NZ captain Fleming defends go-slow tactics

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has defended his team's decision to concoct a heavy one-day defeat by South Africa on Friday, saying it gave the Kiwis a better chance of making the finals ahead of Australia.

Fleming said his team had no alternative other than to try and manufacture a massive defeat because of the way the triangular series rules were set up.

"We're extremely disappointed that we exhausted all other avenues of getting through...but when it comes down to it, pure survival is the goal," Fleming said after his team crashed to a 67-run defeat at the WACA in Perth.

"They're the rules and we're going to use them. We don't particularly like it but if it gets us to the finals and gives us a chance of winning, who would say you're wrong doing that?"

New Zealand would have qualified automatically for a place in the finals if they had beaten South Africa but, under the complicated rules in place at the tournament, their next best result was to concede a heavy defeat.

Once it became apparent the Kiwis had little hope of overhauling South Africa's impressive total of 270 for five, Fleming ordered his players to bat slowly and ensure they scored less than 216. They finished on 203 for eight.

By doing that, New Zealand ensured South Africa collected a valuable bonus point to jump from last to first place and guarantee themselves a place in the finals.

BONUS POINT

Despite losing their last three matches, New Zealand can also make the finals as long as Australia do not beat South Africa and gain a bonus point in Sunday's last preliminary round match at the WACA.

Had New Zealand prevented South Africa from picking up a bonus point, Australia would only have needed to win on Sunday to gain a place in the finals.

"We had to look at pure survival and the way the bonus point system structure is, probably our best opportunity was to give away a bonus point to give us our best chance of reaching the final," Fleming said.

Fleming's tactics drew both praise and criticism.

South African captain Shaun Pollock said he saw nothing wrong with New Zealand's actions.

"I had no problems with those tactics whatsoever," Pollock said.

"They probably believe that is their best chance of getting through to the final, that's the way the system works."

But former New Zealand coach Warren Lees told the New Zealand Press Association that the tactics were against the spirit of the game.

"It's in the rules but it doesn't make it right. The moral side of it has gone because there are no morals left in the game," Lees said.

Mail Cricket Editor