South Africa dump England, meet Aussies in semi-finals

Putting aside all the anxiety, South Africa confirmed their place in the semi-finals and will meet Australia at St Lucia on April 25 after vanquishing England by nine wickets in the crucial Super Eights match here today. South Africa -- and their captain Greame Smith in particular -- was in such a rampaging mood that when the winning runs were hit by Smith in the 19.2 overs, even the most cynical of England critics would have never dreamt that humiliation would be so complete.

Smith scored a blistering 89 in quick time but the man-of-the -match deservingly went to Andrew Hall who earlier destroyed England innings with his maiden five wicket haul.

Chasing a modest 155 for victory, after Hall and Andre Nel wrecking havoc England in the morning, South Africa scored in a fashion that they have an afternoon flight to catch for St Lucia.

They zoomed to 80 without losing any wicket by the ninth over and even Michael Vaughan was trying his best to hasten their humiliation by pushing Monty Panesar as early as the ninth over.

South Africa were a team possessed today and every strategy they adopted clicked although it was Vaughan who won the toss and elected to bat first. His gamble backfired and England caved in as expected and the contest was virtually over in the tenth over of the South Africa innings.

''We played too badly and everything went wrong'' was the blunt answer of Vaughan in the post match media conference not trying to be apologetic.

After Hall decimated the England lower middle order it was the turn of Smith humiliate England as he pulled, cut, and drove to race to his 27th half-century of his career.

''We played good cricket and we are ready to take on Australia.

It is nice to see Hall getting wickets,'' said Smith.

His team though gave some anxious moments to the fans, after inexplicably losing against Bangladesh and then to New Zealand making this match as a virtual knock out for them.

But it was too easy at the end and they became the fourth team to qualify for the semi-finals. Irrespective of the results of the remaining four Super Eights matches, Sri Lanka will meet New Zeeland at Kingston (Jamaica) on April 24 while South Africa play Australia next day at St Lucia.

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