Fleming Hails Batting Effort

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Vincent - relieved to get some runs.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming believes his side are perfecting their batting as they enter the Super Eight stage of the World Cup.

The Black Caps, who progressed from Group C ahead of England, battered 363 for five against minnows Canada at Beausejour to set up a comfortable 114-run victory.

Brendon McCullum broke fellow wicketkeeper Mark Boucher's record for the fastest World Cup 50 by reaching the landmark from 20 deliveries during an unbroken stand of 85 with Jacob Oram in the final seven overs.

McCullum hit a flurry of sixes to take New Zealand's overall tally to 23 in two matches.

"A couple of times now we have done some hard work at the top and been able to cash in at the end," said Fleming. "Each time we do it we are getting more comfortable with how it needs to be done."

Lou Vincent put two ducks behind him with his third one-day international hundred to lay the platform alongside Fleming (66).

"I had not enjoyed the start of the trip too much, sitting and watching the boys," said Vincent, who booked his ticket to the Caribbean with four half-centuries in five one-dayers earlier this winter. "So it was nice to get some runs.

"When you have missed out a few times it's natural to feel like you are not very good but the season I have had means there is a lot of confidence with my game at the moment, and I knew if I hung in there it would come good."

On a day of heavy scoring, the Canadians were given a high-octane start by captain John Davison, who was only three balls slower than McCullum to 50.

For the second time in as many attempts, in fact, the part-timers registered their largest World Cup score as they were dismissed for 249 in the final over.

"We came here with some different milestones to achieve than the big boys," said coach Andy Pick. "We were looking to put some statistics on the board.

"We have managed some good scores against England and New Zealand - and that was the sort of thing we were trying to achieve.

"We now expect to get 200 even against the Test teams."

New Zealand, meanwhile, were hit by a further injury blow with Daryl Tuffey nursing a bicep problem which prevented him bowling a second spell.

Fellow fast bowler Mark Gillespie had further treatment and assessment of his right shoulder, and a decision on his further participation in the tournament is expected within 48 hours.