Ahmedabad, Mar 3: New Zealand would be aiming to put behind the disappointment of a crushing loss to Australia and return to winning ways when they take on minnows Zimbabwe in a Group A tie in the cricket World Cup here tomorrow.
Both the teams are aware that a victory would go a long way in enhancing their chances of making the quarterfinal from a group which has holders Australia, co-hosts Sri Lanka and the unpredictable Pakistan.
The Kiwis, who lost to Australia just three days after a devastating earthquake struck the city of Christchurch to leave a trail of destruction, appear to hold a slight edge over the Africans.
New Zealand have not been beaten in five meetings between the two teams in the tournament in the past, with four wins to their credit.
One meeting ended in a no result and their overall record too against Zimbabwe, 19 wins from 28 head-to-head contests with one tie and one no result, is better.
The return to fitness of strike bowler Kyle Mills has also bolstered the Kiwis who had opened their campaign with a thumping 10-wicket victory over minnows Kenya on February 20 before being over-run by seven wickets by the Aussies on February 25.
It was the Australian pace attack that unsettled the Kiwi batsmen and but against Zimbabwe it would be not be pace but a four-pronged spin attack that would confront the Kiwis who, at the best of times, are vulnerable against the slow bowlers in this part of the world.
Skipper Vettori is aware of the challenge his batsmen face in the match.
"Yes, it's an important game for us. This is a must-win game for us on where we go in the tournament. Zimbabwe have played pretty well. It's going to be a difficult game and a strong challenge for us. We have seen a different set of tactics. Against Australia it was pace, we would see a lot of spin in this game," he said ahead of the match.
With tougher challenges coming up against Pakistan (at Pallekelle stadium in Kandy on March 8) and Sri Lanka (at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on March 18), New Zealand are eager to clinch the tie against Zimbabwe by taking on the spin challenge head-on.
"We are prepared for what they (Zimbabwe) have got, a variety of spinners. We have to be up for the challenge. Going through to a tournament plan for the World Cup, you see so many different varieties of attack. This is just another one.
For us to progress, we need to play well here," said Vettori. Not only the experienced Raymond Price, Vettori also considers the other spinners of Zimbabwe a tough challenge in Indian conditions.
"It's important for us to counter all the spinners. (Left-arm spinner) Raymond Price does a good job at the top of the order. We have got to be ready for it," he said.
The New Zealanders have not played against Zimbabwe after a tri-series tie in 2005 which the Kiwis won by 27 runs. Vettori said this was a bit of a problem as they have not faced the bowling attack of Zimbabwe for a long time.
"We have not played them for a long time is probably a little bit of a disadvantage," he conceded The recovery from back injury of speedster Mills gives Kiwis the option to open with pace at both ends, according to Vettori.
"We had done that in the last 2 games (opening with spinners). The wicket here is pretty good. We played a Test match here not so long ago and so we know it's going to be a good wicket. It depends on what kind of combination of bowlers we are going in with. When Kyle Mills comes back into the team he will likely get the new ball," he declared.
Zimbabwe are likely to miss the services of Chris Mpofu, who impressed against Australia at this venue but is not yet expected to play tomorrow after picking up an injury during the team's emphatic 175-run victory over Canada at Nagpur on February 28.
Their over-dependence on slow bowling is likely to see 40 overs of spin confronting New Zealand with experienced left-arm spinner Price opening the bowling.
Price knows he will be up against the strong-arm tactics of Brendon McCullum in the opening slot and Jesse Ryder immediately below.
"We respect them a lot as they have some good players who really connect well with the bat, especially, Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder, who have played some good innings in the recent past," said the 34-year-old Price here yesterday.
"I think it will be a challenge for me if Brendon McCullum hits the ball a long way. They have some good players and it is going to be difficult for me," said the left-arm slow bowler who has 84 ODI victims in his kitty.
In fact, the Kiwis' four-pronged spin attack accounted for all the Canadian wickets in their previous encounter with Price scalping 3 for 16 and off spinner Prosper Utseya getting two.
Zimbabwe are also bolstered by the batting form shown by one of their mainstays - Tatenda Taibu who fell short of a deserved century by two runs - and Craig Ervine, who made 85, against Canada. PTI
