Cricket: NZ on guard against T20 surprise package

Allrounder Elton Chigumbura smashed 76 off 35 balls against Australia last week. Photo / Getty Images

Keeping the guard up will be a key message for New Zealand before their second world T20 group game against Zimbabwe in Guyana early tomorrow.

They will have the advantage of having a look at Zimbabwe, who lost to Sri Lanka earlier today.

The Sri Lankan win means New Zealand must beat Zimbabwe to be sure of progressing. And while New Zealand should be too good, there have been signs that it would be foolish to take their African opponents lightly.

Zimbabwe beat Australia and Pakistan in warmup games and have some distinctly handy performers in the short game.

Bespectacled batsman Charles Coventry's 194 not out against Bangladesh last year is the equal second highest ODI score ever, which takes some doing against anyone.

Allrounder Elton Chigumbura smashed 76 off 35 balls against Australia last week and opener Hamilton Mazakadza averages over 37 at a handy rate in T20 internationals.

But it's the bowling which might have New Zealand thinking ahead of the match.

Zimbabwe's attack is almost entirely made up of spin bowling and on the Providence Stadium pitch it is clear that slow is the way to go.

Eighteen of their 20 overs against Australia were spin. They have both off and legspinning options and the likes of seasoned left armer Ray Price are no slouches.

"We haven't yet got the fast bowling resources to change that strategy," said Zimbabwe coach and former Surrey batsman Alan Butcher.

"But on the other hand, why would you because spinners have done exceptionally well in T20 all over the world. Taking pace off the ball is a vital tactic."

New Zealand captain Dan Vettori is conscious that his batsmen didn't maximise opportunities through the middle period against Sri Lanka last weekend, when chasing 135.

"I think in the middle stages we've got to be a touch more aggressive," he said. "We know the bowling's difficult and the fields are set deeper but with our batting lineup I think we can take a few more risks."

New Zealand are likely to field the same eleven - at least fast bowler Shane Bond hopes so.

"We want to carry our momentum forward to the next stage," he said.

Bond is unfazed by the depressingly slow nature of the pitches in Guyana so far.

"We also played a couple of warmup games here and the wickets were different for each game. It's just a matter of adjusting. If I hit the wicket hard, if there is any variation in the pitch then hopefully I can get a bit out of it."

Apart from Nathan McCullum's strong allround performance against Sri Lanka, there were encouraging signs from opener Jesse Ryder, with 42 off 27 balls, Jacob Oram's 15 in six balls later on shunted New Zealand significantly closer to the target, and Tim Southee and Vettori turned in tidy shifts in the Sri Lankan innings.

* India became the first team to ensure their passage to the Super Eight stage of the world T20 championship with a 14-run win over South Africa yesterday and Australia trounced defending champions Pakistan by 34 runs.

* New Zealand's women's team warmed up for their world T20 with an 18-run win over Australia in St Kitts yesterday. Having made 135 for six, Suzie Bates making 54, New Zealand restricted Australia to 117 for five.


NZ v Zimbabwe

Providence Stadium, Guyana, 1.30am tomorrow

New Zealand (likely): Dan Vettori (c), Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins, Jacob Oram, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Shane Bond.

Zimbabwe (from): Prosper Utseya (c), Hamilton Mazakadza, Brendon Taylor, Charles Coventry, Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervine, Timycen Maruma, Tatenda Taibu, Chamu Chibhabha, Graeme Cremer, Ray Price, Chris Mpofu, Andy Blignaut, Vusi Sibanda.