The World Cup is only halfway through, yet the South Africans have won a title, of sorts.
Because April 1 is the cut-off point for the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) limited-overs championship, based on results and ranking points over a year, South Africa finished ahead of Australia by the slimmest of margins.
Both teams finished with 127 points. But when the results were calculated past the decimal point, South Africa finished top by 0,1199 of a point.
Although Australia has won all four World Cup games so far, including an 83-run victory over the South Africans, the Proteas’ narrow one-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Wednesday guaranteed that Graeme Smith’s team finished atop the rankings to collect a prize of $175 000. Australia receives $75 000.
It is the first time a team has overtaken Australia in the standings since the listings began in October 2002.
Behind the top two are New Zealand (115 points), Pakistan (110), Sri Lanka (108), India (106), England (105), West Indies (102), Bangladesh (44), Zimbabwe (22), Kenya (0). – Sapa