Kiwis look purposeful in Potch

If New Zealand's tedious draw with Boland in Paarl was a midweek trudge, then the tourists' three-day match against North West in Potchefstroom has been, by contrast, a weekend romp.

By the end of the second day on Sunday, New Zealand needed to take another eight wickets to give themselves an important boost ahead of the next Friday's first Test match. North West, on the other hand, have to score another 386 to win. If New Zealand don't win this one, the ICC anti-corruption squad might want to know why.

The difference in the New Zealand teams that played last week and over this weekend has been remarkable. It is as if the touring management suddenly realised the importance of winning something after a five-match losing streak against South Africa in the one-day internationals.

From the word go New Zealand have been more purposeful, more aggressive and played better cricket. North West were none for two overnight and bowled out for 100 just after lunch to give the Black Caps a 180-run first innings lead.

Then Craig Spearman scored his second century of the game - 115 - before retiring to give someone else a chance. Mark Richardson had made 39, Stephen Fleming scored 52 before declaring at 242 for two and then New Zealand grabbed two wickets before the close to have North West 37 for two.

The significance in all this is that all of New Zealand's probable Test top six have made at least a half-century in one of the two warm-up matches and their bowlers might be starting to find the right length on South African pitches.

Daryl Tuffey, for instance, looked very ordinary in Paarl, but started to lift perceptibly after taking his first wicket on Sunday morning. He started to run in and bend his back to finish with three for 23. He has taken another wicket in the Boland second innings, as has Shayne O'Connor who claimed three for 14 in the first innings.

The third New Zealand seamer, Chris Martin, also took three wickets in the first innings without looking as sharp as either Tuffey or O'Connor. He may be the one to sit out the Test match.

North West, admittedly, have been weak opposition and their cause was not helped when they had to make do without two of their frontline bowlers in the New Zealand second innings. Francois van der Merwe went down with diarrhoea while Alfonso Thomas, who made 16 as nightwatchman on Sunday morning, was hit three times on the hand while batting and after two overs found he couldn't grip the ball properly.

For all that, New Zealand have lifted their game for this match. If nothing else, they seem to have got their timing right.