Cricket: Black Caps too classy for uninterested South Africans

Trent Boult of New Zealand celebrates with team mates after dismissing David Miller of South Africa during the ICC Cricket World Cup. Photo / Getty Images

The exuberance of the fans at Hagley Oval stokes Boult’s fire

Yes it was a practice match; yes in the overall World Cup scheme it didn't matter a jot, but one team undeniably took far more out of yesterday's knockabout at Hagley Oval than the other.

New Zealand completed their preparation for the cup with a 134-run trouncing of South Africa - dismissing the Proteas for just 197.

They batted assertively, bowled and fielded energetically and can now say they've done all they can to arrive at the start line on the same ground this Saturday, primed as never before for a cup tournament.

South Africa, the highly-rated second favourites in pre-cup betting, didn't look interested. New Zealand may not have been that fussed about the game either, but they made far more of it.

But it's best not to take too much out of the contest. It was over as a match when left-armer Trent Boult reduced the South Africans to 31 for four chasing New Zealand's 331 for eight.

This was a game largely given over to an exercise in getting batsmen time in the middle, and bowlers worthwhile spells. In those respects, New Zealand bossed the day.

There were close to 6000 people - several waving South African flags - taking advantage of the free admission to the oval yesterday, which has been beefed up from its test debut against Sri Lanka on Boxing Day by a series of four blocks of temporary seating.

That will take the capacity up to 18,000 for the opening game against Sri Lanka, which is a sellout.

Out the back, the corporate marquees were empty but in place for Saturday, supported by a long line of Portaloos. There is also a detectable buzz about the place.

Opening the tournament means plenty to this city after the horrors it endured four years ago, almost to the day.

It will be eight days short of the fourth anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake when New Zealand and Sri Lanka walk on to Hagley Oval.

Yesterday's match was a game neither side was particularly keen on playing. Players in both camps have emphasised they now just want to get on with the cup.

Still, New Zealand deserve credit for embracing it as a final opportunity, far better than the South Africans did.

All the New Zealand batsmen, bar Tim Southee, who came out in the final over, reached double figures.

Skipper Brendon McCullum hit a brisk 59 in 45 balls, Kane Williamson top scored with 66 off 53, chipping the ball comfortably over the off side field; and others made roughly run-a-ball, or better, contributions.

South Africa's bowlers ran in but for a side rated among the best fielding units, they were off colour in the outfield. It looked as if they treated it for, essentially what it was - a middle-wicket practice.

A day earlier, batsman Faf du Plessis had talked of hoping to get value out of the match. They had the chance, once New Zealand gave them a challenging target.

However Boult was on the job, running in hard and had three wickets in his first four overs.

How hard were New Zealand working? Well, it wouldn't be a one-day game without a Mitchell McClenaghan sprawling tumble after a delivery, which the big Aucklander produced in his second over. Going through the motions? Try telling Boult and McClenaghan.

Dan Vettori had two wickets in one over and from 62 for six that was that.

JP Duminy took his chance, making 80 in a 121-run stand with Vernon Philander. Otherwise South Africa offered precious little, and all that remained was a chance for New Zealand's bowling troupe to run through their paces.

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