CRICKET

Sachin Tendulkar stroked his 41st test century to help India record the fourth-highest successful run chase in test cricket and beat England by six wickets in a sensational match on Monday. A game which looked in serious jeopardy after the Mumbai gunmen attacks last month ended in jubilation for the home side after India clinched the most unlikely of wins having been set 387 for victory. No test side on India soil has made more runs in the final innings for victory. Tendulkar hit 103 not out and raised 163 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket with left-hander Yuvraj Singh (85 not out) to help the hosts achieve the stiff target on an engrossing final day.

CRICKET

The first test between New Zealand and the West Indies ended in a draw after rain washed out the final day in Dunedin on Monday. With New Zealand on 44 for two in their second innings at close of play on Sunday, the match had already appeared destined to end all-square after many hours were lost to rain earlier in the match. Earlier, the West Indies scored 340 in their first innings, including a quickfire 106 from number eight Jerome Taylor, in reply to New Zealand's 365.

CRICKET

The Castle Proteas' test squad started putting the final touches to their preparations or the first test against Australia when they resumed training at the WACA on Monday afternoon. Coach Mickey Arthur said he was very happy with the way the preparation had gone, the state of fitness of the players and the analysing of the opposition and the likely playing conditions on a pitch that sometimes has an almost unique nature.

RUGBY

South Africans account for four of the nine referees in the inaugural merit panel of officials announced by Sanzar on Monday to take charge of next season's Super 14 rugby matches. South Africa New Zealand Australia Rugby (Sanzar) announced last month that it would use referees on merit rather than on nationality to officiate in the southern hemisphere provincial Super 14 series in 2009. It means referees will no longer be barred from refereeing their countrymen in matches against a team from another nation. The move was made to ensure the best players would be refereed by the best officials, Sanzar said.

FOOTBALL

Fifa president Sepp Blatter squashed talk of ditching South Africa as 2010 World Cup hosts on Monday, saying there was "no Plan B." Blatter's revelation earlier this year that Fifa had contingency plans should the country be deemed ill-prepared had triggered a flurry of speculation about possible alternatives. With less than 18 months left before the tournament kickoff, the Fifa boss insisted South Africa would be ready to become the continent's first World Cup hosts.