England's Kevin Pietersen - file BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):
Both England and South Africa enter their World Cup Super Eight match today at Kensington Oval with a single objective in mind - win.
A victory would mean different things to the two sides, but it could ultimately lead to a place in the semi-finals alongside reigning World champions and World No. 1 Australia, their Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand, and 1996 World champions Sri Lanka.
For England, a victory would keep hope alive that they could sneak into the Final Four; for South Africa, it would make them the fourth and final qualifier for the semi-finals.
England have four points from victories over Ireland and Bangladesh, and convincing victories over South Africa, and then West Indies in their final match on Saturday at the same venue would make them certainties for the semis.
"If you told me at the start of the World Cup that we would come down to one game in Barbados to decide if we would make it to the semi-finals, I would take it," England captain Michael Vaughan told reporters on the eve of the match.
Performance has to improve
"We do realise that our performance has to improve a little bit to make sure that we challenge South Africa in this match."
Vaughan feels the newly laid pitch, which has offered plenty of help to the bowlers in the three previous Super Eight matches will play a big part in the outcome of the match, and he relishes winning the toss and having to make a decision about batting or fielding first.
"It should be a great contest and it is our biggest game of the World Cup," he said.
"I would like to win the toss, honestly. In one-day cricket, if you can win the toss and do what you feel you want to do as a team, you always feel you have one up on your opponents."
South Africa have six points, but their defeat last Saturday to New Zealand in Grenada was a blot on the copybook and it has opened the door for England to squeeze through.
Big game
"It's definitely going to be a big game for both teams," South Africa captain Graeme Smith said.
Smith believes the key to winning will be adapting to the pitch, an area in which he conceded England would have an advantage, since they played Bangladesh on it last Wednesday.
"To win a World Cup, it's all about how you adapt to the conditions and we know this pitch would be an issue up front," he said. "It will be the first time we are playing on this pitch, so adapting our game will be the key to winning the match."
History favours South Africa to win the match, since they have won 21 of the 34 matches the sides have contested. In the last ODI series they played, South Africa won a seven-match rubber 4-1 at home.
Smith defends his players
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP):
South Africa captain Graeme Smith has defended his players' behaviour after the team's own supporters reported they went on a public drinking binge after Saturday's World Cup loss to New Zealand.
While the players prepare for today's crucial Super 8s match against England with a semi-final spot at stake, South African cricket's top official, Gerald Majola, announced he was headed for the Caribbean to investigate the reports.
"I have no issues with some guys going out for a drink and blowing off steam, it's a long tournament," Smith told reporters before South African team's training session at the Kensington Oval.
"We do have drinking rules. If the guys don't go over them and push the limits, that's fine with me."
Majola wants to hearfrom the team management after media reports that said South African fans had seen several team members "extremely drunk" in public.
The fans called radio stations in South Africa and said they encountered several players at a bar on Saturday night - after the team's five-wicket defeat against New Zealand - who were partying into the early hours of the morning.
"I'm leaving for the Caribbean tomorrow and have asked the team management to prepare a full report on the allegations to be ready on my arrival," Majola was quoted as saying yesterday by the South African Press Association.
"I will wait for the report before I make a decision on further steps to be taken."
Smith said the players know the permissible limits.
"If the guys go over the limit, we will deal with it," he said. "There probably were a few guys who had a drink, but I don't know what being intoxicated is. The drinking rules require the players to calm down two days before the game.
"We've been the quietest team in the World Cup, probably due to where we've been based. Attacking our guys for one night of relaxation is not the done thing."
Pietersen switched on for showdown
ST PHILIP, Barbados (Reuters)
England batsman Kevin Pietersen will be trying extra hard today when he faces his former homeland of South Africa in a virtual World Cup quarter-final.
With Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka already through to the final four, today's Super Eights clash in Barbados is almost a knockout game.
Pietersen grew up in South Africa but moved to England in search of international cricket after becoming frustrated with his lack of opportunities because of a quota system designed to boost the number of players of colour.
The 26-year-old, who received constant crowd abuse when he hit three centuries on his first tour of South Africa in 2005, is keen to remind his former countrymen what they are missing.
"It's probably just a switch inside me that gets me going. It is something that triggers inside me that makes me want to give it an extra special go," he told reporters on Sunday.
Pietersen and Proteas skipper Graeme Smith have both made derogatory comments about each other in the past but the England batsman wants to avoid a new feud.
"Everybody knows that we don't get on, for whatever reason," Pietersen said.
Closed chapter
"It's a closed chapter now, the game on Tuesday is not about me and it's not about Graeme Smith. What has been said has been said. It's done and dusted. We are grown adults now.
"Whoever wins on Tuesday will probably find themselves in St. Lucia the following week facing up against Australia in the semis so it is going to be a big game with a lot of needle," added Pietersen, who is ready for a bowling onslaught.
"If they target me they target me, it really doesn't bother me."
England have lost to New Zealand, Sri Lanka and defending champions Australia so far and a nervy win over Bangladesh has been their only victory over a Test nation.
"It's clear it's a must-win game. All the boys see it as a quarter-final and I'm sure South Africa do too," Pietersen said. "I know we haven't beaten a big nation here. Let's hope Tuesday is our big victory against a real good nation."
South Africa were shocked by Bangladesh and lost to New Zealand. Robin Peterson has failed to make an impact as a much-needed spinner and Pietersen did not even acknowledge his near namesake was in their squad.
"They are pretty vulnerable in this World Cup because they haven't brought a spinner," the world's top one-day batter said. "So I think that's probably the reason why they are probably going to be an attack that most teams can get hold of."
