New Zealand [ Images ] booked their passage in the World Cup quarter-finals from Group A after Brendon McCullum [ Images ] set up a 97-run victory over Canada [ Images ] with a chanceless century at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai [ Images ] on Sunday.
McCullum's well-paced 101, plus a late flurry, which helped the Black Caps reach 358-6 with an overall tally of 12 sixes, left the Canadians with a target that proved far beyond them.
The North Americans' captain Ashish Bagai led a brave rearguard action, however, with 84 before cramps virtually crippled him and he was caught behind off Nathan McCullum.
Jimmy Hansra also battled hard against the inevitable with a stubborn 70 not out but he too needed extensive treatment for cramps on a baking day at the Wankhede stadium, stage for the April 2 final, and retired hurt before returning with eight wickets down.
Canada, never up with the huge run rate, eventually finished on 261-9.
McCullum had earlier paced his innings at no more than a steady rate and passed 4,000 career ODI runs on 95 before reaching three figures in 107 balls including 12 fours and two sixes.
- MVP: Sehwag top run-getter of WC
He was out in the 37th over for 101, caught trying to speed up the run rate off Harvir Baidwan.
Ross Taylor [ Images ], who destroyed the Pakistan attack in the Kiwis' last match, carried on in a similarly spectacular vein, firing past his half-century by scoring 28 runs off one hugely destructive over from Baidwan including four sixes and a four.
The stand-in skipper was eventually out for 74, having shared an explosive half-century fourth-wicket partnership with Nathan McCullum (10) reached in just 21 balls. In all, Taylor hit six fours and five sixes.
Scott Styris [ Images ] (35) and Kane Williamson [ Images ] (34 not out) added late salt to Canada's wounds with another half-century partnership for the sixth wicket on a track which offered little for either side's seam or spin bowlers.
This was the revamped Mumbai venue's first World Cup fixture, a dress rehearsal for the guaranteed full house for the final, with the 33,000 seating capacity only about a quarter full and populated mainly by intrigued locals.
Photograph: Getty Images
this
Users
Comment
article