Could India do them a favour by beating the Kiwis? They did not. New Zealand won, Australia, who have just four points, desperately need to win the last Super Six encounter against South Africa at the Headingley on the morrow to make the last four stage.

if India had prevailed over New Zealand, the Australians' passage into the semifinals would be sure. The last league match would only have determined the placings,. (As per the draw, the top team will take on the fourth placed team while the second best side will play the third best for a berth in the semifinals). That was the equation at the start of today's match between India and New Zealand.

SOUTH AFRICA LEAD: Coming into the last Super Six match, South Africa, with six points, are level with Pakistan. If the Africanteam beats the Aussies, they will finish on top. If they lose, they will have the same number of points as Pakistan and Australia. In this case the Net Run Rate will determine the placings.

South Africa and Australia are currently the teams in form. Both are on a winning streak. The South Africans beat Pakistan and New Zealand in the Super Six encounters while the Aussies, after an indifferent start in their group matches, came back strongly in the Super Six with commendable wins over India and Zimbabwe.

The teams therefore come well prepared for Sunday's encounter on a Headingley pitch that is known to aid the seamers. The Proteas batting, often propped up by Lance Klusner, seems better organised now after Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten, all hit form in recent matches. Thus their batting is at last performing with the efficiency that would give its supporters more hope. They only require Shaun Pollock, who with his South African pitches length has not been as effective, to strike theright length to achieve their potential.

The Australians, on the other hand, are clearly riding on the bowling of Glenn McGrath. He has hit his stride at the opportune moment and his team's fortunes have surged with him. Besides, Mark Waugh and his twin skipper Steve Waugh too are batting with the fluency of old. Nevertheless, the Australians would become totally competent if their star leg spinner Shane Warne rediscovers his magic.

Warne, however, believes that there is nothing wrong with his bowling. Writing in a local newspaper, he states that only the Indians have clobbered him. ``The Indians could play spin bowling even in their sleep. In any case Saqlain Mustaq was hit for 64 and Muthiah Muralitharan for 70 by the Indian batsmen. This supports my argument,'' he wrote on Saturday. Fact, however, is that the media seems too Warne-focused and has been writing him off. ``They will drive him away from the game,'' moaned his skipper Steve Waugh.

The Australian problem is also with their other bowlers.McGrath has not received the kind of support expected from the likes of Paul Reiffel and Damien Fleming. Both, however, are bowling to a much fuller length now than they did during the earlier matches. All rounder Tom Moody has lent great help to the team batting and bowling and has emerged a key player for them. On the Headingley pitch Australia would need all their seamers performing to potential if they wish to down the South Africans.

The South African bowling, pace driven as it is, has been outstanding. Allan Donald, Kallis and Klusner have been in good touch. They, along with Pollock and Elworthy will test the Australian line-up.

Both Australia and South Africa play a similar brand of cricket. They plot their moves on a computer against each opponent and execute it on the field of play. Their never-say-die attitude is a great advertisement for cricket. The added needle will be South Africa's wish to keep the Aussies out of the semis (that would look after one impediment to the title).

Australia, atough as nails outfit, will not go down without a fight. A win will take them into the semifinals. A defeat would still take them through provided India manages to beat New Zealand at Trent Bridge.