Wednesday when they wobbled at the top of the order against Sri Lanka but put on 77 for the last two wickets, including 22 off the last over, with number nine batsman Lance Klusener slamming 52 from 44 balls.
The two sides last met at The Oval a year ago bar a day. On May 21, 1988 South Africa’s seamers, relishing the big ground’s evenness and bounce, won the one-day match by three wickets with eight balls in hand. Jacques Kallis, the man who hit India round the Hove ground for 96 last week and took three Sri Lankan wickets on Wednesday, top scored that day with 62, while Jonty Rhodes offered the packed crowd an exquisite display of gymnastic fielding and end-of-innings hitting with 34 not out.
South Africa are as eager for a rematch as the English. Neither side have revealed their line-up for Saturday’s game.