Cricket: Winning tri-series only option says Styris

By MARK GEENTY in Cardiff

New Zealand will be shattered if they do not win the cricket tri-series against England and the West Indies, says allrounder Scott Styris.

New Zealand face their acid test this weekend with a doubleheader against the West Indies in Cardiff tonight (9.45 NZ time start) then a rejuvenated England in nearby Bristol 24 hours later.

The previously winless hosts revived their campaign yesterday with a seven-wicket hiding of the West Indies, moving them to equal second, three points behind leaders New Zealand.

Styris said New Zealand believed they were a superior one-day side, with a world ranking of No 4 to England's No 7 and West Indies' No 8, and needed to prove it as they chased a seventh successive win.

"I think we're a better one-day side than both these teams and we have to go out and show we are. Nothing less than winning the final will be good enough," Styris said.

"We win one more game and we're there [in the final], which has got to be the first priority."

England's win yesterday, after two hidings which saw them roasted by the British press, was the worst thing to happen for New Zealand, who have picked themselves up from the 3-0 test series beating against the English.

It brought the hosts back into the race and ensured New Zealand may need to win two of their next three matches to be at the final at Lord's next Saturday.

- NZPA