Sporting Digest: Cricket

The fast bowler Makhaya Ntini was yesterday selected to represent Border in a friendly provincial game despite a recent conviction for rape. Ntini, the first black to play for South Africa, was dropped from the national side before this year's World Cup but is out on bail pending an appeal. The president of the Border Cricket Board Robbbie Muzzell said: "It's a very low-key game. Some of our players aren't back from overseas yet so it's more of a practice match."

The 20-year-old Jamaican Ricardo Powell smashed 124 as West Indies defeated India in yesterday's Singapore International Challenge final. Powell, arriving with his team on 67 for 4, flayed the bowling to all parts of the ground hitting nine fours while some of his eight sixes threatened vehicles in the car park and adjoining roads. Powell's first 50 took 44 balls; his second a mere 28.