Tuesday, 18th September 2007 at 4:29 pm

So far, so good for South Africa

If the West Indies World Cup was a dismal failure, then the World Twenty20 is proving the exact opposite: electric cricket, surpise results, belligerent crowds, and an overall injection of life the game desperately needed. Zimbabwe’s win over Australia competes with Chris Gayle’s opening hundred for highlight of the tournament thus far, but the blur of big hitting, desperate chases and all-round adrenaline has given the Twenty20 an irresistible allure.

That’s not in question; what is highly debatable is who’s going to win it. There’s a definite slice of lottery to the format, certainly, and the Zimbabwean win, coupled with Bangldesh’s progress to the Super Eights, has given the tournament an unexpected credibility - this isn’t simply another Australian stroll to a major title. But while Australia did suffer a spectacular loss first up, they’re still very much in contention, and the loss to Zimbabwe may well prove galvanising for the 50-over World Champions.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka have also had their moments, but at the risk of sounding like home team cheerleaders, Feverpitcher rather likes the look of the South Africans. The win over England was a good test of 20-over fortitude, and no one can match the collective artillery of the home side (highlighted by Albie Morkel’s 106-metre six, leading the tournament’s big hits). Standard Bank Pro20 cricket has familiarised South African fans with the vagaries of the shortest format of the game - but if we had to money down, we’d have it firmly on South Africa.