Wellington, Oct 9 NZPA - New Zealand suffered one of their infamous meltdowns en route to handing the initiative to Bangladesh in the first one-day cricket international at Mirpur today.

(Eds: rptg H9400, crrctg Razzak's figures in last par)

Wellington, Oct 9 NZPA - Jacob Oram topscored with 57 as New Zealand posted 201 for nine in the first one-day cricket international against Bangladesh at Mirpur today.

Wellington, Oct 9 NZPA - The New Zealand Secondary Schools team to play Australia Secondary Schools in New Plymouth tomorrow is:

Auckland, Oct 9 NZPA - Wellington welcome back one All Black but are denied another as the Air NZ Cup rugby favourites prepare to play Taranaki in their quarterfinal in Wellington on Saturday.

Wellington, Oct 9 NZPA - New Zealand have been invited to bat first in the opening one-day cricket international against Bangladesh at Mirpur today.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful won the toss and opted to bowl in overcast conditions in the first game of a three-match series.

Auckland, Oct 9 NZPA - First choice five five-eighth Matt Berquist makes his return from a month-long injury break when Hawke's Bay seek to extend their recent dominance over Waikato in an Air NZ Cup rugby quarterfinal at Napier on Sunday.

Auckland, Oct 9 NZPA - The Bay of Plenty team to play Southland in Saturday's Air NZ Cup rugby quarterfinal in Mt Maunganui (7.35pm) has been named:-

By Chris Barclay of NZPA

Auckland, Oct 9 NZPA - The mental and physical state of two refreshed All Blacks pose an interesting subplot to the first Air NZ Cup rugby quarterfinal between Canterbury and Tasman in Christchurch tomorrow night.

Auckland, Oct 9 NZPA - The Hawke's Bay team to play Waikato in Sunday's Air NZ Cup rugby quarterfinal in Napier (2.35pm) has been named:-

The Remarkables will close on this Sunday (12 October) as scheduled bringing to a close an eventful and fun winter season.

The Remarkables Manager Ross Lawrence is encouraging skiers and riders to venture up to the ski area's slopes to enjoy the last few days of the season.