Cricket

Essex have signed Paul Grayson, the 24-year-old batsman and slow left-armer released by Yorkshire.

Ramiz Raja, the Pakistan captain, stroked an unbeaten 104 to spur Pakistan to a 15-run win over West Indies in the Champions' Trophy in Sharjah yesterday. Ramiz's ninth one-day international century made him the first Pakistani to reach that landmark.

CHAMPIONS' TROPHY (Sharjah, UAE): Pakistan 242 for 4 (50 overs; Ramiz Raja 104no, Basit Ali 64); West Indies 227 (Saqlain Mushtaq 4-47). Pakistan won by 15 runs.

Four spinners have been included in the India squad for the first two Tests against New Zealand - the leg-spinners, Anil Kumble and Narendra Hirwani, the left-armer, Venkatapathy Raju, and the off-spinner, Rajesh Chauhan.

INDIA SQUAD (First Test v New Zealand, Bangalore, starting Wednesday): M Azharuddin (capt), S R Tendulkar (vice-capt), S V Manjrekar, V G Kambli, V Rathore, N R Mongia (wkt), M Prabhakar, A R Kumble, J Srinath, N D Hirwani, Ventakesh Prasad, Venkatapathy Raju, R K Chauhan, A S Jadeja.

TOUR MATCH (Bombay; second day of three): New Zealand 217 for 8 dec (M J Greatbatch 100); Bombay 219 for 4 (S V Manjrekar 79, V G Kambli 59no).