Taylor predicts date with destiny for Kiwis

Monday, 28 March 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

(Reuters) - New Zealand vice-captain Ross Taylor is determined his team will progress further than any of their predecessors by qualifying for next Saturday’s World Cup final in Mumbai.

New Zealand upset South Africa on Friday to advance to the semi-finals for the sixth time. They meet Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday.

“We are proud of our history of making it to the semi-finals,” Taylor told a news conference on Sunday.

“But this team want to make history and go one step further and make the final. We believe we can do that and we want to show it on Tuesday.”

If New Zealand are to reach the showpiece match, Taylor is likely to play a major role.

He struck an unbeaten 131 on his 27th birthday in the group win over Pakistan, including seven sixes and a tournament record 30 runs off an Abdul Razzaq over.

On Friday against South Africa he was altogether more circumspect, scoring 43 from 72 balls but his 114-run third wicket partnership with Jesse Ryder (83) laid the foundations of a famous New Zealand victory.