THE TOP three places in the Super Eights section of the World Cup seems a foregone conclusion. Four will move into the semi-finals, however, and the battle is on for the fourth and final one.

After some interesting contests, Australia are on a perfect six points with four matches to play, New Zealand on a perfect six with four to play, Sri Lanka on six with three to play and with all three to play Ireland, it seems a safe bet that they will finish with at least eight points each, and with eight points looking good enough to make it to the semi-finals, that all three will move on.

Big question

The question, therefore, is who will follow them into the next round? And, despite losing three matches in a row, despite the wailing and the bawling, the cries of disappointment and the fact that they are now in sixth position with two points and with three matches to play, the West Indies have a chance, if not a good one, of doing so.

To do so, however, the West Indies will have to step past England and South Africa in fifth and fourth positions respectively. An if they are at their best, England, on two points from two matches, should not pose a problem, South Africa, on four from two up to yesterday morning but expected to be on six from three by this morning, could be tough - really tough.

As far as England are concerned, they have Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa and the West Indies to play and if Australia beat them, as expected, if they defeat Bangladesh, as expected, even if they defeat South Africa, which would suit the West Indies, once the West Indies defeat them, they, the Windies, providing they had defeated South Africa and Bangladesh, would have stepped past England.

As far as South Africa are concerned, however, it will be more difficult to move ahead of them.

The number one ranked one-day team in the world, South Africa have Bangladesh, the West Indies, New Zealand and England to play and with victory over Bangladesh all but guaranteed, with two points from that result taking them to six points, the West Indies will to have to pray not that they defeat them but also that New Zealand and England do likewise.

In other words, for the West Indies to make it to the last four and into the semi-finals, they not only will have to win their last three matches - against South Africa, Bangladesh and England to finish with eight points - they will have to pray that Australia, and not South Africa, also defeat England, and that even if they defeat South Africa, that New Zealand and England also beat them.

The battle for the semi-finals is far from over.

Top three

The top three appear to be home and dry and South Africa are well positioned in fourth position. It would not be surprising, however, if one or two of them are ambushed and if England and/or the West Indies squeeze through.

Yes, the West Indies, who are expected to put away Bangladesh and who should defeat England, can also defeat South Africa and move on. To do that, however, they will have to pull up their socks.

They will have to give it their best shot, it will have to be one for all and all for one, they will have to be at their best with the bat, with the ball and in the field - and not once or twice but for all their three remaining matches in the round.