Fast bowler Ferguson revelling in his World Cup role for New Zealand

• Lockie Ferguson continued his fine form by taking another two wickets against Australia
• He praised teammate Martin Guptill for a stunning catch off his bowling to remove Steve Smith

Poised and waiting, New Zealand’s leg gully is ready to pounce.

Lockie Ferguson charges in, pace heading towards 150kph, making the most of a short-pitched weapon that has already equated for the wicket of Australia opener David Warner.

Steve Smith knows what’s coming, the plan is not unique, but that doesn’t necessarily equate to the ability to play it. Margins for error are close to minimal when the speed gun hits those figures.

But this – the eighth ball of Ferguson’s opening spell – is no error on the batsman’s part. This is Smith picking the telegraphed short ball, striking it full-blooded and helplessly watching Martin Guptill stick out a hand to take one of the best catches of this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

This is from a man stood 17 metres away from the bat, needing to react in 0.6 seconds after putting down two chances much simpler, to reach a ball that is not already directly at him.

The superlatives that follow are plentiful and rightly so. One of Australia’s greatest batsmen dismissed before able to get into his stride, with New Zealand sensing an opening at Lord’s.

“Getting Steve to cream one to him was the plan for sure,” joked Ferguson. “It’s nice when you create a plan and it comes off.

“If you look at the stats, Marty has taken some screamers off me before, we’ve played together for Auckland and internationally as well so it’s not the first time. He’d make quite a nice highlight reel out of it.

“With the way Smith plays you want to look at the unconventional, so the plan was to set him up a little bit and try and surprise him with something – ideally without him smoking one the way he did.

“Marty was more there in case he gloved it, but it was a nice catch and nice for him to get it.”

To focus purely on Guptill’s role in the wicket undersells just how important Ferguson has been to New Zealand so far this World Cup.

His 17 tournament wickets is a tally bettered only by Australia’s Mitchell Starc, bagging at least one scalp in each of his side’s eight matches to date.

In an attack led by Trent Boult’s pinpoint swing, it’s Ferguson’s out-and-out pace, combined with hostility and accuracy, that is making him such a threat. Just ask Warner and Smith.

It’s a role he plays as first change rather than new-ball bowler – yet you won’t find the 28-year-old complaining about playing a waiting game.

“There’s always a bit of discussion about opening the bowling, but the role I’m performing has been working for me and I feel comfortable with it,” he added.

“I’m getting a lot of confidence from what I’m doing and it’s a role I currently enjoy, Colin [de Grandhomme] opened the bowling in this game and was exceptional, he created a lot of pressure up front and that helped when I came in.

“It’s been enjoyable being part of the Black Caps – we’ve had world-class opening bowlers for a long time and for me it’s about slotting in where I need to.

“It’s exciting, I’m finding the confidence I need to achieve and I’m enjoying some opportunity at the death.

“It’s about working on my style, working out my strengths and it’s nice to get a wicket or two along the way.”