Co-hosts New Zealand face a potential World Cup “banana skin” against minnows Scotland in Dunedin on Tuesday, former Black Caps skipper Stephen Fleming has warned.
New Zealand justified their tag as one of the pre-tournament favourites with a comprehensive 98-run win over Sri Lanka in their opening match and will be keen to maintain momentum against Scotland.
The Scots have not won a match in two previous World Cup campaigns (1999 and 2007), with bookmakers rating them 12-1 outsiders to upset the in-form New Zealanders.
But Fleming said the Pool A clash was “a banana-skin type match where, if it was allowed, complacency could be a danger”.
He pointed out that Scotland, an ICC associate nation, lost by just one run in October to a New Zealand XI which included eight of the Black Caps’ World Cup squad.
Only an inspired last-ball run out spared New Zealand’s blushes on that occasion and Fleming said the Black Caps could not treat their opposition lightly.
“New Zealand will have to be completely focused, as they were against Sri Lanka, to make sure they do not slip up,” he said.
Scotland have displayed impressive form this month in the lead-up to the tournament, scoring 310 against the West Indies and cruising to a 179-run win over fellow associates Ireland.
Captain Preston Mommsen said the Scots were taking inspiration from Ireland’s giant-killing exploits at previous World Cups, when they claimed the scalps of Pakistan (2007) and England (2011).
“They’ve found a way to stand up to the big teams and we’ll be looking to do the same thing,” he said. “We’re not here to fill in the numbers.”
South African-born Mommsen said he was part of the best-prepared team to ever leave Scottish shores.
They are coached by former Black Cap Grant Bradburn, assisted by gritty ex-England batsman Paul Collingwood, who has helped toughen the mental aspects of their game.
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said shock results were inevitable at the World Cup and the Black Caps, more accustomed to being labelled underdogs, were determined not to fall victim to one.
“I think there will be a number of upsets in this tournament and if sides take any other side lightly they could get turned over,” Hesson said.
“We will respect Scotland as much as we do every other team.”
New Zealand are expected to rest veteran spinner Dan Vettori and paceman Adam Milne, with Hesson admitting there were some “sore bodies” in the camp after the Sri Lanka game.
The pair’s likely replacements are Nathan McCullum and Mitchell McClenaghan.
Fine, dry weather with highs of 25 Celsius (77 Fahrenheit) is expected on Tuesday in Dunedin, a city with strong Scottish roos where both teams can expect enthusiastic support.