KEY POINTS:
Jacob Oram's cricket World Cup hopes hang in the balance though New Zealand team management are cautiously optimistic the hard-hitting allrounder's fractured left ring finger will not prevent him travelling to the Caribbean.
Oram sustained the injury when taking a regulation outfield catch to dismiss Mitchell Johnson as Australia's innings imploded before New Zealand surged to a 10-wicket win in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy opener at Westpac Stadium in Wellington last night.
It was almost a freakish injury as Oram was well set to take the catch reverse cup style when the ball folded the digit inwards.
The pain was soon evident on Oram's face as he spurned concerted celebrations and headed for treatment.
X-rays taken during New Zealand's run chase confirmed the fracture and Oram will see a specialist in Hamilton on Monday to determine how to manage the injury.
Cup-bound top order batsman Peter Fulton has been called into the squad to replace Oram, who will not play in Auckland tomorrow or Hamilton on Tuesday.
"At this stage we are confident he will travel to the World Cup," said Black Caps manager Lindsay Crocker.
Oram will remain with the squad which departs for the West Indies on February 28.
He may miss the start of the campaign which opens against a resurgent England on March 16 in St Lucia.
New Zealand also has group games against minnows Kenya and Canada before the Super Eight stage determines the semifinalists.
The final is on April 28.
The towering middle-order wrecking ball is clearly pivotal to New Zealand's Cup campaign given his impressive form during the recent Commonwealth bank Tri-Series in Australia.
Oram scored a century and two half centuries in five innings to lead the New Zealand batting averages at 87.00 -- supplemented by a stunning strike rate of 124.28 runs per 100 balls faced.
His medium-fast bowling was to the fore last night, as he backed up Shane Bond's opening assault to record 0-22 off 10 economical overs to help ensure Australia could not muster a defendable total.
Mitchell's demise saw Australia limp to 133 for eight, 15 runs shy on their eventual total.
Stephen Fleming (70) and Lou Vincent (73) knocked off the 149 runs required with 23 overs to spare.
- NZPA
