Fleming's team posted 331 for seven to avoid a potential upset against Kenya, semi-finalists in 2003.

Fleming and Ross Taylor laid the foundation before Scott Styris and Craig McMillan's aerial assaults helped power 100 runs from the final 10 overs.

"It was good," said Fleming, of the late hitting. "The stuff in between was quite good as well, the way we formed partnerships.

"It is tough when you play the so-called minnows because they bowl a different length, a different pace and it provides a different challenge.

"You don't practise for this type of player, it is a drop down in pace, you can't generate what you usually generate so you have to adjust your game.

"We got into a tricky situation batting first and we were smart enough to get out of it."

England must now beat Steve Tikolo's Kenyans on Saturday to follow New Zealand into the last eight and Fleming cannot envisage a slip-up.

"There have been a few surprise results here already," he said. "But I would be surprised."

Tikolo, however, remains positive, particularly if Kenya can iron out their flaws.

"Our chances are good," said Tikolo. "All teams in this competition are here to win their matches."

Kenya were given a perfect start when, after captain Tikolo won the toss, they claimed a breakthrough with the fourth ball of the day.

But they dropped catches, most significantly man-of-the-match Taylor, on five, and Styris, on 19, who went on to score 85 and 63 respectively.

"We are capable of doing better than we did," Tikolo said. "If we had taken our chances we would have been talking a different story."

The loss of three wickets early in an improbable chase and having to bat through heavy rain for a few minutes - conditions no Test team would have accepted - doused any fiery fightback.

"I was not very happy," said Tikolo. "I thought we should have come off."

Having already been off for a five-minute rain break, the players were eventually driven from the field for a further 15 minutes and New Zealand attempted to plough through their overs upon the resumption to force a result.

"There was talk about losing the rest of the day and with just a day in between we wanted to get 20 overs in and get out of here," explained Fleming.

"The pace of the game slowed down and for one reason or another there was a bit of gamesmanship going on. It was always going to cause a bit of frustration."

New Zealand will be without Taylor (hamstring) for Thursday's match against Canada while fast bowler Shane Bond will rest.

There will be three changes in all with Daryl Tuffey, Jeetan Patel and Peter Fulton given opportunities.