Monday, January 08, 2007

Kiwis can bounce back - Fleming

Fifth one-day international, Hamilton: New Zealand v Sri Lanka
Match starts 0100 GMT Tuesday

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming feels his team can avenge their record one-day defeat in Tuesday's deciding match of the series against Sri Lanka.

Having won two games in succession, the Kiwis were routed for 73 - their second lowest total ever - in Auckland.

The 189-run margin of defeat was the highest in their one-day history as Sri Lanka squared the series 2-2.

Fleming said: "It was an awful performance but we have got to get it right in the final match."

New Zealand have been struggling in the batting department since winning the first match and Fleming, who only returned for the last game, could fair no better, as he was out for a duck.


"we had a bad one but the series is still 2-2 and there for the taking"

Batsman Hamish Marshall


He said New Zealand were considering re-jigging the line-up so he may drop down from the top of the order with Nathan Astle, who returns after missing the last match, opening the batting.

"We've been searching for some time to get the batting right and put a complete performance together," said Fleming.

"You've got to respect the fundamentals of batting. I think a little bit of anxienty and pressure is creating technical problems at the top.

"We've got to make sure mentally we are right, and then allow the opportunity to be skilfull enough to get the runs on the board."

Spinner Daniel Vettori (virus) and James Franklin (knee) were able to train on Monday and could return for the crucial game after missing the last match.

Batsman Hamish Marshall believes New Zealand have the chance to quickly make amends after their horror show in Auckland.

"It was one of those days where we had a bad one but the series is still 2-2 and there for the taking," he said.

"Tuesday is now a final situation and we've got to get out there and show a bit of character. We'd like to head to Australia [for the triangular Commonwealth Bank Series] with a series win."

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