Aside from a warmup victory over Ireland on Saturday in Nagpur, New Zealand has been struggling in one-day internationals - winning only two of its last 14 series matches amid heavy defeats to India and Bangladesh.

But Wright, who has some insider knowledge after he coached India from 2000-2005, told a news conference that facing one of the tournament favorites was a chance for his side to step up a gear.

“It is a huge opportunity,” he said. “If we can perform well, it will be a great boost to our confidence. If we are to compete with India we have to play some good cricket.” Wright, who was appointed in December, knows full well the challenge that faces his side in the weeks ahead.

“It is pretty tough in the subcontinent from the results point of view,” he said.

He pointed out, though, that the arrival of South Africa great Allan Donald as a bowling coach was a real advantage for the tournament.

“The bowlers couldn't get a better person to work with,” Wright said. “I leave coaching bowlers to him. It is important that players get one message and not mixed messages.” A five-time semifinalist, New Zealand opens its World Cup campaign against Kenya in Group A on Sunday.

Looking beyond the tournament, however, Wright says that nurturing homegrown talent with an elite program was the key to New Zealand's future in the game.

“In New Zealand, we do not have the numbers,” he said.

“The talent there is not as big as India's. What we need to do is make sure that we have pathways for our players who do have talent and look after them ... make sure they get playing opportunities and they can raise the level of play.

“In New Zealand the gap between first-class cricket and international cricket is wide and we need to bridge that gap with a high performance program.”

In Bangalore: Half centuries by the South African openers set up a surprisingly easy seven-wicket victory over Australia on Tuesday in a World Cup warm-up match giving the holders' skipper Ricky Ponting much food for thought.

Chasing a modest 218 for victory, South Africa's captain Graeme Smith (65 retired) and Hashim Amla (60 retired) survived a barrage of leg before and caught behind appeals by Brett Lee and Shaun Tait early on before settling down to put on 131 runs.

Smith then retired undefeated followed by Amla to give their teammates some batting practice and JP Duminy (47 not out) duly anchored the innings to take his team home inside 45 overs.

Australia made 217 all out with Ponting (55) and Michael Clarke (73) top scoring.

In Dhaka, Misbah-ul-Haq and teenager Ahmed Shehzad both hit centuries to ease Pakistan to an 89-run victory over Bangladesh in a World Cup warmup match on Tuesday.

Misbah (100) took just 99 balls to reach the landmark, blasting eight boundaries and four sixes in Dhaka.

Bangladesh lost top batsman Tamim Iqbal on the first ball to a swerving delivery by Abdul Razzaq.

After a 71-run second-wicket partnership between Imrul Kayes (39) and Junaid Siddique (38) came to end in the 10th over, the World Cup co-hosts never looked liked reaching the target.

Razzaq was Pakistan's best bowler, returning figures of 3-31.

In Colombo, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara tuned up for the World Cup with a half century in a four-wicket win over the West Indies in a warmup match on Tuesday.

Sangakkara top-scored with 71 while Tillakaratne Dilshan (62) and Thilan Samaraweera (55) also hit good batting form at R. Premadasa Stadium as Sri Lanka reached 282-6 off 47.3 overs in reply to the West Indies' effort of 281 all out.

Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo hit contrasting half-centuries in what appeared an impressive West Indies total.

Gayle played in his usual flamboyant style to score 58 off 38 balls, while Bravo made 54 after captain Darren Sammy won the toss and opted to bat.

Paceman Lasith Malinga and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath both claimed three West Indies wickets.

In Nagpur, Andre Botha and Kevin O'Brien hit resolute half-centuries to carry Ireland to a final over, four-wicket victory in a World Cup warm-up game against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

Botha top-scored with 79 and O'Brien hit an unbeaten 62 as Ireland chased Zimbabwe's competitive 244-8 with three balls to spare in the thrilling match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Nagpur.

The duo upstaged Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura, who slammed eight fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 103 off just 81 balls to lift his side from a shaky 74-4 after they had won the toss and elected to bat.

Former captain Tatenda Taibu chipped in with a valuable 45 up the order after the early dismissals of openers Brendan Taylor and Charles Coventry.

In Colombo, Ryan ten Doeschate cracked a fighting 98 not out to secure Netherlands an unlikely two-wicket victory over Kenya in a World Cup warmup match on Tuesday.

Reduced to 130-7, the Dutch batsmen turned the match around by plundering 66 runs in their batting power play to score a confidence-boosting win.

Kenya batted first after winning the toss and scored 263-5 in 50 overs, helped by an unbeaten 126 from opener Seren Waters.

Netherlands started well with a 67-run opening stand but soon struggled after losing a series of quick wickets.

Dutch opener Alexei Kervezee faced just 33 balls for 49 runs but fell for a careless shot across line as he tried to deal with a delivery by seamer Nehemiah Odhiambo.

Kenya's veteran allrounder Steve Tikolo ran through the Netherlands middle-order and was on a hat trick when he dismissed Wesley Barresi (10) and Tom de Grooth (0) off successive balls. Tikolo returned the best bowling figures with 4-39.