Triangular in Australia

South Africa have become the first team to qualify for the VB Series final after beating New Zealand and grabbing a precious bonus point in the process.

A century from Jonty Rhodes, a quick-fire 50 from Shaun Pollock and fine bowling from the whole South African attack saw them to a comfortable win.
Match report | Images | Scorecard

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New Zealand's losing captain on Friday, Stephen Fleming, has admitted that he allowed South Africa a bonus point in an effort to prevent Australia reaching the final.

"We had to look at pure survival in the competition," Fleming said. "The way the bonus point structure is, probably our best opportunity was to give away a bonus point to give us our best chance of making the final."

He insisted there was no 'payback' after Australia used go-slow tactics against the West Indies in the 1999 World Cup to threaten the Black Caps' chances of progressing in the tournament. South Africa lead the table on 18 points. If they beat Australia on Sunday they will play New Zealand in the three-match final.

Australia will need to beat South Africa and gain a bonus point in the process for the right to play Shaun Pollock's men in the final.

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Darren Lehmann's return to one-day cricket yesterday raised more questions than it answered ahead of Australia's sudden-death clash with South Africa on Sunday.

For the second successive day Lehmann popped the bubbly, following his Test squad recall on Wednesday for Australia's tour of South Africa.

He replaces Andrew Symonds in the limited-overs squad to play in Perth, his first one-day match for Australia since last year.

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Batting bunny Glenn McGrath has had the last laugh on his high-scoring team-mates, by signing a bat sponsorship deal with the Downtown Duty Free company.

McGrath, the No.11 who has scored just 405 runs at 6.63 in 81 Tests, recently signed a multi-faceted 12-month deal with the retail chain believed to be worth between $150,000 and $200,000.

In exchange, the company will advertise its name on the six-inch square space on the back of McGrath's bat usually reserved for the bat manufacturer.

Pakistan vs West Indies

First Test, Sharjah, day two: Pakistan 493 v West Indies

Pakistan built up an imposing total of 493 before finally being dismissed by the West Indies after tea on day two of the Sharjah Test.

However, the West Indies responded positively with an unbeaten opening stand of 54 before stumps.

Daren Ganga was not out 11, whilst partner Chris Gayle had raced to 41 from just 66 balls. Earlier, Pakistan's innings was dominated by centuries from Yousuf Youhana and Rashid Latif.

Resuming the day with the score on 230 for five, Youhana and Latif continued their useful partnership and they had put on 204 for the sixth wicket by the time Youhana was out.

U-19 World Cup

Super League:
South Africa 212-5 (50 overs) beat England 197 all out (40 overs) by 15 runs.

South Africa's win against England saw them go through with Australia to the semi-final stage.

England, meanwhile, completed a dismal showing in the tournament by losing their third match out of three in the Super League stage.

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Super League:
Australia 196-3 (39.3 overs) beat New Zealand 194 all out (46.3 overs)

Australia continued their 100 per cent record in the competition when they cantered to a seven-wicket triumph over the hosts.

Victorian all-rounder Cameron White hit 80, and Shaun Marsh scored 70 chasing a target which was never likely to prove too difficult to chase.

Miscellaneous

Former Indian Test great Bishen Bedi has launched a stunning attack on modern spinners, including Muttiah Muralitharan, for chucking.

Sri Lanka's Muralitharan, the fastest man to 400 Test wickets has had his action cleared by the International Cricket Council, following controversy over its legality.

Muralitharan's bowling arm is permanently bent due to a congenital deformity. However, Bedi believes that this should mean nothing in the eyes of the law.

"If Murali doesn't chuck, then show me how to bowl," Bedi said in an interview published in the February issue of Wisden Cricket Asia.

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