KEY POINTS:
Wayward pace bowler Daryl Tuffey has put more strain on New Zealand's threadbare seam bowling resources after suffering a bicep injury during an underwhelming cricket World Cup road test against Canada yesterday.
Tuffey was taken to hospital for scans during the Black Caps' perfunctory 114-run victory at Beausejour Stadium - a result that enabled the world No 3-ranked team to complete the pool phase unbeaten.
The right armer headed for treatment after bowling six overs for 40 runs and will be assessed again before the team head to Antigua today for their first Super Eights assignment against the West Indies on March 29.
Tuffey, whose troubled spell started in the worst possible circumstances when Canadian captain John Davison culled 14 from his first six balls, was never likely to feature in the Black Caps' optimum line-up. But his latest medical problems do place more scrutiny on a potentially vulnerable seam attack already carrying the inactive Mark Gillespie.
The Wellingtonian has not yet played on tour as he struggles to overcome a viral infection that has affected the shoulder of his bowling arm.
He saw a specialist and had more treatment yesterday, though captain Stephen Fleming indicated post-match that time may be running out for the Wellingtonian to overcome his debilitating bout of brachial neuritis.
Question marks over the pair mean it is possible New Zealand management may soon need to call on two reinforcements - while even more onus is placed on trump card Shane Bond to remain fit.
Bond and left armer James Franklin were rested yesterday and their understudies did not inspire confidence as Davison launched an entertaining assault on New Zealand's insurmountable 363 for five.
While Tuffey was ineffectual, Michael Mason's performance (1-60 off eight) was as alarming. He conceded five no balls including a costly overstep when he bowled Davison on 14.
The Australian-born import celebrated the let off by later peeling five boundaries from Mason's second over, as the right armer conceded 23 before he mercifully tightened up.
Fleming said his new ball attack were the major concern emerging after another accomplished batting performance.
Lou Vincent's timely 101 and a whirlwind 52 by Brendon McCullum, who struck the World Cup's fastest half century, underscored another controlled display of steady accumulation before the power hitters took over.
When McCullum deposited his 20th ball into the stands over mid wicket to post a neat 50 he erased Mark Boucher's six-day-old mark by one ball. He also took over ownership of the fastest one-day 50 by a New Zealander by the same slender margin - pushing teammate Craig McMillan and the legendary Lance Cairns down the pecking order.
Davison looked on course to surpass McCullum's exploits inside an hour as he crunched nine fours and a six in bringing up his 50 in 23 balls.
"John's a very good hitter. We've seen his talents before but we could have been better. We weren't as accurate as we could have been and we got put under pressure," said Fleming.
"We bowled a couple of no balls - one was costly. They're the things we're trying to eradicate under pressure - we learnt a couple of things about the first two bowlers," said Fleming, indicating the pair will be lucky to return from the outer.
New Zealand's extras tally exceeded double figures for the third time in the tournament - and the concession of nine no balls and five wides clearly irked the skipper.
"We have to work really hard on the no balls - that can be quite costly if you're in a semi or final," he said.
"If you let a dangerous player have two lives it can cost you the World Cup."
While the front end bowling was a concern, the collective batting display again when to plan, particularly at the top where Vincent bounced back from consecutive ducks against Kenya and Canada with his third one-day century.
"Louie was after some runs and he got those," a delighted Fleming said.
Meanwhile, Ross Taylor's strained right hamstring was described as worse than originally anticipated, placing him in jeopardy for the West Indies game.
On a positive note Peter Fulton made a smooth transition into the first drop position, stroking an unruffled run-a-ball 47 in his Cup debut.
Fastest NZ one-day 50s
* 20 balls Brendon McCullum v Canada at St Lucia, 2007
* 21 balls McCullum v Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, 2005
* 21 balls Craig McMillan v USA at London, 2004
* 21 balls Lance Cairns v Australia at Melbourne, 1983.
New Zealand
L. Vincent c and b Davison 101
S. Fleming c Billcliff b Sandher 66
P. Fulton lbw Sandher 47
S. Styris c Bagai b Samad 28
C. McMillan c Samad b Davison 10
J. Oram not out 35
B. McCullum not out 52
Extras (1b, 5lb, 17w, 1nb) 24
--Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 363
Fall: 142 (Fleming), 222 (Fulton), 253 (Styris), 266 (McMillan), 278 (Vincent)
Bowling: A. Cummins 10-1-59-0 (1nb, 4w), U. Bhatti 5.3-1-25-0 (3w), A. Samad 2.3-0-31-1 (1w), H. Osinde 4-0-45-0 (1w), K. Sandher 10-0-58-2, J Davison 10-0-67-2 (2w), S. Dhaniram 8-0-72-0.
Canada
J. Davison c and b Mason 52
G. Barnett c McCullum b Vettori 40
A. Bagai b Vettori 37
I. Billcliff b Styris 50
A. Samad run out (Vincent) 9
A. Mulla lbw b Vettori 0
S. Dhaniram retired hurt 17
U. Bhatti b Patel 10
A. Cummins not out 9
K. Sandher b Patel 2
H. Osinde b Patel 0
Extras (4b, 5lb, 5w, 9nb) 23
--Total (for 9 wkts, 49.2 overs) 249
Fall: 76 (Davison), 110 (Barnett), 188 (Bagai), 201 (Billcliff), 206 (Mulla), 207 (Samad), 245 (Bhatti), 249 (Sandher), 249 (Osinde)
Bowling: D Tuffey 6-0-40-0 (1nb, 2w), M Mason 8-0-60-1 (4nb, 1w) J Oram 7-1-16-0 (1nb), J Patel 9.2-0-25-3, D Vettori 10-0-57-3 (2nb), S Styris 6-0-21-0 (2w), C McMillan 3-0-21-0.
- NZPA
