Twose steers New Zealand into last four

The former Warwickshire batsman Roger Twose yesterday hit 85 to guide New Zealand into the semi-finals of the ICC Knockout tournament. The Torquay-born left-hander's innings included four fours and a six from 111 balls. Twose took the man-of-the-match award as the Kiwis beat Zimbabwe by 64 runs at the Gymkhana ground here to earn a place in the last four against Pakistan tomorrow.

The former Warwickshire batsman Roger Twose yesterday hit 85 to guide New Zealand into the semi-finals of the ICC Knockout tournament. The Torquay-born left-hander's innings included four fours and a six from 111 balls. Twose took the man-of-the-match award as the Kiwis beat Zimbabwe by 64 runs at the Gymkhana ground here to earn a place in the last four against Pakistan tomorrow.

New Zealand, fresh from their tour of Zimbabwe, suffered an early blow when Nathan Astle was dismissed for a duck, caught by Grant Flower off Henry Olonga. A 53-run partnership between Stephen Fleming and Craig Spearman steadied the innings before Olonga claimed his second victim when Heath Streak caught Spearman for 20.

Fleming then shared a half-century third-wicket stand with Twose before the captain was run out for 34 by Guy Whittall's throw from cover point. Craig McMillan provided the impetus in a key partnership of 95 - the right-hander hitting 52 from 51 deliveries. Adam Parore then hit 20 from just eight balls.

Zimbabwe's only batsmen to make an impact were Alistair Campbell, who hit 47 before being trapped lbw by Chris Harris, and Stuart Carlisle with 67 before he was caught off the bowling of Paul Wiseman.

* The Pakistan Cricket Board has asked President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar to order a judicial inquiry into allegations of match-fixing against Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup, during which they lost to Bangladesh by 62 runs and to India by 47 runs. "The PCB chairman has requested the president to order a judicial inquiry into the allegations of betting, match-fixing and gambling concerning the matches against India and Bangladesh," a board statement said. Sources said the move was initiated on the International Cricket Council's directives.