Majestic Fleming century the
centrepiece in NZ win
From Stuff, 7 February 2003
JOHANNESBURG:
As far as World Cup cricket dress rehearsals go, New Zealand's effort
today was high up on captain Stephen Fleming's wish list.
Fleming was beaming, not only for his team's comprehensive 116-run
win over the Gauteng provincial side in Soweto, but also for his
own form - a majestic 122 off 128 balls which led the Black Caps
to a formidable 306 for five.
While the bowlers weren't hugely impressive, they were accurate
enough to restrict the home side to 190 for eight at a sweltering
Elkah Stadium in the sprawling southern Johannesburg township.
With New Zealand's batting the biggest area of concern heading
into their tournament opener against Sri Lanka in Bloemfontein on
Monday, Fleming's chanceless knock would have eased the worry lines.
Also Chris Cairns, after initially struggling with his timing on
the slowish surface, unleashed to score 70 off 59 balls including
four fours and three sixes.
Fleming though took control from the start and all his favourite
shots returned, notably the effortless straight drives which he
can play in his sleep when in peak form.
After the early loss of Nathan Astle for eight to a poor caught
behind decision, Fleming cruised to 50 off 56 balls after taking
15 off an over from paceman Johnson Mafa.
He and Craig McMillan added 104 off 122 balls for the second wicket,
Fleming scoring 61 of them as McMillan contributed a solid 38 off
54 balls.
The captain then retired with his job well done, and later said
his confidence was sky-high heading into the tournament opener.
"I've come over here feeling really good, practised well, and know
from now on I have to make it count," Fleming said.
"The shots have always been there, but the balance and the placement
was certainly back. We're getting good surfaces to bat on and we're
taking a lot of confidence from it.
Cairns stepped it up in the dying overs along with Lou Vincent
and Andre Adams as New Zealand added 150 off the last 15. Adams
smote sixes off the final two balls of the innings, and beat Cairns
for biggest six of the day with a huge pick-up 15m over the mid-wicket
boundary.
The opposition bowling was steady but far from threatening and
contained just one former international - left-arm spinner Clive
Eksteen.
It meant all the top six batsmen had at least one useful knock
in the two warmup matches as they go to the flat, batsmen's paradise
in Bloemfontein.
Gauteng never threatened to overhaul the Black Caps, with no one
passing 50 and some sharp fielding effecting two run-outs including
a smart direct hit from wicketkeeper Vincent.
Pace spearhead Shane Bond was kept in cotton wool with regular
breaks for ice and wet towels to ease his overheating problem. He
sent down a tidy first five overs but was better in his second spell
after leaving the field to cool off, generating sharp pace and ending
with one for 21 off eight overs.
Kyle Mills came back well after some early punishment and had a
brilliant running one-handed catch by Bond to thank for his only
wicket.
Spinner Daniel Vettori found it tough in 10 wicketless overs for
42 while Adams ended with the best figures of two for 40 off nine.
Said Fleming: "The bowling was good, there weren't many extras
but it's very hard to gauge against the opposition we're playing.
Certainly the work they've done in the nets has been spot-on."
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