Styris wants to carry on in ODIs

New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris Sunday said he wanted to play limited overs cricket as long as possible as his desire for improvement is still alive.

"I want to play as long as I can and trying to improve so that I can be in the team and having achieved what I wanted to achieve it's important to strive," Styris said ahead of Monday's series deciding third match against Pakistan.

Styris dismissed Younus Khan (19), Shahid Afridi (nought) and Kamran Akmal (four) in the space of just ten balls to help New Zealand beat Pakistan by 64 runs in the second match on Friday.

Pakistan won the first match by 138 runs on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old retired from the five-day Tests in February last year in a bid to prolong his ODI and Twenty20 career but said he still seeks improvement.

"I wasn't expecting (to bowl), it surprised me but I have always loved bowling and have been an allrounder throughout my career, so I loved bowling and when it helped my team win, its pleasing," said Styris.

Styris was not part of New Zealand's ICC Champions Trophy squad last month but was later called in as cover after injuries depleted the team in South Africa.

He earned a place after fast-rising all-rounder Grant Elliott, opener Jesse Ryder and fast bowler Daryl Tuffey failed to make the UAE trip due to injuries.

Styris said he has been enjoying the Indian Premier League (IPL), which provided him a chance to share thoughts with players from other countries.

"IPL is fantastic, great to enjoy and gives an opportunity to talk cricket with a lot of other players, like Deccan Charges had Shahid Afridi from Pakistan and Australia's Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds."

Styris hoped Test cricket will survive Twenty20 cricket's popularity.

"Twenty20 is getting very popular and IPL can also be part of the landscape of cricket, but I sincerely hope Test cricket and one-day cricket will survive," said Styris.

Vettori determined to 'lead New Zealand in a final'

Having already lost three key players to injury, New Zealand could be without Grant Elliott, Man of the Match against England, for the semi-final against Pakistan. Daniel Vettori, the captain, was confident though that New Zealand could overcome their semi-final jinx [only one final after eight appearances in the last four of global 50-over events] against Pakistan at the Wanderers on Saturday.

"The momentum is with us, I think," he said. "It's a much more preferable to go into the semi-finals, knowing that we've won two big games and qualified top, whereas in the past we have scraped through. We go into the game with confidence. Their [Pakistan's] spin bowling over the last year is very impressive. [Saeed] Ajmal and [Shahid] Afridi combine well, and coupled with a very good seam attack, and no obvious weakness in their batting, we know they can be a very good side. But they can be a little inconsistent like us, I suppose, and I'm hoping we can catch them on an off day."

Having already lost Jesse Ryder, Jacob Oram and Daryl Tuffey to injury, New Zealand are keeping their fingers crossed over Elliott. "Grant took part in training this morning and had an injection," Vettori said. "It works when he bats but not when he bowls. We'll leave it till the last possible minute before making a decision. It's frustrating but we're used to it. We've been through it before with New Zealand, even in the Twenty20 World Cup. It brought the group a little tighter and there was the realisation that the senior players have to step up more."