Left: Australia's Matthew Hayden hits a six to bring up his century against South Africa during their World Cup match in Basseterre. Hayden's 66-ball ton was the fastest in Cup history.   Right: South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs in full flight. - Reuters photos

Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

GROS ISLET, St. Lucia:

Australia, the two-time defending champions and the number one favourites to win the title, begin the penultimate lap, the bell lap of the race, when they take on South Africa in the second semi-final of the Cricket World Cup 2007 today at the beautiful Beausejour Stadium - the pride of St. Lucia - located at the foot of the Beausejour Hills in Gros Islet in the northern section of the country once known as 'The Helen of the West Indies'.

Finalists in the inaugural tournament in 1975, winners in 1987, winners in 1999, and winners again in 2003, Australia, but for a few weeks going into the tournament, the number one team in the world for a long, long time, are not only bidding to extend their record to four titles, they are also seeking another record.

As winners on the last two occasions, Australia, the Kangaroos from Down Under, are also hunting a hat-trick of titles.

What is interesting, however, is tha there are those who believe that nothing lasts forever, that South Africa - the team that knocked off 434 while defeating them in a fantastic and memorable one-day contest last year in Johannesburg, the team that unseated them for a few weeks at the top of the ICC one-day rankings, can pick off Australia, on the eve of the match there is not a man who is willing to bet even a cent against the double world champions.

No wagers

And there are some very good reasons why not even gamblers are willing to put up a wager.

Number one is the talent, the skill, in Australia's squad.

In Matthew Hayden - three centuries so far during this tournament - and Adam Gilchrist, they boast an opening pair beyond the ordinary; in Ricky Ponting, they boast arguably the best batsman in the world today; in Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, and Brad Hodge, they possess three really good batsmen; in Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson, they have two dangerous all-rounders; in left-hander Brad Hogg, they parade a wily and outstanding spin bowler; in Glenn McGrath, they possess a cunning and experienced pace bowler; and in Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark, they have some good pacers.

Number two is that Australia appear so sweetly balanced that there seems to be a man for all situations.

At the top of their batting order are two left-handers who can destroy bowling - any bowling, and after solid and quality batsmen like Ponting, Clarke and Hussey, come two hard-hitters of the ball in Symonds and Watson, and their bowling is no different.

In Bracken, they have a left-handed seamer who swings the ball both ways; in Tait, they possess a bowler of real pace, in McGrath, they have an old fox; in Symonds, they possess one who can bowl pace or spin; and in Hogg, they have one who he is not a Shane Warne, is tricky and good on all pitches.

Number three is Australia's confidence - the belief that no one is as good as they are and that no one can beat them; and number four is their record of 21 victories in a row - 12 between Lord's, June 20, 1999, and the Wanderers, March 23, 2003, and nine, a perfect nine from nine, during this tournament.

Australia are awesome, really awesome.

That, however, does not mean that they cannot be beaten, or that South Africa, as they did in style last year, cannot beat them.

Apart from the fact that cricket, as has been the case from time immemorial, is a game of glorious uncertainties, that on a day any team can win, and particularly so in one-day contests, South Africa, one to two out of four against Australia in World Cup clashes, can win and move on - and especially so if they do not choke.

In the semi-finals of 1999 against Australia at Edgbaston they choked and bowed out.

With 16 runs needed to win, with two wickets in hand and with all-rounder Lance Klusener hitting the ball cleanly ... Elsworthy was run out at 196 for nine, and then, with the scores level, with one wicket in hand, with three deliveries to go, and with Klusener on strike, Allan Donald, standing at the non-striker's end like a man in a trance, was carelessly run out to leave the match tied and South Africa eliminated because they had lost to Australia earlier on.

South Africa

This is a different South Africa, however they lost not only to Australia, not only to New Zealand, but also to lowly Bangladesh earlier in the tournament, this is the South Africa who, in scoring 157 for one in 19.2 overs replying to 154, destroyed England in winning by nine wickets a few days ago and the South Africa withbatsmen like Graeme Smith and Abraham Benjamin de Villiers, followed by the dependable Jacques Kallis at the top of the order, the dangerous Herschelle Gibbs and competent Ashwell Prince followed by the deadly Mark Boucher in the middle of the order, and then by the likes of Justin Kemp and Shaun Pollock.

On top of that, this is the South Africa with a set of pace bowlers like Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt and the never-say-die Andrew Hall, the South Africa who can match Australia in the field.

On the fast and bouncy pitch at Kensington Oval, South Africa, who lost their first-round match to Australia by 83 runs in Basseterre, may not have had a chance. On the slower pitch at Beausejour, however Australia are the favourites, even though Australia should win, it could be a thrilling contest.