Cricket: Black Caps in good shape after final shakedown

7.45am

JOHANNESBURG - As far as World Cup cricket dress rehearsals go, New Zealand's effort last night was high up on captain Stephen Fleming's wish list.

Fleming was beaming, not only for his team's comprehensive 116-run win over the Gauteng provincial side in Soweto, but also for his own form -- a majestic 122 off 128 balls which led the Black Caps to a formidable 306 for five.

While the bowlers weren't hugely impressive, they were accurate enough to restrict the home side to 190 for eight at a sweltering Elkah Stadium in the sprawling southern Johannesburg township.

With New Zealand's batting the biggest area of concern heading into their tournament opener against Sri Lanka in Bloemfontein on Monday, Fleming's chanceless knock would have eased the worry lines.

Also Chris Cairns, after initially struggling with his timing on the slowish surface, unleashed to score 70 off 59 balls including four fours and three sixes.

Fleming though took control from the start and all his favourite shots returned, notably the effortless straight drives which he can play in his sleep when in peak form.

After the early loss of Nathan Astle for eight to a poor caught behind decision, Fleming cruised to 50 off 56 balls after taking 15 off an over from paceman Johnson Mafa.

He and Craig McMillan added 104 off 122 balls for the second wicket, Fleming scoring 61 of them as McMillan contributed a solid 38 off 54 balls.

The captain then retired with his job well done, and later said his confidence was sky-high heading into the tournament opener.

"I've come over here feeling really good, practised well, and know from now on I have to make it count," Fleming said.

"The shots have always been there, but the balance and the placement was certainly back. We're getting good surfaces to bat on and we're taking a lot of confidence from it.

Cairns stepped it up in the dying overs along with Lou Vincent and Andre Adams as New Zealand added 150 off the last 15. Adams smote sixes off the final two balls of the innings, and beat Cairns for biggest six of the day with a huge pick-up 15m over the mid-wicket boundary.

The opposition bowling was steady but far from threatening and contained just one former international -- left-arm spinner Clive Eksteen.

It meant all the top six batsmen had at least one useful knock in the two warmup matches as they go to the flat, batsmen's paradise in Bloemfontein.

Gauteng never threatened to overhaul the Black Caps, with no one passing 50 and some sharp fielding effecting two run-outs including a smart direct hit from wicketkeeper Vincent.

Pace spearhead Shane Bond was kept in cotton wool with regular breaks with ice and wet towels to ease his overheating problem. He sent down a tidy first five overs but was better in his second spell after leaving the field to cool off, generating sharp pace and ending with one for 21 off eight overs.

Kyle Mills came back well after some early punishment and had a brilliant running one-handed catch by Bond to thank for his only wicket.

Spinner Daniel Vettori found it tough in 10 wicketless overs for 42 while Adams ended with the best figures of two for 40 off nine.

Said Fleming: "The bowling was good, there weren't many extras but it's very hard to gauge against the opposition we're playing. Certainly the work they've done in the nets has been spot-on."

- NZPA