Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule: Fixtures and Predicted Semi-Final Line-Up
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Eight teams remain at the 2015 World Cup with the only Test-playing casualties of the group stages being England and Zimbabwe.
South Africa's clash with Sri Lanka is the pick of the quarter-final matchups, as a very strong Proteas side take on the three-time former finalists.
Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand will take on Pakistan and West Indies respectively, while defending champions India meet Bangladesh.
Here is the full schedule for the quarter-finals as well as predictions as to who will advance to the last four:
| Date | Time (GMT) | Fixture | Venue | Predicted Winner |
| March 18 | 3:30 a.m. | South Africa vs. Sri Lanka | Sydney | Sri Lanka |
| March 19 | 3:30 a.m. | India vs. Bangladesh | Melbourne | India |
| March 20 | 3:30 a.m. | Australia vs. Pakistan | Adelaide | Australia |
| March 21 | 1:30 a.m. | New Zealand vs. West Indies | Wellington | New Zealand |
BBC Sport
Sri Lanka hold the edge against South Africa for their Sydney clash because of the immense experience in their side and their tournament acumen.
The Sri Lankans are experts when it comes to the knockout rounds of major tournaments, they have been in the last two World Cup finals, as well as appearing in three of the last four finals at the World Twenty20.
Players like Kumar Sangakkara—in immense form after four consecutive centuries at the World Cup—Mahela Jayawardene andLasith Malinga know how to get the job done in the knockout rounds of major tournaments.
Conversely, South Africa have an awful record—they have never won a knockout game at a World Cup—despite consistently arriving at tournaments with strong teams.
In AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn they have arguably two of the best ODIplayers in the world, but while South Africa certainly have the ability to beat Sri Lanka, history is against them.
But it is sure to be a tight and fascinating contest, per cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle:
The Aussies face a tricky test in unpredictable and improving Pakistan, who made it through to the knockout rounds with victory in the last of the group-stage matches against Ireland.
Pakistan started poorly in the competition, losing to India and West Indies, before winning four on the bounce, including an impressive victory over South Africa, inspired by left-arm bowling trio Wahab Riaz,Rahat Ali and Mohammad Irfan.
Australia and Pakistan meet in Adelaide, with the home advantage likely to be key for Michael Clarke's side who have impressed in the main so far.
Mitchell Starc has been the key man with the ball, per Sky SportsCricket, and the Australian pace attack should see them through to the semi-finals, although it will be a close-run thing:
India and New Zealand are the form teams so far at the World Cup, both having won all six of their group encounters.
The Black Caps' quarter-final with West Indies in Wellington should certainly be a home win as New Zealand's immense batting lineup—including the likes of Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson—can see them through to the semi-finals.
The Windies bowling attack is unconvincing at best and the Kiwis have by far the better all-round team.
The West Indies' main threat will come with the bat, and if Chris Gayle finds his form he could lead his side to an upset—see his 215 against Zimbabwe in the group stages as evidence of that threat.
However, the left-hander has scored few runs in any of the Windies' other games, and he was not in the squad against the UAE as he was out injured—not a good sign with a quarter-final imminent.
Equally, India should have the beating of Bangladesh in Melbourne; the defending champions having shown terrific form throughout the tournament, with the bowlers performing to a very high standard and the majority of the batsmen in fine shape.
India are incredibly experienced in the latter stages of major tournaments, and although Bangladesh showed great resilience and quality in beating England and running New Zealand very close, it would constitute one of the World Cup's biggest upsets if they make the semi-finals.
Thus, India look set for a mouth-watering semi-final with hosts Australia in Sydney, and New Zealand will be hoping to make their first ever World Cup final in a last-four clash with Sri Lanka.
It has been a high-standard tournament thus far, and things look set to only get better as the business end gets under way.
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