Cricket World Cup

Queenstown's bid to host 2015 Cricket World Cup matches will have to be debated around the council table next week before going any further.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has a date with destiny that could catapult him into a different stratosphere in terms of Indian sports stars.

A fortuitous 85 from Sachin Tendulkar was followed by a disciplined bowling effort as India beat Pakistan by 29 runs in a high-stakes semifinal to progress to the World Cup final against Sri Lanka.

What more can anyone ask? The New Zealand cricketers over achieved simply by making the semifinals of the World One Day cricket cup against Sri Lanka.

Once again New Zealanders celebrate a fourth placing at an international sporting event, but in all honesty could we have expected anything else? The Black Caps endured a painful losing streak and lack of form prior to the World Cup and many felt they wouldn't make it far in this tournament.

Tempers flared in the quarterfinal between New Zealand and South Africa last week and it may be a sign that this will be the World Cup where the Kiwis mean business.

Former national cricket coach Warren Lees says all the pressure will be on Sri Lanka tonight as New Zealand tries, for the sixth time, to make a World Cup final.

New Zealanders always revel in being the underdog, says big-hitting batsman Ross Taylor, and it works even better for them in big matches.

Prime Minister John Key has declined an invitation from Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse to attend the Cricket World Cup semifinal between the two countries.

South Africa's sports ministry and cricket federation will hold a review into their team's failure following another knockout stage defeat at the World Cup.