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HANSIE Cronje and Bob Woolmer are in an ideal situation as they plot their strategy for the rest of the World Cup.

Their players have two important wins under their belts. Their nerve has been put to the test and they have come through strongly, but there is much room for improvement.

A win over England at the Oval on Saturday will earn South Africa a place in the Super Six, with at least two of a maximum four points to carry over in the quest for a berth in the semifinals.

Cronje has spoken all along of three big games at the start of the tournament which South Africa wanted to win - against India, Sri Lanka and England. To that list now must be added Zimbabwe, who surprisingly beat India on Wednesday.One more win for Zimbabwe will take them through to the next stage - which means South Africa have to beat their neighbours at Chelmsford on Saturday week in order not to drop points which will count for the Super Six.

Cronje said he was proud of the character shown by the team in the matches against India and Sri Lanka. ``In both games we could easily have lost our way,'' he said, ``but the guys stayed calm.''The crisis against India was in the field. Cronje admitted the team suffered from first day nerves during the opening 15 overs. As a consequence they went into the last 15 overs facing a possible deluge of runs but the bowling and fielding held firm and India were restricted to what proved a surmountable 253.

For most teams, the situation against Sri Lanka at Northampton on Wednesday would have been desperate. South Africa were floundering at 122 for eight on one of those days when it seemed that everything that could go wrong did. Crucial umpiring decisions went against South Africa and Hansie Cronje was uncharacteristically run out when he misjudged the speed and the arm of Sri Lanka's talented Mahela Jayawardene.

The discipline and resolve in the team was then shown at its best. ``In situations like that it has to be remembered that what has happened is in the past. You have got to try to get on and win the match.'' Even so, it was a notable effort by Lance Klusener and Steve Elworthy, who put on 44 for the ninth wicket. Then Allan Donald stayed with Klusener who smashed 22 off the last five balls of the innings as South Africa reached 199 for nine.

As Cronje put it: ``The two moods in the camps were very different after our innings. Ours was very positive and upbeat, while they might have felt they let it slip a bit.''

Although Cronje was delighted by the way his bowlers sent Sri Lanka crashing to 110 all out, he was realistic enough to acknowledge that the batting needed improvement.

``We bat a long way down but we don't want to leave that many runs for the tail to get.''

Opening batsman Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs have gone cheaply in both matches and there has been pressure on the men who follow. The team arrived in London on Thursday and were due to practice in the afternoon. The Oval is expected to provide better batting conditions and South Africa will look to Kirsten and Gibbs to set a better platform for the likes of Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan and Cronje.

Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga had no hesitation in picking South Africa as favourites to beat England but stopped short of tipping them for the title. ``It's too early to say,'' he said. ``South Africa and Pakistan are playing well but there are a lot of sides who can win on their day. The way South Africa are playing they should beat England.''

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