A great innings - but the greatest?

Was it the finest one-day win by New Zealand? Was it the finest individual innings by a New Zealander in a One-Day International? Was it a sign of greater consistency to come in the one-day game?

All are questions that could rightfully be asked after New Zealand's nine-wicket win over South Africa at the World Cup at the Wanderers' Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday.

Was it the finest one-day win?

It was certainly an outstanding win, achieved under some pressure with the refusal to go to Kenya the main reason.

But the finest?

It was an early game in the competition. It was a rain-affected result, and yes, New Zealand were right up and over the Duckworth/Lewis requirement. But the fact remains that scoring 307 to win would have been the real icing on the cake.

So far, the victory in the ICC KnockOut at Nairobi in 2000 still ranks above it. That too, was achieved under pressure from the first time New Zealand had been in a major international tournament final.

Yesterday is up there, but is one of a cluster of matches of impact: the 1992 World Cup opener against Australia, the victory over South Africa in Brisbane last summer, Jeff Wilson's victory over Australia at Hamilton in 1992/93, the win over England at Adelaide in 1982/83 when scoring 297 to win, the victory over Australia at the 1999 World Cup and so on.

As for the finest individual innings?

Again, it is a matter of situations. Certainly, it was a vital innings for New Zealand, a World Cup-saver. History may judge it more significantly in the context of the tournament.

But there is still the feeling that Chris Cairns' effort in Nairobi still edges it out.

It was great to see Stephen Fleming finally realise his potential, and it may be the forerunner of things to come. However, it too must rest among a clutch of innings in more recent times at least that include Cairns' effort against South Africa in the afore-mentioned match at Brisbane, Nathan Astle at Carisbrook in the last two summers against Pakistan and England respectively where his centuries won both series.

Whatever the call on great innings, it is to be hoped that with this team now playing as a side that could almost last through until the next World Cup, that some consistency can develop in the New Zealand game.

That has been sadly lacking in recent times, to the eternal frustration of supporters.

But knowing they can compete, away from home, against the best in the game, has to be a big boost to New Zealand.

They did it at the 1999 World Cup, but didn't kick on, largely as the result of injuries.

This time they have a great opportunity. Even if injuries should occur over the next season or two, there is a core of players developed and more waiting in the wings to at last allow New Zealand supporters to believe that they might reasonably expect their side to win more often than they lose.