Kiwis look to maintain pressure

14 February 2008

Daniel Vettori © Getty Images

New Zealand are desperate to secure a series victory on Friday and prevent England from reclaiming their form and confidence to set up a thrilling end to the one-day international series.

Having enjoyed comprehensive victories in the opening two games in the five-match series, New Zealand are just one success away from winning a series few thought they would, following emphatic defeats in the two Twenty20 internationals.

But with a three-Test series looming next month and many players from both squads likely to also feature, New Zealand are keen to keep England's spirits low by maintaining their winning run in the third one-day encounter at Eden Park.

"We couldn't ask too much more from the two previous games and we've set ourselves up with a huge chance of winning the series and we really want to do it in this game - we don't want any let up," stressed captain Daniel Vettori.

"We want to keep doing the things that have given us a chance to put ourselves in this position and after the Twenty20 games there's no way we can get complacent at all because we expect England to come back at us even harder.

"Within the England set-up they will be pushing hard for a performance that is worthy of the talent they have within their side."

Success in the one-day internationals was perhaps not that unexpected, despite them being labelled the worst New Zealand side for 40 years prior to the start of the series.

Michael Mason is unlikely to feature in Friday's encounter

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They started as a team who were third in the world rankings, and that have won their last eight successive matches at home and lost just three on home soil since February 2006.

But Vettori is keen for that run of success to continue and give his side even the slightest of advantages before the start of the Test series, which is a format of cricket where England have enjoyed better success in recent years.

"I said right from the start that whichever team wins the series will gain some momentum," explained Vettori.

"They are such different forms of the game and England have been a much stronger Test side than we have over the last few years so I know they'll be backing themselves in that form of the game.

"We just hope that we can win here, carry some confidence and momentum and lead into that series. They are very different games, though, and the squads will change a lot to so there will be lots of changes."

Seamer Michael Mason, who claimed economical figures of 2-29 at Hamilton on Tuesday, is extremely doubtful for Friday's match after suffering a right side strain and New Zealand have added Wellington seamer Iain O'Brien as cover.