New Zealand progress to face Pakistan as Zimbabwe head home

Roger Twose, New Zealand's transplanted Englishman, will be a little sorry to see the back of Zimbabwe after his adopted country's 64 run win in the quarter-finals of the ICC KnockOut at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club on Monday.

In four one-day innings played against Zimbabwe over the past few weeks, Twose has moved progressively through 70 not out in Harare, 64 and 63 in Bulawayo to his 85 in Nairobi. It was an innings that won him the man-of-the-match award and set up New Zealand's 265 for seven, a total which proved just too much for Zimbabwe who were bowled out for 201 in 42.2 overs.

Afterwards New Zealand's Stephen Fleming became the second captain inside three days to suggest that a score of around 300 might be par for this ground with its close boundaries, perfect batting strip and slick outfield. Australia's Steve Waugh made the claim on Saturday and Fleming echoed his views.

"We thought 260-odd might not be enough," said Fleming. "With the size of the ground and the boundary, 280-300's a score that's going to place pressure."

Interestingly, though, Sri Lanka's 287 for six against the West Indies has been the highest total posted in six matches in the tournament and is the only score to go above the 260s.

Whatever Fleming's concerns, though, the target set for Zimbabwe was enough. Despite a second-wicket stand of 64 between Alistair Campbell, who timed the ball beautifully for his 47 before he was given out leg before to Chris Harris - much to his evident disgust - Zimbabwe lost wickets too regularly to mount an effective chase.

New Zealand - Adam Parore, mainly - had taken 19 off Henry Olonga's last over of the innings, and Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak picked out two main reasons for defeat.

"I think one thing was the last over," he said. "I think we should have contained them to about 250 and we lost wickets consistently."

While Carlisle was there, Zimbabwe just about kept themselves in the match, but his dismissal for 67 at 168 for six put New Zealand in the box seat.

Fleming, however, was still not confident of victory.

"Captaining the side, I thought it was close all the way through," he said. "It only takes a cameo of five overs of clean hitting and Heath Streak's shown he can do it. From that point of view it was always game on until it was over."

In a tournament that has suited batsmen, off spinner Paul Wiseman picked up the first four wicket haul. Apart from dismissing Carlisle, he also claimed the key wickets of the Flower brothers and ended things off when Mluleki Nkala tried to hit him all the way to the coast.

New Zealand's reward is a meeting with Pakistan on Wednesday in a repeat of last year's World Cup semi-final. On that occasion Pakistan swept New Zealand aside, and Fleming picked Moin Khan's team as the slickest outfit to have gone on show so far.

We shall see whether New Zealand have learned from last year's mistakes.