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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