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DURBAN, Tuesday (Reuters) - South Africa's Mark Boucher was wrongly told that 229 runs would be enough to win Monday's crunch World Cup game against Sri Lanka, it was revealed after the dramatic tie which led to the hosts' first-round exit.

South Africa captain Shaun Pollock said a message had been sent out to the wicketkeeper at the crease as the falling rain threatened to wash out the Group B game.

Asked if his players were aware of what South Africa would need to win the game after the victory target was revised because of the rain, Pollock said: "Boucher was given the message of 229. So he was pretty happy when he got that."You can look at all the ifs and buts but in the end it doesn't help much."

As the rain began to pour down, Boucher hit a six off Muttiah Muralitharan's next delivery, flat-batting the ball over mid-wicket to take the score to 229 for six.

Boucher blocked the next ball - a single would have been enough for victory - before the players were ordered off.

Sri Lanka posted a total of 268 for nine.

Monday's extraordinary finale was an eerie repeat of the 1999 World Cup in England, when South Africa were eliminated in the semi-finals after a tie with Australia who got through because of their better record in previous games.

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