Triangular series in Australia

1st VB Series final, Melbourne:
South Africa 191-2 beat New Zealand 190 (47.5 overs) by eight wickets.

A career-best five-wicket haul for Makhaya Ntini took South Africa to a 1-0 lead over New Zealand in the best-of-three VB Series finals.

The pace bowler took five for 31 in 10 overs as the Kiwis were bowled out for a paltry 191 in front of just 20,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

And South Africa reached that total with almost five overs to spare after a steady third wicket partnership between Jacques Kallis and Boeta Dippenaar.
Scorecard | Images | Report

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IF it stops raining in Sydney by tomorrow morning, the second tri-series final will go ahead as scheduled, according to SCG curator Tom Parker.

"If the rain stopped at 9am tomorrow it would help us immensely," Parker said on the eve of the second final between South Africa and New Zealand.

"What we need is the rain to stop - we need that something terrible."

However, that looked unlikely, with the forecasters predicting thunderstorms tomorrow.

If the rain continued through the day, Parker said it would then be up to the match referee and umpires to decide on a cancellation.

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New Zealand all-rounder Dion Nash has been ruled out of tomorrow's second Tri-series final against South Africa.

Nash suffered a side strain last night during New Zealand's heavy loss to South Africa in the first one-day final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Kiwi coach Dennis Aberhart said Nash was unavailable for tomorrow's match at the SCG and it appeared unlikely he would be able to play in the third final scheduled for Sunday.

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New Zealand pair Chris Cairns and Stephen Fleming have been cleared by the match referee after a fiery incident during the VB Series first final against South Africa on Wednesday.

All-rounder Cairns and captain Fleming appeared before Hanumant Singh at a hearing shortly after the match at Melbourne Cricket Ground, which South Africa won by eight wickets.

Cairns beat Boeta Dippenaar outside off-stump when the South Africa batsman was on six, but the confident appeal for caught behind was turned down.

Cairns bowled a rearing short delivery at Dippenaar's throat next ball and followed through well down the wicket where he had words with the batsman.

Miscellaneous

Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has urged India to stop mixing sport with politics and reopen sporting links between the two bitter rivals.

India and Pakistan have only played each other once at cricket in the last two years - in Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the 2000 Asia Cup.

"I call on India to revive sports with Pakistan ... We are ready to play against India, even in India," Musharraf said at a function for the national hockey team.

"Pakistan will be keen to play against Indian teams anywhere, anytime, including in India," he said.

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England have sent fast bowler Matthew Hoggard for blood tests following a recent fainting scare on the tour to India.

Hoggard fainted on the flight from Kanpur to Delhi towards the end of the trip and was checked out initially before England travelled to New Zealand this week.

But, after arriving in Hamilton on Tuesday, Hoggard was taken to a local doctors for further tests. The tourists are expected to have the results in the next few days.

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Pakistan's crusading wicketkeeper Rashid Latif said he had no regrets about his part in exposing the match-fixing scandal that cost him three years of international cricket.

"It may have cost me a few years in the game, but I do not regret what I did.

"Exposing corruption in the game has given me a lot of satisfaction," said Latif, who is currently with the Pakistan squad set to face the West Indies in the second Test at Sharjah on Thursday.

However, he is more than happy to be back in the fold.

"I can't afford to be out of the team now," he said, and he is looking forward to the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

West Indies and Pakistan in Sharjah

West Indies have been hit again by injury problems ahead of the second Test against Pakistan, which begins in Sharjah on Thursday.

Veteran batsman Sherwin Campbell broke a finger fielding during last week's 170-run first Test defeat and will be out for the next 10 days, also missing the first two one-day internationals.

And possible replacement Marlon Samuel is out for at least six weeks after undergoing surgery on his left knee.

"The replacement should be here within 24 to 48 hours but it is not appropriate to reveal his name," West Indies manager Ricky Skerritt said.

Under-19 World Cup

Semi-final, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln: Australia v West Indies, no play on Wednesday.

The second semi-final of the U-19 World Cup between Australia and West Indies was washed out on Wednesday without a ball being bowled.

After poor weather in the morning, play was due to commence at 4.30pm, but as the toss was being held the rain came down again to bring the abandonment.

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Plate semi-final, No.3 Oval, Lincoln: Nepal 136-5 (45 overs) vs Bangladesh, play continues on Thursday.

The second semi-final of the plate competition also suffered with the weather, with Nepal reaching 136 for five against Bangladesh from the 45 overs possible.

Play began at 4.00pm, although only three overs were possible before more showers. However the teams were able to get back out on the field after 5.00pm.

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