Softball: Tough call for White Sox

New Zealand will have to emerge from a tough group to challenge for the title at the women's world softball championship in Venezuela.

The White Sox open their campaign at Caracas against Botswana tomorrow but sterner challenges await them. They are in the same group as the United States, who have won the last six world titles, 2006 bronze medal winners Australia and China, who finished fourth at that tournament.

New Zealand play the US on Saturday as well as the Czech Republic.