Deccan Chargers relied on a late batting assault by Dwayne Smith (47) and Rohit Sharma's three-wicket dream spell later on to thump Rajasthan Royals by 53 runs in their Indian Premier League match.

The thumb injury to key batsman Brendon McCullum has unsettled the balance of New Zealand team ahead of the second one-dayer against India, skipper Daniel Vettori said on Thursday. "It is not great news. Obviously, the balance that Brendon brings into the squad is undermined by his ability not to keep," Vettori told reporters on the match eve.

Colombo: Sri Lanka were 72 for two soon after lunch in the second Test against New Zealand on Wednesday after winning the toss and choosing to bat first.

Central Districts batsman Peter Ingram and Wellington left-arm quick Andy McKay have been given call-ups as New Zealand named their One-Day International and Twenty20 International squads to play Bangladesh next month.

CRICKET Australia has forbidden Shaun Tait from playing in the Indian Premier League, meaning the South Australian quick will forfeit his $500,000 pay cheque from the Rajasthan Royals.

Zaheer Khan has no hesitation in admitting that India have their back against the wall but the left-arm seamer asserts his team can still save the second Test against a dominating New Zealand.