Now Florida can claim cricket as one of its top attractions

New Zealand and Sri Lanka will make cricketing history when they take to the field in Florida today for the first of two Twenty20 internationals. The Pearls Cup series, which will take place at Central Broward Park in Lauderhill, about 30 miles from Miami, will be the first time two full International Cricket Council members have played a series in the United States. The initiative is a result of a strategic partnership between New Zealand Cricket and the USA Cricket Association as the game looks to test the waters in the as-yet untapped American market.

It is a world away from the venues and build-up normally associated with an international series. The New Zealand players spent time training with the Florida Marlins baseball team during the build-up, while the Sri Lankans took time out to enjoy a baseball game. "Obviously it's a new place, a new venue and we're excited to be here," said Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan batsman. "For some of the younger guys it's a great experience and great exposure to play under different circumstances as well as different conditions. It's something different. You're going out of your routine of playing against the top nations in venues you're quite familiar with. It'll be good fun."

The serious business of the cricket gets under way today after the initial opening game had to be scrapped on Thursday night because the lighting at the venue was not up to the standard required for international cricket. The teams will now play today and tomorrow with the USA and Jamaica also playing a one-day international today followed by two Twenty20s. Florida, which is home to thousands of people from the Caribbean and other cricket-playing parts of the world, has traditionally been a US hotbed of the sport.

New Zealand will be keen to shake off the disappointment of the recent Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean where they were bundled out at the Super Eight stage. Sri Lanka made it to the semi-finals despite losing their opening match to the Black Caps by two wickets and Jayawardene is expecting similarly competitive encounters in the coming days. "It's always been a good match-up between the two countries," he said. "Both teams have good all-round cricketers who rise to the occasion.

"New Zealand played really well against us at the World Cup in the first-round game when they beat us. We're looking forward to the challenge because we know when we go up against them we're going to have a good contest." In the Caribbean, meanwhile, South Africa completed a 2-0 Twenty20 series win over the West Indies after holding their nerve with a one-run victory in Antigua. Graeme Smith's side edged a low-scoring contest after defending their first-innings 120 for seven, despite a final over assault from Darren Sammy, whose 12 not out from six deliveries brought the hosts within one hit of victory on the final delivery.

* AP