Cricket: Black Caps make solid start

11.00pm

PORT ELIZABETH - New Zealand's batsmen laid the platform for a big total against the West Indies as they fought to keep their World Cup cricket campaign alive today.

The Black Caps made a big improvement on their early efforts in the first match against Sri Lanka and reached 111 for three at the 25-over point in the pool B match here at St George's Park.

Having surprisingly been sent into bat by West Indies captain Carl Hooper on a flat batting pitch, New Zealand immediately sprang a surprise by promoting Daniel Vettori to open with captain Stephen Fleming.

Fleming flew out of the blocks and looked well set on 25 off 25 balls, including four fours, but moments after hooking paceman Mervyn Dillon over the deep square leg boundary for six he offered a simple return catch off a leading edge.

Vettori struggled in his new role and scored just 13 off 25 before he tried to up the scoring rate with a flourish and was bowled by paceman Vasbert Drakes to make it 58 for two in the 12th over.

Scott Styris, after his superb 141 off 125 balls in the 47-run loss to Sri Lanka, found it much tougher today and he was snapped up at point by Ricardo Powell for five to give Drakes his second wicket.

The innings had the potential to fall in a heap, with just five runs scored between overs 10 and 15, and the total 66 for three in the 16th.

Chris Cairns joined No 3 Nathan Astle who struggled for early timing, but Cairns had no such worries.

He hoisted Drakes 15 rows back over the mid wicket boundary but next ball was dropped by Hooper at first slip on 11, a tough chance which raced away for four.

The experienced pair were building a solid partnership at the halfway mark, with Astle on 34 and Cairns on 26.

They brought up their 50 partnership soon afterwards off 60 balls.

New Zealand made two changes from the Sri Lankan game, dropping Craig McMillan and Daryl Tuffey for Brendon McCullum and Vettori.

- NZPA

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