Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

It seems an age since the Cricket World Cup blasted into our lives on Valentine's Day, with the frenetic action of the opening stanzas replaced with a series of matches that have counted for little in the race for the CWC trophy.

Sideline Sid fully supports the ICC initiatives to reduce the length of the CWC tournament in future, and in his considered opinion, the tournament has just gone through the motions in the last couple of weeks.

Crowd numbers in both Australia and New Zealand, when the minnows have been squaring off against each other, have reflected the apathy of cricket fans in games that count for nothing.

However, the past couple of weeks are firmly behind us, as the business end of the tournament approaches this week. Venues will be sold out and cricket fans will be riveted to television screens as the post section matches are played out.

While the four quarter-finals have strong, clear-cut favourites, the nature of ‘winner take all' cricket suggests that upsets are on the cards. Sideline Sid is likely to be bleary eyed after four days and nights of back-to-back quarter-final matches.

While South Africa are firm favourites to beat Sri Lanka in quarter-final one in Sydney, the Asian side know how to win the CWC and have some of the best batsmen in the world.

It would be the biggest CWC upset ever if Bangladesh gets past an Indian juggernaut at the MCG. While every man and his dog will want to back Australia to beat Pakistan, the Aussie's opponents know how to get out of jail – just ask the 1992 New Zealand side.

That brings us to the last quarter-final, where the Black Caps will meet the West Indies at the Kiwi fortress of Eden Park.

While the formbook would suggest a comfortable New Zealand win, this is the big stage and if Chris Gayle and the other Caribbean blasters hit form, we could be in trouble.

However, with a four million fan base and the Western Bay Black Caps of Trent Boult, Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson all in form, the Black Caps should progress to the semi-finals.

While my heart says New Zealand to win the 2015 Cricket World Cup, the reality is if we get to the last four, the Black Caps are likely to meet a rampant Indian team. The old fella sees an Australia verses New Zealand Final, if we can get past the mighty challenge of India.

The business end of the local cricket season has also arrived, with Baywide and Western Bay semi-finals taking place this weekend.

Three Western Bay teams are involved in the Williams Cup playoffs, however Rotorua Central finished as top qualifiers and are determined to add the Baywide big prize to their T20 trophy that they won last month.

The new Williams Cup post-section format matches up Central with Cadets, who finished second in the round robin competition. The winner secures a direct route to the Grand Final, with the loser meeting the winner of the Mount Maunganui v Te Puke match, to find the second finalist.

In the Western Bay Reserve Grade playoffs, Katikati - fresh from winning the McNaughton Trophy last weekend - will play Cadets, with top qualifier R&A Sangha squaring off with Greerton.

The B Grade Championship sees Mount Maunganui meeting multiple B Grade titleholders Grasshoppers, with Te Puke region Singh XI facing defending titleholders Wanderers.