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Cricket-Injured Taylor propels Kiwis to big score against Kenya

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By Mark Meadows

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, March 20 (Reuters) - Ross Taylor hit a half-century before being struck down with a hamstring strain in New Zealand's 331 for seven against Kenya in a World Cup Group C match on Tuesday.

Craig McMillan struck five sixes in his 71 to help the Kiwis post the highest World Cup total at this ground while Scott Styris, who hammered 87 not out in the win over England on Friday, was dropped twice but made 63 off 62 balls.

New Zealand, who will qualify for the Super Eights with a victory, were put into bat on a slightly damp morning in front of a paltry crowd at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, which was later swelled by school children.

Taylor played a patient knock before pulling up in the 32nd over and calling for a runner. He only lasted two more overs before being caught and bowled by Kenya captain Steve Tikolo for 85, two balls after smashing him for six.

The 23-year-old was fortunate to reach his third one-day fifty after Tanmay Mishra failed to cling on to a difficult chance infront of square in the fourth over. Taylor also survived a close run-out with Mishra again the fielder.

The innings had started poorly with opener Lou Vincent out for a second successive nought in the fourth ball of the day but captain Stephen Fleming steadied matters before running himself out on 60.

The Kiwis dispensed with their twin spin bowling attack, Jeetan Patel making way for paceman Michael Mason.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/cricketNews/idUKL2021950420070 320

Live Cricket: Black Caps cruising to victory

Updated 8:20AM Wednesday March 21, 2007

The Black Caps were on their weay to a crushing victory this morning as Kenya slumped chasing 322.

Daniel Vettori claimed the wicket of the only resistance - Ravi Shah who made 71 - with a caught and bowled to leave Kenya on 122-6.

With Kenya at 36-4 there was earlier a brief rain break before play resumed with the Black Caps seeming to be on course for an easy progression to the Super Eights stage.

Rain continued to fall intermittently and New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming made sure they got through the 20-over mark to ensure there would be a result in the game today.

New Zealand pummelled Kenya's innocuous attack to all points of Beausejour Stadium to make 331-7 in their innings.

For Kenya, DO Obuya was first to go, lbw to Michael Mason. A direct hit from Lou Vincent then ran out Ouma.

The dismissal of Mishra required a joint effort, with Brendon McCullum behind the stumps getting a hand on the ball and flicking it up for an easy catch for slip Fleming.

CO Obuya was run out after another horrible mix-up and there was no need to trouble the third umpire as he was left utterly stranded and Kenya were 76-5.

The only bright spot for Kenya was a half century for Shah.

After being asked to bat New Zealand amassed a ground record 331 for seven, steadily accelerating from the early loss of Vincent -- to the fourth ball of the innings -- to set the East Africans a massive task to win the first official one-dayer between the two nations and delay the Black Caps advancing a step closer to the April 28 final in Barbados.

The only concern after New Zealand's concerted assault was a potentially serious leg injury to top scorer Ross Taylor, who pulled up lame late in his classy knock of 85.

The right hander, whose 20-game career has been dogged by cramp and dehydration worries, stuttered then sprinted to complete a quick single on 72 before grabbing his right hamstring and summoning treatment.

He was able to continue briefly with a runner before offering a soft return catch to Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo, two balls after he slog-swept his solitary six over mid wicket.

While Taylor was being assessed, his replacement, a typically bullish Craig McMillan, continued an offensive which culminated in a neat 100 runs being plundered off the last 10 overs.

Ground record

McMillan guaranteed that New Zealand surpassed Pakistan's previous ground record of 303 for six with a series of punishing blows that reaped 71 off just 48 balls.

McMillan, who strode out with New Zealand comfortably placed at 192 for four in the 34th over, mauled a Kenyan attack that had looked difficult to get away, albeit against Canada, in their first-up win last Wednesday.

However, there was no repeat of that tight performance as a procession of Black Caps batsmen ensured boisterous students from 13 locals schools shipped in to boost a sparse crowd had to remain vigilant as balls were regularly dispatched into the stands.

McMillan plundered five sixes to head the big-hitting stakes though Scott Styris (63 off 62 balls) arguably produced the most audacious blow when he struck spinner Jimmy Kamande over the mid-wicket fence one-handed.

While Fleming, Taylor, McMillan and Styris all notched half-centuries, Vincent's troubles at the top of the order continued when he thick-edged a Thomas Odoyo outswinger to Tikolo at second slip, meaning his first run of this campaign will have to wait until New Zealand's final group match against Canada on Friday NZ time.

After the opener was undone by one of the few balls that swung before the pitch flattened out, Fleming and Taylor composed an unflustered 105-run stand which ended disastrously when the skipper called for a single after Taylor paddled Kamande directly to Collins Obuya at short backward square.

His smooth return to wicketkeeper Maurice Ouma had Fleming (60 off 61 balls) well short of his ground and cursing a missed opportunity to post three figures.

Undeterred by the mix-up Taylor continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over, registering his third one-day 50 off 80 balls.

He survived a critical let off on five when Tanmay Mishra grassed a difficult one-handed chance at square leg and ultimately stroked eight boundaries in his 107-ball stay.

Taylor added 87 at a run-a-ball pace with the in-form Styris for the third wicket.

McMillan and Styris then combined for a quickfire 82 before the latter holed out in the deep to spark a mini collapse as Jacob Oram (3) and Brendon McCullum (6) succumbed trying to further up the ante.

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand
L Vincent c Tikolo b Odoyo 0
S Fleming run out (C Obuya) 60
R Taylor c and b Tikolo 85
S Styris c Mishra b Onyango 63
C McMillan c Tikolo b Ongondo 71
J Oram b Onyango 3
B McCullum c Varaiya b Ongondo 6
D Vettori not out 14
J Franklin not out 0
Extras (3lb, 21w, 5nb) 29
Total (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 331

Fall: 0 (Vincent), 105 (Fleming), 192 (Taylor), 274 (Styris), 280 (Oram), 307 (McCullum), 321 (McMillan)

Bowling: T Odoyo 10-0-55-2 (1nb), P Ongondo 10-0-64-2 (3nb), L Onyango (8-0-63-1 (1w), J Kamande 9-0-61-0 (1w), S Tikolo 6-0-45-1 (5nb)

- NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&obj ectid=10429962

By Ryan Mills

March 20 (Bloomberg) -- New Zealand moved closer to a place in the second round of cricket's World Cup after setting Kenya a target of 332 in St. Lucia. South Africa improved its chances of advancing today by restricting Scotland to 186-8.

The Kiwis, who beat England in their opening match, made 331-7 from their 50 overs against a team that upset the odds to reach the semifinals four years ago. Ross Taylor scored 85 before Craig McMillan smashed 71, while Scott Styris contributed 63 and captain Stephen Fleming made 60.

''We were really determined to do it properly today, put the hard yards in and show Kenya some respect,'' Styris told Sky Sports. ''Once we got to the 40th over, we were able to play some shots.''

The top two teams from four pools of four advance to the so-called Super Eights, another group phase from which the top four of eight advance to the semifinals.

Taylor top-scored for New Zealand after being dismissed without scoring against England. McMillan struck five sixes and three fours in his 48-ball knock.

Fleming, who didn't reach double figures in the first match, made his runs from 61 balls before Styris struck his second straight half century, this time at quicker than a run a ball.

Kenya's Thomas Odoyo claimed his 100th victim in one-day internationals when he bowled Jacob Oram for three. The Africans beat Canada in their first contest and, if they lose today, would advance by defeating England.

In St. Kitts, top-ranked South Africa needs 187 to win after Dougie Brown top-scored with 45 not out as the Scots rallied from 84-5 to reach 186-8, their highest World Cup score. Andrew Hall took 3-48.

The Proteas beat the Netherlands in their opening match and will advance to the Super Eights with a second victory.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Mills in London at at Rmills5@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: March 20, 2007 13:32 EDT

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aSBv A2eRGWJY&refer=australia

Cricket-Sri Lanka geared up for Bangladesh threat

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By N.Ananthanarayanan

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, March 20 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene said his team would be ready for Bangladesh after the unfancied team scored a shock World Cup victory over India.

Sri Lanka meet Bangladesh in Wednesday's Group B clash aware they cannot afford to take lightly a team which outplayed India on Saturday to turn the tough group into a three-team race for qualification to the next Super Eights stage.

The young Bangladesh players were remarkably composed despite the array of big names in the Indian ranks, bowling them out for 191 before winning by five wickets.

Sri Lanka know the Bangladesh players better than India did, having faced them regularly.

"Obviously they are a very young side, inexperienced," Jayawardene told reporters on Tuesday.

"That is one area where you can put your finger and push a few buttons and see whether they react to those.

"They are an explosive side, they can do anything on their day. So we just have to make sure we take the upperhand and control things from the start itself."

http://uk.reuters.com/article/cricketNews/idUKL2025773320070 320