Windies take control of 2nd Test vs B'desh

Dhaka: Darren Bravo smashed his maiden Test century and Kirk Edwards scored 86 to help West Indies to 207-3 for a 331-run lead over Bangladesh at stumps on Monday on the third day of the second and final Test.

Bravo was 100 not out from 165 balls after hitting seven boundaries and two sixes. Nightwatchman Kemar Roach was 4 not out.

Kirk Edwards' 86 came from 204 balls before he was bowled by Sohrawardi Shuvo, who claimed 1-32.

Earlier, Bangladesh was dismissed for 231 after losing its last three wickets in the first 17 overs of the day in reply to West Indies' first innings of 355.

Shakib Al Hasan, who scored 73 and took five wickets in the first innings, claimed Kieran Powell for 12 shortly after lunch. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite was run out for a duck in the first session.

Bangladesh lost the wickets of Nasir Hossain (42), Sohrawardi Shuvo (15) and Shahadat Hossain (4) in the morning session.

Devendra Bishoo, who returned figures of 3-62 for the innings, had Shuvo caught by Brathwaite before bowling Shahadat. Marlon Samuels took the morning's other wicket when he had Nasir caught by Edwards, finishing with figures of 1-22.

Fidel Edwards was the main wicket-taker for the West Indies, returning figures of 5-63 for the first innings. Naeem Islam scored 45 and Nasir Hossian 42.

Nasir resumed the third day on 34 with Shuvo, who added 13 runs to his overnight score of 2. The first Test last week in Chittagong was drawn.

2nd Test: Edwards wrecks Bangladesh top order

Dhaka: Fidel Edwards claimed five quick wickets as Bangladesh struggled to 204-7 at stumps against the West Indies on the second day of the second and final Test on Sunday.

Bangladesh still trail by 151 runs in their first innings after Kirk Edwards earlier hit a dashing 121 before the West Indies was dismissed for an imposing 355 after lunch.

Bangladesh were 86-5 at Tea, but former skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Naeem Islam built an 84-run partnership off 137 balls to salvage the innings before Shakib was bowled by Devendra Bishoo (1-47).

In the final session, Bangladesh added 118 runs in 35 overs.

Shakib made his 73 in a 74-ball knock that included nine boundaries. Naeem reached 45 when he was run out during a misunderstanding with Nasir Hossain.

In their seventh-wicket partnership, Naeem and Nasir Hossain then added 52 runs.

Nasir was unbeaten on 34 with Suhrawardi Shuvo on 2 at the close and will resume the third day on Monday at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Earlier, Fidel Edwards (5-58) had opener Tamim Iqbal caught by Darren Bravo for 14, fellow opener Imrul Kayes caught by Kraigg Brathwaite for 29, Shahriar Nafees (7) caught by Bravo and Raqibul Hasan trapped lbw for a duck. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was caught by Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Kirk Edwards' 273-ball knock included 14 boundaries and two sixes after he resumed on an overnight score of 71.

Shakib returned figures of 5-63 to lead the Bangladesh bowling attack.

Bangladesh took three wickets by lunch — Marlon Samuels (48), Carlton Baugh (6) and skipper Darren Sammy (1) who hit his own wicket — after the visitors resumed the day on 253-5.

After the break, the visitors quickly lost two more wickets — Kirk Edwards trapped lbw by Shakib, who also trapped Fidel Edwards for 9 to end the first innings.

The day's first success for the home side came in the 23rd over of the session when Samuels was caught and bowled by off-spinner Nasir Hossain (3-52) who claimed two wickets on Saturday.

Eng win T20 for first win on India tour

Kolkata: England cruised home by six wickets in the one-off Twenty20 international against India at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.

The tourists enhanced their reputation as the reigning world Twenty20 champions by keeping the hosts down to 120-9 before surpassing the modest target with eight balls to spare.

Pietersen, who missed the visitors' last ODI here because of a fractured left thumb, returned in style with a match-winning knock that came off 39 balls as England chased down India's modest 121-run target with eight balls to spare.

After being dropped on one by Suresh Raina, Pietersen hit five boundaries and three sixes en route his quickfire innings as the reigning T20 champions proved their supremacy in the shortest format of the game.

Samit Patel was the second-best run-maker for England with a 25-ball 21, while Ravi Bopara remained unbeaten on 14.

Earlier clinical performance by England bowlers ensured India were reduced to a paltry score of 120 runs. Suresh Raina top scored for India with an aggressive score of 39 runs. Steve Finn who has made rapid strides throughout the tour was the most impressive with figures of 3 wickets and gave away only 22 runs.

Winning the toss, India began their batting on the wrong note losing Ajinkya Rahane to Finn in the very first over before the batsman could bother the scorer.

Robin Uthappa was next to go for just one as he failed to celebrate his return to the national team after three years. The Karnataka player edged an away ball from Tim Bresnan and Kieswetter

In need of a partnership with the scorecard reading five for two, in-form Virat Kohli looked in fine nick as he began the repair work with vice-captain Raina. But Kolhi did not last too long as he was back in the sixth over with his pull off Bresnan ended in the hands of Alex Hales near the long-on boundary.

But Raina in debutant Manoj Tiwary's company then started to resurrect the Indian innings with a 40-run fourth wicket stand before the former was cleaned up by left-arm spinner Samit Patel.

Finn then removed a danger-looking Raina and scalped Ravindra Jadeja in two successive leave tottering at 74 for six.

Realising the sluggish surface, Dhoni played cautiously cutting out on adventurous strokes, but Ravi Bopara worsened India's condition with a double wicket burst in the 17th over. Pathan (10) and Praveen Kumar (0) both played across the line to see their stumps dislodged.

Pakistan crush Lanka to win 2nd Test

Dubai: Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal grabbed 5-68 and opener Mohammad Hafeez hit an undefeated 59 on Saturday as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets with a day to spare in the second Test.

Pakistan leads the three-match series 1-0.

Sri Lanka, trailing by 164 after the first innings, was bowled out for 257 after starting the fourth day on 88-1 at the Dubai International Stadium.

Opener Tharanga Paranavitana top-scored with 72 while Angelo Mathews contributed an unbeaten 52.

'Man of the Match' Ajmal was well supported by left-arm seamer Junaid Khan (2-38) and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman (2-65).

Pakistan, set 94 to win, cruised to victory in fading light on the back of Hafeez's half century with five fours and two sixes off 64 balls.

Azhar Ali, who scored a century in the first innings, hit 29 not out in an unbroken second wicket stand of 77 and scored the winning runs.

Earlier, Pakistan's bowlers stifled Sri Lanka in the morning session, tightening their grip with the wickets of the experienced trio of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan before lunch.

Rehman claimed the key breakthrough by removing Sangakkara for 30 in the fourth over of the day and ending the second wicket stand of 73. The former captain was given out lbw by umpire Tony Hill prodding forward to a ball that turned appreciably.

Jayawardene, closing in on 10,000 Test runs, endured a testing time on a deteriorating pitch and was eventually bowled around his back as he swept at Ajmal. Jaywardene compiled only 5 from 34 balls in just under an hour.

Three runs later, it was 116-4 as captain Dilshan (3) was trapped in front by Junaid Khan.

Junaid also appeared unlucky not to have claimed Mathews lbw after the right-hander played no stroke to a big inswinger.

Pakistan kept up their momentum in the second session, prying out Paranavitana and removing Kaushal Silva cheaply.

Paranavitana, who batted for 5½ hours, prodded forward to Ajmal and edged low to Younis Khan at first slip at 141-5.

Mathews and Kaushal Silva erased the deficit but Silva fell soon afterwards to Juniad with the second new ball after he miscued a pull and Ajmal took an easy catch at mid-on at 166-6.

But Mathews and Prasad provided some spirited resistance in a seventh-wicket stand of 56. Prasad dominated, cracking four fours in 33 off 48 deliveries. But once he was bowled by a straighter ball from Rehman, the end came swiftly.

Ajmal claimed Rangana Herath (15), who hit to cover off the leading edge, and added Chanaka Welegedara (4) and Suranga Lakmal (8) to claim his fourth five-wicket haul in tests.

Welegedara was lbw while Lakmal played inside the line of a doosra and was bowled.

Pakistan lost Taufeeq Umar in its pursuit of 94, but Hafeez and Azhar provided the impetus to ensure victory was achieved with a day to spare.

The third and final Test begins in Sharjah on Thursday.

WI 253-5 at stumps on Day 1 vs B'desh

Dhaka: Kieran Powell, Kraigg Brathwaite and Kirk Edwards hit half centuries to lead West Indies to 253-5 at stumps Saturday on the first day of the second and final cricket Test against Bangladesh on Saturday.

Edwards was unbeaten at 71 — scoring his maiden Test 50 — with Marlon Samuels on 16 after the visitors reached 160-2 at tea at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Brathwaite and Powell made a confident start after winning the toss, with the visitors pounding the Bangladeshi bowlers throughout the day. In the opening session, Brathwaite led the way with 49, while Powell, who replaced Lendl Simmons, made 37 in the 29 overs.

Powell reached 72 before he was bowled by Sohrawardi Shuvo (1-46) before the tea break.

Brathwaite could add only one run to reach his 50 after the lunch break before he was caught by Imrul Kayes off Rubel Hossain (1-50).

Nasir Hossain took two wickets — Bravo trapped lbw for 12 and Shivnarine Chanderpaul caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim for 18.

Former Bangladeshi skipper Shakib Al Hasan dismissed Kemar Roach for six.

Brathwaite got a reprieve on 20 when he got a thick edge on Rubel Hossain's delivery that beat a sluggish Shahriar Nafees at gully and rolled away for four.

The Bangladesh side includes just one change to the team that drew last week's rain-affected first Test at Chittagong, with Shuvo replacing Mohammad Elias Sunny, who took seven wickets in his maiden Test.

The West Indies replaced Ravi Rampaul with fellow-paceman Roach.

Hussey clinches series for Australia

DURBAN, South Africa  - Mike Hussey steered Australia to a series-clinching three-wicket win in the third and final one-day international against South Africa at Kingsmead on Friday.

Australia were on top for most of the match but lost wickets at vital times in chasing a modest target of 223.

Hussey, though, stood firm in an innings of 45 not out, finishing the contest with a pull for six off Morne Morkel with 15 balls to spare.

"There were a few nerves up in the change room but once again he?s performed under pressure," said Australian captain Michael Clarke of Hussey?s effort.

Both teams struggled to score quickly on a pitch which had bounce but lacked pace, especially after the shine was off the two white balls used in each innings.

Although it was Hussey who saw his side home in a tense finish, Shane Watson earned the man of the match award, bowling accurately and batting aggressively at the start of his team's innings.

Watson did not take a wicket with his medium-paced bowling but conceded only 42 runs in 10 overs as he and his fellow bowlers kept a tight clamp on the South African batsmen.

Watson then played the most aggressive innings of the match, hitting 49 off 46 balls with six fours and a six.

His six was a straight hit off fast bowler Morkel, who had to be taken out of the South African attack after conceding 25 runs in his first two overs, despite taking the wicket of David Warner.

Morkel, who went to the top of the world one-day bowling rankings after a match-winning performance in the second match in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, ended up conceding 61 runs in 9.3 overs.

Australia clinched the series 2-1, maintaining an unbeaten record in Test and one-day series since Clarke was appointed captain after the World Cup earlier this year.

Clarke said his team were now looking forward to playing two Test matches against South Africa, starting on November 9.

"We?ve seen throughout the one-day series how close the two teams are and I?m certain the Test series is going to be no different. But I?d like to come out on top there as well."

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis hit half-centuries but South Africa were unable to dominate Australia?s bowlers in scoring 222 for six after winning the toss and batting on a heavily overcast day.

Amla made 52 and Kallis 54 but both needed more than 70 balls to make their runs and were out soon after achieving their half-centuries.

It was an impressive comeback by the tourists after South Africa scored 22 runs in the first two overs, including four boundaries by Amla off Pat Cummins.

Left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty took two for 33 in nine overs, while left-arm fast bowlers Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson were particularly impressive during the batting powerplay, conceding only 21 runs in five overs.

Bollinger did not take a wicket but conceded only 43 runs despite bowling four wides, one of which went for an extra four runs, while Johnson took two for 37.

South African captain Amla admitted his team had not scored enough runs.

"We couldn?t get any momentum in the last 10 overs," he said. "But we fought well to get them seven down."

Sachin, Sehwag back for WI Tests; no Harbhajan

Kolkata: The BCCI Selection Committee put to rest all doubts surrounding Harbhajan Singh on Friday by keeping the leading Indian off-spinner out of the Test squad as well, while recalling a fit-again Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar in the squad for the first of the three Tests against West Indies.

Yuvraj Singh and Ishant Sharma, who have fully recovered from their injuries suffered in England, also made a comeback into the squad. But the notable absentee was Suresh Raina, who has also been dropped after a flop show in England. Virat Kohli was preferred over Raina.

Among the new faces in the bowling department were R Ashwin, Rahul Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron, while in batting Ajinkya Rahane was rewarded for his good showing in the ODIs with a place in the Test squad as well.

In a late evening meeting here, the selectors chose not to consider Harbhajan for Tests after dropping him from the ODI team that took on England in the five-match ODI series.

Harbhajan, who has fully recovered from the injury, has been playing domestic cricket and also captained Mumbai Indians to the title in the recent Champions League Twenty20 tournament

Sehwag, who returned from England after a flare-up of his shoulder injury, played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament and seems to have satisfied the selectors with his form and fitness.

The first Test begins on November 6. The squad for the second Test in Kolkata from November 14-18 and the third Test in Mumbai from Nov 22-26 will be announced later.

Squad for the first Test: MS Dhoni (c/wk), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, R Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Virat Kohli, Varun Aaron, Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Sharma

India aim to send England back winless

Kolkata: Brimming with confidence, MS Dhoni and Co. will take on reigning T2O Champions England in a one-off T20 on Saturday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. England, seeking their first win on the disastrous tour, will be hoping to end the tour on a high.

On the other hand India, after the nightmarish 0-4 loss in Tests, 0-3 in one-day internationals and also in the only Twenty20 international in England, would love to continue their dominance and would want to send England back without a win. This Indian team is on a mission, even as skipper Dhoni insisted on not calling it a revenge series.

As everyone who got an opportunity in the ODI series has come good, the Indian team management has no dearth of options. Two among Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa and Manoj Tiwary would fill up the batting slots after the certainties Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja walk into the team.

Dhoni, who is yet to be dismissed in this series, has lived up to the role of a finisher, amassing 212 unbeaten runs from four innings. Kohli has matutred as a batsman and the Delhi lad has been India's leading run-getter in the absence of key players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh.

India will also miss Gautam Gambhir, who will remain absent because of his marriage. But his absence can give a chance to Uthappa who will be itching to make a comeback in the playing eleven after three years. Yusuf Pathan can also make a comeback and India will be hoping that he can unleash his big-hitting in the shorter format of the game. Ravindra Jadeja will surely keep his place after a good one-day show.

The duo will also come in handy with their off-spin and left-arm orthodox, even as Ravichandran Ashwin will lead the slow attack. Touted as India's fastest, Varun Aaron impressed in his two outings in the one-dayers and it remains to be seen if Dhoni tests the mettle of his statemate alongside pace spearhead Praveen Kumar.

The two sides have so far clashed in three Twenty20 matches, with England triumphing in two of them and India winning the other.

However, the visitors may have to go into the match without their batting mainstay Kevin Pietersen, who missed the final ODI having broken his thumb in the fourth game in Mumbai.

Pietersen's fate depends on the results of a fitness test conducted on Friday and his absence would deplete England's strength to a great extent as he is their best bet against spin.

Offie Graeme Swann, who would lead the side in the absence of injured regular T20 skipper Stuart Broad, has to deliver the goods in bowling alongside his left-arm spin partner Samit Patel in what is likely to be another slow surface, like the one seen on Tuesday.

One-day skipper Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott have returned home, big hitting Jos Buttler - the youngest member of the side now - and 6-feet-5-inch tall top order batsman Alex Hales joining the squad for this game.

Lanky pacer Steven Finn has been a revelation for England in the series and along with Tim Bresnan will once again lead their pace battery that also has Stuart Meaker.

SQUADS:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c&wk), Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Manoj Tiwary, Varun Aaron, Robin Uthappa, Rahul Sharma, S Arvind

England: Graeme Swann (c), Craig Kieswetter (wk), Alex Hales, Kevin Pietersen, Ravi Bopara, Jonathan Bairstow, Samit Patel, Tim Bresnan, Scott Borthwick, Stuart Meaker, Steven Finn, Graham Onions, Jos Buttler.

SL fight on in 2nd Test against Pakistan

Dubai: Sri Lanka put on an improved batting display in their second innings as they began to eat into a big Pakistan lead on the third day of the second Test at Dubai Stadium on Friday.

Sri Lanka, who conceded a big 164-run lead in the first innings, moved to 88-1 at stumps on the third day on a pitch that is taking spin and keeping low, which sets up an intriguing last two days.

Opener Tharanga Paranavitana (42) and former captain Kumar Sangakkara (29) were unbeaten, having put on 66 valuable runs for the unbroken second wicket stand after they lost opener Lahiru Thirimanne (eight) early.

They still need 76 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Sri Lanka will look for a repeat of their second innings performance in the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi, where Sangakkara scored an epic match-saving double hundred.

So cautious were the batsmen against Pakistan’s pace-cum-spin attack that Paranavitana hit only two boundaries and Sangakkara was yet to hit any during a near two hour stay at the crease.

Pakistan’s bowlers unleashed tight line and length and appealed vociferously as the ball spun, but failed to remove the second wicket pair.

Earlier, Pakistan were dismissed for 403 an hour after lunch, with Asad Shafiq scoring 59 and wicket-keeper and batsman Adnan Akmal chipping in with a useful 41.

Dhammika Prasad and Tillakaratne Dilshan chipped in with three wickets apiece while Chanaka Welegedara and spinner Rangana Herath took two each.

It was Welegedara who gave Sri Lanka the much-needed early breakthrough by dismissing Misbah-ul Haq (41) in the second over of the day and nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal (20) after Pakistan resumed at 281-4.

Pakistan had looked to their captain Misbah to steer them to a big lead, but the experienced batsman fell caught behind, chasing a wide delivery from Welegedara.

Misbah hit two boundaries and a six.

Ajmal frustrated Sri Lankan bowlers, adding an invaluable 41 for the sixth wicket before Welegedara produced a sharp outgoing delivery and the ensuing edge was well taken by Angelo Mathews in the slip.

Shafiq, initially cautious, then opened up by hoisting left-arm spinner Rangana Herath over long-on for a six and at the other end Akmal drove Welegedara twice to cover boundaries.

In the same Welegedara over Shafiq hit another boundary to take Pakistan’s lead past the hundred mark, before a couple off Herath saw him reach his third Test half-century.

Shafiq fell soon after lunch when he cut casually off Prasad straight into the hands of gully where Mahela Jayawardene held an easy cath. Shafiq had hit four boundaries and a six.

Herath then dismissed Abdul Rehman (nought) and Umar Gul (two) in the same over before Dilshan had Akmal caught behind to finish the innings.

Dhoni reaches third spot in ICC rankings

Dubai: Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, named the player of the series following India's 5-0 whitewash of England in the ODI tournament, jumped two places to reach the third spot in the latest ICC rankings on Wednesday.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also broke into the top 20 for the first time after claiming 10 wickets in the series.

For this effort, the 25-year-old from Chennai managed a jump of 16 places that has put him in 20th spot.

Ashwin's teammate Ravindra Jadeja, who was the player of the match in Kolkata, has also been rewarded for finishing as the most successful bowler of the series with 11 wickets. He has vaulted 12 places to 26th.

Jadeja also jumped 11 places to reach the 12th spot in the all-rounder category, which is topped by Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh, followed by Shane Watson of Australia.

Dhoni, who scored 212 runs and was not dismissed even once in the series, shared the third spot with England's Jonathan Trott who gained three places following his series contribution of 202 runs.

The two batsmen now trail second-ranked AB de Villiers of South Africa by 18 ratings points who will continue to lose points while he is out of action due to an injury. At the top of the table is Hashim Amla.

Virat Kohli at the fifth place was the only other Indian inside the top 10 batting, while Gautam Gambhir was placed at 13th position.

Other batsmen from the India-England series to head in the right direction are Suresh Raina in 26th (up by four places), Alastair Cook in 36th (up by three places), Kevin Pietersen in 47th (up by three places) and Craig Kieswetter in 66th (up by 26 places).

South Africa's Morne Morkel has taken over as the number-one ranked bowler from England's Graeme Swann in the ODI rankings.

On Sunday, Morkel produced a Man-of-the-Match performance by taking 4-22 in South Africa's series-levelling 80-run victory over Australia in Port Elizabeth.

While, two days later in Kolkata, Swann, who had entered the series against India in No 1 position, finished the tour of India managing only two wickets at 95.50.

As such, Morkel has moved up four places to the top of the rankings for the first time in his career after gaining 32 ratings points, while Swann has dropped two places to third after conceding 39 rating points.

Morkel now leads second-ranked Daniel Vettori of New Zealand by just two rating points.

Ali's maiden ton stretches Pak lead vs SL

Dubai: Talented Azhar Ali finally got a maiden Test century as Pakistan piled pressure on Sri Lanka on the second day of the second Test at Dubai cricket Stadium here on Thursday.

A three-figure score had eluded the 26-year-old right-hander in the last 14 Tests but he finally reached the mark in the closing stages to guide Pakistan to a dominating 281-4, gaining a lead of 42 over Sri Lankan first innings of 239.

Ali, the only bright spot from last year's fixing-marred tour of England, put on a 94-run stand for the fourth wicket with skipper Misbah-ul Haq (40 not out) and 117 for the third wicket with Younis Khan (55) to lift his team.

Ali finally fell for 100 in the penultimate over of the day, leaving Misbah and nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal (five) at the crease.

Surviving two confident leg-before shouts against paceman Suranga Lakmal, Ali straight drove the same bowler to reach 96 and then at 98 miscued a sweep off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath but got the much needed two runs.

Ali, who reached his century in 309 minutes with nine boundaries, held his bat high in delight before kissing the ground in respect on getting the much-eluded hundred.

Ali's two stands helped Pakistan overcome the early loss of openers Taufiq Umar (27) and Mohammad Hafeez (33) to Sri Lankan paceman Dhammika Prasad who finished with 2-73.

Ali also became the 49th Pakistani batsman to complete 1,000 Test runs when he reached 46.

Younis, when he reached 17, crossed Salim Malik's aggregate of 5768 (103 Tests) to become the fourth highest Test run getters for Pakistan behind Javed Miandad (8832 in 104 Tests), Inzamam-ul Haq (8829 in 119) and Mohammad Yousuf (7530 in 90).

Younis hit Dilshan over deep mid-wicket boundary for a six to complete his 26th fifty, but in the Sri Lankan captain's next over he played onto his stumps. His 55 also included two boundaries.

Pakistan started slowly after resuming at 42-0 and benefited from two drop catches off successive deliveries from Lakmal, who bowled exceptionally well in the morning session.

It was the fifth over of the day when Lakmal got one to jump on Hafeez whose tentative push ballooned towards cover where Dilshan failed to catch the ball which fell behind him.

Hafeez, on 25, went for a single.Next ball, Mahela Jayawardene floored a regulation catch when Umar, batting on 24, failed to keep an edge down.

But both openers failed to take advantage of the lapses, with Umar edging Prasad to wicket-keeper Kaushal Silva for his first catch in Tests while Hafeez was adjudged leg-before in Prasad's next over.

The first Test ended in a draw at Abu Dhabi. The third and final Test of the series will be played in Sharjah from November 3-7.

2nd Test: Pak dominate proceedings on Day 1

Dubai: Pakistan's bowlers gave their side an early initiative by bowling out Sri Lanka for 239 on Wednesday on the first day of the second cricket test at Dubai International Stadium.

Pakistan replied strongly with openers Taufeeq Umar (20 not out) and Mohammad Hafeez (18 not out) taking them to 42-0 by the close.

Earlier, fast bowlers Umar Gul (3-78) and Junaid Khan (2-57) wrecked Sri Lanka's top order after the visitors won the toss and opted to bat.

Kumar Sangakkara made a battling 78 while Chanaka Welegedara, who compiled a career-best 48, and Rangana Herath (29) propped up the tail-end after Sri Lanka slumped to 154-8.

India whitewash England in one-day series

Kolkata: Indian spinners sparked an England collapse after skipper MS Dhoni's fireworks with the bat to hand the visitors a 5-0 bashing by winning the fifth ODI by 95 runs here at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday.

Chasing a stiff target of 272, England's opening pair of Craig Kieswetter and Alastair Cook gave them a solid 129-run foundation, but the visitors lost their way with the departure of these two, as their 10 wickets fell within 47 runs.

After Varun Aaron broke the 129-run opening stand between Kieswetter (63) and skipper Cook (60), India's spin attack of Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Suresh Raina and Manoj Tiwary took nine wickets between them to dismiss the visitors for 176.

Jadeja was the destroyer-in-chief, taking 4/33, and Ashwin bagged 3/28. The whitewash made partial amends for the disastrous tour of England in July-September, when India were routed 4-0 in the Test series to lose the world number one ranking and were blanked 3-0 in the one-dayers.

Kieswetter and Cook got England off to a flying start as the former attacked the Indian bowlers right from the start and raced to 63 off 64 balls with the help of nine boundaries and a six. Aaron provided India the much-needed first breakthrough when he dismissed Cook for 60 in his second over.

In the very next over, Kieswetter's quickfire innings came to an end when he was trapped in front of the wickets by Jadeja.

Ashwin then struck to dismiss Ian Bell for two, to help India gain some momentum. Jadeja then removed the two Jonathan Trott and Jonny Bairstow in eight balls to step into the lower order. Ravi Bopara was bowled by Suresh Raina round his wickets and Tim Bresnan holed out against part-time spinner Manoj Tiwary.

Ashwin then picked up Stuart Meaker and Steven Finn in the 37th over to complete the stunning whitewash.

Earlier, Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 75 off 69 balls to power India to 271-8 after the hosts were sent in to bat by the England captain.

The right-hander's last seven ODI knocks - all of them against Alastair Cook's men - now read 69, 78 not out, 50 not out, 87 not out, 35 not out, 15 not out and 75 not out.

Cook changed tactics at the toss by bowling first and proceedings were going according to plan for the visitors as India limped to 162 for five after 36.5 overs. Ajinkya Rahane (42) and Gautam Gambhir (38) had fired at the top of the knock, but the middle overs were a stifled affair as Steven Finn struck twice in one over.

Raina - grassed by Graeme Swann in the slips on a mere single - dug in for a tidy 38, while Jadeja's stocks at seven in the order continued to rise with a steady 21.

It was Dhoni, however, who stole the show entirely. Kick-starting his latest knock with a couple of big sixes off Swann, the wicketkeeper-batsman then tucked into Stuart Meaker and Patel for distance.

The rivals will return to the Eden Gardens on Saturday for a one-off Twenty20 international before England return home.

Zim chase down 328 to beat New Zealand

Zimbabwe chased down more than 300 for the first time in a one-day international for a record-breaking one-wicket win over New Zealand at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday.

Malcolm Waller hit 99 not out — his highest ODI score — and Zimbabwe made the highest second innings total ever in a one-dayer at the Bulawayo ground to overhaul New Zealand's imposing 328-5 with a ball to spare.

B'desh take honours in drawn Test against WI

Chittagong: Bangladesh debutant Elias Sunny grabbed six wickets against the West Indies as the opening Test headed for a draw on the fifth and final day in Chittagong on Tuesday.

The left-arm spinner (6-94) became the third Bangladeshi to bag six wickets in an innings on debut as the West Indies were bowled out for 244 in their first innings in reply to Bangladesh's 350-9 declared.

Bangladesh lost Shahriar Nafees (50), and openers Imrul Kayes (13) and Tamim Iqbal (37) before declaring at 119-3 at tea in their second innings for an overall lead of 225 runs.

Seamers Darren Sammy and Ravi Rampaul, and spinner Marlon Samuels each took one wicket.

The West Indies earlier added 100 runs in 17 overs to their overnight total of 144-5, with skipper Sammy smashing a brisk 43-ball 58 with the help of two sixes and eight fours for his maiden Test half-century.

Sunny, 25, took two of the five wickets to fall in the morning session while left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan took the last three wickets to finish with 3-53 off 18 overs.

Sunny, who took four wickets on Monday, struck in his second over when he had Samuels caught by Raqibul Hasan in the covers. Samuels could add just seven runs to his overnight score of 17.

Sammy and Carlton Baugh (30) then counter-attacked to add 60 runs in just seven overs for the seventh wicket before Sunny broke the stand when he bowled Baugh for his sixth victim.

The West Indies captain completed his half-century with a six off Sunny, but did not last long as he was bowled by Shakib after hitting the second six of his innings.

Shakib also dismissed Devendra Bishoo for no score in the same over.

The second and final Test starts in Dhaka on Saturday.

WI-Bangladesh heading for a draw

Chittagong: Bangladesh debutant Mohammad Ilias Sunny claimed four wickets to help restrict West Indies to 144-5 on the fourth day of the first Test on Monday.

After Shahadat Hossain's early breakthrough, Sunny (4-56) had the visitors teetering in their response to Bangladesh's first innings score of 350-9 declared. West Indies is still more than 200 runs behind with five first-innings wickets remaining.

West Indies lost opener Lendl Simmons for seven and Kirk Edwards for 17 before tea and continued to struggle after the break.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was caught off Sunny just one run short of his half century, while Kraigg Brathwaite (33), Darren Bravo and Edwards also fell to the left-arm spinner.

Marlon Samuels was unbeaten on 17 with Carlton Baugh on six when the umpires called an early close with six overs still to bowl due to bad light.

After the second and third day's play were abandoned because of a wet outfield caused by incessant rains, Bangladesh resumed on Monday morning on its day one score of 255-4.

Devendra Bishoo claimed three wickets and Fidel Edwards took two before Bangladesh declared shortly after lunch, with the conditions for batting difficult from the very first ball of the day.

Captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who resumed his innings on 68, was caught by Bishoo off Edwards (2-78) with the day's first ball.

Nafees, who retired hurt on Friday, added 11 to his 21 before being caught behind off an Edwards delivery.

Bishoo (3-81) then cleaned up the tail, claiming Nasir for 34, Sunny for a duck before lunch and Shahadat for nine, the final wicket before the declaration.

Naeem Islam was unbeaten on 36 at the end of the innings with Rubel Hossain on 5.

2nd ODI: SA beat Australia to level series

Port Elizabeth: Jacques Kallis and Morne Morkel stood out as South Africa scored a convincing 80-run win in the second one-day international against Australia at St George's Park on Sunday.

The win - the Proteas' first ODI victory under new coach Gary Kirsten - levelled the three-match series at one-all.

Kallis hit 76 and three other South African batsmen made half-centuries in an imposing total of 303 for six and Morkel bowled with pace and accuracy to take four for 22 as Australia were bowled out for 223 in reply.

Kallis became the third batsman, after India's Sachin Tendulkar and Australia's Ricky Ponting, to reach fifty on 100 occasions in one-day internationals. He has turned 17 of those efforts into centuries.

South Africa made a bad start when captain Hashim Amla was out off the first ball of the match, pushing a simple catch back to opening bowler Doug Bollinger. But Kallis and Graeme Smith (57) put their side on top with a second-wicket stand of 142.

With Kallis in fluent touch from the start of his innings, Smith was able to play his way back into form after a poor start to the season, with his first half-century in 12 innings.

Smith and Kallis fell within a run of each other as South Africa wobbled at 157-4 in the 31st over, with Kallis run out by a superb direct hit by Aussie skipper Michael Clarke, who turned and threw in one motion after chasing down toward fine leg.

But left-handers JP Duminy (56) and David Miller (59) regained the initiative for South Africa with a fifth-wicket partnership of 107.

Doug Bollinger had 2-64 off 10 overs and left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty bowled well in a defensive effort for his 1-43. But teenage fast bowler Pat Cummins had his toughest international outing to date, returning 1-73 off 10.

Australia - who dominated the opening match but fell well short on Sunday - suffered a blow when all-rounder Shane Watson had to leave the field after bowling the fifth ball of his fourth over with what was described as a lower back spasm. Because of the time he was off the field he could not open the batting - and under new regulations, he was not allowed a runner when he eventually batted at number six.

Australia's run chase got off to a bad start when Ponting and Clarke were out cheaply, but David Warner and Michael Hussey gave the tourists some hope with a third-wicket stand of 71.

Opener Warner made a career-best 74, surviving a straightforward chance to Amla at mid-on when he was on 26, but after a rapid start he was pegged back by the South African bowlers and needed 97 balls to make his runs. He fell to a top-edged pull shot to Morkel, who finished with 4-22, starting the tourists' slide from 133-3.

Hussey survived two stumping chances to Mark Boucher off Johan Botha before he was run out after grinding out 37 off 62 balls - and before he had the chance to launch Australia's counter-attack.

By the time Watson came in, the required rate had climbed to nine an over. The batting powerplay was taken soon after his arrival and he hit Kallis for six and four in an over which yielded 14 runs. But he scored only 15 before holing out to mid-wicket off Lonwabo Tsotsobe, effectively ending Australia's challenge as the top-ranked ODI team was bowled out for 223.

Tsotsobe had 2-32 in a key partnership with Morkel, with the left-arm Tsotsobe building pressure and the lanky Morkel striking frequently.

South Africa were in top form in every department - much like Australia were in the first game in Centurion - to set up a mouth-watering finale to the one-dayers between two closely-matched teams.

The countries will also play two Tests next month to round off a month-long tour, after the Twenty20 series was drawn.

"We were outplayed," admitted Clarke. "They showed us how to bat on a slow wicket and they executed well with the ball."

Amla said: "Our batting set us up. We showed what we are capable of."

The third and final match of the series will be played in Durban on Friday, with Australia looking for their first ODI series in South Africa since 2002.

India close in on 5-0 sweep over England

MUMBAI  - World champions India stayed on course for a clean sweep of the one-day series against England with a six-wicket win in the fourth match here on Sunday.

Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina hit half-centuries as the hosts made light of a bad start to overhaul England's modest 220 all out in the 41st over of their innings in the day-night match.

Raina smashed 80 off 62 balls and Kohli made an unbeaten 86, the pair having put on 131 for the fourth wicket after India were reduced to 46-3 in the 14th over.

Another win in Tuesday's final one-dayer at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata will give Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men a resounding 5-0 series win over Alastair Cook's struggling tourists.

The emphatic victory was set up by the bowlers who shot England out for a modest total in India's first match at the Wankhede stadium since winning the World Cup final against Sri Lanka in April.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shattered the top order with 3-38, before 21-year-old debutant fast bowler Varun Aaron polished off the tail with 3-24 on a slow wicket.

Tim Bresnan top-scored with 45 and Kevin Pietersen made 41, but five England batsmen failed to reach double-figures after Cook won the toss and elected to bat.

"We want to finish the series on a high, but we will have to play good cricket again in Kolkata to win," Dhoni said, when asked if a 5-0 scoreline was on his mind.

"Overall the team has performed very well in the series. With so many young players in the side the fielding has been good. Varun bowled quick and that's one thing we are looking for."

Cook rued his team's low total that cost England the match.

"We fell short again," he said. "A lot of our top order got in. It's been quite similar all through this tour. In Indian conditions, once you get in, you've got to get a 70, 80, 90.

"We kept losing wickets, and 220 was not enough. I can't fault the desire and commitment from the lads in training, but we're just not performing.

"We've got one more left and we're desperate to try and get a win," the England captain said.

The tourists went into the match with with a new-look attack that included 21-year-old Durham leg-spinner Scott Borthwick and 22-year-old Surrey fast bowler Stuart Meaker.

The two youngsters, who replaced Graeme Swann and Jade Dernbach, went for a combined tally of 104 runs in 17 overs.

Fast bowler Steven Finn dealt two early blows when he bowled Parthiv Patel and Gautam Gambhir in successive overs to leave India on 21-2 by the eighth over.

It soon became 46-3 when Meaker had Ajinkya Rahane caught behind, but Kohli and Raina settled in to deny England another quick breakthrough.