Kiwis think of the good times ahead of South Africa opener

Some say a team is only as good as its last performance, but the New Zealand cricketers prefer to think back a year as the best guide to their chances when they play the first of six one-day internationals against South Africa here tomorrow. When the South Africans opened their tour yesterday without raising the pulse rate in an easy six wicket win against a provincial side containing five New Zealand representatives, it confirmed their favouritism for the internationals.

But, rewind one year and New Zealand produced one of their most memorable run chases to topple South Africa by nine wickets at the World Cup in Johannesburg.

Led by captain Stephen Fleming’s unbeaten 134, New Zealand broke their awful run against South Africa, which had seen them win just one of the previous 15 one-day matches between the sides.

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Both teams are coming off fruitful home series. New Zealand beat Pakistan 4-1 and South Africa had the measure of the West Indies 3-1.

South Africa held their hand against Northern Districts, resting kingpins Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock and frontline paceman Andre Nel, while captain Graeme Smith dropped himself down the order because of a minor side strain and was not required to bat.