Wellington, Apr. 4: An inspired performance by Zaheer Khan on the second day helped India tighten its grip on the third and final Test here.

Khan produced a stupendous spell of fast bowling claiming five wickets for just 65 runs, which handed over India an important lead of 182 runs, as New Zealand was bowled out for a paltry 197 in their first innings.

Khan along with Harbhajan Singh, who grabbed three wickets for 43 runs, made sure that the Kiwis would not close in on the Indian total of 379.

St. Lucia (West Indies), Apr. 4: England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has said that he will not allow the Indian Premier League (IPL) to compromise his dream of recapturing the Ashes from the Australians.

Having helped England to a 3-2 one-day series win over West Indies, Flintoff is expected to pocket around 75,000 pounds a game for the Chennai Super Kings.

Sydney, Apr. 4 : Australian opener Phillip Hughes has become the youngest player ever to win the prestigious Steve Waugh Medal.

Hughes received the coveted gong for being New South Wale''s most outstanding cricketer this summer.

The 20-year-old made it a one-horse race with 231 votes - 72 votes clear of his nearest rival, fast bowler Aaron Bird.

Lahore, Apr. 4 : The list of controversies and scandals is getting longer by the day for banned Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif, as he has now been accused of being a `home-wrecker' by a film actor Babrak Shah.

According to The Daily Times, Shah has accused Asif of destroying his marital life.

"I was happily married to Veena when Asif interrupted my married life by wooing Veena and he succeeded," Shah said.

Shah said he has already divorced Veena Malik, a film and TV actor herself, in the presence of Asif.

Lahore, Apr. 3: Former Pakistan left-hand opening batsman Imran Farhat has that all Pakistani players attached to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) are planning to quit the league.

Farhat also clarified that neither he nor any other Pak ICL player has given any assurance in writing to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that they would terminate the league’s contract.

Wellington, Apr. 3 : India finished the first day of the third Test match here at a respectable 375 for nine, after slumping to 190 for five at tea with the entire top order back in the pavilion.

India was asked to bat first after Daniel Vettori won the toss, and started in typical fashion, with both openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir looking in a punishing mood.