Rains play spoilsport as kids miss date with Vettori, Cairns

Chennai, Nov 10 (UNI) Kiwi vice-captain Daniel Vettori today said the black caps could emerge as one of the favourites for the 2007 world cup in West Indies if the team performs well against top sides like Sri Lanka and England before the mega event.

''If we perform well in these series, we would be among the favourites'', Vettori opined.

About 30 schoolboys who had gathered at the SPIC-YMCA ground here to realise their dream of playing with former all-rounder Chris Cairns and spinner Daniel Vettori had to return home dissappointed as their exhibition match, as part of ''Pepsodent Brush Karo-Cricket Khelo promo'' was washed out.

The exhibition tie was part of the six match 'series' scheduled to be played in six major metros between November 8 and 15, at Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

Cairns and Vettori, however, presented 'certificates' and mementos- a miniature cricket bat to the participants.

More than 70 boys, who play cricket seriously for their respective schools, have been chosen from all over the country, to play the matches against the two New Zealand greats.

Cairns and Vettori have signed up as brand ambassadors for Pepsodent tooth paste.

UNI VV SAM VV1428