5.00am
BENONI, South Africa - New Zealand threw caution to the wind as they hurtled to a five-wicket World Cup win over Canada this morning, in the process knocking West Indies out of the tournament.
Chasing a victory target of 197 in their final Group B outing, they lost skipper
Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan early in a frenetic run chase before galloping home in 23 overs.
Scott Styris made a 38-ball 54 not out and put on an unbroken 83 in just under 10 overs with all rounder Chris Harris in an attempt to improve New Zealand's net run rate.
Styris ended the game by thrashing a four, a six, another four and a single off the final four deliveries from medium pacer Barry Seebaran. New Zealand's batsmen hit 112 of their runs in boundaries, including six sixes.
The win gave New Zealand 16 points, equal with Kenya - who have already qualified for the Super Sixes - and Sri Lanka.
New Zealand will qualify automatically if Sri Lanka beat South Africa in Durban later this morning.
South Africa, though, will go through if they win that day-nighter, leaving the third and final qualifying berth to be decided on run rate between New Zealand and the Sri Lankans.
"We've got a nervous evening ahead of us," Fleming said. "We're not sure which way the Durban game will go.
"Our plan was to send out our first five batsmen and let them have a go and then have a second wave, with players like Styris and Harris.
"That's how it worked out.
"We wanted to reach the target in 16 overs, but scoring at 12 an over was a tough ask; 8.5 an over was a pretty good job."
The West Indies, meanwhile, can already start packing.
Carl Hooper's side play Kenya on Tuesday in their last game but can only reach 14 points.
New Zealand won the toss on Monday but were frustrated by man of the match John Davison's sparkling 75 before the Canadians were dismissed in 47 overs. Davison, who later took three for 61, reached his half-century from 25 balls, equalling the third quickest fifty in World Cup history. The 32-year-old, who plays his cricket for South Australia and who struck the quickest ever World Cup century against West Indies earlier in the cup, carved two fours and a six in the fourth over from Andre Adams and moved to his half-century by smashing Jacob Oram for three sixes in an over.
Frustrated by accurate bowling from left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori and medium-pacer Chris Harris, however, Davison then holed out to long on trying to loft Harris for another six. The rest of the innings failed to emulate Davison as Oram took four for 52, while pace bowler Shane Bond took three for 29.
In reply, the New Zealanders set off in sprint mode and held their nerve despite the clatter of early wickets.
Skipper Fleming (five) was run out after a ridiculous mix-up with McMillan (14), who was caught off a skied edge after Astle (11) charged at Davison's off spin and was stumped.
That made it 32 for three after four overs but the carnage continued, Andre Adams making a 20-ball 36, Cairns chipping in with a run-a-ball 31 and Harris making 38 off 29 balls.
Styris paid tribute to Harris for steadying New Zealand nerves after they lost their fifth wicket for 114 in the 14th over.
"We call him the king (in those situations). He was fantastic," said Styris.
- REUTERS
World Cup schedule
Points table
5.00am
BENONI, South Africa - New Zealand threw caution to the wind as they hurtled to a five-wicket World Cup win over Canada this morning, in the process knocking West Indies out of the tournament.
Chasing a victory target of 197 in their final Group B outing, they lost skipper
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