Mark Greatbatch: Black Cap bowlers need to keep swinging ball

Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum and team-mate Martin Guptil. Photo / Getty Images

The quarter-finals are upon us and a big week lies ahead.

From New Zealand's perspective, they should view their three-wicket win over Bangladesh in their final group game in Hamilton as a good workout. There was pressure put on the bowling unit for the first time in the Cup.

Brendon McCullum is locked into an ultra-attacking philosophy at all costs to obtain wickets. There seems to be no room for sitting back and being patient.

It's worth remembering, everything won't always flow a team's way. There are times when reassessment might be needed while in the field, and especially now, with the knockout stage having arrived.

One point McCullum and his brains trust should be conscious of is that a poor 10-over period can cost a match in this format.

It has been a case of so far, so good although Bangladesh's batsmen did some damage in Hamilton on Friday night. Expect more of the same against tougher batting groups in the coming couple of weeks.

With both McCullum and Kane Williamson going out early there was a chance for those lower in the order and an opportunity for Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor to establish a strong third wicket partnership. Both used their feet well, which enabled them to get under way.

Guptill played one of his most fluent ODI innings, which certainly bodes well.

For all the concerns expressed around his form in the leadup to the Cup, it's worth noting he is New Zealand's highest scorer in the tournament, with 261 at 43.5.

Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson did a good job to keep the runs coming at a good clip.

The keys this week as New Zealand prepare for the quarter-final?

The bowlers must work hard on swinging the ball.

They've done it pretty impressively so far. Now is not the time to have their radar playing up.

This will be the key early, putting batting teams under pressure in the first 10 overs. Dan Vettori is doing a fine job of squeezing - and taking wickets - but New Zealand cannot afford to be sloppy early with the ball.

The batsmen need to play the way that works best for them.

They have a mix of power batsmen, accumulators and improvisers so there are complementary aspects to the batting group. The idea is to maximise their collective strength.

It appears the West Indies will be New Zealand's quarter-final opponents.

Clearly Chris Gayle is a big player for them, but New Zealand must not focus solely on him.

There are others who are effective and it is rare that just one player wins an ODI.

New Zealand have a blueprint that has worked well for them over the last 18 months, so they will be going over that again in their team meetings this week.

Part of that will be reinforcing the message, and partly it is to give them confidence that their methods do work for them.

In what will be a huge game, with the prospect of jangling nerves, New Zealand will need five or six contributors to get across the line.

It could be that two players have exceptional games and four others produce smaller, but significant contributions.

Out of that you have a collective performance.

My quarter-final tips: Sri Lanka to topple South Africa, India to beat Bangladesh, Australia to eliminate Pakistan and New Zealand to join them in the semifinals.

Note: Mark Greatbatch's column was written before the outcome of the Pakistan-Ireland game late last night was known.

For more coverage of the Cricket World Cup from nzherald.co.nz and NZME check out #CricketFever.