Vincent to wrestle intiative for Black Caps
[The Evening Post]

Although selected by accident rather than design, hard-hitting batsman Lou Vincent is poised to play a key role as New Zealand seek to employ a more aggressive approach to keep their one-day cricket series with Sri Lanka alive on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old Aucklander joined the squad on Sunday as cover for Roger Twose, who sprained his left thumb when colliding with batting partner Craig McMillan during Saturday's three-wicket loss in Wellington.

Sri Lanka lead the five-match series 2-0 with matches to follow here at Eden Park, Hamilton on Thursday and Christchurch on Sunday. Vincent is likely to slot into Twose's place at No 4, while in the only other change to the squad Northern Districts pace bowler Daryl Tuffey comes in for Wellington's Andrew Penn.

Apart from the second match against Zimbabwe in Wellington a month ago, where Nathan Astle and Mathew Sinclair put on a century stand to set up a successful run chase, the top order batting has been lacking runs and scoring momentum throughout a dismal summer.

Vincent, a New Zealand A tourist to India last year and a member of New Zealand Cricket's Academy, was looking forward to redressing the balance on his home ground.

His Shell Cup strike rate of 85.82 runs per 100 balls faced was second only to discarded opener Craig Spearman (90.37). He also scored an unbeaten 133 in his last Cup outing, averaging 35.33 in eight innings and he has also made some handy contributions in the Shell Trophy.
Loathe to be classed simply as a dasher, Vincent has been assigned to take the initiative from a Sri Lankan bowling attack that has so far had the measure of New Zealand's top order.

"You've still got to play yourself in, get used to your surroundings and play straight but I don't like to stand back and let a bowler dominate – I still believe it's a batter's game," Vincent said.
"I enjoy the challenge of taking on the bowlers."
Vincent, who speaks with an Australian twang, attributes his positive approach to spending his formative cricketing years across the Tasman.
He was born in Warkworth, north of Auckland, but between the ages of 12-17 he lived in Adelaide, representing age group teams and eventually rubbing shoulders with Australian representatives Darren Lehmann and Greg Blewett.

Vincent has also played in Holland, where he was set up in a club by New Zealand coach David Trist. He returned to Auckland four years ago.
Although Vincent gets his chance with the team at a low ebb, he was confident the team would not be far away from stringing some wins together.

"The tide will turn and we see it from now as a three game series and we're going to win 3-0. There's a good vibe in the team.
"It could be a hard time but for me it's just another game of cricket under the sun.
"I'm feeling relaxed and I'm looking forward to the chance of walking out there with the silver fern on my head."

The demoralising loss in Wellington revealed the team's trademark flaws - an inability to set a competitive target and failure to keep the runs in check at the end of the opposition's innings.
All the batsmen struggled to make headway, even Chris Harris' vital 56 consumed 87 balls while McMillan laboured 63 deliveries for his 37.

In contrast Aravinda De Silva - 37 off 45 - and Russel Arnold's unbeaten 78 off 90 got Sri Lanka past New Zealand's total of 205 for eight with three balls to spare although their cause was helped by two expensive overs from inexperienced pair Chris Martin and James Franklin.

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