New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming was a disappointed man after his side's abject surrender to Australia in the Super Six encounter at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, on Tuesday.

"The toss did not make a very big difference. When they were reduced to 84 for 7 I was pretty happy, but they played well thereafter to get themselves into the game," said Fleming, at the post-match press conference.

Replying to a query about what went wrong, Fleming said, "It may have been the anxiety of playing against Australia. We needed just one partnership at the start of the innings to win the match but we did not get it, mainly through bad batsmanship."

The 101-run seventh wicket partnership between Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel took the game away from the Kiwis.

"We ran out of ammo towards the end of the Australian innings and we really needed Andre Adams to come towards the end and take wickets. But the wickets got flat and slow. Daniel Vettori was the best wicket-taking option on this wicket but the Aussies held firm," the Kiwi skipper said.

He added: "Australia can be beaten. And I believe we can beat them but you cannot afford to relax against them."

"The Aussies always test your abilities to the hilt. The field placement against their batsmen was precise because it had to be. They are a good quality side. To play against them is good fun and a great challenge. On a losing day, one must not forget Shane's performance. He bowled very well," said Fleming, replying to a question regarding his field placements against the top-three in the Australian batting line-up.

On Chris Carins being left out of the bowling attack, Fleming said, "Cairns did not bowl because he did not feel 100 per cent today and that's not good enough for the match situation. He would not have been able to give his best for the team or for me. We did not want to risk him. But he is chance for the game against India."

Shane Bond, who claimed a career-best 6-23 was clearly disappointed.

"I was not trying to bowl quick. It's just that when you have good rhythm you bowl well," he said.

"Against the top three Aussie batsmen, we carried out the same plans that we used in the VB series (on New Zealand's last tour of Australia) and it worked. I know where I have to bowl to them. If I can keep the right line and length, I can get them out," the paceman said.

"We are all individually disappointed. After restricting them to 208, the batsmen should have got the score. A disappointing day. Shane Bond was super; we did not do justice to his bowling figures," said Fleming.

Looking ahead at the crucial game against India, Fleming said: "Playing India will be a big challenge. They are playing well and are confident but we know their weaknesses. We exploited them well in New Zealand, but let see if we can do that again. A good batting line-up, hopefully, we will come up with a good plan."