LONDON, June 7 (Reuters) – West Indies struggled to a nervous two-wicket victory over Pakistan in their opening Champions Trophy Group B match on Friday after dismissing their opponents for only 170 on a good Oval pitch.

Man-of-the-match Kemar Roach was the West Indies’ hero, hitting the winning boundary after ripping through the Pakistan top order once Dwayne Bravo had won the toss and elected to field.

LONDON (Reuters) – Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was stranded four short of what would have been his first one-day century in 118 matches on Friday in the Champions Trophy Group B 50 overs match against West Indies at the Oval.

Misbah, who could have been out twice before he had scored, struck three sixes in his 96 not out before Pakistan were finally dismissed for a modest 170 with two overs to spare after being asked to bat.

LONDON, June 7 (Reuters) – Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was stranded four short of what would have been his first one-day century in 118 matches on Friday in the Champions Trophy Group B 50 overs match against West Indies at the Oval.

Misbah, who could have been out twice before he had scored, struck three sixes in his 96 not out before Pakistan were finally dismissed for a modest 170 with two overs to spare after being asked to bat.

LONDON (Reuters) – A special romance still accompanies the British and Irish Lions on their four-yearly pilgrimages across the equator despite an annual schedule of rugby union tests fast approaching saturation point.

One factor is the rarity of a Lions’ visit at a time when the world’s top teams play each other on a regular basis. This year’s trip to Australia is part of a 12-year cycle during which the Lions visit the three southern hemisphere giants in turn.

LONDON, May 28 (Reuters) – A special romance still accompanies the British and Irish Lions on their four-yearly pilgrimages across the equator despite an annual schedule of rugby union tests fast approaching saturation point.

One factor is the rarity of a Lions’ visit at a time when the world’s top teams play each other on a regular basis. This year’s trip to Australia is part of a 12-year cycle during which the Lions visit the three southern hemisphere giants in turn.

LONDON (Reuters) – New Zealand will assess weather and pitch conditions on Thursday morning before making a final decision on whether to field four pace bowlers in the first test against England at Lord’s.

On the eve of the first match in the two-test series on Wednesday, captain Brendon McCullum said the final place would go to either Doug Bracewell or left-arm spinner Bruce Martin, who played in the drawn three-match series in New Zealand this year.

LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) – New Zealand will assess weather and pitch conditions on Thursday morning before making a final decision on whether to field four pace bowlers in the first test against England at Lord’s.

On the eve of the first match in the two-test series on Wednesday, captain Brendon McCullum said the final place would go to either Doug Bracewell or left-arm spinner Bruce Martin, who played in the drawn three-match series in New Zealand this year.

LONDON (Reuters) – Resilience in the face of adversity has shaped the course of New Zealand cricket since naturalist Charles Darwin sighted freed Maori slaves and the son of a missionary at play in 1835.

Although rugby union and the world champion All Blacks have cast a permanent shadow over the summer game, New Zealand have consistently punched above their weight, particularly in the one-day arena.

LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) – Resilience in the face of adversity has shaped the course of New Zealand cricket since naturalist Charles Darwin sighted freed Maori slaves and the son of a missionary at play in 1835.

Although rugby union and the world champion All Blacks have cast a permanent shadow over the summer game, New Zealand have consistently punched above their weight, particularly in the one-day arena.

SWANSEA (Reuters) – Swansea, a sprawling Welsh seaside settlement dating back to William the Conqueror, is a city of contrasts stemming from its role in the world’s first industrial nation.

Copper smelting succeeded ship building as the city’s primary industry and the disparity between a bleak industrial centre and the attractions of Swansea Bay led poet Dylan Thomas to describe his birthplace as an “ugly, lovely town”.