KEY POINTS:
The Black Caps said their comprehensive victory over Kenya today would settle their World Cup nerves.
When Lou Vincent went for a duck in the first over there were fears the minnows could cause another upset, but New Zealand then went on to amass a record score at the St Lucia ground of 331-7.
Kenya were bowled out for 183.
Captain Stephen Fleming said: "These games can be tricky, we have seen that in this tournament and in other tournaments."
But he said that after a difficult start it was a good performance and the side werepleased to have the first week out of the way and be in the Super Eights.
"It was a professional performance. We respected the little things in the game that you would any time you play a so-called bigger opponent," Fleming said.
"We had a nervous start but got into the game quickly and never gave them any opportunity to cause us any tension or pressure."
New Zealand's only anxiety was ensuring they had delivered the 20 overs required to constitute a match, as rain could potentially have pushed the contest into tomorrow.
"We were desperate to get 20 overs in and once we did that it was a little bit of free falling, we gave some guys some work under their belt," Fleming said.
Fleming said Shane Bond may be rested for Friday's game against Canada while Ross Taylor's hamstring strain will see him replaced by Peter Fulton.
He added: "It steps up a gear when you get to the Super Eights and to be there amongst it taking points through is exactly how we planned it."
Spin Bowler Daniel Vettori, who took two wickets, said there were a few nervous moments early with the loss of the toss and Vincent's departure, but Ross Taylor's innings of 85 and the skipper's 60 eased concerns.
"Ross' and Stephen's partnership settled us down. From then on the day was ours,'' Vettori said.
He said he was disappointed to concede some sixes off his bowling and complained: "I can't buy a wicket at the moment."
Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo decribed his team's performance as "disappointing".
He said: "We missed some chances in the field - a couple of run outs and some catches and that put us back."
Man of the match Taylor will miss the match after pulling up near the end of his innings. He said afterwards: "It is a muscle strain. I am sure people back home thought it was cramp and were laughing in their chairs."
- NZHERALD STAFF, NZPA
