New Zealand, Sri Lanka join Australia in semis

BRIDGETOWN – New Zealand and Sri Lanka joined Australia in the World Cup semi-finals after a five-wicket victory for the Kiwis against South Africa that was a lot easier than expected.

South Africa and England will meet tomorrow to decide the last semi-finalist. New Zealand took quick control of the game in Grenada on Saturday by removing the South Africa openers for only three runs and restricting the Proteas to 193 for seven.Although the South Africans dropped catches, the Kiwis were never in trouble on their way to such a modest total and half centuries by Scott Styris (56) and Fleming (50) helped them get there with 10 balls to spare.New Zealand and Australia each have 10 points atop the Super 8s standings, with Sri Lanka third on eight.Because South Africa and England have to play each other, they both can’t reach eight points, assuring Sri Lanka of a spot.The fourth-place South Africans are still only two points ahead of England and meet captain Michael Vaughan’s team in Barbados for what will effectively be a decider in the race for a semi-final spot.After three overs, however, Graeme Smith and A.B.De Villiers were back in the pavilion with South Africa 3-2.Then, Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs got stuck on a pitch with plenty of movement and South Africa was only 13-2 after 12 overs.Gibbs went on to reach his eighth World Cup 50 before New Zealand sent on all-rounder Craig McMillan to set off a middle order collapse.Gibbs went for 60, Ashwell Prince for 37 and Mark Boucher for 16 as the Proteas slid from 128-3 to 149-6 by the 43rd over.Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall and Robin Peterson added 44 runs in the last seven to post a score which always looked reachable.New Zealand lost Peter Fulton for 16 and Ross Taylor for 10.But South Africa had chances to halt the New Zealand run charge only for wicketkeeper Boucher and Gibbs both put catches down off Fleming.But Fleming and Styris took the Black Caps past 100 by the 28th over and then began to strike out before Shaun Pollock returned to remove the captain and break a third-wicket stand of 78.That left New Zealand on 120-3, still needing 74 but with just under 20 overs to get them.It got there slowly but without taking risks.New Zealand now goes into a Super 8s game against Australia on Friday knowing both are already in the semi-final.Nampa-APNew Zealand took quick control of the game in Grenada on Saturday by removing the South Africa openers for only three runs and restricting the Proteas to 193 for seven.Although the South Africans dropped catches, the Kiwis were never in trouble on their way to such a modest total and half centuries by Scott Styris (56) and Fleming (50) helped them get there with 10 balls to spare.New Zealand and Australia each have 10 points atop the Super 8s standings, with Sri Lanka third on eight.Because South Africa and England have to play each other, they both can’t reach eight points, assuring Sri Lanka of a spot.The fourth-place South Africans are still only two points ahead of England and meet captain Michael Vaughan’s team in Barbados for what will effectively be a decider in the race for a semi-final spot.After three overs, however, Graeme Smith and A.B.De Villiers were back in the pavilion with South Africa 3-2.Then, Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs got stuck on a pitch with plenty of movement and South Africa was only 13-2 after 12 overs.Gibbs went on to reach his eighth World Cup 50 before New Zealand sent on all-rounder Craig McMillan to set off a middle order collapse.Gibbs went for 60, Ashwell Prince for 37 and Mark Boucher for 16 as the Proteas slid from 128-3 to 149-6 by the 43rd over.Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall and Robin Peterson added 44 runs in the last seven to post a score which always looked reachable.New Zealand lost Peter Fulton for 16 and Ross Taylor for 10.But South Africa had chances to halt the New Zealand run charge only for wicketkeeper Boucher and Gibbs both put catches down off Fleming.But Fleming and Styris took the Black Caps past 100 by the 28th over and then began to strike out before Shaun Pollock returned to remove the captain and break a third-wicket stand of 78.That left New Zealand on 120-3, still needing 74 but with just under 20 overs to get them.It got there slowly but without taking risks.New Zealand now goes into a Super 8s game against Australia on Friday knowing both are already in the semi-final.Nampa-AP