India's tour of West Indies

West Indies batting star Brian Lara is on course to play in the forthcoming home Test series against India.

Lara took part in his first net session since dislocating his elbow in a collision with Sri Lanka's Marvan Atapattu last December.

He still feels discomfort when he plays certain strokes, but is satisfied with the pace of his recovery.

"I felt all right and I am very keen and enthusiastic to start playing again," said Lara.

"When I drive or play up the line, everything is OK. When I cut or flick on the onside and have to stretch the arm out, it is painful, especially if I miss the ball."

Australia in South Africa

Second Test, Cape Town, day one (stumps):
Australia 46-0 v South Africa 239 all out.

It was business as usual for Australia on the opening day of the second Test in Cape Town as South Africa were bowled out for 239.

And openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer made a brisk, 46 for no loss by stumps against inexperienced opening pair Makhaya Ntini and Dewald Pretorius.

Hayden had struck five fours in an unbeaten 28, while Langer was 17 not out, with four boundaries.

But, following their embarrassment in Johannesburg a fortnight ago, the home side's batsmen at least managed to put up a fight.

Andrew Hall and Paul Adams put on 69 runs for the eighth wicket, with Adams making a Test-best 35 and debutant Hall 70.    Match report

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Being car-jacked and shot at on the streets of Johannesburg gave Andrew Hall the mental strength to hit his debut 70 against Australia.

The all-rounder top-scored for South Africa as they were dismissed for 239 on the first day of the second Test.

And he revealed that his experiences of violent crime had helped his performances at the crease.

In January, Hall was hijacked at gunpoint and only released after a 45-minute ordeal.

And five years ago, he was shot at six times while withdrawing money from a Johannesburg cash machine.

"The experiences have toughened me up a lot," he said.

Asian Test Championship

Asian Test Championship final, Lahore, day three:
Pakistan 234 all out & 193-5 (at close); Sri Lanka 1st innings 528 all out.

Pakistan are facing the prospect of defeat with a day to spare at the Gaddafi Stadium despite the second hat-trick in a month by pace bowler Mohammad Sami.

He followed his treble in a one-day international against West Indies in Sharjah by dismissing Charitha Buddhika, Nuwan Zoysa and Muttiah Muralitharan in the first over after lunch.

But Sri Lanka still led by 294 on first innings and they pressed on towards a ninth successive Test victory by picking up five Pakistan wickets before the close.

Spinner Muralitharan claimed three of them to give him seven so far in the match, and take his overall total to 411 in 73 appearances.    Match report

Miscellaneous

Plans for an exhibition match to celebrate 50 years of cricket in Pakistan have been scuppered by India, according to reports.

Indian authorities have rejected an invitation from their neighbours because they feel the timing is inappropriate.

"Certainly, this is not the time for resumption of such cricket ties," Indian foreign ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao was quoted as saying on Friday.

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Pakistan all-rounder Abdur Razzaq has confirmed that he will be joining Middlesex following the home series against New Zealand, which ends in mid-May.

Razzaq has a contract to be the county's overseas player for the 2002 season but they sought clarification of his position after New Zealand agreed to re-schedule the tour which was cancelled last year in the wake of the 11 September attacks on the USA.

Earlier this week, Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar said: "Razzaq's contract allows him 30-35 days away from county duties so we would sit down and work out how to utilise those days."

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