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The focus may have been on defending champions Australia in the ongoing World Cup, but New Zealand are silently emerging a major threat with their clinical performances.

Stephen Fleming’s New Zealanders have been marching menacingly towards the semifinals and they now need to beat debutants Ireland in their Super Eights match here on Monday to strengthen their chances.

Like Australia, New Zealand are the only unbeaten team in the tournament, having defeated England, Canada and Scotland in group games and the West Indies and Bangladesh in the second round. They have six points from three matches.

Ireland look unlikely to stop the Kiwi juggernaut in spite of improving with every match. They have fought well against big teams in the second round, but failed to produce a big performance when it mattered most.

They caught the eye in group matches when they upset Pakistan and also tied their game against Zimbabwe. That they deserved a place in the Super Eights was proved when they tested both England and South Africa before losing.

“Up to now, we’ve done everything we’ve been expected to do. It’s important we take two points against Ireland. I agree Ireland know more about us than we do about them, but we have received some good information about them and we’ll go out and do our best,” said Fleming.

Fleming has already given a good account of himself both as captain and a top-order batsman, having scored 280 runs in five matches with one century.

The New Zealand captain is not the only player in form as middle-order batsmen Scott Styris and Craig McMillan have also contributed.

New Zealand’s bowling has more variety, with pacemen Shane Bond and James Franklin capable of doing the early damage and spinners Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel keeping the batsmen silent in the middle overs.

Ireland have a pair of effective seamers in Trent Johnston and David Langford-Smith, but will require more from other bowlers to raise hopes of restricting New Zealand to a modest total.

They also need a big innings, so essential in setting or chasing a stiff target. Most of their batsmen got starts against South Africa and England, but could not convert them into a big knock.

“I’m happy most of the batsmen have good starts and that means they can play a long innings,” said Ireland coach Adrian Birrell.

“We are playing at the highest level (for the first time) and to beat big sides we have to give 100 percent. We have to take every chance, but I am happy the guys are doing very well considering the circumstances,” he explained.

“It’s a daunting task before us, but they have not played against us before, so that’s an advantage,” he added.

Source:The News