Cricket: Lavish praise for Kiwis in England

LONDON - British newspapers yesterday praised matchwinner Chris Cairns and New Zealand after their ICC Knockout Trophy victory over India.

The Guardian said New Zealand "stretched their necks at the death" to secure victory.

It said New Zealand showed how a "well-organised team can punch above its weight in one-day cricket."

The Independent described Cairns as "impressive."

"Say what you like about Chris Cairns, but his feel for the big occasion is becoming legendary.

"Cairns, a powerful hitter of the ball, hit two sixes and eight fours in an unbeaten century to see his team home with two balls to spare. Yet even more impressive was the way he and Chris Harris, who made 46, kept calm in the face of a mounting run rate that had risen to 9.5 an over."

The paper said it was the best game of the tournament and it required New Zealand to make the highest total of the competition batting second.

The Times' headline read: "Cairns proves all-round worth in New Zealand's landmark victory."

"Cairns produced a truly memorable all-round performance to fashion a New Zealand victory that seemed a pipedream. Stephen Fleming understandably pronounced this the greatest one-day win in his country's history."

- NZPA