Australia have managed to retain their top spot in the ICC ODI Team Rankings, despite suffering a 0-2 series loss in the Chappell-Hadlee series against New Zealand which concluded in Hamilton on Sunday.
However, South Africa can replace Australia at the numero one spot if they complete clean sweep of Sri Lanka.
However, the Men in Yellow have dropped from 120 points to join the Proteas on 118 points.
With South Africa leading Sri Lanka 3-0 in its five-match series, victories in the remaining two matches (in Cape Town on February 7 and in Centurion on February10) will help the Proteas to leapfrog Australia into number-one position.
In this scenario, South Africa will finish one point ahead of Australia on 119 points.
The series win has also helped the Black Caps to rise to 113 points, one point clear of fourth-ranked India, which will be defending its ICC Champions Trophy title in the United Kingdom in June.
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