South Africa, New Zealand ODI series
Fleming aims to avoid Bloemfontein mistake

BLOEMFONTEIN (South Africa)—New Zealand Captain Stephen Fleming will go into the first of five one-day internationals against South Africa with a vivid memory of a mistake he made on a previous visit to Springbok Park.
“We misread the pitch,” said Fleming of a 2003 World Cup encounter against Sri Lanka. “We thought it would be hard, fast and bouncy and went in without a spinner. It turned out more like a sub-continent pitch and we were beaten”.
Even without a look at Sunday’s surface, though, Fleming said there would be changes from the New Zealand team that beat South Africa by five wickets in a 20-overs international in Johannesburg Friday, with star left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori certain to return. Vettori was rested from Friday’s game after playing for the World XI against Australia earlier in the week.
All-rounders Scott Styris and Jacob Oram both played Friday as batsmen only because of niggling injuries. Styris is doubtful for Sunday after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury but Oram’s fitness will be assessed ahead of the game with a view to him being able to bowl.
South African captain Graeme Smith said his team, who are on an unbeaten 14-match streak in 50-overs internationals, would also show changes from Friday.
Steady batsman Boeta Dippenaar is sure to return, while the batting order will be shuffled. All South Africa’s big hitters were pushed up the order Friday but were part of a collapse in which the team slumped from 84 without loss to 133 all out.
“Sunday is where it counts,” said Smith. “Everything changes in a 50-overs game, your strategy, your structure. Our confidence is high”.
Smith said he was happy with the team’s bowling but said an over-aggressive approach by the batsmen had cost them dearly.
“We bowled really well and I think if we had scored another 30 or 40 runs we would have cruised the game”.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (Captain), Jacques Kallis (Vice-Captain), Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince.
New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (Captain), Daniel Vettori (Vice-Captain), Andre Adams, Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, James Franklin, Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent.—Agencies