ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming hammered a brilliant century and Scott Styris bowled impressively for a four-wicket haul as New Zealand completed an emphatic nine-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Cricket World Cup Super Eight match yesterday.

Styris, who bagged four for 43 in his 10 overs while supported by Jacob Oram's probing medium pace and Shane Bond's speed, undermined Bangladesh for 174 all out off 48.3 overs after the Kiwis won the toss and chose to field at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Oram finished with three for 30 while Bond claimed two for 15.

The left-handed Fleming then hit an unbeaten 102 off 92 balls with 10 fours and three sixes as his team cantered to 178 for one off 29.2 overs to win their second game in the second round and move closer to a semi-final spot.

Slow, cautious start

Bangladesh made a slow, cautious start with openers Tamim Iqbal and Javed Omar, who came in for Shahriah Nafees, adding 55 for the first wicket in 16.2 overs.

When Oram removed them both in successive overs, the innings fell away with Moah-mmad Rafique batting at number nine, top-scoring with an unbeaten 30 from 36 balls with one four and two sixes.

Tamim's (29) ability to improvise got the better of him when he attempted to scoop a ball over his shoulder, missed it and was stumped by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum who also accepted a top edge from Omar (22) as he attempted to cut.

The bottom fell out for Bangladesh when four wickets crashed for seven runs in 26 balls.

Mohammad Rafique then starred with his knock in a last-wicket stand of 34 with Syed Rasel who was bowled by Oram for 10 to end the innings.

Fleming and Hamish Marshall, who hit an unbeaten, even 50, shared in an unbroken second wicket stand of 134 to put the result beyond doubt after Peter Fulton (15) was caught at mid-on off Syed Rasel in the 10th over.

It was New Zealand's second win of the Super Eights and Bangladesh's second loss.

Kiwis deny racist claims

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (Reuters)

New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker denied yesterday a front-page in the Antigua Sun accusing unnamed players of making racist comments to catering staff at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

The report said the players had said "Good morning niggers" to employees of a catering company before last Thursday's World Cup Super Eights match against West Indies.

Crocker told the New Zealand Press Association he had investigated the allegation with the International Cricket Council'soperations director Michael Hall.

He added staff members who had been interviewed said they thought they had heard the word "nigger" used during a conversation between some members of the team.

"We became aware of a rumour circulating among the catering that there was a racially based comment made in the players' lounge as everyone was assembling," Crocker said.

"We talked to the catering staff and we quickly found there were three or four people in the room at the time. They weren't able to tell me who they were. They weren't sure if they heard it accurately, they didn't hear any other comments and the comments weren't directed at the catering staff.

"It became clear to Michael and myself there was no great substance to this. There was no complaint or allegation from staff whatsoever."

The New Zealand team includes Jeetan Patel, who is of Indian origin and part Samoan Ross Taylor. Maori pace bowler Daryl Tuffey has returned home after injury.