Need to carry on our calm aggression to knock-outs: Kane Williamson

Wellington, March 16 (IANS) New Zealand's middle-order mainstay Kane Williamson, who has been in a rollicking form of late, on Monday said his team need to carry forward their "calm aggression" from the group stages to the knock outs as they chase the elusive World Cup.

The Black Caps have maintained a clean-slate going into the last eight, and Williamson says they would be looking to use all their experience gained so far from the event.

"We've played six games and each one has been very different. So it's nice to have all those experiences going into the quarter-final. But we need to keep playing with that calm aggression we have had in the group stage," Williamson was quoted as saying by espncricinfo.

"After playing good, we know that everything starts again, anything in the past is quickly forgotten."

New Zealand have reached six World Cup semi-finals without going any further, including the last two, losing to Sri Lanka both times.

While they might have to face the same opponents again in the semis, first they have to overhaul West Indies on Saturday at the Westpac stadium here.

The 24-year-old is wary of the threat Chris Gayle can be and says his team needs to be focused on the demolisher and bowl in the right channels to him.

"Everyone knows what Gayle can do, he's one of the biggest matchwinners in world cricket. It's important we put a little bit of focus on him, but more important we look at ourselves. When he plays well, he takes any team down. Still, if you bowl well you can get anyone out," he said.