Cricket: Out of runs, out of the semifinals

By RICHARD BOOCK in Johannesburg

Coach Denis Aberhart was left rueing another inconsistent batting performance as his New Zealand side faced up to the end of their World Cup campaign.

Losses against Australia and India combined with Sri Lanka's win yesterday over Zimbabwe to leave New Zealand in fifth place at the end of the second round and out of the semifinals.

Just as it was for the ICC Champions Trophy last year and even in the home series against India, the batting continued to be about as reliable as an Auckland city bus - raising much hope early in the journey before running off course in the final two games.

The nadir was reached on Friday night at Centurion when New Zealand, steamrollered for 112 three days earlier, were bowled out for 146 against India and crushed by seven wickets.

Until then, the main concern had been the bowling, but Aberhart did not need his coaching manuals to pinpoint the reason for the team's demise.

"We simply didn't get enough runs in either of the last two games and it was all over," he said from the team hotel, where the squad was closing ranks to deal with the final confirmation of their exit from the tournament.

"We got ourselves into a good position against Australia, but couldn't finish it off, and then, well ... it was always going to be hard after making only 146 on Friday.

"Even then, we had a chance to rescue the innings. We just needed someone to take responsibility and dig in for a big one."

Instead, New Zealand lost their most successful one-day player, Nathan Astle, to a first-ball duck, and Stephen Fleming and Chris Cairns to wretched shots, leaving the innings rudderless as it sank into oblivion.

Despite the horror show at Centurion, the problems began for New Zealand when they opted out of playing in Kenya for security reasons, a decision that meant they were playing catch-up for most of the first round and all of the second.

The result was that they were effectively eliminated on that basis, and Kenya were able to march through to the semifinals instead.

Aberhart said the decision not to play in Kenya cost his team far more than the four points squandered.

"I really think that 10-day layoff after the win over South Africa hurt us in terms of momentum.

"The spin-off meant we were facing run-rate pressures against Canada and Bangladesh, and therefore couldn't afford to rotate players.

"By the time we met Australia at Port Elizabeth, players such as Brendon McCullum and Jacob Oram hadn't had a bat for a month, and we saw what happened when they were thrust in during tense situations.

"I don't think there's much doubt that we would have qualified if we had played Kenya."

For all that, Aberhart could not resist having a quiet crack at the tournament format, suggesting several areas in need of overhaul.

"I don't think this format will necessarily find the best team in the world," he said. "Kenya and Zimbabwe got through because they received points from forfeited games and were favoured by the lack of reserve days.

"And I'm not sure whether the system for carrying through points from the first round is a good idea.

"I tend to think everyone should start the second round afresh."

The New Zealand squad have stayed close together since the loss to India. They went to the Cats-Highlanders Super 12 rugby match, before returning to their Sandton hotel and preparing for this morning's debrief.

Aberhart said there was natural disappointment in the ranks because the side had rated their chance of going all the way. But they were being urged to keep their chins up and take positives out of the experience.

"Everyone's pretty down as you would expect. However, it's not as if it was all gloom and doom. There were some strong individual performances.

"Stephen Fleming led from the front and batted as well here as I've ever seen him bat. His career strike-rate is about 68, but he's been scoring at 86 at this tournament. He's simply in tremendous form.

"Shane Bond wasn't getting many wickets earlier on, but I was never worried because he was bowling well without success. When it came to the heavyweights such as Australia and India he showed just how good he is - he's a world-class player."

Aberhart said Scott Styris had continued to make great strides as a front-line batsman, even though he tailed off in the last games.