Fleming was nervous but delighted with professionalism of win

Lynn McConnell

December 14, 2002

New Zealand were very nervous when India started their second innings, fearing that they would pay the price for not posting more runs in their first innings of the first National Bank Series Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington today.

Stephen Fleming, who was celebrating his 18th victory as captain, was true to his word that New Zealand would not catch as poorly as they had in India's first innings, and some superb efforts complemented a fiery bowling spell by Shane Bond who at one stage had three for eight from eight overs.

"We were nervous going into the second innings. We were looking towards the fourth and fifth day and wondering what we would have to chase.

"To bowl them out that well, that quickly and that professionally was fantastic," Fleming said.

Having a fast bowler in Bond gave the side some extra firepower and it was well used.

"We've joined the big boys a little bit, we've got another area covered with a quality fast bowler. And a couple of guys who backed him up very well this game and Daniel Vettori waiting in the wings.

"We're starting to get some real firepower and I think we are using it pretty well," he said.

Heading to Hamilton where the nature of the pitch is expected to be similar to the Basin Reserve, Fleming said New Zealand would still be wary of India because of the quality of their line-up, but they had been encouraged by what had been achieved today.

"We have to do things very well again," he said.

"If we can exploit the Indian batsmen in certain areas I think we will be in with a chance. We have to do that with quality play, the likes of which you saw today," he said.

Fleming admitted to being upset when Sachin Tendulkar was bowled off a no-ball when on three because he had the ability to boost the run scoring to more than what was preferable and he was mindful that it needed only one of the tail-enders to stay with him and a target of 150 might have been left.

"I was delighted with the way we kept putting pressure on the Indian batsmen," he said.

The team had been strong in its disciplines to prevent India developing a lower-order partnership and that had made the victory possible.

Bond said he had heard the no-ball call before the ball hit Tendulkar's stumps and was disgusted in himself but it had been good to get him later on to end the innings.

The New Zealanders had been aware that it had been expected the side would have a lot of trouble removing the Indians twice in the game and their first innings effort against them had given the home team a lot of confidence.

"Just watching their guys bat this morning we knew there was a little bit in the pitch. I always felt that if we got through a partnership with Rahul [Dravid] and Sachin there, there was a chance we could get a bunch of wickets. And that's how it panned out," he said.

New Zealand would need more from everybody in Hamilton, and while the bowlers could pat themselves on the back, the batsmen needed to take more from Mark Richardson's batting example, Fleming said.

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