New Zealand woke from a mid-innings slumber Monday to beat Ireland by 129 runs and jump above Australia in the race for semifinal places at the Cricket World Cup.
Bogged down at 118 for four halfway through its 50 overs and 189 for seven with less than eight to go, the Black Caps launched a volley of sixes and fours to make 263-8 in Guyana.
Ireland's Eoin Morgan makes a catch in Monday's loss to New Zealand.
(Aman Sharma/Associated Press)
They then bowled last-place Ireland out for 134 in 37.4 overs.
"Up until 40 overs, we felt we were behind," said New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who decided to bat after winning the toss.
"Ireland put pressure on us and we weren't good enough to get partnerships through the middle. Today, we were a little bit hesitant or too over aggressive.
"What it did was create some pressure and anxiety as the batsmen went out and Ireland capitalized on that. It wasn't until the last four or five overs that we stamped some authority on this game."
Although the performance casts doubt on New Zealand's ability to match an Australian team on a run of 18 World Cup victories in a row, the result puts the Kiwis level on eight points with the two-time defending champion at the top of the Super 8s standings and ahead on superior run rate.
Sri Lanka is third on six, South Africa has four and England, West Indies and Bangladesh have two.
Ireland is still searching for its first Super 8s victory.
The top four after seven rounds of matches advance to the semifinals with the final in Barbados April 28.
"We're getting guys back to full fitness at the right time," said Fleming, who saw two injured squad players fly home and two more pick up injuries.
"We have got a heavy run now with three games in six days against three top sides [Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia], so we've got our work cut out for us, [but] it's been a good run so far."
There was the potential for a New Zealand run feast when Fleming decided to bat first.
But the wicket was far slower than expected and Fleming and most of his batsmen failed to punish some modest Ireland bowling.
With almost half its overs played, New Zealand had lost Fleming, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris and Craig McMillan.
Although opener Peter Fulton made 83, big hitters such as Jacob Oram struggled to 20 off 48 balls with no boundaries.
Eventually, Brendon McCullum (47 off 37 balls) and James Franklin (34 not out off 22) hit out and New Zealand scored 74 off the last 7.3 overs to build a total which was totally out of Ireland's reach.
Brothers Kevin and Niall O'Brien lifted the Irish team from 35-3 to 110.
But Niall ran his brother out for 49 after sending him back instead of running for a single.
After that, the Ireland batting collapsed with the last six wickets falling for nine runs to the spin of Daniel Vettori, four for 23, and Jeetan Patel, 2-32.
West Indies back in action
The World Cup moves to Grenada on Tuesday and then to Barbados, which also stages six Super 8s matches and the April 28 final.
Host West Indies returns from nine days inaction with renewed hope of reaching the last four than when it lost by 113 runs to Sri Lanka April 1.
At St. George's, Grenada, Brian Lara's team faces a South Africa lineup stung by a shocking 67-run defeat by Sri Lanka in Guyana on Saturday.
That result has reopened the door to both West Indies and England even though both teams are struggling to win games in the Super 8s.
Because South Africa remained on four points, West Indies and England and can still catch the Proteas.
"We've got another opportunity and we've just got to put our best foot forward this time," West Indies coach Bennett King said ahead of Tuesday's game at the New Queen's Park cricket ground in Grenada, which was badly damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and stages its first World Cup game.
"Obviously, we need to make more runs. Anybody who does or doesn't know cricket can see that.
"The players to a man recognize they have a lot of responsibility, especially in the engine room up in the top four."
