NEWS
OPINION
GALLERY
STATISTICS
INTERVIEWS

Australia will have a psychological edge, says Cronje

South African skipper Hansie Cronje has said that Australia will have a psychological edge going into the semi-final after Steve Waugh's century gave it a five-wicket victory at Headingley.

"Australia will have a slight psychological advantage ... It works that way,'' Cronje said yesterday. "This win will give them (Australia) a bit of momentum but has made us that much more determined,'' he said.

Cronje said he was keen to win the game and eliminate Australia from the World Cup as it would have set up South Africa's semi-final clash with low ranked Zimbabwe.

Australia was in a must-win situation in this last Super Six match to qualify for the semi-finals. "There was more pressure on them,'' Cronje said.

Yesterday's result eliminated Zimbabwe from the race and boosted Australia to the second spot in the standings.

With South Africa finishing third on the table, it will clash again with Australia in the second semi-final at Birmingham's Edgbaston stadium on Thursday.

Pakistan, which topped the standings, will take on New Zealand in the first semi-final on Wednesday at Manchester's Old Trafford ground.

Cronje said there was an intense and healthy rivalry between South Africa and Australia.

"They picked up their game very well,'' he said. "I hope we can lift our performance a bit on Thursday (in the semi-finals).

South Africa was in a good position after dismissing three Australian batsmen for 48, but Waugh played an outstanding knock.

"The pressure on the Australian batsmen got released after (Allan) Donald and (Shaun) Pollock were taken off the attack,'' Cronje said.

He acknowledged that the side missed Jacques Kallis, South Africa's strike bowler and a top order batsman. He was out with a stomach ailment.

"Hopefully Kallis will be back for the semi-final ... That's in the physiotherapist's hands, I can't really say. But his return will resolve the problem with the fifth bowler,'' Cronje said.

He said the turning point of the game was when Herschelle Gibbs dropped Waugh's catch off Lance Klusener when the Australian skipper was on 56.

Gibbs got his hands under the ball but it slipped out as he tried to throw it into the air, giving Waugh a reprieve and keeping Australia in the hunt.

"That was the wicket we wanted most,'' Cronje said, but did not want to blame Gibbs who hit a century in the South African knock.

"I can't blame him ... He's got an injured finger but is still such a good fielder,'' he said.

UNI