Khanyiso Tshwaku_CRICKET WRITER AND COMMENTATOR

PROTEAS “JUST” MAKE WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION<br /> <br /> South Africa have sealed the final automatic qualification spot for the World Cup<br /> after Ireland&#39;s hopes of pipping them were dashed on Tuesday when their first one-<br /> day international against Bangladesh was washed out.<br /> South Africa played their last ODI series in the qualification period that ends this<br /> week against the Netherlands and had beaten them 2-0 to move up to eighth in the<br /> World Cup Super League.<br /> Their hopes of playing in the tournament in India this year hinged on Ireland not<br /> beating Bangladesh 3-0 in the ODI series in Chelmsford, with net run rate also coming<br /> into play.<br /> Had the Proteas fallen below Ireland in the standings, they would have faced a 10-<br /> team World Cup Qualifier series – including the West Indies and Sri Lanka – in<br /> Zimbabwe in June and July.<br /> <br /> The biggest positive of qualifying directly for the World Cup is that Proteas players<br /> not involved in The Hundred in England or Major League Cricket in the US will be able<br /> to take a proper break before Australia’s white-ball tour of South Africa in late<br /> August and September.