Cricket: Hooper lifts W Indies

With the first Test against Australia starting in Brisbane in 10 days' time, the West Indies were given a timely boost by their Guyanese all-rounder Carl Hooper as they beat Western Australia by nine wickets in Perth yesterday.

Hooper, who made 84 with the bat, claimed match figures of 7 for 123 after taking 4 for 59 as the state side were bowled out yesterday for 170.

Earlier Shivnarine Chanderpaul made 135 before retiring hurt as the West Indies declared on 441 for 5, a first-innings lead of 148.

Michael Bevan, Stuart Law, Matthew Hayden and Greg Blewett, rivals for two places in the Australian Test side, were all named yesterday in an Australian XI to face the West Indies in a three-day match in Hobart starting on Friday.

Essex's Law will lead the side, which also includes the promising young New South Wales paceman Anthony Stuart. Bevan meanwhile made an unbeaten 150 for New South Wales against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield.

Opener Saeed Anwar made an unbeaten 104, his 10th one-day century, to steer Pakistan to a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in their Singer Champions' Trophy match in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates yesterday. Adam Parore made 93 in New Zealand's 197.