New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was delighted his team reached the World Cup Super Sixes on Monday, but said he could not help feeling sorry for South Africa.
The Kiwis sneaked through when South Africa's must-win match against Sri Lanka ended in a tie under the Duckworth/Lewis scoring method after rain forced the players off the pitch.
Fleming and his team mates watched the game on television after beating Canada in their final Group B fixture earlier in the day.
"It was incredibly hard. I guess you don't like to see a situation like that for another team," Fleming told the New Zealand Press Association. "But from our own point of view we are just delighted to go through.
"It just doesn't get any closer than that. The last four days have been pretty tense trying to work through the run rates, then just watching a game which controlled so much of your destiny."
New Zealand beat South Africa in another rain-effected match and lost only one game on the pitch during the opening round. They were in danger of missing out, however, because of their decision to forfeit their fixture in Kenya over security concerns.
"I guess we felt on the wrong side and I guess it (luck) has probably built up to coming back in our favour in a big way," Fleming said. "You can't help but smile at the situation but you have to feel for (South Africa captain) Shaun Pollock and his team."
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