Vettori has faith in Kiwis

Daniel Vettori put a positive spin on New Zealand's performance after their win over Sri Lanka at the Wanderers today

Daniel Vettori insists he always had full confidence of a New Zealand victory after they posted a score in excess of 300 during their crucial ICC Champions Trophy clash against Sri Lanka at the Wanderers today.

The Black Caps secured a 38-run success over the Asian side thanks to half-centuries from Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill which helped boost their qualifying chances from Group B.

Ryder, who has since been ruled out of the tournament with a groin injury, blasted 74 from 58 balls while Guptill added 66 to help the Black Caps post a daunting 315 for seven.

The Sri Lankans got off to a good start in response, thanks largely to Mahela Jayawardene (77) and Nuwan Kulasekara (57 not out), but eventually perished to 277 all out in 46.4 overs with all the New Zealand bowlers chipping in.

Vettori, named man of the match afterward, said afterwards: “We’ve got 17 scores over 300 and we’ve won all of them so it’s a nice record that we have.

“But whenever you have (Tillakaratne) Dilshan, (Sanath) Jayasuriya, (Kumar) Sangakkara and Jayawardene in the top four you are wary of the skills they have.

“In the way they started, particularly Dilshan makes you fret a bit. But we kept picking up wickets at crucial times, even getting Jayawardene near the end was pretty crucial because if he and Kulasekara could have kept going, it would have been quite a nervy finish.

“But I think we maintained the pressure and we were on top most of the time, but we just couldn’t kill it off until the end.”

Vettori, who made 48 with the bat and claimed 2-45 in his 10 overs, was also satisfied that his side now have a good chance of qualifying for the semi-final – a victory over England in their last game will guarantee a place in the last four.

He added: “It’s a crucial win and obviously keeps us alive in the tournament and that’s the most important bit.

“But I think the manner of the win is something that is really pleasing to ourselves and to our fans back home.

“We managed to put a really good score on the board thanks to our top three batters and then the finish we had at the end. So it as really good way to win.”

Sri Lanka skipper Sangakkara felt his side were let down in the field – a crucial aspect of the game that has now left them relying on other results to go through.

“I think we have a lot of brushing up to do, especially with the fielding. Forget the bowling and the batting, we haven’t been doing this (fielding) well for the past six months.”