KEY POINTS:
It appears New Zealand will need to beat recent nemesis Sri Lanka to reach the cricket World Cup final for the first time in nine attempts.
The two sides were drawn together in the next Tuesday's (1.30am Wednesday NZT) sudden death semifinal at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica,
after Australia maintained their unbeaten record with an emphatic seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the Grenada National Stadium today.
By defeating the 1996 champions, Australia are assured of finishing the Super Eights phase of the tournament as the top qualifier regardless of the outcome when the trans-Tasman rivals complete the second phase of their campaigns here on Friday (1.30am Saturday NZT).
Even if New Zealand beat Australia for a fourth successive time since February's Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series, they would have to inflict a defeat of mammoth proportions to better the two-time defending champions' net run rate, currently plus-2.028.
New Zealand are in second spot on 10 points with a positive ratio of plus-1.068.
Australia will play the fourth qualifier -- likely to be either England or South Africa -- in the second semifinal in St Lucia next Thursday (1.30am Friday NZT).
New Zealand will finish either runner-up or third guaranteeing them a rematch with the only side to have beaten them in the tournament so far.
The Black Caps were well beaten by six wickets here last week, setting up the 12th encounter between the regular opponents since the 2004 Boxing Day one-dayer at Eden Park.
New Zealand and Sri Lanka have subsequently notched five wins each during that period, with the remaining match washed out before a ball could be bowled at Hamilton in January.
Although the recent record indicates there is little to separate the sides, Sri Lanka hold the upper hand having easily won their last two encounters.
Their comprehensive victory over the Black Caps last week follows their crushing 189-run win at Eden Park on January 6 -- a lopsided contest notable for New Zealand being routed for 73, their second lowest total scored during a one-day cricket history spanning 525 games.
Australia's victory today extended their unbeaten streak at World Cups to 26 matches.
They have completed 25 victories -- and had one match rained out -- since losing to Pakistan by 10 runs during the 1999 tournament in England.
Australia have 12 points, New Zealand 10 and Sri Lanka eight though the latter will be expected to match the Black Caps' tally before the trans-Tasman clash as they play minnows Ireland on Wednesday (1.30am Thursday NZT).
The only matches with any relevance in terms of the semifinal make-up is tomorrow's clash between England and South Africa in Barbados.
Should England win and then beat the West Indies in their final match they will claim fourth spot with eight points.
If South Africa, currently on six are successful, win they will secure the last berth.
The West Indies have a faint chance of progressing though they need South Africa to lose and then beat Bangladesh and England by margins big enough to tip out the Proteas on net run rate calculations.
- NZPA
