Aucklander Lou Vincent hasn't blasted his way into the world of One-Day International cricket in a blaze of glory with a scintillating century or two to make the rest of the world sit up.

But in three games against Sri Lanka and two against Pakistan he has revealed enough talent to suggest that he is a player well capable of being in the national side for years to come.

Quick on his feet, decisive in his stroke decisions, enthusiastic in the field and just plain enjoying his cricket, Vincent has been a breath of fresh air in the New Zealand game.

A helpful half century partnership hand with Chris Harris in Christchurch in New Zealand's only win over Sri Lanka was the first sign of the Vincent potential and it was continued in Napier on Tuesday when he hit the winning runs after sharing the match-deciding partnership of 61 with Craig McMillan.

"Both Macca [McMillan] and I were over the moon about it. The target when we came together was still about 60-odd. Pakistan were always trying hard, they were chirping and Wasim Akram was always trying things.

"We built it up in 10-run partnerships, that's what motivated us to stick together and once we got to 100 that was a sort of mental thing. Only 30 runs to get, that was our target," he said.

There's an infectiousness about Vincent's approach and it's not hard to understand why he has so enjoyed his elevation to the national side.

"I've played cricket all my life and I've always wanted to play international cricket and when I got there I didn't want to waste the opportunity. I really enjoy playing cricket and I want to be as good as I can whether I'm playing club cricket or domestic cricket," he said.

That attitude proved helpful in coping with the job in front of him on Tuesday. The Pakistanis still sniffed a chance of embarrassing New Zealand and Wasim Akram, in particular, was sorting around in his bag of tricks for ways to break up the developing match-winning stand.

"Wasim bowled one slower ball that I missed. The first ball he bowled was out of the back of the hand and I saw that one all right and the next over he bowled the same thing but it was a yorker and I missed it and it just missed off stump.

"He bowls with such a nice straight seam, he's just awesome. He knows what he's doing with it, especially the new ball and while he doesn't have the pace he used to have, he just puts the ball on the spot where it's hard to play," he said.

Being prepared is to be forewarned and Vincent has been keen to utilise the technology that is available to look at what to expect from the Pakistan bowlers.

The mysteries of off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq's bowling have been analysed through the computer material the New Zealanders have and while seeing it on film and then seeing it in a fraction of a second out in the middle are two different things, there is an awareness of what to expect that helps make the job a little easier.

"I feel confident but any ball can get you out," he said.

And Vincent has appreciated the support he has had since stepping up to international play.

"The set up New Zealand Cricket has got at the moment is great. Tristy [coach David Trist] is doing an unbelievable job getting us young guys motivated and working together with the older guys so we're all mixing together now. When we first got together it was we who were putting the pressure on the older guys to carry us but now we are trying to chip in so release a bit of tension off them so they can free up and start whopping it around."

The whole challenge of international cricket has been everything he expected and pitting himself against some of the greatest names on the world scene at the moment has made it all the more enjoyable.

"I've always set my thoughts to play international cricket.

"Watching them on television it does look pretty daunting but once you're out there, and you've got your game sorted out and you've mentally pictured it and are just trying to treat it as another game of cricket, it's not as daunting once you're in the actual picture," he said.

There have been frustrations already, including his dismissal by Shoaib Akhtar in Auckland on Sunday. But being there is the buzz and that's all Vincent has ever wanted.

He's enjoying it and chances are high that there is much more to come yet.

© CricInfo