Vettori wants Kiwis to stop committing run out hara-kiri for WC success

New Zealand's veteran spinner Daniel Vettori has insisted that top-order batsmen getting run out really has to stop as it could cost the team an important game, ahead of the World Cup.

Vettori, who turned 36 on Tuesday, became the new record-holder for the most Test and ODI appearances for New Zealand on Sunday, during the hosts' series-clinching 120-run win over Sri Lanka in Dunedin.

However, key run outs during the match caused angst in an otherwise firing batting unit, particularly the mix-up between Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Vettori said that a top-six batsman should never get run out, adding that he believes it's a waste of dismissal just for the sake of one run. He said that if those guys can stay there as long as possible they would make up that single at some stage.

The veteran spinner added that there's certainly no joy at the amount of run outs and it's not something New Zealand wants to continue. He said that it really has to stop because it could cost them an important game.

There was clearly a problem when four New Zealand batsmen were run out in Hamilton on January 15, before Sunday's howler with both batsmen set and a total close to Friday's 350 beckoning.

On Sunday, Williamson put his head down and was always haring back for two, and Taylor was always jogging for an easy single, but when they realised they weren't on the same page, it was chaos.

Williamson was gone for 97; Taylor was crestfallen but at least dug in and made amends with 96 of his own to push the total past 300.

Vettori said that it is and it isn't easy to remedy, adding that there's different times throughout a game, pressure situations where the running becomes a little bit more difficult.

But, the veteran cricketer added that when they are in a good position and playing as well as Williamson and Taylor were, then it's not the thing that needs to be done at that stage.