Cricket: Relief turns to belief in Cup chances

By RICHARD BOOCK

JOHANNESBURG - Back-to-back wins over the West Indies and South Africa have left New Zealand believing they can win the World Cup for the first time.

Like India, who lifted the silverware against all odds in 1983, and Sri Lanka, who stunned the cricketing world in 1996, New Zealand are making the biggest waves at this year's tournament, particularly after yesterday's nine-wicket demolition of the hosts.

New Zealand's first win over South Africa in South Africa left the side in a strong position to qualify for the second-round Super Six series, thanks mainly to Stephen Fleming's sublime 134 not out, a match-winning innings of epic proportions.

Fleming, who confirmed afterwards that he had never played better, said the relief in the New Zealand dressing room was quickly turning into a belief that they could go all the way and emulate their deeds of 2000, when they won the ICC Knockout tournament.

"This team is believing it now," he said. "If I'd been asked that question earlier this morning I would have probably responded with a sigh and a tentative yes - but this has done a lot of good for us.

"That's two good wins in pressure situations now and if we can put away the so-called minnows [Bangladesh and Canada] we might have done enough to qualify."

Fleming, who left 30,000 South Africans in despair at the Wanderers yesterday, is a big fan of former England captain Mike Brearley, but said he did not want Brearley's label of being a good captain with a modest playing record.

"That's the best innings I've played because there was a lot on the line. The decision against travelling to Kenya placed the past two games in a 'must-win' category, and it was good to respond in the way I did.

"I also felt that, as captain, I had to make a mark at the World Cup. I hadn't fashioned a great record before and it seemed that this was my day.

"It's always an honour to captain your national side but to win the game as a player is even more exciting and certainly that's how I would like it to continue - because it helps gain respect and you feel a lot better about yourself."

New Zealand went into the game with an appalling recent record against the South Africans. They have lost 15 of the past 16 encounters, including a two-nil drubbing in the tri-series final in Australia last summer.

Even without the now-retired Jonty Rhodes, the Proteas were expected to maintain their momentum, and the crowd made plain their feeling as Herschelle Gibbs led the way to 306 for six.

"I don't know why it happened for us this time," said Fleming, "but we've had some great games against South Africa in the recent past, games that have gone right down to the wire. We always knew we could compete.

"The biggest task was getting across the line and we did that - at possibly the most important time for the majority of our careers. There's a huge sense of relief in the dressing room that we're still alive, especially after they made so many runs in the first innings.

"At 306 for six we were wondering about March 4 [the final day of round-robin games] and whether we should be booking our tickets home."

Fleming said the nine-day break the side now face, after their decision against travelling to Nairobi, would help them to prepare for the next games and to recuperate from niggling injuries.

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