Cricket

Zimbabwe have given the Black Caps a battle royal tonight ahead of their upcoming showdown with South Africa.

Captain Alastair Cook's superb century and four wickets for Steve Finn lifted England to a crushing 130-run victory over Pakistan in the first one-day international in Abu Dhabi.

One of the most frequently heard criticisms of professional sport is that the players are paid too much. But does that argument stack up? Steve Hepburn (rugby) and Adrian Seconi (cricket) investigate.

South Africa's newest international captain AB de Villiers yesterday scotched the idea that his team is suspect under pressure.

The South African cricket team arrived on these shores with a bang today, signalling their intentions for their upcoming tour in the very first media conference.

The Black Caps who beat Zimbabwe in the first Twenty20 have been given a vote of confidence, with no changes made in the squad to play South Africa.

Mid Canterbury beat North Otago outright by eight wickets in a Hawke Cup elimination match at Ashburton yesterday.

With one wicket to spare, University-Grange was able to hold out for a draw against Albion, in the Dunedin senior men's declaration cricket on Saturday.

It took a couple of weeks, but Zimbabwe finally gave New Zealand a game in the first Twenty20 cricket international at Eden Park tonight.

Now the extended net session that was the one-day series against Zimbabwe is in the rearview mirror, it's almost time for the real competition to start.