Sydney, Mar 22 : Fast bowler Nickyi Shaw responded magnificently to a last-minute call-up when she starred in England's thrilling four-wicket victory over a spirited New Zealand in the final of the ICC Women's World Cup 2009 at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.

The 27-year-old from Warwickshire, who was only included in the side moments before the start of the match after Jenny Gunn was ruled out because of a calf injury, produced her career-best performance of 4-34 as New Zealand was bowled out for 166 in 47.2 overs after electing to bat first.

Sydney- Right-wing rabble-rouser Pauline Hanson looked set for a big compensation payout Sunday after an Australian newspaper admitted nude photographs it published purporting to be of her were of another woman.

"I've said all week I'd be the first person in Australia to apologise to Pauline Hanson if it were proven the photographs were not of her," Sunday Telegraph editor Neil Breen said. "We've proven it ourselves so, Pauline, I'm sorry."

Sydney - Yet again, opinion polls got the result of an Australian state election wrong and gamblers got it right.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh was Sunday celebrating an historic fifth electoral victory for her underdog Labor Party, as the favoured the Liberal National Party was left wondering how the pollsters could get it so wrong.

Centrebet spokesman Neil Evans said the "smartest" money had been on Labor all along and 16 of the 20 biggest wagers had been for the incumbent to win - despite the pundits predicting their removal from power in Saturday's vote.

Sydney, Mar. 21 : Sidelined Australian cricket stars are eyeing the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to make a bid to return to the national squad for the 20-20 World Cup or the Ashes.

Players such as Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh are looking forward to the cricket extravaganza as they see it as a proper opportunity to send out a message to the selectors, The Australian reports.

Sydney, Mar. 21: International Cricket Council President David Morgan has assured that the Pakistani cricket team will receive great support in England if they play their "home" matches there.

"Pakistan seem to want to play in England and there will be a great deal of support if they want to play in England or Wales with a large number of Pakistani spectators residing in both these countries," The News quoted, Morgan, as saying.

Sydney  - The world's biggest coal terminal was closed Saturday by hundreds of protestors calling on Australia to stop exporting coal.

The blockade prevented coal carriers entering Newcastle, located a two-hour drive north of Sydney.

Paddling kayaks and craft made from milk crates and inflated inner tubes, the protestors urged Australia, the world's biggest coal exporter, to switch to less polluting sources of energy.