Cricket: Fighting talk from Trist on eve of third one-day match

JOHANNESBURG - New Zealand were far from hitting the canvas despite a comprehensive loss to South Africa on Sunday, according to coach David Trist.

New Zealand went down 0-1 in the second of their six-match series after losing by six wickets in Benoni, defending a total of just 194. The first match was washed out.

It was New Zealand's first loss in four games after their winning run through Nairobi, including the ICC knockout final against India.

South Africa bettered New Zealand in all departments in Benoni and showed how tough a task it will be to beat the World Cup finalists at home.

Classy players such as Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis all stepped up at different times, while allrounder Nicky Boje continued to be a revelation at No 3 in the order.

But Trist said the series was not headed for a whitewash.

"One battle doesn't make a war. We know we're competitive with anyone in the world," Trist said. "Yes, we respect the South Africans, they're on home deck. But it's just one battle. We've got another one looming and we believe if we play up to our best we're going to be in a close-run race."

New Zealand fancied their chances coming off their consecutive wins over the in-form Pakistanis and Indians in Nairobi.

Then South Africa scored up a formidable 191 for two off 38 overs before the rain came in Potchefstroom. In Benoni, they handled the difficult pitch better than New Zealand to win with 20 balls to spare.

It meant New Zealand have not seized any initiative yet in the series, which Trist is looking to change on what should be a top pitch in Pretoria for the day-nighter tonight.

"We've got to be at our best against South Africa. We played very well in Kenya and we need to return to that state of mind, and I believe you'll see that here."

Trist said that after the substandard surface at Benoni, it was a relief to get to a top venue.

"We're playing at an international venue on an international pitch. Our batters like the ball coming on and we've got to out-bat them."

Two of the top three, Chris Nevin and captain Stephen Fleming, again missed out in Benoni, in contrast to Kirsten and Boje, who added a match-winning 111 off 140 balls for the second wicket.

Nathan Astle was the only batsman to hang around, but his 58 off 105 balls was an indication of how tough the New Zealand batsmen found it.

In the bowling ranks there are sure to be changes, with left-armers Geoff Allott and Shayne O'Connor likely to return on a surface more to their liking.

Allott looks destined to play every second game because his back stress fracture is still not right.

"He cannot back up with such a short gap between games without really risking serious setback," Trist said. "I want to see Geoff playing one-day cricket for the next two or three years. I don't want to see this as being his last tour."

The team looks likely to be similar to that which won the ICC final, with Nevin in for Craig Spearman and no spin bowlers.

South Africa should have no reason to change their winning team, with pace bowler Roger Telemachus returning from suspension on Sunday to take one for 16 off 10 excellent overs.

Meanwhile, the injury concerns plaguing the team have led the national selectors to delay naming their squad for the three-match test series.

Selection panel convener Sir Richard Hadlee had been due to name the squad today for the first-class section of the tour, but that has been deferred until Friday, by which stage he hopes to have a clearer picture of the injury problems.

Hadlee said he wanted to see how Cairns came through the third one-day international.

"Obviously we need some fresh legs in the bowling department and whether Chris remains with the side once the one-day internationals end next week will have a significant bearing on who else we pick to join the test attack."

The first test starts in Bloemfontein on November 17.

Likely teams:

fusixpoint New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Chris Nevin, Nathan Astle, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Scott Styris, Shayne O'Connor, Geoff Allott.

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (capt), Gary Kirsten, Boeta Dippenaar, Nicky Boje, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Allan Donald, Roger Telemachus.

- NZPA