Date-stamped : 25 Jun97 - 06:18 20 May 1997 Rixon Puts Acid On NZ Middle Order HYDERABAD -- The hard word has been put on New Zealand's middle order batsmen to deliver the goods ahead of today's crucial Independence Cup one-day cricket match against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad at Lal Bahadur Stadium. "They've been told to put up or shut up," coach Steve Rixon said of the middle order comprising skipper Stephen Fleming, Chris Cairns, and all-rounder Chris Harris, who contributed a measly 49 runs between them in New Zealand's opening two matches in this four-nation tournament. Victory against the world champion under lights tonight will ensure New Zealand a place in the best-of-three final. The third and last preliminary match has been rendered a virtual semi-final after New Zealand, host India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka ended the opening two rounds of competition all locked on two points after each recorded one win and one loss. New Zealand must post a healthy score against Sri Lanka to give its bowling attack some breathing space, especially in the event of an early Sri Lankan onslaught which is on the cards given the form shown to date by the Kiwis' seam bowlers. "We simply can't afford not to give our bowlers a good target of 250 plus to bowl at," Rixon said. "If we are going to be a genuine threat in one-day cricket, and at test level for that matter, we have to make sure all our batsmen from number one to six are contributing." Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com).