Their confidence boosted after the win over India at Cuttack, New Zealand would endeavour to take a giant leap towards the final by outsmarting the awesome Australians in a crucial TVS Cup tri-series cricket match in Guwahati tomorrow.
But as the Kiwi camp must surely be aware, it is easier said than done, as the Aussieswho would be playing only for reputation having already reached the finalsimply do not have it in their character to let their opposition steal a march over them easily.
Sitting pretty with 18 points from four matches, the world champions have a nine-point cushion over their two competitors, one of whom they will meet in the final at Eden Gardens on November 18.
New Zealand and India, both on nine points, are in the race for the other final berth.
The New Zealand show at Cuttack has made the tri-series open and a repeat performance on the morrow would put India's chances in serious jeopardy.
On the other hand, an Aussie victory would make India and New Zealand close contenders for a place at Eden Gardens.
"This is a must-win game for us," New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming said.
The scintillating victory against India from a hopeless situation is bound to inject a new vigour into the Kiwi campaign, which seemed to have failed to take off even before the November 6 game.
However, a close look at the results of the New Zealand matches would reveal that the Black Caps, who began with a rained out tie against India, have been improving with every outing.
They suffered a humiliating defeat against the Aussies in the second match at Gwalior, but went into sniffing distance of victory in the next encounter against their trans-Tasmanian rivals before narrowly losing out.
The wheels of fortune seemed have turned a full circle for the Kiwis finally at Cuttack where they staged a spirited fightback to notch up their maiden win in the tournament.
Just like their continental counterparts, the Kiwis can bat deep down the order and the matter came to the fore brilliantly in the last two games. At Pune, New Zealand were virtually in the pits at 68/5, before Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum played fine knocks to enable them set a challenging total for the Aussies.
In the Cuttack game, the New Zealanders, chasing 247 for victory, were tottering at 68 for four when Craig McMillan and Scott Styris put on 127 runs for the fifth wicket to fashion a dramatic turn-around culminating in a fine four-wicket victory.
"This win will definitely boost our confidence ahead of the coming battles," Fleming said.
Australia, the reigning monarch of world cricket, too has a dream batting line up starting from the two swashbuckling openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden. Gilchrist has already notched up 178 runs in the event so far, 71 more than Hayden who's best is yet to come.
However, Fleming's counterpart Ricky Ponting has failed to click as a batsman till now, totalling a meager 61 runs.
Damien Martyn, who struck a ton against India at Mumbai, along with Michael Bevan make the Aussies a strong batting side.
The second-string new ball bowlers Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken, doing duty in place of the more illustrious names like Glen McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee, have also done commendably, sharing 16 wickets between them.
On the other hand, though New Zealanders can bat deep down the order, the failure of the top order in the tournament has been a key area of concern for them.
"They have not been playing well. This is a cause for concern which we have to rectify," Fleming said.
Another drawback for the New Zealanders is their poor catching which was in evidence at Pune when they dropped two catches in the last over as the Aussies managed to win the game with just one ball to spare.
In the bowling department, seamer Scott Styriswho put up a superb all-round show at Cuttack to be adjudged man of the matchhas maintained a good line and length, while Darryl Tuffey has sent down decent stuff.
The match set for an early start at 8-30 a.m. might be curtailed to 45 overs, to make up for the early sunset, the usual feature in this part of India.
Fleming has already rapped early morning starts, saying the moisture in the air made things difficult for the side batting first.
Gilchrist, on the other hand, said that his side was feeling at home with the conditions of the pitch.
"There has been good bounce and grass. The ball has been swinging and seaming. These are conditions are like at home," he said.
The New Zealanders missed reliable all-rounder Chris Cairns and bowler Paul Hitchcock to injury in their previous game. It remains to be seen whether the duo can make the squad this time around.
The venue, established in 1982, has so far hosted ten matches. New Zealand has played here twice with bitter sweet memories. They lost to the West Indies in 1994-95, before humbling India in 1999-2000.
On the other hand, Australia lost the only match they played in the venue to South Africa in the Titan Cup in 1996.
A tight security cordon has been thrown around the stadium and the team hotels. The police have even asserted that journalists would not be allowed to carry mobile phones inside the stadium.
Teams (from):
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Michael Bevan, Ian Harvey, Brad Hogg, Andy Bichel, Brad Williams, Nathan Bracken, Jimmy Maher, Michael Kasprowicz and Michael Clarke.
New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Lou Vincent, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Chris Nevin, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Ian Butler and Paul Hitchcock.
Umpires: K Hariharan (India) and D Shepherd (England)
3rd umpire: I Shivaram. 4th umpire: C R Mohite.
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle.
