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'We are ready for huge games too'
The thumping 10-wicket win over Kenya in their World Cup opener on Sunday has reignited New Zealand's confidence and skipper Daniel Vettori said the intensity will only rise as the Kiwis proceed further in the mega event.
New Zealand skittled out Kenya for 69 runs before overhauling the target in just eight overs to record the second fastest World Cup win in Chennai.
Vettori said the journey gets tough from here on but the Kiwis, who came here after demoralising series defeats to Bangladesh and India, are up for the challenge.
"We don't expect all other matches to be this easier. We are happy with how we have performed. I think bowling straight is going to be the key in this part of world. It is always going to be difference in the wicket," Vetorri said.
"We are ready for huge games too and it is important for us. Once the confidence levels improve, we are in good stead. We will keep the same intensity for every game," he added.
'Hopefully, I can keep pushing for my selection'
Vettori credited his bowlers, especially Man-of-Match Hamish Bennett who grabbed four wickets, for the team's massive win.
"Obviously our confidence levels have improved after we started off so well today. We wanted to bat first. The wicket was tricky as the bounce was going up and down. However, it was good performance from our bowlers. They did exactly what I had asked them to do," Vettori said.
An elated Bennett, who will turn 24 on Tuesday, said he is glad to make an impression.
"I just said to myself that I will go straight and try to bowl hard and full to skid off the wicket and wrap the pads of batsmen.
"Coming in as a replacement for the injured Kyle Mills in the XI, it was a good result for me. Hopefully, I can keep pushing for my selection," he said.
'We hope to get better as the tournament progresses'
The vanquished Kenyans, meanwhile, are not too worried about their meek surrender and captain Jimmy Kamande said, "It is not the only thing (loss) and hopefully we get better in our performance as the tournament progresses.
Kamande also complimented the Kiwi bowlers.
"We play the bigger teams perhaps once in two years. We played across the line and five of our guys were out leg before. On these conditions, we need to be looking to play straight. The rival fast bowlers kept up a tight bowling all through today. We failed to put up a total to defend. Hopefully, we will perform better next time," Kamande said.
'Today, the momentum was not there'
Asked whether the uneven bounce was difficult to play on, Kamande said, "It was the bowling techniques of the rival new ball bowlers. They managed to make the ball bounce. There were good lengths and we missed them, mostly playing across to get out. That is the reason for our poor performance."
"We will see what we need to do in our remaining matches. Hopefully, we will come up with a different approach according to the opposition's strengths. Today, the momentum was not there," he explained.
On the lack of application in Kenya's batting, Kamande said, "That is the work of the coaches to try and make us better on those lines. We looked at our mistakes and we will learn as we play more matches. We play the best teams once in two years or so. We have Pakistan in our next game. So long as we improve, we will be performing well.