The New Zealand cricket team's emotion-charged efforts to upset Australia came to little as the world champions cruised to a seven-wicket win in their World Cup clash in Nagpur on Friday night.
Australia won the toss and sent the Black Caps in to bat with the New Zealanders capitulating to be all out for a paltry 206, before Ricky Ponting's men cruised to victory with 16 overs to spare.
The New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori concedes the devastating Christchurch earthquake, which has claimed the lives of more than 100 people, is weighing heavily on the Black Caps minds, but says it's no excuse for their poor performance.
In the night's other match co-hosts Bangladesh beat Ireland by 27 runs in their Group B clash in Mirpur.
New Zealand's next game is against Zimbabwe on Friday next week.
