Sport / Cricket World Cup 2015

Black Caps favourites for World Cup

12:03 pm on 19 March 2015

The Black Caps have been named the favourites to win the Cricket World Cup by an international poll.

New Zealand topped the BBC poll with 25.9 percent of the vote while South Africa, who crushed Sri Lanka by nine wickets with 32 overs to spare to set up a potential semi-final with the Black Caps in Auckland, were second with 22.8 percent.

Tim Southee - Cricket World Cup, New Zealand versus Bangladesh in Hamilton Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Co-hosts and pre-tournament favourites Australia were a close third with 22.2 percent, while India were fourth with 18.4 percent.

The Black Caps' quarter-final opponents the West Indies received just 1.1 percent of the vote.

New Zealand went unbeaten through pool play winning all six of their games to top pool A.

They take on the West Indies in Wellington on Saturday, with the winner to play South Africa in the final four clash at Eden Park next Tuesday.

India play Bangladesh in the tournament's second quarter-final in Melbourne on Thursday.