BRIDGETOWN, April 18: South Africa captain Graeme Smith believes his team will benefit from having to fight until their final Super Eights match to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup (see match report on Page 27).

South Africa skittled England for 154 on Tuesday and then rattled off the target with more than 30 overs and nine wickets to spare in a match which was effectively a knock-out quarter-final.

“The team is really on a high now, the momentum is good. I think if we had cruised along we might not have had the realities we have had along the way and the thought processes that we need going into the big games,” Smith told a news conference.

“Just feeling the atmosphere in the dressing room now it is really upbeat and positive. It is the South African dressing room that I am used to and that will bode well going into the semi-final.”

Defeats by Bangladesh and New Zealand in the second round had thrown doubts over South Africa's chances of progressing further.

After sealing their last-four berth, they can now look forward to a likely showdown with holders Australia in St Lucia next Wednesday. Sri Lanka and New Zealand are expected to contest the other semi-final in Jamaica on Tuesday.

Smith hit an unbeaten 89 against England and raised his arms in triumph as soon as he smashed the winning boundary.

“It was pretty emotional at the end of the game; it was such a big game. We were clinical in the field, we built pressure from the start, we got the ball in the right areas and we were so calm and focused,” he said.

“The way we have played we consistently believe we can beat England and we know we are good one day team.

“With the World Cup, you need a bit of luck. Our skills were superb today and ... we made our own luck and it was nice to get that behind us.”—Reuters