Umar Bhatti is bowled by Jeetan Patel. Photo / Reuters
Praise was heaped on the Black Caps after their 114-run over Canada this morning, with the feeling starting to grow in cricketing circles that they could go far the in this World Cup.
Cricket website Cricinfo.com spared little in its summary of New Zealand's performance
declaring: "The manner of their victory, and the intent showed from their batsmen, was almost Australian in its ruthlessness."
Special mention was saved for Lou Vincent who bounced back from two consecutive ducks to notch up a century: "Allied with his brilliant fielding - at point, mid-on and elsewhere in the infield during Canada's innings - his class shone through."
It also pointed out that, though the Candians refused to roll over, the victory had been achieved "without the tournament's most potent fast bowler" - Shane Bond.
The Independent in South Africa emphasised that the match was a dead rubber, with New Zealand through and Canada already out of the tournament before the game started.
"So after being sent in, New Zealand used its innings as batting practice and surpassed its previous highest World Cup total of 331 - set two days earlier," it said.
It wasn't all positive though, Reuters stating that "the Kiwi pace attack was lacklustre" and listing Daryl Tuffey's unflattering figures - 40 runs conceded off six overs.
In Canada, they were concentrating on the respectable performance by their side - being bowled out for 249. Sport site slam.canoe.ca headlined their report "Canada scores runs but loses to New Zealand".
It added: "Canada left the Cricket World Cup swinging Thursday, losing to New Zealand but surpassing its previous best score at the tournament."
John Davison's quick-fire 52 was singled out, but so was the aftermath: "When he left, so did Canada's momentum."
Fox Sports in Australia won the prize for pun of the day, saying in its teaser headline "Lou flushes Canada away".
Maybe they thought better of it later because the headline on the story itself was a more sober "Vincent fires as Black Caps cruise".
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