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Untitled Document
 New Zealand win but Canada impress in defeat
23rd Mar 2007 12:30 IST
Agencies
New Zealand chalked out a clinical 114-run win to maintain a clean slate but a gritty Canada ensured they were just beaten and not disgraced in the group C match of the World Cup at Gros Islet in St. Lucia on Thursday.
Out of form Lou Vincent returned among the runs with a scintillating knock of 101 off 117 balls, forging a 142-run opening stand with captain Stephen Fleming (66) in the process.
Down the order, Brendon McCullum (52 not out) blasted the fastest half century in World Cup's history as New Zealand posted 363/5 in 50 overs.
Chasing an improbable target of 364, Canada's a defiant arrogance saw the side reach 249 in 49.2 overs before losing all their wickets.
For them, skipper John Davison led from the front with a 31-ball knock of 52 with the help of nine boundaries and a six.
Davison looked determined to give the Kiwis a taste of their own medicines. The British Columbia-born cricketer, who had a stint in the Australian Cricket Academy, sent Daryl Tuffy's fifth ball soaring over mid-wicket for a six, followed by a streaky four.
Tuffy's new-ball colleague Michael Mason then found himself at the receiving end of Davison's fury. Davison picked the bowler for special treatment in the fourth over, hitting him for four boundaries in a row and adding another in the seven-ball over.
Mason, however, had the last laugh and his sweet revenge came in the 10th over. The pacer banged it short and Davison responded with a wild swish. He, however, could not middle it properly as the ball went up and Mason stood under to take the catch and settle a personal score.
The New Zealand attack, sans spearhead Shane Bond who was rested, did not look formidable against the determined Canada middle order.
Ian Bilcliff (50), Geoff Barnett (40) Ashish Bagai (37) – all showed the guts and gumption and chipped in with cameos even though winning was never a possibility.
From 205/4, they eventually folded for 249 with the Kiwi spin twin Daniel Vettori (3/57) and Jeetan Patel (3/25) running through the middle and lower order.
Having already qualified for the Super Eight stage, New Zealand got some good batting practice in the match after Davison had put them in.
Vincent and Fleming gave the Kiwis a flying start, putting on 142 runs in 21.3 overs.
They, however, did not look very sound against Canada's pace duo of Anderson Cummings and Umar Bhatti, both managing enough movement to beat the bat on several occasions.
Vincent survived early jitters before opening his account with a towering six off Cummings and Fleming too shrugged off a shaky start to match the aggression and send the Canada bowlers on a leather-hunt.
Canada bowlers could not pose any serious threat to the openers, who scored almost at will and the Kiwis had cruised to 142 in 21.2 overs when Fleming departed.
He flicked a Kevin Sandher delivery towards short midwicket and Ian Billcliff pouched a low catch to send him back.
Peter Fulton, who struck a run-a-ball 47, and Vincent continued with the job and Scott Styris (28) too maintained the momentum with a 17-ball cameo. Styris hit Abdool Samad for four boundaries in a row before perishing in the next ball.
Vincent was eventually caught and bowled by Davison after a sparkling knock, which included nine fours and a six. A rampaging McCullum hit a 20-ball fifty and was eventually not out on 52 from just 21 balls, belting five sixes and a four during his knock.
In fact, the last seven overs cost Canada 85 runs with McCullum and Jacob Oram (35 not out) going berserk.
For Canada, Kevin Sandher (2/58) and Davison (2/67) grabbed two wickets apiece. |
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