Australia, Sri Lanka draw

Pallekele, Sri Lanka – Resolute Sri Lankan batting and bad weather frustrated Australia's bid for a series-clinching win as the second Test ended in a draw in Pallekele on Monday.

Just 35.3 overs were bowled on the final day, in which Sri Lanka moved from their overnight score of 223/2 to 317/6 in the second innings, an overall lead of 80 with four wickets in hand.

Three half-centuries led a determined batting display by the hosts, who had faced defeat after being shot out for 174 in their first knock.

Seamer Ryan Harris finished with 3/54 as the tourists chipped away at the Sri Lankan middle order, but rain did not leave enough time for Michael Clarke's men to force the result that would have given them the series.

Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 11 and Suraj Randiv was on four when play was halted midway through the post-lunch session. The match was finally called off two hours before the scheduled close.

Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after their 125-run win in the first Test in Galle, with the final Test starting at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Friday.

Sri Lanka, who trailed by 14 runs at the start of the day, lost both their overnight batsmen, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, within the first hour.

Australia removed the two star batsmen with the second new ball, which was taken as soon as it was due after one over from Trent Copeland with the old ball.

Sangakkara failed to add to his overnight score of 69 when he was squared up by a lifting delivery from Harris and edged a waist-high catch to Clarke at second slip.

The dismissal broke a threatening 101-run stand for the third wicket between Sri Lanka's main batting hopes.

Clarke then dived to his left to snap a stunning low catch in the slips and send back Jayawardene for 51 off the bowling off Copeland.

Jayawardene stood his ground as the umpires debated whether the ball had touched the ground before landing in Clarke's hand, but replays confirmed it was a clean catch.

Sri Lanka were 288/4, a lead of 51 runs, when a sharp shower drove the players back to the pavilion and the umpires ordered lunch 30 minutes early.

When play resumed, Australia grabbed two wickets in the space of six runs to reduce Sri Lanka to 307/6.

Harris picked up his third wicket of the innings when he forced Prasanna Jayawardene (21) to edge a catch to wicket-keeper Brad Haddin.

Thilan Samaraweera made a dogged 43 when he was dismissed in similar fashion by Shane Watson in the post-lunch session.

Series sweep for England after tie

London - England completed a series victory over world champions India on Sunday after the fourth one-day international at Lord's ended in a Duckworth/Lewis tie on Sunday when rain forced the players off the field with seven balls remaining.

The result was decided by a boundary catch when Ravi Bopara attempted to clear the ropes to complete his first one-day international century.

He was well held by Ravindra Jadeja in the deep for 96 to reduce England to 270 for eight from 48.5 overs in reply to India's 280 for five.

The teams left the field immediately afterwards with no more play possible and Bopara's dismissal meant the teams were tied on the Duckworth/Lewis method for deciding rain-reduced matches.

England still took a 2-0 in the five-match series after the first game was rained out.

They meet for the final time in Cardiff next Friday with India yet to record a single international win in the English summer after they were whitewashed 4-0 in the test series.

“We got ourselves into a great situation but I think a tie was fair result,” England captain Alastair Cook said at the post-match presentations.

Bopara's highest one-day score followed an innings of 40 in a winning cause at the Oval last Friday. He was dropped from the test side during the 2009 Ashes series but fought his way back this year after Jonathan Trott was injured.

Ajinkya Rahane (38) and Parthiv Patel (27) gave India a sound start, scoring 65 from 13.3 overs, with Rahane striking Steven Finn for six followed by two consecutive boundaries.

Both fell to Stuart Broad in consecutive overs and the introduction of Graeme Swann was even more successful.

In his opening over, the off-spinner had Virat Kohli caught behind for 16 and Rahul Dravid followed three balls later, caught and bowled for 19.

India were in trouble at 110 for four in the 26th over but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (78 not out), as he had at the Oval, played with a sensible mixture of defence and measured aggression in combination with Suresh Raina (84 not out) to turn the innings around.

Raina top-edged a deliberate four and swiped Anderson into the crowd over mid-wicket to bring up his half-century and the pair were still together when Broad started the final over of the innings.

Dhoni pulled the first delivery for six over mid-wicket and the bowler pulled up in pain after his second, clutching his right tricep. He left the field and Finn bowled the remaining four balls, dismissing Raina to capture his only wicket of the innings.

Craig Kieswetter and Alastair Cook both gifted their wickets within the first six overs when England began their reply.

Kieswetter on 12 gave himself room to belt RP Singh over the inner circle but skied the ball and was caught by Jadeja at extra-cover. Cook perished for the same score in similar fashion.

Ian Bell eschewed risk in a composed innings of 54 with only three boundaries, adding 98 from 121 balls with Bopara. Bopara also took no chances, picking up singles and playing one delicate sweep to the fine-leg boundary.

He continued to manipulate the ball skillfully both sides of the pitch, losing Ben Stokes for seven and Tim Bresnan for a belligerent 27.

Swann, promoted in place of the injured Broad, played the aggressor's role, clumping from 31 in a partnership of 50 when he was run out by a direct hit by bowler Munaf Patel, followed immediately by Bopara's dismissal.

Raina flays England’s bowlers

London – Suresh Raina hit 84 as India made 280-5 off their 50 overs after being put in to bat in the fourth one-day international here at Lord's on Sunday.

Raina shared a stand of 169 with captain MS Dhoni (78 not out) which was the highest fifth wicket partnership for India in one-day internationals against England as India posted a challenging total.

Dhoni faced 71 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes, whilst Raina, who accelerated late in his innings faced 75 balls and hit seven fours and two sixes.

But it looked like it would be a different story when India were 110-4 in 26th over.

Graeme Swann had just dismissed Virat Kholi and Rahul Dravid in his first over and one more wicket would have exposed the Indian tail.

But Raina and Dhoni got their side to a score well above the average first innings one-day total here with aggressive batting which delighted the hordes of Indian supporters at the ground.

They helped their side to add 109 off the last ten overs with both batsmen hitting the English bowlers high into stands as India finally enjoyed themselves after a dismal summer in England.

In a bad session for England Stuart Broad went off without completing the final over holding his arm and Steve Finn was called on to bowl the rest of the over.

Earlier, Broad had dismissed both openers Parthiv Patel for 27

and Ajinkya Rahane for 38 but Finn, playing his first match of the series, went wicketless despite bowling well.

He eventually snared Raina when he was asked to replace Broad when the batsman was superbly caught by Ben Stokes in the deep.

England lead the five-match series 2-0 with one no result and one match left to play, in Cardiff, on Friday.

Pakistan restrict Zim in second ODI

Harare – Pakistan held the upper hand after restricting Zimbabwe to 225-6 in their second One Day International at Harare Sports Club here Sunday.

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat with Brendan Taylor's team getting off to a very slow start.

There were three maidens in the first seven overs by Juanid Khan and Sohail Tanveer. Vusi Sibanda scored one run from 20 balls before getting out for 14.

Hamilton Masakadza scored only four from his first 25 balls.

In the first 10 overs only 22 runs were on the scoreboard.

It all added up to potential disaster for the home team, though they went on to make a recovery of sorts.

Masakadza ended with 68 runs but from 118 balls, well below par. He held the team together, but fell well short of what he should have scored from that number of deliveries. It was his 18th half century.

Taylor also got 50 runs, his 23rd half century, while Tatenda Taibu hit a bright and adventurous 26. Elton Chigumbura and Prosper Utseya took 13 off Tanveer's last over, but it had the look of being too little too late.

It was as much Pakistan's opening attack success as Zimbabwe's failure in the early stages of the innings.

Junaid Khan finished with 1-29 in 10 overs, and Tanveer took two wickets for 43 in nine overs.

Sibanda and partner Justice Chibhabha simply couldn't cope with the seamers' policy of swinging the ball across them.

The Zimbabwe middle order were much more comfortable with the spinners, taking a succession of singles. Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura hit sixes but they were more gestures than substantive contributions.

Taylor might well rue the decision to bat first. Pakistan have a strong batting line-up and they will be feeling confident of getting 226 runs for victory and the series.

Pakistan won the first of the three match series in Nulawayo on Thursday.

Sri Lanka fight for survival

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka put on a determined batting display on Sunday to improve their chances of forcing a draw in the second cricket Test against Australia.

Sri Lanka, who were shot out for 174 in the first innings, moved to 223-2 in their second knock before bad light ended play an hour early on the fourth day at the Pallekele International Stadium.

Former captains Kumar Sangakkara (69) and Mahela Jayawardene (38) were together at the crease, having put on 95 valuable runs so far for the third wicket.

Sri Lanka, who trail 1-0 in the three-match series, will start the final day's play on Monday just 14 runs behind Australia, and with eight wickets in hand on a good batting pitch.

Australia captain Michael Clarke, worried over forecasts of bad weather, had declared his team's first innings at an overnight score of 411-7 in order to bid for a victory.

Rain and bad light allowed 79 of the stipulated 98 overs on Sunday, but heavy thundershowers have been forecast on the fifth day.

Australia's hopes of terminating Sri Lanka's innings quickly rest on the second new ball which will be available after one more over.

Sri Lanka's openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana (55) put on 81 for the first wicket, their best partnership of the series so far after stands of four, zero and two in the previous three outings.

Under bright skies they warded off the early threat from the Australian seamers.

But Dilshan undid the good work just before lunch with a wild heave, soon after a five-minute stoppage due to bad light.

The captain, who looked settled in on 36, drove at a wide ball outside the off-stump from seamer Ryan Harris but only managed to edge a catch to Shane Watson at first slip.

Paranavitana went on to compile his eighth Test half century before falling to a controversial decision by third umpire Aleem Dar.

The left-hander played defensively to Mike Hussey and the ball lodged in the gloves of wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, who was the only one to appeal for a catch.

When umpire Tony Hill turned down the appeal, the Australians asked for Ä and received Ä a favourable review from Dar, even though television replays proved inconclusive.

Sangakkara, preparing for his 100th Test match next week, mastered the Australian bowlers to hit eight boundaries. The more circumspect Jayawardene had three fours.

The tourists are looking to clinch the three-match series on their first Test tour of Sri Lanka since 2004 after winning the opening contest in Galle by 125 runs.

Hussey strikes for Australia

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka - Australia's part-time bowler Michael Hussey removed opener Tharanga Paranavitana to halt Sri Lanka's rearguard in the fourth day's second session of the second Test on Sunday.

At tea, Sri Lanka were 164 for two wickets, still trailing by 73 runs, with their most experienced batsmen Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene unbeaten on 35 and 13 respectively with an unbroken third wicket partnership of 36.

Hussey dismissed Paranavitana in the fifth ball of his first over, having the opener caught behind by wicket keeper Brad Haddin for 55.

Umpire Tony Hill had to change his 'not out' decision as Australia captain Michael Clarke asked for a review on Haddin's strong request though Hussey did not even appeal.

Hussey's wicket maiden over came as Australia were becoming desperate to break the second wicket partnership in order to capitalise their 237-run first innings lead.

In Sri Lanka's first innings, Hussey dismissed Kumar Sangakkara in his one over to break the home team's highest partnership.

Paranawitana's 143-ball knock helped steady the home team, who had lost the first five wickets before making 100 in the first innings and the both innings of the first test.

Resuming the innings 83 for one wicket after lunch, Paranawitana shared 47 runs with Sangakkara for the second wicket before being dismissed.

In the first session, openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Paranavitana shared an 81-run first wicket partnership before Sri Lanka captain was caught by Shane Watson off Ryan Harris for 36.

Both openers attacked Australian fast bowlers and played patiently after they failing to build the foundation Sri Lanka had been looking for throughout the series.

Earlier, Australia declared their first innings before the day's play started with the total of 411 for seven wickets and the tourists enjoy a 237-run lead.

On Saturday debutant Shaun Marsh and Michael Hussey scored hundreds to lift Australia first innings to 411 runs. Australia won the first test of the three-match series in Galle by 125 runs.

Sri Lanka off to a better start

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka - Strong batting by Sri Lanka's openers helped them lift their second innings score in the fourth day's first session of the second Test on Sunday after tourists Australia had declared with a 237-run first innings lead.

Openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana shared an 81-run first wicket partnership in 26.5 overs before Sri Lanka captain was caught by Shane Watson off Ryan Harris for 36.

At lunch, Sri Lanka were 81 for one wicket with Paranavitana 36 not out and Sangakkara yet to score, still trailing 154 runs.

Both openers attacked Australian fast bowlers and played patiently after they failing to build the foundation Sri Lanka had been looking for in the series.

Play was stopped due to rain after 25.4 overs when Sri Lanka were 81 for no loss and resumed after 13 minutes.

Dilshan's dismissal in fifth ball of the 27th over came before the play was stopped for the lunch in 28 overs.

Earlier, Australia declared their first innings before the day's play started with the total of 411 for seven wickets and the tourists enjoy a 237-run lead.

On Saturday debutant Shaun Marsh and Michael Hussey scored hundreds to lift Australia first innings to 411 runs. Australia won the first test of the three-match series in Galle by 125 runs.

Cook - Pressure was on

Captain Alastair Cook paid tribute to the way his side's lower order handled the pressure to see home England's victory over India in the third one-day international.

The hosts clinched an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with a three-wicket Duckworth-Lewis win at the Oval after a rain delay had interrupted them.

Craig Kieswetter made 52 at the top of the innings before a string of quick wickets fell, with a calming innings of 41 from Ravi Bopara needed to stop the chase falling apart.

Bopara combined with Tim Bresnan for a timely sixth-wicket stand of 60 before Graeme Swann hit the winning runs with seven balls of the shortened innings left.

"It was touch and go there but it was pleasing the way we handled the pressure.Credit has to go to the lower order, especially Ravi," Cook told Sky Sports.

"It was a good score. When we started, though, we felt like it was a good wicket.

"We were surprised at how much it turned after the rain delay. It was pleasing with the way we handled that after the resumption.

Good form

"It was slightly disappointing that no-one got the 80-odd to win the game but everyone in that order is playing well."

England's victory was set up right at the start of the match as India slumped to 25-4 after Cook decided to bowl on a green wicket.

India, who are still looking for their first win against England after two months on tour, fought back through Ravindra Jadeja (78) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (69) to post a respectable 234-7.

Cook added: "We knew it would do a little bit early. The way Tim Bresnan and Jimmy exploited the conditions made it tough and to get those quick wickets was important for us."

Dhoni was left rueing his side's poor start as James Anderson took three wickets and ran out Rahul Dravid before the end of the 11th over.

"We lost quite a few early wickets and that made a big impact on the game," he said.

"To get close to what we put on board was a good task. Especially Jadeja in his first game back. It was not enough runs though so (we) had to bowl well."

He added: "With the rain we had an advantage in the sense we lost seven overs and not many runs. But the disadvantage was that it started to come onto the bat after the rain and the outfield was wet."

England hold their nerve

England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in their five-match one-day series with India after claiming a three-wicket Duckworth-Lewis victory at the Oval.

Like the two before it, the third match in the series was interrupted by rain after the tourists had recovered from an awful start to post a competitive total of 234, with new recruit Ravindra Jadeja scoring 78.

England looked to be well on their way to victory as Craig Kieswetter blasted a half-century at the top of the innings, but the rain delay and then India's spin attack checked their momentum.

However, the revised total of 218 in 43 overs eventually proved too much for India to defend, as a solid knock of 40 from Ravi Bopara helped the hosts across the line.

An opening stand of 63 got the chase off to a trouble-free start, before captain Alastair Cook (23) shuffled across and was trapped right in front of his stumps by Munaf Patel.

Kieswetter kept the pace up with his usual powerful strokes as the wicket-keeper cleared the ropes three times on his way to 51.

Stutter

But he and Jonathan Trott were both bowled after misreading straight-on deliveries from Jadeja and R Ashwin (3-40) respectively, leaving England stuttering on 89-3 shortly before the rain came down.

Ben Stokes was surprisingly sent in ahead of Bopara at number five in what was only his second international innings but managed to make 20 before he too was bowled by Ashwin.

Ian Bell had also departed in the meantime, being caught short of his ground after being sent back for an attempted single and beaten by Dhoni's direct hit.

Bopara and Tim Bresnan were left needing 85 in 15 overs and ensured England kept the upper-hand, as they put on 60 before the latter was bowled trying to score through offside off Jadeja.

Bopara was bowled by Ashwin before the target was reached, but Graeme Swann held firm to complete the victory and keep England on course to blank India in all three formats of the game this summer.

James Anderson had earlier single-handedly reduced India to 25-4 after removing both openers and Virat Kohli, while also running out Rahul Dravid.

Duck

He first struck in the opening over of the match as Ajinkya Rahane edged to slip for a third-ball duck, with Dravid joining him in the sixth over after a leisurely single left him short of his ground.

Anderson claimed his second wicket when Parthiv Patel (three) was bowled playing across the line before Kohli pushed out and was caught behind the stumps by Kieswetter for seven.

Suresh Raina (21) was also caught behind the stumps, this time off the bowling of Stuart Broad, to leave the visiting side floundering at 58-5.

But a fightback was imminent as Jadeja announced himself with a cover-driven four and went on to combine for a sixth-wicket stand of 112 with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Dhoni finally poked a simple catch to Cook off the bowling of Tim Bresnan to depart after scoring 69 from 103 balls.

Jadeja made his runs more quickly and stayed at the crease until the final over, when he was caught at long-on as he and Ravichandran Ashwin (36) smashed 51 runs in the batting powerplay.