Boosting run-rate to blame for lacklustre batting

1:17 pm on 18 February 2015

Scotland believe they've exposed a vulnerability within the Black Caps batting lineup but New Zealand cricket coach Mike Hesson's having none of it.

Hesson says trying to boost their overall run-rate played a part in a lacklustre batting effort in their World Cup win over Scotland in Dunedin on Tuesday.

New Zealand lost seven wickets has they chased a meagre target of 143 to win.

Hesson believes run-rate will play a part in deciding potential quarterfinal match ups and says they wanted to knock off the total in 25 overs.

"After two games we've had two wins and our net run rate is massive so we're tracking pretty well. (The batting was) a little bit untidy but job done...also have to give some respect to Scotland, some people have been pretty disrespectful of how competent they are and they will cause some upsets at this tournament."

Scotland captain Preston Mommsen said after the match he thought the Scots has exposed some vulnerability in the Black Caps lineup but Hesson thought the pitch had some also accounted for some of the difficulty they had.

Black Caps coach Mike Hesson doesn't believe Scotland has exposed any vulnerability in the Black Caps batting.

Black Caps coach Mike Hesson is dismissing suggestions Scotland's exposed a vulnerability in the Black Caps batting. Photo: Photosport

"It was actually a surface as well. Often the slower you bowled the more the ball seemed to move off the surface so it was a difficult wicket to go hard (score quickly) and when we did go hard we created some opportunities for the opposition but I think we've shown over our last 30 ODI's we're a decent batting unit," he says.

Hesson was pleased however with the bowling effort and the early breakthrough Tim Southee and Trent Boult made in slicing the top off the Scottish batting order to have them 12 for four.

The playing XI was unchanged from the side which beat Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Christchurch on Saturday and Hesson has hinted he's likely to keep the same side for Friday's game against England in Wellington, assuming there are no injury concerns.

"Three three games in seven days is always challenging but it's more important to get those wins early and get points on the board," Hesson says.

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