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Kiwis cruise to win over S Africa

New Zealand's Scott Styris hits a boundary during the ICC World Cup Cricket Super Eight match between New Zealand and South Africa at Grenada National Stadium in Saint George's, Grenada, on Saturday. Styris scored 56 runs before being dismissed as New Zealand made 184-4 at the end of 46 overs as they chased South Africa's 193-7. PHOTO: AFP

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.

The Kiwis were never in trouble on their way to such a modest total and half centuries by Scott Styris (56) and Stephen 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 Proteas are two points ahead of England.

Fleming won the toss and told the South Africans to bat first.

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 were only 13-2 after 12 overs.

Gibbs went on to reach his eighth World Cup 50 before Fleming turned to allrounder Craig McMillan who 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.

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. They got there slowly, without taking risks. The Kiwis go into Friday's Super Eights game against Australia knowing both are already in the semi-finals.
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