Bench-warmers to get a 145;warm-up146; game

With everything going to plan so far in their World Cup campaign, New Zealand8217;s greatest problem is ensuring they don8217;t get too carried away.

With everything going to plan so far in their World Cup campaign, New Zealand8217;s greatest problem is ensuring they don8217;t get too carried away.

The Black Caps8217; 148-run win over Kenya on Tuesday earned them four points and qualification for the Super 8s. That means they can take it a little easier in Thursday8217;s final group game against Canada.

After setting their highest ever World Cup total of 331-7, captain Stephen Fleming even got the chance to rotate some bowlers when it became clear Kenya weren8217;t going overhaul it.

8220;I8217;m really excited to qualify,8221; Fleming said. 8220;It steps up a gear when you get to the Super 8s and to be there amongst it and taking points through is exactly how we like it and planned it.

Not so for Canada. They have lost both their matches and are out of contention at the World Cup. But the New Zealand game gives Canada a chance to say farewell to coach Andy Pick, who takes charge of his final game. Pick decided Tuesday to step down after a year in charge of the Canada side because of a contract dispute.

Pick, a 43-year-old Englishman, has one month left of a yearlong contract with the Canadian Cricket Association, but negotiations to extend it fell through.

8220;Circumstances have conspired against us,8221; Pick said Tuesday. 8220;They offered me a two-year contract because they have got funding for that. I8217;d asked for a three-year contract but until they receive funding for a third year they8217;ve been reluctant to commit.8221;

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Pick is returning to his old job as England8217;s under-19 coach and expects to start work in April.

The match could also be a farewell for some of the older members of the Canada squad 8212; 40-year-olds George Codrington, Anderson Cummins and 38-year-old Sunil Dhaniram. Despite the opportunity to take it easy, New Zealand are keen to make it three wins from three. Fast bowler Shane Bond will be rested, and so will batsman Ross Taylor, who hit 85 Tuesday despite struggling late in his innings with a hamstring strain and needing a runner.