Zimbabwe in India

Second Test, Delhi, day three:
Zimbabwe 1st innings 329; India 319-6 (at close) .

India are poised for a first innings lead at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium after skipper Sourav Ganguly reached his first Test century for over two years.

Their hopes of a 2-0 series win receded, however, as rain meant that only 47 overs of play was possible during the day.

Ganguly finished the day on 135 not out, having hit a six and 21 fours in an inngs lasting over six and a half hours.

He shared a fifth wicket stand of 120 with Virender Sehwag, who underlined his growing reputation with an aggressive 74 before falling lbw to Heath Streak.

"It was an important century because it came when the team needed runs. We had lost a couple of early wickets and it was just the type of knock the team needed," he commented.     Match report | Statistics

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Indian batting star Sachin Tendulkar will miss the forthcoming one-day series against Zimbabwe in order to undergo treatment for a knee problem.

Tendulkar is the game's most successful one-day batsman, with 11,069 runs in 286 matches, including 31 centuries.

But India have decided to give him a break to ensure he is fully fit for the tour to the West Indies which starts next month.

"While this is not a serious problem, it will be necessary to give him qualitative rest from cricket," said Niranjan Shah, secretary of India's Board of Control.

"This will begin with prescriptive exercises and physiotherapy and he will be ready to tour West Indies."

It is the second injury problem to affect Tendulkar in the past year following a stress fracture of his foot.

Australia in South Africa

Warne's 100th Test is set to become a promotional extravaganza featuring the man, his magic and the player it almost destroyed, Daryll Cullinan.

Warne becomes the seventh Australian and the 26th player from all nations to play 100 Tests when Australia and South Africa square up in the second Test in Cape Town on Friday.

It is an achievement which crowns spin bowling's most productive career.

Under any circumstances it would make him the focus of the event but the likelihood of his most infamous victim, Cullinan, reappearing on the Test stage after a year's absence is the thunderous punchline supporters from both nations are craving for.

Cullinan's cultured 86 for South Africa A against Australia yesterday has surely clinched his recall after a lengthy absence due to knee surgery.

England in New Zealand

New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has been asked to sit out the next round of domestic matches to ensure his fitness for the three-Test series against England.

The 23-year-old missed much of last season after suffering a back injury in Zimbabwe, and complained of soreness at the completion of last month's one-day series against England.

New Zealand Cricket medical adviser Warren Frost said that Vettori deserved a rest after an international season that has so far included three Tests against Australia and 15 one-day internationals.

The first Test begins in Christchurch on 13 March and the following matches are on consecutive weekends.

Miscellaneous

Sri Lanka's Cricket Control Board is locked in a row with the sport's world governing body over a battle between Pepsi-Cola and a local tea marketing firm.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has told the local board that the Sri Lankan team cannot wear outfits advertising Dilmah tea while playing in international matches sponsored by Pepsi.

However, a spokesman for the Sri Lankan board said they entered into a three-year team sponsorship deal with Dilmah tea in October while the ICC's objections were received only last month.

"The board has raised objections with the ICC on the issue and it will be taken up at the Executive Board meeting in Cape Town" over March 21-24, the spokesman said.

Sri Lanka were unaware of any restrictions on the advertising of tea, the island's main export commodity, at the time of entering into the deal with Dilmah, he said.

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Yorkshire could become the first county to take advantage of new rules allowing a second overseas players if Darren Lehmann is unavailable at the start of the season.

Lehmann, named the county's first foreign captain at the end of last season, could be on international duty in April if Australia's tour of Zimbabwe goes ahead.

And the county's early season Benson and Hedges Cup campaign could be hit further if, as last year, England-contracted players are told to rest after their tour of New Zealand.

South African opening batsman Gary Kirsten is reportedly the prime candidate for the Tykes.

Women's cricket

Rose Bowl, match four, Lincoln:
New Zealand Women 196-9 (50 overs) beat Australia Women 174-9 (50 overs) by 22 runs.

Off-spinner Aimee Mason took four for 33 to bowl the Clear White Ferns to their first victory of the six-match series.

The 19-year-old claimed the vital wicket of Karen Rolton and later picked up three more in eight balls as Australia's middle order failed to capitalise on a good start.

Skipper Emily Drumm had earlier made 88 as New Zealand achieved their highest total in the four games so far.

But she later damaged a thumb while fielding and could be doubtful for the remaining two games as the World Cup holders try to pull level after losing all three games in Australia.

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