Astle's calm keeps Kiwis on course

New Zealand, among of the favourites to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup, were indebted to an innings of skill and experience from Nathan Astle here yesterday to keep alive their hopes of winning the tournament. Set 253 for victory by a gallant Zimbabwe, one of the surprise qualifiers for the Super Sixes, a six-wicket win with 16 balls left looks comfortable enough. However, that would be to undervalue the efforts of Zimbabwe, who made their more illustrious opponents work hard for every run. By the end of a competitive, if not classy, encounter the Black Caps were aware they had been in a scrap.

The crucial victory takes them up to fourth place in the table with eight points. Qualification for the last four is a distinct possibility if they win one of their remain-ing games against Australia and India.

That they are not halfway home already was due to the class of Astle, who made his 13th one-day hundred and his second in the World Cup – his first was against England in 1996. It is hard to imagine the 31-year-old has played a more important one-day innings. It was not a typical Astle effort full of daring, flamboyant stroke-play; it was a responsible display from a batsman desperately trying to keep his team's interest in the World Cup strong.

On a flat pitch and under a cloudless sky Astle preferred for once to allow the dash and élan in New Zealand's run-chase to come from Chris Cairns and his captain Stephen Fleming, who scored 54 and 46 respectively. Through the efforts of these three the task was accomplished but one cannot help but feel sorry for Zimbabwe, who lost two bowlers through injury. Brian Murphy, who did not bat, somehow managed to pull a hamstring bowling in the nets between innings and Guy Whittall walked off with a similar injury after an unsuccessful chase to the boundary. Murphy's loss was felt more because his leg spin would have offered useful variety on a slow pitch.

That Zimbabwe posted the challenging total of 252 was due to a remarkable eighth-wicket stand of 78 in just 39 balls between Heath Streak, who hit a superb 72 not out, and Sean Ervine, who chipped in with a quickfire 31. The pair came together in the 44th over, after a responsible partnership of 68 between Streak and his impressive young wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu had prevented the match from becoming an anti-climax.

It was Chris Harris bowling his slow, phantom leg breaks who was the first to feel the force of Streak and Ervine after being entrusted to bowl the 48th over. At 190 for 7 there was no sign of the carnage ahead. In nine overs Harris had conceded only 22 runs but bowling slow at the end of an innings can be a gamble. For Fleming the punt proved a loser as Streak hammered two sixes and Ervine two fours in an over that went for 23.

Unperturbed, Fleming kept Daniel Vettori, his No 1 spinner, on at the other end. Like Harris, he had been economical after early inroads by Jacob Oram and suicidal running by Andy Flower and Andy Blignaut. But Streak also took to him and smashed his last over for 13. Zimbabwe's best was saved until the end as Fleming turned to André Adams for the 50th over. He was no match for the flashing blades as the ball went to all parts. Ervine hit the last three balls for 14: 26 off the over, 62 off three; and Zimbabwe, from being 106 for 6, were in with a chance. Astle, however, made sure that was all they had.

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe won toss

Zimbabwe
C B Wishart c Styris b Cairns 30
D D Ebrahim b Adams 0
A Flower run out 37
G W Flower c Cairns b Oram 1
G J Whittall c McCullum b Cairns 0
T Taibu lbw b Harris 53
A M Blignaut run out 4
H H Streak not out 72
S M Ervine not out 31
Extras (lb9 w13 nb2) 24
Total (for 7, 50 overs) 252

Fall: 1-5 2-59 3-63 4-65 5-98 6-106 7-174.

Did Not Bat: B A Murphy, D T Hondo.

Bowling: Bond 10-1-37-0; Adams 5-0-54-1; Oram 10-4-28-1; Cairns 4-0-16-2; Vettori 10-0-52-0; Harris 10-0-45-1; Astle 1-0-11-0.

New Zealand
C D McMillan c Taibu b Hondo 8
S P Fleming lbw b Blignaut 46
N J Astle not out 102
S B Styris c sub (Friend) b Blignaut 13
C L Cairns b Ervine 54
C Z Harris not out 14
Extras (lb5 w10 nb1) 16
Total (for 4, 47.2 overs) 253

Fall: 1-27 2-72 3-97 4-218

Did not bat: A R Adams, J D P Oram, D L Vettori, B B McCullum, S E Bond.

Bowling: Streak 10-0-59-0; Hondo 8.2-0-52-1; Blignaut 10-0-41-2; G Flower 10-0-33-0; Whittall 3-0-19-0; Ervine 6-0-44-1.

Umpires: D B Hair (Aus) and R E Koertzen (SA).