CRICKET/World Cup: England have been given until 4 p.m today to hand in an appeal to have their World Cup Group A match against Zimbabwe moved to South Africa.

The tournament's technical committee will meet in Johannesburg at noon tomorrow to consider the issue, with a decision likely to be made later that day, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced yesterday.

England's tournament opener was scheduled to be played in Harare today but the England board refused to travel to strife-torn Zimbabwe because of their players' safety concerns.

The ECB continued to argue after losing a supposedly binding appeal over the issue after the ICC ruled Harare was safe. The matter will return to the tournament technical committee for a second time. It will decide whether to switch the match to South Africa, cancel the game altogether and share out the points or award a win to Zimbabwe by default.

Meanwhile, South Africa's Jonty Rhodes will discover today whether he is out of the World Cup after breaking a bone in his right hand at Potchefstroom yesterday. He faces an anxious 24-hour wait for a medical report on the injury, suffered in South Africa's 10-wicket win over Kenya in Group B.

Rhodes, the best fielder in the world but who has a history of hand trouble, was taken to hospital where an X-ray confirmed the break. He was immediately sent to Johannesburg to consult a specialist. By the time South Africa had wrapped up their win, the 33-year-old was already on his way to the capital.

All rounder Lance Klusener pronounced that his self-belief was back after being named man-of-the-match. Klusener took four for 18 as Kenya were dismissed for 140 before Herschelle Gibbs, with an unbeaten 87, and Gary Kirsten, 52 not out, guided South Africa to victory in just 21.2 overs.

The result put South Africa's World Cup campaign back on track after their narrow loss to West Indies in the tournament's opening game, which Klusener nearly won after smashing five sixes and a four in a 47-ball 57.

Sachin Tendulkar became the World Cup's highest run-getter and Javagal Srinath surpassed 300 wickets, but India's 68 run win over the Netherlands at Boland Park failed to inspire.

Fast bowler Srinath claimed four for 30 as the minnows were shot out for 136.

Earlier, the star-studded Indian batting line-up showed its fragile nature by making just 204 all out.

Opener Daan van Bunge's 62 added to India's embarrassment with the Netherlands taking the match into the penultimate over.

India captain Sourav Ganguly said a drastic batting improvement was required if his team were to match defending champions Australia in their next game at Centurion on Saturday.

"We need to put more runs on the board," said Ganguly, who himself managed just eight. "The batsmen are still to get into the groove, they need to put their heads down."

India leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who strangled the life out of the Dutch innings with four for 32, was more upbeat: "This game helped me get back into rhythm. I did not get a chance to play much in New Zealand, so it was important to get 10 overs in.

"Wickets in this World Cup are dry because of the hot weather, skid a bit and have variable bounce. So spin could play a major role," he added.

"Australia on Saturday will be a big game. They are the number one side."

Dutch captain and former Somerset fast bowler Roland Lefebvre was proud of the way his side competed. "I'm incredibly pleased with our bowling and batting," he said.

Dutch seamer Tim de Leede was made man-of-the-match after returning career-best figures of four for 35.