KEY POINTS:
GROS ISLET, St Lucia - Ross Taylor has been ruled out of New Zealand's final group C cricket World Cup match with Canada on Friday after suffering a hamstring strain while top scoring for New Zealand against Kenya here today.
Taylor limped gingerly from Beausejour Stadium after scoring 85 and did not take the field as the Black Caps defended 331 for seven.
Team medical staff have diagnosed a relatively mild strain, though Taylor's movement was clearly limited as he sported an ice pack on his right leg.
Taylor sustained the injury after being called to take a short single when batting with Scott Styris.
He stuttered out of the blocks and just made his ground before hopping to a halt and sitting down to await treatment from team physio Dayle Shackel.
Taylor was on 72 at the time and completed his 107-ball innings with Lou Vincent as his designated runner.
It is the latest setback for the 23-year-old's burgeoning international career after he was hampered by cramping and dehydration problems earlier in the summer during the home series against Sri Lanka -- and Tri-Series in Australia.
The classy right hander's absence should not impact significantly on the balance of the side against winless Canada with Peter Fulton, fully recovered from a fractured finger, the logical replacement.
However, the Black Caps management will be keen to have Taylor on deck for New Zealand's first assignment in the Super Eights stage -- a match against the West Indies in Antigua on March 29.
- NZPA