WELLINGTON, April 11: Jacob Oram, like his captain Stephen Fleming, says New Zealand realise they are capable of winning the World Cup for the first time.

“There's every chance we're right up there as favourites for the tournament, that's how we're looking at it,” he said in the New Zealand Herald. “I'd like to think people are starting to realise we're not just flying under the radar, we're actually a good side.”

New Zealand are unbeaten after six matches and sit on top of the points table because of their superior net run-rate. In the Caribbean they have continued their excellent run of form that began in February when they beat Australia 3-0 in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series.

However, New Zealand will need to overcome a disappointing World Cup history to take their first title – they made the semi-finals in 1975, 1979, 1992 and 1999 but lost on all four occasions. They also fell at the semi-final stage in last year's Champions Trophy.—Agencies