KEY POINTS:
Take a couple of slow bowlers, add a dollop of unconventional pace and a generous tablespoon of confidence; stir briskly and you've got yourself a potential World Cup winner.
That's Jacob Oram's recipe for success as table-topping New Zealand awake today in their new surroundings at Grenada, aware that a win tomorrow against Sri Lanka will cement their place in the semifinals.
Much of the pre-World Cup talk had revolved around the importance of slow bowlers in the Caribbean, but Oram said it was becoming clear that fast bowlers with an X-factor were also going to play a major part.
"I think over here you've either got to be a slow bowler or a paceman who does something a bit different. You look at Shaun Tait [Australia] and [Lasith] Malinga from Sri Lanka - they've got a twist to their bowling.
"Slow bowlers or express with a difference, that's what's shaping as the real dangers in this tournament."
Oram made the comments mindful that New Zealand were well-served in both areas through Daniel Vettori, Jeetan Patel and Shane Bond. He was equally aware Sri Lanka could boast a powerful spin attack, and Malinga's unusual pace, though there are doubts he will play because of injury.
Patel, though struggling a little against the invention of Kevin O'Brien on Tuesday, has continued to take wickets and Bond has been outstanding, his two Irish scalps raising his tournament total to 10 at 10.20, at an economy rate of just 2.44.
Sri Lanka, though, can point to Malinga as joint leading wicket-taker with Glenn McGrath, having captured 15 wickets at 14.26 (4.26), Muttiah Muralitharan in No 4 spot after taking 12 at 18.75 (4.11), and Chaminda Vaas with eight at 19.50.
Oram, who will play his 100th ODI at Queens Park tomorrow, said it all added up to a massive encounter between two of the best-equipped teams in the tournament.
"They're a good side and a good bunch of guys as well.
"They're very talented and have natural game winners in their side; players such as Murali, Malinga, Jayasuriya and Sangakkara. We're going to have to be on our game but the way we've been playing has shown we're a good side as well. We may not have the names that some of the other sides have but we're a damn good unit and we play well together."
New Zealand have enjoyed a charmed run since the elimination of India and Pakistan. If there have been concerns about their upcoming games against Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia, it's that they haven't yet been put under serious pressure.
However, Oram said it wasn't New Zealand's fault the draw had panned out the way it had. His team were fully aware of the need to lift their intensity, and prepare for much tougher challenges over the next 10 days.
"I think we identified at the start that we had a favourable draw, after what happened in the pool games when two unfancied sides made it through," he said.
"With our breaks we've been able to rest and recover and we've made the most of a favourable draw.
"It's been the calm before the storm and we know that. We've got two games inside four days and three in a week-and-half - against the three top sides in the world.
"It's just about to hit us hard so we've got to get ready for it.
"It's definitely going to get tougher.
"All three opponents are playing very good cricket. I know there's been a couple of losses for the Sri Lankans and South Africans - but I can see these three games playing a huge part in our campaign."
NZ v Sri Lanka
Grenada, 1.15am tomorrow
New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (c), Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Shane Bond, Jeetan Patel, Mark Gillespie, Chris Martin, Michael Mason.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (c), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upal Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Marvan Atapattu, Nuwan Kulasekara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Russell Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Malinga Bandara, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.
