Opener Alyssa Healy bludgeoned England's bowlers in a furious 170 as Australia set a mammoth victory target of 357 in the Women's World Cup final in Christchurch on Sunday.
Spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja said he wasn't expecting the ball to travel so quickly towards him before he pulled off an absolute stunner to dismiss New Zealand's Neil Wagner on Day 2 of the second Test, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, on Sunday.
A Daryl Mitchell century and a brilliant 72 from Matt Henry helped New Zealand to an unlikely first-innings lead of 18 runs before the home bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 83/3 at the end of the third day.
Rookie opener Sarel Erwee savoured a maiden century as South Africa dominated day one of the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch to be 238 for three at the close on Friday.
New Zealand batsman Leo Carter on Sunday emulated the likes of Ravi Shastri and Yuvraj Singh when he entered the history books by becoming the seventh cricketer in the world to hit six sixes in an over. Carter achieved the feat during his side Canterbury Kings' win over Northern Knights in New Zealand's domestic Twenty20 tournament Super Smash. The 25-year-old left-handed batsman smashed left-arm spinner Anton Devcich six times over the Hagley Oval boundary during his stunning unbeaten knock of 70 off just 29 balls to seal a seven-wicket win for his side while chasing an imposing 220.
Australia won their seventh ICC Women's Cricket World Cup with a 71-run victory over England in Christchurch.
The only selection issue facing New Zealand as they head into the second match against India at Christchurch is likely to be whether pace bowler Kyle Jamieson, so impressive on his Test debut at the Basin Reserve, bats higher in the order. Jamieson made a big impression in the hosts' 10-wicket victory in the opener of the two-Test series, capturing 4-39 in the first innings and then scoring 44 in a rearguard action.
World number one India suffered a seven-wicket defeat in less than three days as New Zealand completed a 2-0 series sweep in the second Test, in Christchurch, on Monday. India were all out for 124 in their second innings to set New Zealand an easy target of 132 to win the match. The hosts cruised to victory, with openers Tom Latham (52) and Tom Blundell (55) both hitting half-centuries.
New Zealand bundled out Pakistan on 297 in 83.5 overs.
A victory at Hagley Oval to seal a 2-0 series sweep would also push the Black Caps firmly into contention for one of two berths in June's inaugural ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's.
Sri Lanka bid to sweep New Zealand and reach WTC final
Pakistan beat New Zealand by five wickets in the final of a tri-series in Christchurch on Friday, giving themselves a timely boost ahead of the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.
Heavy rain washed out the entire third day's play of the second Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Williamson also sat out the two-Test home series against Bangladesh last month due to the niggling elbow issue.
The win also pushed the Black Caps firmly into contention for one of two berths in June's inaugural World Test Championship final at Lord's.
Responding to India A's first innings total of 216, New Zealand A declared their first innings on 562 shortly after losing their seventh wicket on the third and penultimate day at the Hagley Oval.
Next year's Women's Cricket ODI World Cupw ill be capped by a final in Christchurch under lights at the Hagley Oval, one of New Zealand's main Test venues.
Kane Williamson becomes fastest New Zealand batsman to register 7000 Test runs
The 2015 ICC World Cup has thrown up a lot of exciting moments since it began last week on February 14. Rediff.com gives you a quick flashback of all the action-packed, intense moments that had us watch in awe.
The series will be held between November 18 to 30 and New Zealand will return to India for a white-ball series
Verreynne relieved much of that pressure with a sparkling, unbeaten 136 that put his team in the box seat
India will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Women's ODI World Cup, starting in New Zealand on March 4.
The Blackcaps thrashed the visiting South Africans in their first meeting in Christchurch last week and another win over the Proteas would see the New Zealanders replace Australia at the top of the Test rankings.
Officials evicted several people from the opening match of the cricket World Cup at Hagley Oval.
Factbox on World Cup match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval.
Indian batsmen showed intent but their reckless shot selection took them only as far as 242 on an eventful opening day of the second Test against New Zealand. Kyle Jamieson in an inspired post-tea spell blew away the middle and lower-order to finish with his maiden five-wicket haul in only his second Test.
Ajinkya Rahane wants to take on the New Zealand pace battery with more intent in the second Test. He has a foolproof strategy, which includes countering the awkward angles which became a nightmare for Indian batsmen during the first Test at the Basin Reserve.
India has struggled in overseas conditions barring a series win in Australia. On Saturday, New Zealand bundled out India for 242 in the first innings of the second Test at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Michael Vaughan, on Saturday, said that the current Indian side cannot be regarded as a great team until they win a series in England or New Zealand.
'I can't describe it, it's unbelievable. I couldn't sleep yesterday because of the pressure'
The sour taste of a 10-wicket loss to New Zealand in the first Test was a good lesson for India's cricketers and there is no doubt they will be far more competitive in the second in Christchurch, coach Ravi Shastri said.
Stand-in White Ferns captain Amy Satterthwaite was named the women's ODI Player of the Year, after taking some time off to have a baby and returning to the fold to score 304 runs at 38, including a top score of 119 not-out against England in Dunedin.
Captain Tom Latham smashed an unbeaten 186 as New Zealand bounced back from their shock defeat in Mount Maunganui to amass 349-1 on the opening day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Sunday.
Images from the ICC Women's World Cup match between India and South Africa in Christchurch on Sunday.
New Zealand romped to a seven-wicket victory over India in the second Test in Christchurch on Monday for an emphatic 2-0 series sweep of the number one side in the world. The Black Caps dismissed the tourists for 124 in the first hour of the day before chasing down their 132-run victory target with half of the Test to spare for the loss of three wickets.
Images from Day 2 of the first Test between New Zealand and South Africa in Christchurch on Friday.
Matt Henry produced a career-best seven for 23 in a spectacular display of pace bowling as New Zealand skittled out South Africa for 95 in two sessions to take charge of the opening Test in Christchurch on Thursday.
India lose three-match ODI series against New Zealand 0-1 after rain washes out the third match.
A desperate Indian team will pray for a rain-free third and final ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday in its bid to finish on an even keel in a series that neither had context nor any major takeaways.
Andre Russell restored Caribbean smiles and laughter to the West Indies dressing room.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum set a new record for the fastest Test century after lunch on the first day of the second Test against Australia on Saturday when he clouted exactly 100 runs in 54 balls.