We must keep the momentum going - Stead

Gary Stead, the New Zealand women's coach, has said his team will not take it easy against bottom-placed South Africa on Monday in their bid to qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20. New Zealand are on top of the points table with two wins from as many games and Stead spoke of keeping the momentum going.

"We're pretty much sure of reaching the semi-final now but it's still a very important game," Stead said. "Winning keeps up the momentum and it will also mean an easier route to the final.

"If we top our group we will take on the second place team from Group B at Trent Bridge. The way things look, that would mean us missing England. They are a very good side and we think we'd rather play India or Sri Lanka in the last four."

New Zealand hammered Australia by nine wickets in their opening game, before beating West Indies comfortably by 52 runs. Stead said there will be some experimentation in the line-up.

"We may look at the batting order to give some of our batters who haven't had much of a knock more of an opportunity," he said. "Katey Martin, for instance, hasn't even got out to the middle. We have to look at trying to get more than our top two or three players in good form. We've also got to work on our death bowling."

South Africa went down narrowly by four runs in their only game so far, against West Indies and the captain Sunette Loubser admitted the batsmen will have to step up.

"That defeat hurts a lot. We weren't clever and played tentative cricket," Loubser said. "We really should have won.

"We have the talent, but talent does not win you games. Our top six has got to start firing against New Zealand - they need to bat, that's the only reason they are in the side. Our girls can hit it but no one has seen it yet.

"New Zealand has got some big hitters as well but they can only hit it if we bowl in the wrong areas. We were pretty down after the West Indies game but we will give it everything we have got."