Wellington, Mar. 12: Jesse Ryder should not be hidden in the New Zealand middle order, but should be allowed to open the innings, given his devastating and aggressive style of batting.

According to stuff. co. nz, the time has come to allow Ryder to fulfill his promise.

He is far more comfortable against pace bowling than spin bowling and due to his late hands, is an ideal fit against the swinging ball.

The bowling is also a worry without Chris Martin. Franklin needs to be back to the 140kmh we know he can bowl at to be effective.

Wellington - New Zealand's central bank slashed its benchmark interest rate Thursday by half a per cent to 3 per cent, its sixth cut since July.

The so-called official cash rate (OCR) was already at its lowest mark since it was introduced in 1999 and Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard signalled that he would cut it again.

Hamilton, Mar 11 : Virender Sehwag on Wednesday blasted the fastest century by any Indian to help India clinch their first ever series win in New Zealand.

The flamboyant opener scored his century of just 60 deliveries and India won the match by 84 runs (Duckworth Lewis method).

Indian has now taken a three nil lead in the five-matches ODI series, with one more match to go.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, New Zealand put up a respectable total of 270 in 47 overs for the loss of five wickets.

Hamilton (New Zealand), Mar. 11 : Calls for New Zealand sports people to continue touring countries at risk of terrorist attack have horrified former Hamilton and Black Cap cricketer Rob Hart.

In 2002, Hart was touring Pakistan with the Black Caps.

In an article for the Waikato Times, Hart said that he was seconds away from losing his life in 2002.

Wellington  - The New Zealand government is breaking with normal diplomatic practice and sending a former politician, Jim McLay, to New York as its representative to the United Nations, it was announced on Wednesday.

The post has traditionally been held by a senior career diplomat, but the conservative National Party government elected in November has chosen one of its veteran advisers who served as a cabinet minister and deputy prime minister between 1978 and 1984.

Wellington  - The population of New Zealand's kakapo - the world's rarest parrot - has topped 100 for the first time since the birds were rediscovered 33 years ago, it was announced on Wednesday.

Kakapos were thought to be extinct until 1976 when a small population was discovered on Stewart Island and a breeding programme started to save the species at a sanctuary on nearby Codfish Island.