Cricket: Finals no longer a fear for late-blooming Kiwis

Stephen Fleming has the chance at Lord's to grasp his third piece of silverware from four one-day international finals in the new millennium.

Having not won any one-day tournament until the 2000 Champions Trophy in Nairobi, New Zealand have made three finals since, winning the Sri Lanka tri-series final over Pakistan in May last year.

Their only blemish was in Australia two years ago. Having knocked the hosts out of their own series, they lost 2-0 to South Africa in the best-of-three final.

New Zealand's most celebrated win was in the Nairobi final against India, when Chris Cairns smacked 102 not out after they toppled Pakistan in the semifinals.

Last year, three-wicket hauls from Daryl Tuffey and Jacob Oram saw them dismiss Pakistan for 198 in Dambulla, then win by four wickets thanks to Fleming's innings of 65.

New Zealand have contested 13 overseas finals for just two wins, with 10 of the losses in best-of-three finals across the Tasman.

Ahead of tonight's clash with the West Indies, Cairns said the recent results were a healthy measure of the team's progress.

"We've been in three out of four finals recently so it's becoming a habit, which is a good thing. A win here will be another feather in the cap.

"It will be nice to leave these shores with a memory of the fact we can play, after the test series [which was lost 3-0 to England]."

Assuming all the New Zealand team are passed fit, the tough decision will be over the bowling make-up, with one of Daryll Tuffey, Ian Butler or James Franklin likely to miss out, probably along with Chris Harris.

- NZPA