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Favourites Australia and South Africa will meet again today in four days' time at Edgbaston, Birmingham. This time it will be for a place in the final. The South Africans have earned respect and admiration from a wide variety of spectators and viewers for their methodical approach and clinical precision in all their matches of the '99 World Cup. They have been acclaimed as the most professional team devoid of any passion or emotion and at the same time criticised for a little lack of imagination. With a very impressive record they easily walked into the Super Six losing only to their smaller and weaker neighbour Zimbabwe. It was a real upset of the tournament as the Zimbabweans incidentally registered their first historic victory against South Africa in an ODI. It was a hard-fought match which turned out to be a personal triumph for Neil Johnson.

The result did not matter much for the Proteas but it did raise hopes for Zimbabwe for a place in the semis which was buried by the New Zealanders and Australians. The last match of the Super Six was a real thriller between the two favourites. South Africa posted a total that could be safe during the cold May days. But as it happened the Australians launched themselves desperately to reach the finishing line ahead of the Proteas and they did that in style. The absence of a genuine fifth bowler was acutely felt by Cronje as Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting belted the attack Cronje seemed to be a perplexed captain short of ideas.

The pressure will be on both sides and the Australians, drained out their energy, may be on the receiving end. Mark Waugh was again due for runs after his pathetic run out and it must have been a refreshing sight to see Shane Warne falling in his groove.

Return of Jacques Kallis will be a timely boost for the Proteas but they will have to ensure a steady middle order against Warne, Moody and Bevan. This will be another battle of the giants, a show none can afford to miss.