Zimbabwe in India

At 248 for 8 overnight, Zimbabwe would have feared a rather smaller total But Travis Friend and Raymond Price added a further 38 to their overnight partnership, before Price fell victim to a run out when he had made 18.

Zimbabwe stretched their first innings to 287 in Nagpur, but made little impression on the Indian batting as the home side looked to steadily close the gap. S S Das reached his second Test century as he guided India to 209/2 at close of play on Day two.

England in New Zealand

Captain Stephen Fleming says that the batting of Chris Cairns could be key as New Zealand look to wrap up series victory over England in Auckland on Saturday.

"He hasn't really fired a shot so far in the series," Fleming told BBC Radio Five Live, "but that's exciting for us.

"With each failure, he's one away from playing a blinder.

Australia vs South Africa

Matthew Hayden hit his fourth century in successive matches as Australia dominated South Africa on day one of the first Test at the Wanderers.

Even though the left-hander was finally dismissed for 122, South Africa's bid to avenge a 3-0 series defeat in Australia already looked troubled.

And a side already missing opening bowler Shaun Pollock looked in even deeper trouble when veteran Allan Donald fell to the ground clutching his hamstring five overs from the close.

At stumps, the tourists were 331 for five, with Adam Gilchrist in ominous form on 25 and Damien Martyn 21 not out.

________________

South Africa's Allan Donald is unlikely to feature further in the first Test against Australia after injuring his hamstring on the opening day at the Wanderers.

The tourists dominated the start of the three-Test series, reaching 331 for five at the close with Matthew Hayden scoring 122 and Mark Waugh 53.

Fast bowler Donald, 35, collapsed in a heap after a delivery to Adam Gilchrist late in the final session, and had to be helped from the field in tears as he clutched his hamstring.

Miscellaneous

Virendra Sehwag may not have the so-called smart looks, but his blazing run with the bat has already made the endorsement sector sit up and take notice. Percept D' Mark, a celebrity management company which handles the portfolio of Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, is eyeing him with the guarantee of "at least one big endorsement" while Coca-Cola has roped him in earlier this week.

"The agreement will be signed in a couple of days and almost immeditaely, we hope to make him the brand ambassador of Hero Honda," said Shailendra Singh, chairman of the company. It's been almost one and-a-half years that the firm waited before adding a cricketer among it's clients.

Meanwhile, the cola giant's three-year investment on this 24-year-old is also significant, for unlike their bitter rivals

Pepsi, the company had stopped signing on cricket celebrities ever since the match-fixing scandal broke out two years ago. While they did not shy away from sponsorship of events, Coke did not have a new cricketer celebrity since last four years.

"We had never consciously stopped signing cricketers, it's just that Sehwag has been the most exciting thing to happen to Indian cricket in this millennium," remarked Nantoo Banerjee, director (communications) of Coke.

________________

Sri Lanka have named a 14-man squad for next month's Asia Test Championship final against Pakistan in Lahore.

Batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan and swing bowler Dulip Liyanage have been recalled as they seek to extend an eight-match winning streak, which includes 3-0 whitewashes over West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Yesterday's News .........................  News Roll archive