New Zealand 'intelligence' pleases Bracewell by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 17th March 2007

 

New Zealand coach John Bracewell said "intelligence" was the key to his side's win against England in their opening World Cup match.

 

The Black Caps put themselves in a strong position in Group C with a six-wicket victory after holding England to a total of 209 for seven.

 

That featured a middle-order collapse where three wickets were lost for one run in seven balls.

 

Fast bowler Shane Bond, who struck twice in four balls to get rid of dangermen Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, led the way in the field with two for 19 from 10 overs.

 

Although New Zealand in reply slumped to 19 for three, an unbroken stand of 138 between all-rounders Scott Styris (87 not out) and Jacob Oram (63 not out) saw them home with nine overs to spare.

 

Bracewell, asked at the team hotel here Saturday what pleased him most about the victory, replied: "The intelligence with which we bowled. We won the game with our bowling. Also, the control of our nerves by our experienced middle-order.

 

"It was the bowling that won the game, it was as simple as that. We only had to bat the overs to win it and the wicket was always getting better."

 

The former New Zealand off-spinner also paid tribute to Styris, whose innings was his best since he returned to the side following a back injury in January.

 

"He showed he's a big-match player and that's why we keep picking him because he turns it up when it counts," Bracewell said. "He has that mongrel, that can dig deep and that was a game that needed it."

 

Although each team at the World Cup is allowed a 15-man squad, New Zealand are effectively a man down at the moment as pace bowler Mark Gillespie battles a viral infection which has numbed the nerves of his right, bowling, shoulder.

 

However, Bracewell said Gillespie was getting back to fitness.

 

"The delight is he's bowling and he's really pleased with that," Bracewell said of the 27-year-old Wellington quick.

 

"It's made a mental shift as well. The only thing he'd really struggling with at the moment is throwing and getting his arm into that position.

 

"The progress is good and while we are keeping our guys healthy we can continue to select from 14."

 

And he insisted that he had not yet given any thought to calling up a replacement, a move that would end Gillespie's participation in the World Cup.

 

"No, that's how important Mark is to us, how much we value him. We are not prepared to make that decision until we definitely have to."

 

New Zealand play Kenya on Tuesday before rounding off their group campaign against Canada on Thursday.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)