David Leggat: Equation is simple for Black Caps

It's a simple equation. No messing about with net run rates or winning within a certain number of overs, or losing but sneaking in because the margin of defeat was slim.

No, all New Zealand need to do to make the semifinals at the Champions Trophy is to beat England tonight. Do that, and they'll face one of Pakistan, Australia or India in the semifinals.

What a difference a day makes. Before yesterday it was anticipated the Kiwis would be waving their passports at a weary customs officer in the next couple of days, early departees and with no complaints after producing a blur of mediocre cricket.

Instead, the players sparked up from their defeat by hosts South Africa and played with purpose to push Sri Lanka to the brink of elimination with an impressive 38-run win at Johannesburg.

And in doing so, they added their contribution to the general air of eyebrow-raising surrounding a tournament which has been something of a surprise.

Remember, it wasn't so long ago that the Champions Trophy was tipped for the knacker's yard, along with prickly fingered gloves, towelling hats and umpires in trilbys and street shoes.

Its suggested demise was put down to the increasingly congested international programme. And anyway, there is always the World Cup every four years to satisfy the 50-over fans.

But there is one problem with the World Cup - and admittedly the wretched 2007 tournament in the Caribbean is a bad example, drawn out as it was over seven weeks. No disrespect to the Scotlands and Canadas, but there are only so many one-sided contests you can take.

This tournament is a short, sharp burst among the top eight teams, 15 matches all done and dusted in 15 days, and in which just about every game has something riding on it.

New Zealand followed the lead of Sri Lanka, who toppled South Africa on the back of a Tillekaratne Dilshan century - and won't Northern Districts be relishing his impending arrival for the domestic Twenty20 competition in January - Pakistan, who belted India with superb batting from Shoaib Malik and the terrific Mohammad Yousuf, and England, who arrived on the back of a 6-1 tonking from Australia, then proceeded to turn over first the Sri Lankans and yesterday South Africa.

So the hosts are out, which is a shame in one sense. Competitions need hosts to survive a reasonable way through to retain strong national interest.

Never mind. It's not long to go, the final to be played next Monday night.

As for New Zealand, they should not fear England. They have batsmen in good nick - Wellington, too, will have noted their Twenty20 man, Owais Shah's fine 98 yesterday - and tidy bowlers.

There will be no Jesse Ryder, after his rousing one-legged assault on the Sri Lankans, as subtle as Metallica. But that should be a small tinkering, Martin Guptill moving up to open with Brendon McCullum, or replacement Aaron Redmond stepping in.

It was far from perfect yesterday. Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott and Neil Broom's rapid departures threatened to undo a rollicking start, so once again it was a large vote of thanks to the skipper, Dan Vettori.

New Zealand's foot had slipped off the accelerator but Vettori and Guptill put it back on. James Franklin and Kyle Mills then made sure the opportunity wasn't wasted.

So which New Zealand team will turn up tonight? Have they turned a corner?

Winning four straight games to take their second Champions Trophy title, after Kenya 2000, might be beyond them.

However this tournament, with its twists and turns, has shown that maybe the anticipated gulfs among the top eight countries - the present West Indies team excepted - aren't as substantial as had been imagined.