MUMBAI - An emotional New Zealand team will pose the first real threat to champion Australia, who is unbeaten in 30 matches at the Cricket World Cup since 1999, when the trans-Tasman rivals clash on Friday in Nagpur.

Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Christchurch, which killed at least 98 people, will give the Kiwis extra motivation against their traditional rivals.

"It has been a tough morning ... a rough time to find out that their families and friends are safe," Vettori said in a video posted on the NZC website after hearing the news of the disaster on Tuesday.

"The greatest thing we can do for a lot of people is win the game against Australia. That would bring a little bit of relief to some people going through a tough time."

That prospect would seem unlikely but not impossible.

The Australians will not be in the best of spirits after a bizarre controversy surrounding their captain, Ricky Ponting, damaged a television in the pavilion after getting out in his side's 91-win over Zimbabwe on Monday.

Australia was slow to get out of the blocks in that match - Ponting was run out for 28 - while New Zealand made a perfect start with a 10-wicket whipping of Kenya.

The champion struggled initially against the Zimbabwean spin attack and needed some fireworks at the end to post a competitive total.

On Friday, the batsmen will have to raise their performance by a few notches against the New Zealand spin duo of Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum, who is tipped to open the bowling.

"(It) definitely provides a different challenge. Different spinners will bring in different options as well," Australia opener and man of the match in the last game, Shane Watson, said.

Bogged down by some accurate bowling by the tweakers, Australia had managed just 28 runs from its first 10 overs of powerplay.

"Hopefully, we can provide a much better start in the next game and take a bit of pressure off the middle order," Watson said.

Going into their first match, New Zealand was under tremendous pressure with whitewashes by Bangladesh and India in the subcontinent fresh in the memory and a ODI series loss at home against Pakistan to follow.

No other team probably needed a thumping win in the first match as badly as the Kiwis.

Vettori's pace attack of Tim Southee, Jacob Oram and Hamish Bennett did not disappoint as it skittled Kenya for just 69 runs while sharing all 10 wickets.

"It's a great performance by the bowlers ... can't really ask for more from the start of a tournament," Vettori said.

"I think we bowled well. The bowlers got actually what I asked for and were consistent ... they were fantastic."

Reuters

(China Daily 02/25/2011 page23)