Hamilton (New Zealand), Mar. 17 : Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials flexed their financial muscle in New Zealand again today, seeking to accommodate broadcaster Sony Entertainment Television's request to start play at 12 p. m. instead of 11 a. m. during the three-test cricket series.

A New Zealand Press Association report said that New Zealand Cricket and Sony were locked in discussions till late today after NZC''s broadcasting partner wanted the first test here at Seddon Park to start an hour later.

Wellington - New Zealand's 4-month-old conservative government moved Tuesday to relax rules governing foreign investors, hoping to attract more outside capital to the country, which has been in recession since early last year.

Finance Minister Bill English said overseas investment could play an important role in an economic recovery and job creation.

Announcing a review of the Overseas Investment Act, English said the current law was cumbersome and the rules often difficult to interpret.

He said an application to buy land near the sea, or otherwise declared "sensitive" because of historical or cultural importance to the indigenous Maori population, had to pass 27 different criteria.

Hamilton (New Zealand), Mar. 17: New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori has reportedly received some tips from a schoolboy on how to get the wicket of Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

According to the Waikato Times, Owen Robinson told the Black Caps skipper that Tendulkar is susceptible to the lofted drive after bowling to the cricket superstar in the nets.

Wellington  - A New Zealand judge has "opened the legal floodgates" by approving the use of the social-networking website Facebook to serve court papers, according to a Wellington lawyer quoted Tuesday.

"Who would have thought Facebook would become part of the legal process?" Barbara Buckett told the Dominion Post newspaper.

"It took a long time for the courts to even look at faxes as a substitution for service of documents," she said. "Emails took a long time to come on board."

Auckland (New Zealand), Mar. 16 : Kiwi pacer Iain O''Brien is looking forward to playing Test cricket.

New Zealand''s most successful bowler during the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy stalemate in Australia last month, O''Brien was brought down to earth with a bang against India.

A batting card fronted by Virender Sehwag dominated the five-match series until a surprise eight-wicket loss in Auckland last night.

After snaring 10 wickets at 25.30 across the Tasman O''Brien, like every New Zealand bowler, was punished by Sehwag''s flailing blade.

Auckland (New Zealand), Mar. 16: The Black Caps are fighting for credibility against India, and new recruit Mark Guptill, is expecting to do his bit for the cause in a calm and steady manner during the Test series that gets underway from Wednesday, the New Zealand Press Association says in a report.

New Zealand rushed to complete a morale-boosting one-day cricket victory over India at Eden Park but a scintillating run chase still represented quality time in the middle for Martin Guptill.