Cricket: Boosting NZ run-rate seen as vital element

By Richard Boock

LONDON - The New Zealand cricketers are acutely aware of the need to boost their run-rate as they head into the second phase of the cricket World Cup.

The run-rates of all Super Six qualifiers have now been adjusted to take into account only those games played against each other, and the Kiwis, though handily placed with two points, have the lowest, at minus 0.40.

The last player to speak at a team debriefing yesterday, batsman Roger Twose, raised the issue of sustained run-rate urgency through the Super Six stage, and the possible need to sacrifice winning margins in terms of wickets in hand.

Twose said later he believed the New Zealanders, like most of their rivals, had underestimated the importance of run-rates through the first round.

"We almost got stung by that. We just reacted in time," said the left-hander, one of the leading figures in New Zealand's two most important group wins, against Australia and Scotland.

On the other hand, and perhaps handicapped by having three different coaches through their campaign, the West Indies did not see the problem coming quickly enough and were eliminated on run-rate after dawdling during their wins over Bangladesh and New Zealand.

"In hindsight we probably should have shown more urgency against Bangladesh at Chelmsford too," said Twose.

"But we pulled it round when we had to, and we've got to continue that approach during the Super Six matches.

"It could well come down to sacrificing wickets for quick runs, because even though you might win by less, you still achieve a higher run-rate."

Twose believes New Zealand are genuine semifinals contenders after carrying two points through from the first stage and views their first Super Six match, against Zimbabwe, as the perfect springboard into the top four.

If New Zealand beat the African high-flyers they will need only one more win against India or South Africa to make the next stage, and in the event of being tied on points with Zimbabwe, will qualify by virtue of their Super Six win.

The Kiwis have recently shared a one-day series 2-2 with the Indians, and lost 1-3 to the South Africans, who were probably flattered by the margin after snatching a last-ball win in the third game, at Napier.

"We definitely rate our chances against both those sides," Twose said. "We've beaten them at home during the summer and know what we have to do. Now it's a matter of doing it when it really counts.

"Our bowling's been pretty good, our fielding's been excellent - if we can bring more consistency into our batting I wouldn't imagine many teams would be looking forward to playing us."