The second one-day international between New Zealand and Sri Lanka was washed out by persistent Christchurch rain this morning in a further blow to the tourists’ slender hopes of automatic qualification for this year’s World Cup.

South Africa has named a full-strength squad for their two One-Day Internationals against the Netherlands with the side needing victory in both to keep alive hopes of automatic qualification for the Cricket World Cup in India later this year.

South Africa pulled off the highest successful run chase in Twenty20 international cricket this morning to beat the West Indies by six wickets at Centurion on an afternoon of blistering assault on the ball as well as the record books.

West Indies captain Rovman Powell smashed a quickfire 43 not out to propel his side to a three-wicket victory over South Africa in a rain-reduced Twenty20 international clash.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan hailed the team’s maiden T20 victory against Pakistan but said their front-line batters need to improve ahead of the 50-overs World Cup in India later this year.

Australia leaves India with the world’s number-one ranking in one-day cricket and will return to the subcontinent for this year’s World Cup with confidence after edging the hosts 2-1 in the series.

New Zealand completed an innings and 58-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second test in blustery Wellington on Monday to sweep the series 2-0 as the South Asian side’s resistance finally broke late on day four.

Australia’s Mitchell Marsh is confident the abundance of all-rounders in their squad will serve them well in India, both in the upcoming one-day series and at the 50-overs World Cup later this year.

The Fiji women’s cricket team suffered its second loss in the inaugural Pacific Island Cricket Challenge today.

England crashed to a 3-0 series defeat against Bangladesh in their Twenty20 series as a half-century by Litton Das and some tight bowling helped the hosts secure a 16-run victory in the final match in Mirpur.

Fiji Women’s Cricket defeated Samoa today in the inaugural Pacific Island Cricket Challenge at Albert Park in Suva.

Fiji’s main aim at the Pacific Island Cricket Challenge is to improve its ranking.