Sydney, Mar. 16 : Having lost their last match to India by 16 runs, a vengeful Australian women''s cricket team today pummeled Pakistan into submission by 108 runs.

Needing a victory to maintain their slim hopes of making next Sunday''s final, Australia finished on 6-229 and made their best start of the tournament after winning the toss.

Openers Shelley Nitschke (56 off 64) and Leah Poulton (47 off 86) compiled the host nation''s first century partnership of the tournament, adding exactly 100 in 20.3 overs.

Cape Town, Mar. 16: After having his path blocked to Test cricket by part-time spinners, many believe the time has arrived for Bryce McGain to try out his leggies on the big stage.

Australia has searched unsuccessfully for a spinner since Shane Warne''s retirement, and many believe McGain''s wrist spin is the best option.

But Marcus North and his modest offies were preferred for the first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg and Simon Katich came to the party with his left-arm wrist spin in Durban.

Cape Town, Mar. 16: Australia’s chief selector Andrew Hilditch has lauded Ricky Ponting''s "inspirational" leadership.

There was time when Ponting was roundly criticized after a 2-1 Test series belting at home by Graeme Smith''s Proteas.

Now, fortunes have changed. Australia heads into the third and final Test of the return series at Cape Town with a 2-0 lead.

There''s even talk of a "Ponting legacy" to rival his predecessors as captain.

Cape Town (South Africa), Mar. 16 : Australia will play South Africa every summer under plans being negotiated by the two cricket boards, but in future the visitors will never be seen at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day.

The teams will play a three-Test series in one country one year and a one-day series in the alternate country the next, the Daily Telegraph reports.

South Africa''s desire to host cricket on Boxing Day every second year has been an issue in the discussions and means it will almost be impossible to schedule four Test series.

Brisbane (Australia), Mar. 16: Injured Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark has signed a six-week deal to play English county cricket with Kent in the hope of making it back to the national squad for the Ashes this year.

Clark had elbow surgery at the start of the summer then was forced to miss the South African tour because of another flare-up.

Desperate to churn through some overs ahead of the opening Ashes in Cardiff in July, the 33-year-old Clark said the brief stint with Kent was the perfect chance to reignite his ambitions.

Cape Town (South Africa), Mar.16 : Victorian leg spinner Bryce McGain could make his Test match debut in South Africa in Cape Town on Thursday.

The Newlands pitch is traditionally flat and turns, the series is in the bag and there is talk the side needs to see how McGain bowls before the Ashes.

However, McGain, who turns 37 next week, is not confident about finding a place in the side.

"I think with a winning team at the moment and clinching a series win (it is not likely)" McGain said.