MUMBAI, (Reuters) – New Zealand put another second-tier cricket nation in their place at the World Cup yesterday to secure their quarter-final spot but a further injury in their ranks may prove a more important legacy.
Strike bowler Kyle Mills tweaked his left thigh after delivering just 2.4 overs before limping off during the 97-run win over Canada at the Wankhede Stadium. His condition will be assessed over the next 48 hours.
His absence for any lengthy period would be a blow for a Kiwi side which is beginning to emerge as a serious challenger for a first title despite an earlier seven-wicket defeat by Australia in Group A.
The Black Caps, who have now won four of their five matches in the round-robin stage with Sri Lanka to come, already are missing their main spinner, skipper Daniel Vettori, who has a knee injury which could take at least another week to mend.
“I guess injuries are part and parcel of the tournament. Every team has gone through injuries right through their camps and for us it’s just another obstacle you’ve got to overcome,” Sunday’s match-winner Brendon McCullum told reporters.
Certainly, there is no shortage of confidence or in-form batsmen in the New Zealand camp on the back of 10-wicket wins over Kenya and Zimbabwe and a 110-run defeat of more serious rivals, Pakistan.
FIRST CHANCE
They relished the first chance in this tournament to try out the track at Wankhede Stadium — venue for the April 2 final — and after an initial testing five or so overs, they made hay in the intense Mumbai sun with McCullum leading the way with 101.
Their innings of 358-6 displayed admirably why they can be such a threat to any team — including holders Australia – on their day.
They gradually stepped up the gas with stand-in skipper Ross Taylor (74) smashing an extraordinary 28 off one over from Harvir Baidwan including four sixes.
Scott Styris (35), World Cup debutant Kane Williamson (34 not out) and James Franklin (31 not out from eight balls) also made the most of a supine pitch and tiring Canadian bowlers in the latter overs, taking the Kiwi tally of sixes to 12 overall.
The North Americans, who have lost to all but Kenya in the group so far, never gave a pretence of seriously challenging for the total although a final total of 261-9 was at least respectable.
Skipper Ashish Bagai led the rearguard action with 84 before cramp effectively finished his resistance and he was caught behind off Nathan McCullum for an almost merciful release.
Jimmy Hansra (70 not out) then picked up the baton before he too found himself prostrate in the ground with agonising cramp.
He retired hurt only to return with eight wickets down and less than five overs to go but by then the match had long disappeared from view for his team.
