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March 20, 2007 (Link to Scorecard)

The Black Caps booked their spot for the Super Eights with a huge win of 148 runs over Kenya at Gros Islet. The Kenyan bowling attack was put to the sword by the big hitting Kiwis and the chase from the Kenyans was very weak. But the bowling from New Zealand lacked the teeth as the minnows lasted for 49.2 overs with tail enders spending quite some time without getting dismissed.

It was a victory that was scripted by the NZ batsmen with four of them cracking half centuries. Put into bat first by Steve Tikolo, New Zealand smashed 331 for 7 with 23 fours and as many as 12 sixes. Stephen Fleming and Ross Taylor provided the launching pad with a second wicket partnership of 105 before Fleming was needlessly run out for 60 (from 61 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes). Ross Taylor began slowly but took off in the latter part of his innings, he had injured his hamstring while attempting to complete a quick single. He took the help of Lou Vincent (who was out for a fourth ball duck) to run for him and Taylor was caught and bowled by the off spinner Steve Tikolo. A century was missed out by 15 runs with Taylor getting his runs with 8 fours and a six. Scott Styris kept his good form going with 63 from 62 with three fours and three sixes but the real entertaining knock of the innings came from Craig McMillan. The strong and stout McMillan kept himself and the scoreboard busy right from his arrival, he was eventually dismissed in the final over. But the damage he had done was incredible as he took just 48 balls to bludgeon 71 runs with the help of five massive sixes to go along with the three fours.

The Kenyans were off to a dreadful start climbing up a mountain. Their running between the wickets was all over the place and they were out of the equation so early at 29 for 4. Skipper Steve Tikolo as well missed out today and the only top order batsman, who had stood there to put a semblance of a fight was Ravindu Shah. The one drop batsman got himself a neat 71 with 8 fours and two sixes before his was the sixth wicket to go down in the 30th over. Thomas Odoyo, the all rounder played 67 balls and also got 42 runs with four boundaries and a six. The New Zealand bowlers struggled to make things happen once the ball became soft. For Daniel Vettori, there was a genuine excuse of bowling with a wet and slippery ball which was because of the constant drizzle that got the outfield wet. Fleming had earlier got the 20 overs in quicktime by holding his third powerplay back and had got Craig McMillan and Daniel Vettori to bowl in tandem. For the record, the third and final powerplay was taken in the 42nd over almost when everyone forgot about that! The Man of the Match interestingly went to Ross Taylor instead of Craig McMillan!

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