Kiwis plan all out attack against Bangladesh

KIMBERLEY: After nine days of inactivity apart from a scuffle outside a nightclub, Stephen Fleming’s New Zealanders go for a third victory in a row when they meet Bangladesh at the Cricket World Cup today.

The Black Caps’ progress to the Super Six phase is largely in their own hands, with almost certain victories if such things are possible in cricket against the Bangladeshis, who have been woeful, and the Canadians, who have been mercurial but easily beatable by any of the test-playing nations. Beaten by Sri Lanka first time out, Fleming’s team also “lost” to Kenya after refusing to play there on safety grounds.
Two wins will put them on the requisite number of points to go through. But net run rates will be vital in determining whether they do, in fact, get to play for the big prize.

So the approach will have to be all-out attack. Dismiss the opposition cheaply, and score the runs fast. And no one knows that better than team captain Fleming. “The only thing we can control is the run rate we achieve in the next two matches,” he said. “And, without being disrespectful to the opposition, that puts an enormous onus on us in terms of the method of trying to win.” He added that New Zealand would not be underestimating the Bangladeshis. On the other hand, the Bangladeshis looked thoroughly demoralised when they were crushed by South Africa during the weekend, and captain Khaled Mashud admitted that morale was low in the team after that defeat.

However, in a practice at the De Beers Diamond Oval yesterday, they appeared to have regained their relish for the game, and threw themselves wholeheartedly into their routines. “We know New Zealand will be under pressure to go through to the Super Sixes, but we need to play well in our final two matches, and especially against New Zealand,” said Mashud.