Powered by a tidy bowling performance, New Zealand team registered a comprehensive eight-wicket win in the fifth and the last ODI against India.

Man of the Match Jesse Ryder of New Zealand scored 63 runs off just 49 balls which included 4 towering sixes and 6 fours and also took three crucial wickets as New Zealand beat India by eight wickets with almost 20 overs to spare in the fifth ODO on Saturday.

Indian skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the star-studded Indian batting line-up were all out for 149 runs in 36.3 overs.

After seeing India's brilliant performance in one-day cricket, former skipper and prolific right hand batsman Kevin Pietersen believes that the IPL is the reason behind men in blue's success and said if English players were to lift their game, they too must play in the Twenty20 tournament.

Speaking with BBC, Pietersen said, “I think the reason why India has gone through the roof is because of the Indian Premier League (IPL).”

''After missing out last year, there is no way we can get up there if we don't play,'' he said.

Sydney, Mar 14 : The Indian women's cricket team beat Australia by 16 runs in a Super Six game with the help of a fine knock of 76 by Anjum Chopra, seriously denting the Australian defence of the World Cup at North Sydney Oval.

Australia is left with two points with a couple of Super Six matches to go, and they must win both and hope that two of England (6) New Zealand (4) and India (4) falter. There are no semi-finals and Australia will be out of the competition if eight points are needed to reach next Sunday''s decider.

Melbourne, Mar 14 : Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is happy to bowl part time bowler Simon Katich in occasional short spells as he did on the final day of the second Test when his team needed to end the resistance from South Africa's lower order.

Reluctant Katich is happy to bowl. And, in the process he helped win the second Test and the series.

Ponting threw Katich the ball in Durban and the opening batman took three wickets. The pair had appeared to be involved in a strange standoff until then, FOX Sports reported.

Cape Town (South Africa), Mar. 13: Australian captain Ricky Ponting is scared that the "glitz and glamour" of Twenty20 will overtake Test cricket in the popularity stakes.

New Delhi, Mar 13 : Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta held video conference with senior officials of the states where Indian Premier League (IPL) matches are scheduled to be played in April-May following their demand for central forces to host the cricketing tournament.

Gupta held consultations with seven states including Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal.

During the 90-minute video conference, the states have again told the Home Ministry that it was not possible to hold the matches without additional security personnel from the central grid.