Cricket: Trist blames high altitude for team's bowling woes

KIMBERLEY - New Zealand's beleaguered bowling attack at last leave the high veldt for more hospitable conditions as they try to salvage something from the six-match one-day cricket series against South Africa.

They take on South Africa in the fourth game in Kimberley tonight already 0-2 down in the series and staring at a whitewash.

New Zealand's bowlers were flogged all over SuperSport Park in Pretoria on Thursday when South Africa scoring a record 324 on home soil. Chasing a revised 305 off 43 overs, New Zealand started strongly before folding for 189 in 34 overs.

Coach David Trist said that while his bowlers had struggled throughout the series so far, the foreign conditions had played a big part.

While South Africa rely on the pace and variation of Shaun Pollock, Roger Telemachus, Allan Donald and Jacques Kallis, New Zealand have swing as their major weapon.

But in the high altitude of Johannesburg and nearby Pretoria, swing has been non-existent in the early overs for Geoff Allott and Shayne O'Connor.

That has translated into a field day for the South African top order, particularly promoted No 3 Nicky Boje, who has scored 298 runs in three innings and featured in second-wicket partnerships of 129, 111 and 161.

In the middle overs, New Zealand have been milked on the quicker surfaces, with their slower bowlers not as effective.

Trist admitted that his bowlers had offered little in the first three games, particularly with the injured Chris Cairns operating in a limited role.

"The bowling lacks pace, and the swing, which may be more apparent down in Durban and Cape Town, certainly has not been on offer to date," Trist said.

"The pitches haven't spun, so they really render our spin options fairly impotent.

"And the slower pace of [Nathan] Astle and [Chris] Harris really is of little consequence on these pitches."

While there may not be much change in Kimberley, which should provide much of the same, New Zealand need something to go their way.

"Our batting's not too far away. It's been essentially our bowling which is struggling to adjust to the conditions," Trist said. "We are also experiencing fielding which is below the highest level which our opponents consistently show."

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (capt), Chris Nevin, Nathan Astle, Craig Spearman, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Scott Styris, Paul Wiseman, Brooke Walker, Daryl Tuffey, Shayne O'Connor.

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

- NZPA