Defending a relatively modest total of 241, New Zealand took control of the match when they ran-out West Indies dangerman Brian Lara using the method.

Lou Vincent fielded a ball hit by Lara inside the boundary rope but rather than hurl it back to the wicket, he flicked it low and hard to Chris Cairns, who threw down the stumps to catch the world record-breaking left-hander short of his ground.

``That's our first fish with the relay throw and it's a pretty big fish to fry,'' Fleming said.

``We've done a lot of work on it, we know when to use it and how to use it and today it won us the match.

``Guys can obviously throw the ball from the boundary but we believe it's quicker and more accurate and today was an example of what it can create. It can create confusion and it narrows down how far a guy has to shy at the stumps.''

With his team needing to win to have any real chance of staying in the World Cup, Fleming said the run-out was just the stroke of luck they needed to rebuild their confidence after their opening Group B loss to Sri Lanka.

``The anxiety levels were high and today was just a case of hanging tough. It wasn't a flashy performance, it was very workmanlike, which is probably symbolic of the way our side is, with 20s and 30s all the way through,'' Fleming said.

``We felt it was a good total but not a match-winning total and we knew we had to start well when the ball was hard, which is probably the easiest time to bat, and create some pressure.

``We were after a run-out and something special in the field and we got it.''

Fleming said the victory had eased some of the pressure on his team, but thinks their biggest test is still to come against South Africa in Johannesburg on Sunday.

With the Kiwis planning to boycott their match in Kenya over security concerns, the result of that game will almost certainly decide whether they progress.

``This is a huge relief. Obviously we've got to win two games. We've completed one of the wins, now we've got a big one on Sunday,'' Fleming said.

``To get the first points on the board is a big relief for the team and what is pleasing is how much pressure we were under and how much this game meant in terms of the competition.

``I think we responded to that in pretty good fashion. We know we can obviously play better but knowing it was probably our last chance it was a very good test mentally for the side.''