CRICKET

Michael Hussey regained his self-belief as he steered Australia to victory by six wickets in the second twenty20 international at the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday. Hussey scored 53 not out off 33 balls, with five fours and a six, and, helped by one of the most spectacular closing innings by Cameron White, Australia made their target of 158 with seven balls to spare. The left-handed Hussey batted beautifully after surviving a sharp stumping catch off Johan Botha and JP Duminy, who had earlier taken a marvellous outfield catch also dropped White at a crucial stage of the innings.

CRICKET

Australia batsman Matthew Hayden announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday, drawing stumps on a dazzling career as one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time. The 37-year-old had planned to retire after this year's Ashes tour of England but told a Brisbane news conference he knew his time to quit had come.

CRICKET

New Zealand beat the West Indies by five wickets on a Duckworth-Lewis calculation in the rain-shortened fifth and final limited overs cricket international in Napier on Tuesday to win the five-match series 2-1.

FOOTBALL

Alex Ferguson said Cristiano Ronaldo owes his personal glory to Manchester United, and the manager brushed off new reports the Portugal winger will join Real Madrid this summer. The Spanish media reports emerged hours after Ronaldo won the Fifa World Player of the Year award, completing a clean sweep of football's top individual honours for 2008.

GOLF

An increased prize purse of R5-million has lured some of the world's top golfers to tee up at the Africa Open Golf Tournament in East London on Thursday. The tournament, in its second year, will be contested over the East London Golf Course by the likes of Argentinean Angel Cabrera, Ireland's Darren Clarke, Retief Goosen, James Kingston and the in-form local boy Richard Sterne.