Thaindian News

Dhaka, March 24 (IANS) Conceding that playing South Africa in the World Cup quarterfinal would be a huge challenge, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori Thursday said his side needed to build up partnerships and bowl aggressively to give themselves a chance in the crunch game.

“South Africans have played very good cricket. They have been one of the in form teams in world cricket for a long time. We know they will be a huge challenge,” Vettori said at the pre-match press conference.

“They have got good players all up and down the order. But if we can play well we give ourselves a chance. If we don’t do that, then against a team like South Africa it will be tough.”

The veteran spinner said the experience of playing at the Sher-e-Bangla track would come in handy Friday.

“Sometimes you get to the ground in a pressure situation and if you had not been there, then you need time to get adjusted. But our guys know the ground well. They are all looking forward to playing South Africa.”

Vettori said the team’s loss to Sri Lanka in the last group game after winning three back-to-back matches, including the big one against Pakistan, had been disappointing.

“Obviously it pains. If the Pakistan win had been the last game, we would have come here very confident. But the way the last performance against Sri Lanka shaped up, we are disappointed.”

Looking ahead at the Friday’s game, he said: “We have to build up those partnerships and bowl aggressively, then only we can give ourselves some opportunity.”

Vettori said his team needed a good build-up while batting. “If we can unleash Ross Taylor, Scott Styris and Jacob Oram in the last ten overs with wickets in hand then we know we can be dangerous.”

The left-arm spinner said the pitch looked likely to be low and slow with some turn.

The Black Caps’ top order has done well so far and Vettori said it will be the key to the team’s success in the match.

“We played our best game against Pakistan and the batting fired then. We had a couple of crucial partnerships. Our top order is extremely talented.

“We have a very good fielding unit and a solid bowling attack. If we can compliment them with a good performance with the bat, we are in within a chance,” said Vettori.