South Africa win ODI Championship, $175,000

South Africa has won the annual International Cricket Council's (ICC) One-day Championship and a prize money of $175,000, pipping Australia by just 0.1199 rating points.

Australia won a consolation second prize of $75,000 but overcame the disappointment as it clinched the annual ICC Test Championship and the $175,000 that went with it.

In the ODI Championship race, both South Africa and Australia finished at 127 points. But a difference of 0.1199 separated them on further calculation.

"I'm delighted that we are top of the ODI Championship and I think it is a just reward for all the hard work and dedication the guys have shown over the past 18 months or so," said South Africa captain Graeme Smith.

"Although this is very pleasing for us it will not detract us from the immediate job at hand. We are completely focused on the World Cup and we want to do the very best that we can while we are here in the Caribbean."

This is the first time that South Africa has overtaken Australia in the one-day rankings since its launch in 2002.

It has been a great 12 months of one-day cricket for South Africa who won 15 of 21 one-dayers before going into the World Cup.

But with the ODI Championship race so tight, Australia can still get back on top if they continue to perform as they have done so far in the World Cup.

The Proteas defeated Sri Lanka by one wicket in an exciting Super Eight World Cup encounter Wednesday and remained at the top spot in the ratings by the cut off date of April 1.

If both Australia and South Africa win their remaining Super Eight games, the latter will progress to the semi-finals as the No. 1 team.

But if they falter even once, and Australia remain unbeaten, then Ricky Ponting's men will make a rapid return to the top spot by the time the tournament enters the semi-finals.

ODI Championship:

1. South Africa 127 rating points2. Australia 1273. New Zealand 1154. Pakistan 1105. Sri Lanka 1086. India 1067. England 1058. West Indies 1029. Bangladesh 4410. Zimbabwe 22

Test Championship:

1. Australia 135 rating points2. England 1143. Pakistan 1084. India 1075. Sri Lanka 1026. South Africa 1027. New Zealand 938. West Indies 729. Zimbabwe 2810. Bangladesh 2

(IANS)

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