That left them level with Sri Lanka on three points and tournament referee Mike Smith first announced that the world champions had advanced to tomorrow's final against Pakistan because of their superior net run-rate.

However, soon after the match Smith changed his decision and put New Zealand into the final following hectic consultations with International Cricket Council chief executive David Richards.

The confusion arose over rule 11.1 governing one-day internationals. It stipulates that if two teams have equal points, the side who won more matches in the league go through.

By that reckoning New Zealand should have qualified for the final. They defeated Sri Lanka in the first round and forced a tie in the return match.

But the wording of the rule was ambiguous, stating that the ``winner of all of the preliminary match(es) played between them will be placed in the higher position''. This left the organisers, Smith and the players confused.

Smith, a former Test captain, who consulted the London-based Richards over the telephone during the lunch break, ruled that net run-rates would be considered since New Zealand had not won all their matches.

The New Zealand management sought clarification from the ICC, who then turned to the United Cricket Board of South Africa, the drafters of the rules, for help.

The South Africans informed the ICC that the wordings of the rule were ``ambiguous'' but said New Zealand should be declared the finalists due to a better league record against Sri Lanka.