South Africa's Smith unfazed by run rate concerns

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, Apr 13 (Reuters) South African captain Graeme Smith said he had decided to ignore concerns over his team's World Cup net run rate and simply chase victories with the second-stage Super Eights reaching their climax.

''We know that there's a possibility that net run rate could play a role,'' Smith told a news conference today on the eve of their next match.

''But foremost in our minds is that we know it's in our control -- if we win the next two games we cruise into the semi-finals.

That's our focus, winning the next two games.'' Net run rate is among the criteria that will be used to separate teams that finish on the same number of points in the standings in the run-up to the World Cup semi-finals.

''We know if we can take care of that it won't come down to net run rate for us and if we win the next two games our net run rate will be good anyway,'' added Smith.

South Africa face New Zealand on Saturday in Grenada before taking on England in Barbados on Tuesday.

The latter match could well decide which of the two sides reach the semis although England would still have to beat West Indies in their final game, also in Bridgetown, Barbados.

PLANNING TACTICS New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming told a news conference on Thursday that captains would be ''dumb'' if they did not take net run rate into account when planning their tactics.

He spoke after Sri Lanka had beaten New Zealand by six wickets in a Super Eights game in St George's.

Fleming admitted that he had delayed taking the third Powerplay against Sri Lanka to protect his team's net run rate when he realised that match was beyond saving.

During the three Powerplay periods, fielding teams must leave all but two of their fielders within a cordon around the wicket. It is a golden opportunity to score runs.

South Africa are the only team with a negative net run rate among the four teams vying for three remaining semi-final berths.

Australia have already qualified by beating Ireland today by nine wickets. Sri Lanka (eight points), New Zealand (eight), South Africa (six) and England (four) are all in contention with each having two games to play.

Smith and Fleming will take their different approaches into the match between South Africa and New Zealand in St George's tomorrow.

Smith said batsman Herschelle Gibbs had recovered from the calf strain that threatened to keep him out of last Tuesday's game against West Indies.

South Africa won the match by 67 runs and they seem likely to retain their team for tomorrow's match.

The seven-week World Cup culminates in the Barbados final on April 28.

REUTERS PDS PM0039