Cricket: Black Caps rely on other teams to define needs

By Richard Boock


EDINBURGH - New Zealand will have to wait for the result of this morning's World Cup showdown between Australia and the West Indies before discovering the precise run-rate equation needed to qualify for the second round.

Unless the West Indies win their match at Old Trafford, New Zealand will need to score a comprehensive win over Scotland tonight to qualify - but just how comprehensive will not be known until after the match at Manchester.

If the Windies do manage to win their game, they will qualify for the Super Six along with leaders Pakistan and New Zealand from Group B, but a loss will leave Australia, the West Indies and the Kiwis all on six points.

Before last night's match started, the West Indies had the best net run-rate of the group, with Australia hovering around 0.77 and New Zealand - whose run-rate was demolished against Pakistan at Derby - falling from 0.42 to 0.00.

However, both Australia and the West Indies demonstrated in the last round of matches just how dramatically the net run-rate can change, during runaway wins over Bangladesh and Scotland respectably.

The wins meant Australia's run-rate soared from - 0.05, while the West Indies - who began their match at 0.08 - finished it with a net run-rate of 0.88.

The weather in Scotland is cold and threatening and New Zealand will be praying rain plays no part at the Grange Ground, as an abandoned match would give them just a solitary point and no chance of qualifying if the Australians beat the West Indies.

The weekend's Group A matches have brought this tournament alive, with England needing to beat India in their rain-affected match this morning to have any chance of making the cut, following Zimbabwe's massive upset win over tournament favourite's South Africa.

Scotland is not expected to contain too many dangers for the Kiwis, but after Zimbabwe's shock result at the weekend the New Zealanders will not be taking anything for granted.

Scotland's best batsman is Gavin Hamilton, who was initially included in England's 30-strong World Cup squad, and their biggest threat with the ball appears to be opening bowler John Blain.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Matt Horne, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Adam Parore, Chris Harris, Dion Nash, Gavin Larsen, Geoff Allott, Daniel Vettori.

Scotland: George Salmond (captain), Iain Phillip, Mike Allingham, John Blain, James Brinkley, Asim Butt, Alec Davies, Nick Dyer, Gavin Hamilton, Bruce Patterson, Keith Sheridan, Mike Smith, Ian Stanger, Peter Steindi, Greig Williamson.