GROS ISLET, St Lucia (Reuters) — New Zealand qualified for the World Cup Super Eights thanks to an emphatic 148-run victory over Kenya in Group C yesterday.Ross Taylor hit 85 but was struck down with a hamstring strain in New Zealand’s 331 for seven, the highest one-day international score here, although a crowd of around only 4,500 was in the 20,000-capacity Beausejour Cricket Ground to see it.

Kenya never got going in their rain-interrupted reply, slumping to 29 for four before being bowled out for 183 with four balls left.

Lou Vincent was instrumental in two of three run outs while Michael Mason, Daniel Vettori and James Franklin all took two wickets.

Ravi Shah offered some resistance, stroking a 89-ball 71 before he was superbly caught-and-bowled by Vettori a ball after launching him for six.

The result also meant Canada, who play the Kiwis tomorrow, were definitely eliminated. Kenya face England in the last group game on Saturday to determine the other Super Eight qualifier.

Kenya captain Steve Tikolo was unhappy over his side being forced to bat on in persistent rain.

His batsmen went off twice for rain and although the game resumed quickly both times, the 35-year-old felt the umpires took too long in suspending play.

“I thought we should have come off. But I don’t want to get into controversies,” the mainstay of four World Cups told a news conference.

Tensions were high in the middle because of the controversy, especially as New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming bowled part-time medium pacer Craig McMillan to rush through his overs and get to the 20 overs required to constitute a match.

In turn, the Kenyans took time going back and forth to the dressing room during the rain and were generally slow with their innings in a bid to frustrate the Kiwis and to boost their net run rate in case it is needed for deciding group positions.

“The pace of the game slowed down. For one reason or another there was a bit of gamesmanship,” Fleming said.

Tikolo was also upset by his team’s display but was confident they could pose England a problem in the group’s final match on Saturday, with the winner joining the Black Caps in the next stage.

“I thought it was a disappointing performance from us. We know we are capable of doing better than what we did today,” he said.

“Initially in the field we dropped a number of catches and missed run out chances. If we had taken those we would probably be looking at a different story.

“Our chances are good (against England) if we do the basic things right,” he said, before refusing to say which England weaknesses they would be targeting.

“I don’t want to reveal that.”

Fleming though doubted the 2003 semi-finalists could win against England, despite the off-the-field problems surrounding Michael Vaughan’s men.

“I’d be surprised but I’ve been surprised by a few of the results here already,” he added.