Port Elizabeth, Feb 12: After a miserable 47-run loss to Sri Lanka in its opening match, New Zealand now faces the mammoth task of beating a resurgent West Indies in tomorrow`s group B match of the World Cup. The West Indies, celebrating the return of Brian Lara, is on a high after snatching a three-run victory over host South Africa.

Lara`s century and the team`s fighting spirit in Cape Town on Sunday have suddenly made the men in maroon possible contenders for a record third World Cup, which they won in 1975 and 1979. For New Zealand it has always been the case of so near yet so far.

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The team reached the world cup semifinals in 1975, 1979, 1992 and 1999 as well as the quarterfinals in 1996. But a defeat against the West Indies may mean an early ticket back home for the black caps, who have been touted as the dark horse of the tournament. A defeat may also force New Zealand to rethink its decision not to travel to Nairobi to play against Kenya because of security fears. Forfeiting its match will mean a loss of four more valuable points.

Already the thinking in the New Zealand camp is that playing Kenya should be kept an option after their request to move the match to South Africa was turned down by World Cup organisers. The West Indies have never lost to New Zealand on neutral territory, and have won three of their four World Cup meetings.

Bureau Report