(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] The International Cricket Council (ICC) rated the Eden Gardens and the Narendra Modi Stadium pitches used for the ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final and final respectively as average.
ICC match referees Andy Pycroft and Javagal Srinath rated the tracks used for the knockout games in Kolkata and Ahmedabad respectively.
Both these matches were low-scoring affairs. Australia bundled South Africa at a total of 212 runs in 49.4 overs at the Eden Gardens. In what panned out as a thriller, Australia chased down the target in the 48th over with three wickets remaining.
There was a huge uproar on the Narendra Modi Stadium pitch for the World Cup final as it was alleged that India wanted to play the match on a slow and sluggish wicket. The surface turned out to be the same, however, the hosts still lost in a one-sided contest by six wickets after scoring just 240 runs in the first innings.
The Wankhede pitch used for the semi-final between India and New Zealand was rated good. That fixture was played on a belter of a track, which resulted in over 700 runs being scored across both the innings.
Notably, five out of 11 India matches were given the average pitch rating. Apart from the final, the other games are India versus South Africa in Kolkata, India versus England in Lucknow, India versus Pakistan in Ahmedabad and India vs Australia in Chennai.