Vettori set to join the 200-wicket club

Daniel Vettori is one shy of becoming the third New Zealand bowler to 200 one-day wickets. Vettori's 4 for 23 against Ireland in Guyana last week took his career tally to 199, and he is fifth place in the World Cup with 12 wickets at 20.91 as New Zealand take on Sri Lanka today.

"Teams seem to go either one way or the other," Vettori said in The New Zealand Herald. "They want to either block me or smash me, and that ends up a bit of a balancing act. I'm wondering if the three major sides might try and preserve wickets against me this time, but we'll have to wait and see."

Chris Harris (203) and Chris Cairns (200) are the two New Zealanders ahead of Vettori in the bowling stakes.

Vettori, 28, believed opponents may not prosper with the approach they've taken against him in recent times - defend, see him off - as most of New Zealand's bowlers were in form. "They have tried to see me off in the past but I'm not sure they'll be able to do that at this tournament with the way Bondy [Shane Bond], Jake [Oram] and Scotty [Styris] are bowling.

"You can't just fend off 20 overs and hope to get your runs from the other 30. If we keep on bowling in combinations like we have been, I don't think they'll be able to do that. I think there might be more opportunities on this occasion."

The pitch at the Providence Stadium in Guyana helped England's seam bowlers against Bangladesh, but when it came their turn to bat, they struggled against Bangladesh's trio of left-arm spinners. "It's probably better for me when it's a bit damp and seaming," he said. "Shane Warne always used to say that if it seams, it'll turn and I think there's a lot of truth in that. It'll turn damp. But later in the afternoon it'll dry out and be at its best."

Vettori was excited at the prospect of New Zealand's semi-final chances - they need a solitary victory from their three remaining matches against Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia. "There's a good feel within the camp but the big test will be the semifinals; that's when it's any team on the day," he said. "You can turn up and tip out anyone in sudden death. We just want to make sure we're there, that we have our day."