Younis century secures fighting draw

Stumps Pakistan 248 and 343 for 3 (Younis 131*, Misbah 76*) drew with South Africa 380 and 318 for 2 dec (Amla 118*, Kallis 135*)

Younis Khan defied South Africa to guide Pakistan safely to a draw in the first Test at Dubai, cracking an unbeaten 130 - his 17th Test hundred and his third fourth innings century in his last three Tests against the South Africans. Pakistan's top order resisted everything South Africa's bowlers could hurl at them and, befitting the occasion on the first day of Eid, passed a number of records in a feast of runscoring.Younis was ably assisted by Azhar Ali, who contributed a brave 63, and captain Misbah-ul-Haq, with whom he added an unbeaten 186 for the fourth wicket - Pakistan's highest partnership in Tests against South Africa. The match was called off shortly after entering the final hour of the day as Pakistan reached 343 for 3, their highest fourth innings total in Tests.South Africa were left ruing three clear chances that went down as Younis was dropped by Mark Boucher on 16 and Jacques Kallis when he had reached 70, while Hashim Amla couldn't quite cling on to a tough chance off Misbah at short leg minutes before lunch. Younis, who had experience of just this sort of situation having scored fourth-innings hundreds against South Africa at Lahore and Karachi in 2007, took full toll as he and Azhar took the honours in the first hour this morning, compiling an 82-run partnership, though not without some luck.Younis had started tentatively, fencing outside off stump and getting a thin edge to a Steyn outswinger that dropped short of Boucher in the second over of the day. In Steyn's next over he slashed wildly outside off stump to send a chance flying to the right of a diving Boucher, but the ball spilled out of the wicketkeeper's gloves as he hit the ground. With a panicked Younis stranded mid-pitch, a shy at the stumps went wide to give him yet another life.At other end, Azhar was still visibly battling with the effects of the blow to the hand he received on the fourth afternoon but quickly settled into a defensive groove, and as the batsmen eased to Pakistan's highest third-wicket partnership of 2010 - beating the 65 this same pair put on in the first innings - Smith turned Johan Botha's offspin and Jacques Kallis's reliable seamers.While Botha kept things tight, finding a reasonable amount of turn and variable bounce, Kallis tested Azhar's mettle with a series of short-pitched deliveries with fielders circling close in at midwicket, cover and short leg. The first thumped painfully off his hand and into his ribs, but Azhar quickly waved the medical staff off the field and counter-attacked in fine style, thumping the next ball - another bouncer - to the midwicket boundary.The partnership had reached 80, Azhar reaching a third Test half-century, when Paul Harris joined the attack with almost immediate results. Coming round the wicket, he spun the final ball of his first over of the day past the outer half of Azhar's bat and onto the off stump. South Africa celebrated the dismissal with due enthusiasm, and Misbah entered a testing cauldron as the spinners operated in tandem with men all around the bat and the appearance of renewed life in the pitch.Botha created another chance as, just before lunch, the ball exploded out of the rough and bounced off Misbah's glove towards Amla under the helmet at short leg. Misbah was out in identical circumstances in the first innnings, but Amla couldn't quite grasp onto the chance today, the ball bobbling out of his hands as his shoulder hit the turf.

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McCullum Double ton draws 2nd test

New Zealand 350 (McIntosh 102, Guptill 85, Zaheer 4-69) and 448 for 8 decl. (McCullum 225, Williamson 69) drew with India 472 (Harbhajan 111, Sehwag 96, Vettori 5-135) and 68 for 0 (Sehwag 54*)

Brendon McCullum reaped rewards for his hard work on day four, milking a tired bowling unit to get to the third-highest score in second innings in Tests in India. The game was headed for a draw the moment Zaheer Khan left the field again - he had been out of action for a good part of the fourth day due to an abdominal strain - after bowling just three overs in the morning session.

New Zealand, the No. 8 side in the world, have now held India, the No. 1 side, to four consecutive draws; in two of those India have done the surviving. India, who seemed to have given up surprisingly early in the morning, have now conceded 400 or more in at least one innings of their last seven Tests.There were two outside chances for the game to come to life, but both were duly thwarted. Cheteshwar Pujara dropped McCullum at forward short leg when the batsman was 148, and the lead 185. That was the only chance Harbhajan Singh had created in 26 overs until then.The next time Harbhajan created an opportunity, some excitement was manufactured, with Kane Williamson given out lbw erroneously to an offbreak certain to miss the leg stump. Williamson was on his way to becoming only the seventh man to begin his Test career with back-to-back centuries. He had survived the tense moments last evening, started the day with three boundaries in the first over, and then settled in for an innings full of his trademark back-foot punches.When he got out, though, New Zealand were 223 ahead, and there were 57 overs to go. For those who hope or fear too much, a collapse could still direct the game towards a result. McCullum and Daniel Vettori, though, took 20 runs off the next four overs to disappoint the hopeful and the fearful.It may have seemed like milking because of the ease with which McCullum got his runs, but he did it with some style and nonchalance. India tried to pack the leg side and bowled round the wicket, only to see him casually reverse-sweep them for boundaries. They were not exactly reverse-sweeps, he was so confident he just bent the knees half way and guided them past point. His maiden double-hundred he brought up with the "McScoop", having scored his last 24 runs off 19 balls. That spell of hitting also included a six over long-off off Pragyan Ojha and two reverse-swept fours off Suresh Raina.

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Leading to another draw!!!!

New Zealand 350 and 237 for 4 (McCullum 124*) lead India 472 (Harbhajan 111*, Sehwag 96, Laxman 74, Vettori 5-135) by 115 runs

At the end of the fourth day, New Zealand needed to bat out one-and-a-half to two sessions to achieve consecutive draws against India, and they had six wickets in hand. Brendon McCullum led their quest for safety with his third century in five Tests this year, but was also looking for a man to stand with him for long enough, after India kept their chances of a win alive with three wickets in the long final session.

McCullum used his dazzling stroke-play to spread the fields, an area where India were happy to oblige, and then defended resolutely. However, a mix of an ordinary umpiring decision, a careless shot, and a beauty from Suresh Raina less than half an hour from stumps left New Zealand and McCullum on the edge. Raina's sharp offbreak to get Jesse Ryder out for 20 was a completion of role-reversal after Harbhajan Singh achieved the unique feat of getting consecutive centuries from No. 8 but went wicketless for 23 overs.When New Zealand started their innings inside the first hour, trailing by 122, it was obvious they were the only team that could lose.India kept the pressure up, though, with timely wickets. Three of the four dismissals involved some umpiring drama. Tim McIntosh, one short of getting a century and a fifty in the Test immediately after he bagged a pair, was given caught bat-pad when he didn't seem to have touched the ball. Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor had to wait by the boundary rope as the umpires checked the legality of those deliveries, only to rule in favour of the bowlers, Pragyan Ojha and Sreesanth, on both occasions.McCullum, though, didn't give the umpires any chance to adjudicate, except for signalling xx fours and xx sixes. His calculated approach of attacking the new bowlers early made the job easier for McIntosh, who - like in first innings - didn't mind staying inconspicuous.McCullum's plan worked the best against Sreesanth, whom he cover-drove and upper-cut for boundaries in his first two overs, posting the first double-digit opening stand for New Zealand in five attempts. In Sreesanth's third over, he top-edged a pull from outside off, but it landed safe, the closest India came to dismissing him. Sreesanth began trying too hard, bowling three no-balls in the first spell of four overs, cutting the side crease once. Both openers then negotiated him with ease.

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Laxman and Bajji stood once again on day3

India 436 for 9 (Harbhajan 85*, Laxman 74, Vettori 4-123) lead New Zealand 350 by 86 runs

India's lower-order batsman Harbhajan Singh produced a gritty knock of 85 not out Sunday to frustrate the New Zealand bowling attack and help India take an 86-run first innings lead in the second test with a wicket still in hand.

India was 436-9 at close on the third day in reply to New Zealand's 350 as Harbhajan Singh produced a third consecutive test score of above fifty.He has struck seven fours and five sixes off just 82 deliveries and added 69 runs with last-man Shantakumaran Sreesanth (14 not out).Harbhajan Singh carried on the good form with the bat, which earned him the man-of-the-match award in the first test for scores of 69 and 115. He once smashed Vettori for two consecutive sixes over long-on and retained most of the strike when batting with Sreesanth.If Harbhajan Singh played in the company of tail-enders, V.V.S. Laxman held together the middle-order despite little support from others.Laxman, who looked good for a century in his first test on home ground, was trapped lbw by Chris Martin immediately after tea for a well-compiled 74.Laxman struck 11 fours off 160 balls even as India was made to struggle hard for runs by the visiting side. He was involved in useful half-century stands with Rahul Dravid (45) and Suresh Raina (20) as India made slow progress in the first two sessions.Laxman and Dravid added 79 for the fourth wicket to bring the innings back on track after India had lost three wickets in the space of 24 runs starting from the second day when openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir fell in quick succession following a 160-run stand.

Laxman and Dravid were cautious after Sachin Tendulkar's dismissal and India scored only 59 runs before lunch. They were unable to get the ball away in the face of disciplined bowling by the Kiwis, who were successful in building pressure despite the pitch looking conducive for stroke-play.Dravid did not carry the confidence of having scored a century in the previous match, consuming 144 deliveries for his watchful 45. He hit only four boundaries before being trapped lbw by seamer Tim Southee a little after lunch as he played tentatively.Tendulkar was out early, looking off-color in the 10 deliveries he faced. He jumped out to Vettori, only to get a thick edge that went to the right of Ross Taylor at slip.Vettori bowled an immaculate line, forcing batsmen to take their chances against him. After opener Virender Sehwag perished to him on Saturday, Tendulkar and Suresh Raina played injudicious strokes in the first session Sunday, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave a catch at cover in trying to work the ball for a single.

Vettori got good support from Tim Southee, whose three-wicket haul included the important wicket of Rahul Dravid.

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Bowlers, openers put India in safe position on day2

India 178 for 2 (Sehwag 96, Gambhir 54) trail New Zealand 350 (Ryder 70, Zaheer 4-69, Harbhajan 4-76) by 172 runs

India found a happy medium between defence and attack, threw in some good fortune, and got themselves into a position to take charge of the Hyderabad Test. Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh attacked batsmen other than Jesse Ryder, against whom they limited the damage through in-and-out fields, and took out the last seven wickets for just 97 runs. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir respected the swinging ball before repairing a scoring-rate - that had Sehwag at 2 off 23 balls - through a 160-run stand.However, like India did with the ball, New Zealand hung in even as Sehwag took 94 off the next 97 balls he faced. About half an hour before stumps, they removed both the openers to get some sort of handhold during their fall. Gambhir scored his first half-century in 10 months, the kind of scratchy innings that often marks return to form for big batsmen.The day couldn't accommodate the full quota of 90 overs, but had enough drama and turns. Zaheer, who had kept India in with two timely strikes on the first day, continued pulling New Zealand back. Bowling with the second new ball, he used the swing and the angles well, getting both his wickets lbw from round the wicket. He troubled Gareth Hopkins and Kane Williamson with swing from over the wicket, and then went round to deliver the finishing touches. Hopkins left alone the third ball he faced from the new angle, but it swung back, and would have hit the stumps but for the pad in the way. Williamson, though, had only himself to blame as he played across the line to a straight delivery.Ryder, struggling with the calf strain he carried from the first Test, added 48 runs off 56 balls to his overnight 22. However, India did well to dry up the runs elsewhere: the rest could manage only 25 while he was there. Seemingly not in a physical condition to run hard and manoeuvre strike, Ryder couldn't quite take charge with the lower order.Harbhajan provided the breakthroughs, getting Daniel Vettori lbw on the sweep, and Ryder with perhaps the best ball he has bowled in the series. With about 15 minutes to go to lunch, Harbhajan angled on in from round the stumps, and got it to turn away from middle and leg. The edge was lapped up by VVS Laxman at first slip, and five overs after the break, the innings duly ended, but not New Zealand's fight.

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Newzealand dominated on day1 test2

New Zealand 258 for 4 (McIntosh 102, Guptill 85, Zaheer 2-41)

Tim McIntosh became only the 11th batsman to follow a pair with a century, and Martin Guptill came back to the Test side with an eventually attractive 85 to continue what has been an impressive tour of India so far. The selection masterstroke, the inclusion of Guptill and persistence with McIntosh, almost didn't work, but a red-hot Sreesanth overstepped when he had Guptill caught for five, and MS Dhoni dropped him on 11. By the time India produced their next opportunity, the two had added 147, and New Zealand were well on their way to claiming honours on the first day.

More importantly, McIntosh became the first New Zealand opener in six years to score an away century. He was solid against pace, was happy to wait out his runs, escaped Zaheer Khan's grip slowly, finger by finger, and then settled in for a long workmanlike effort. Against spin he used his feet beautifully, coming down the track often, not always with the intent of hitting the ball hard. Guptill, of the classy 30s known for his beautiful drives, stumbled through the first 20 runs or so, and then claimed the keys to go driving, hitting eight of his 10 boundaries down the ground.

Guptill was the fortunate one, but for India it was an accident waiting to happen. India had bowled 81 no-balls in the six Tests prior to this, but the way it came about seemed a bit cruel. Sreesanth had started off with his best spell in a long time. The seam position was perfect, swing and bounce were extracted, and so was an early edge from Brendon McCullum, with a ball that kicked off just back of a length, and left the batsman. He went on to torment Guptill, duly producing an edge. The next man in, Ross Taylor, had crossed Guptill by the time umpire Kumar Dharmasena finished conferring with the third umpire, and rightly called it a no-ball. It was the third such instance for India this home season, and second for Sreesanth.An angry outswinger followed, but it was too good to take the edge. All Sreesanth had to show for his effort was a right to glare at the batsman who was smiling at his luck moments ago, and a nod of acknowledgement after being beaten. Guptill was to get away again soon. Harbhajan Singh had set him up with big offbreaks, and then bowled one that didn't turn as much. Dhoni, too, expected the ball to turn big, and went too far inside the line. The edge hit his index finger, and the deflection fell wide of slip.After that, though, Guptill and McIntosh acquired complete control. The only time McIntosh looked like getting out was on 91, when he top-edged a sweep off Harbhajan over the keeper's head. Otherwise, he was disciplined in a manner that would make Mark Richardson proud. The instructive part of his innings was the early battle against Zaheer, the only bowler he managed to face in Ahmedabad. At one point he had faced 29 balls in the series, all from Zaheer, without scoring a run. The first ball from a bowler other than Zaheer, though, was cover-driven handsomely for four. In Zaheer's next over, he repeated the cover-drive, and set up his tent.

Kallis allround performance gave SA series win

South Africa 317 (Kallis 83, Amla 62, Afridi 2-59) beat Pakistan 260 (Akmal 60, Hafeez 59, Kallis 3-30) by 57 runs

After slugging it out for four games South Africa finally delivered the knock-out punch in the deciding, fifth one-day international to consign Pakistan to a 3-2 series loss in Dubai.

Twice South Africa have faltered and allowed Pakistan back into the series but this time Jacques Kallis's allround prowess - first making 83 to help set an imposing 317 and then taking three crucial wickets - helped seal a comprehensive 57-run win.What looked like just another one-day series played out to anonymity in the desert after the opening match, developed into a classic tussle as two flawed, vastly contrasting sides could not be separated until the last.Pakistan's preparation for the finale could not have been more chaotic as their wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider disappeared on the morning of the match, setting off to London in a cloud of mystery. Crisis is hardwired into Pakistan cricket but even by their standards this was bizarre.Credit must go to Kallis but the tone was set, as per usual, by Amla. He continued his phenomenal run of form with a boundary-leaden half-century. If Amla's style is poetic, Kallis is altogether more prosaic. Happy to ease along in the slipstream he collected singles and doubles with ease and after Amla's dismissal, chipping tamely to long-off, he shared a 121-run stand with de Villiers.Neither de Villiers nor Kallis were particularly expansive but they barely raised a sweat as the waltzed along close to a run a ball. Abdur Rehman did his best to check the rate with an impressive spell of brisk, accurate left-arm spin but at 219 for 2 in the 38th over, Pakistan were staring down the barrel.They recovered, momentarily, with three wickets for nine runs in 14 deliveries as South Africa ignored the Batting Powerplay and lost both set batsmen, and Colin Ingram in a hurry. Yet, just as Pakistan's fortunes looked to have picked up JP Duminy found his best range to crown the innings with a flourish.Sixty-four runs came off the last five overs as Duminy laid into the wheezing Shoaib Akhtar and Wahab Riaz. Duminy looks to have recovered his poise this season after a chastening experience last year and will be a key man in similar conditions at the World Cup.

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Once again Laxman proved himself as Indian saviour

India 487(Sehwag 173, Dravid 104, Harbhajan 69, Vettori 4-118) and 266 (Harbhajan 115, Laxman 91, Martin 5-63) drew with New Zealand 459 (Williamson 131, Ryder 103, McCullum 65, Taylor 56, Ojha 4-107) and 22 for 1

Harbhajan Singh realised every bowler's dream of making a Test hundred and VVS Laxman burnished his already lustrous second-innings record to steer India to safety on the final day of the first Test. Chris Martin and New Zealand couldn't replicate the venom with which they had bowled on Sunday and their chances of victory vanished with the 163-run association between Harbhajan and Laxman.

The injuries to Hamish Bennett and Jesse Ryder didn't help New Zealand either. A serious push for victory against the world's No. 1 side appeared difficult to sustain once Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum, with 12 overs of international experience between them, were given the ball in the morning.In his previous two Tests, Laxman had turned in contrasting match-winning efforts on the final day. In Ahmedabad, he showed his match-saving skills. It was hard to guess from his unperturbed demeanour and batting that India were battling for survival, and he repeatedly worked the spinners towards sweeper cover and deep point to make his runs. His first violent shot was a sweep that nearly carried to the midwicket boundary to bring up his half-century.Harbhajan was less secure than the cool and collected Laxman. He nearly committed hara-kiri in the third over of the day with an ill-judged call for a single after punching the ball to mid-off. Daniel Vettori's throw missed the stumps with Harbhajan yards out. Harbhajan also offered half-chances to slip and forward short leg but, despite the shakiness, he never put away his natural attacking strokes. He outscored Laxman with his maverick batting: a powerful sweep against the turn in the air of Vettori , a ferocious down-the-line forehand off Martin, and - riskiest of all - a reverse-paddle off Jeetan Patel.

Harbhajan Singh scored his maiden century in his 88th Test, which is third in the list of most matches taken by a player to reach his first Test century, behind Anil Kumble and Chaminda Vaas who took 118 and 97 Tests respectively.Harbhajan's fifty and hundred in the first Test made him only the second No.8 batsman in history to score a fifty and hundred in the same match.The 163 run partnership for the seventh wicket between VVS Laxman and Harbhajan is the best ever seventh wicket stand for India against New Zealand and their seventh best in Tests.New Zealand last won an away Test not involving Bangladesh or Zimbabwe in 2002 when they beat West Indies at Bridgetown. Overall, they have won one Test and lost 18 of the 31 played since Jan 1 2000.Laxman's average of 51.17 in the second innings in Tests is the second best among Indians behind Sunil Gavaskar and the eighth best among all batsmen to score over 2000 runs in the second innings.Tim McIntosh's pair in the first Test was the eighth for a New Zealand opener overall and the first against India.By lunch, India's lead had ballooned to 192, and much of the interest in the second session centred on whether the two batsmen could make their hundreds. Both carried on as they had in the morning: Laxman made unflustered progress with Harbhajan pulling off some enterprising strokes. New Zealand seemed resigned to a draw, with Vettori at one stage imitating Harbhajan's bird-like flourish during his run-up.With the match meandering and Laxman in his 90s, two umpiring mistakes brought the UDRS, and its absence in this series, back into focus. Steve Davis missed a huge inside-edge from Laxman to give him lbw. Laxman was horrified, a reaction that was repeated next ball by Zaheer Khan, when Davis missed another nick to leave Vettori on a hat-trick. Davis' concentration had clearly slipped and he called 'over' when only five deliveries had been bowled.There was still the matter of Harbhajan's hundred. He had reached his half-century with a Laxman-like flick and he brought up three figures with a Sehwag-like six, carving the ball over extra cover to move from 95 to 101. Cue generous applause from the dressing-room, and Harbhajan celebrated with a message to his close friend Sachin Tendulkar - imitating the master's signature crouch.With MS Dhoni having no intention of declaration, Harbhajan continued to make merry, smashing Patel over long-off for six. He was finally dismissed mis-hitting a high full toss from Taylor, and India ended on 266 when Sreesanth feathered a Taylor delivery to the keeper.There was little at stake in the match when New Zealand came out to bat, but questions over Tim McIntosh's suitability will return after he missed a Zaheer incutter to complete a pair. After a desultory bunch of overs that included Dhoni bowling, the match was called off with New Zealand having reached 22 for 1.New Zealand started the day dreaming of a win, but though they couldn't break Motera's jinx of no team chasing down a target, they have proved to India that they are no pushovers. How New Zealand would take 20 wickets against the mighty Indians was the big question before the series; they have shown they can, even when they are one frontline bowler short, and their batting has shown the backbone that was sorely missing during the drubbing in Bangladesh last month. The match may be a draw, but there's no doubt which team will be happier with their performance in the game.

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Martin changed the total picture of match on Day4

India 487 and 82 for 6 (Martin 5-31) lead New Zealand 459 (Williamson 131, Ryder 103, McCullum 65, Taylor 56) by 110 runs

New Zealand ended the fourth day dreaming of a famous win in Ahmedabad after India's vaunted batting proved no match against an inspired Chris Martin, whose ninth five-wicket haul left the home side effectively at 110 for 6. The mayhem in Motera in the second half of the day was in complete contrast to the morning session when Kane Williamson's debut Test century steered New Zealand past 400 and the match looked set to meander towards a dull draw. Instead, India are looking to their chief firefighter, VVS Laxman, to put in a third consecutive match-turning second-innings effort.

Kane Williamson's 131 is the highest score by a New Zealand batsman against India on debut. It is also the second-highest score by a New Zealand batsman on debut behind Matthew Sinclair's 214 against West Indies.Chris Martin's spell of five for 25 is the fifth-best bowling performance by New Zealand bowler in India and at present, the second best by a visiting bowler at Ahmedabad behind Dale Steyn's 5 for 23. India's score of 15 for 5 is their worst score at the fall of the fifth wicket against New Zealand and their second lowest overall. Three of the six worst scores at the fall of the fifth wicket have come against New Zealand.That proved only a temporary relief as yet another Martin indipper took Tendulkar's inside-edge on its way to the leg stump. Martin greeted new man Suresh Raina with a surprise bouncer, and then slipped in a fuller delivery the next over; Raina was caught on the crease and nicked a drive to slip. India were 15 for 5 - India's second-worst score at five down in their Test history - and there could have been further trouble when Dhoni was struck high on the pads three balls later by yet another incutter.Laxman and Dhoni set about reviving the Indian innings, though there were no easy runs on offer from the accurate New Zealand spin pair of Vettori and Jeetan Patel. They eased the ball around for singles, and threw in the odd boundary, and when they had blunted the bowling for 24 overs, New Zealand's hopes started to recede. Martin wasn't done for the day, though, and an effort-ball from him produced some extra bounce and Dhoni chopped the ball onto the stumps. Harbhajan came out and attempted the big shots, pulling some off and missing others, but manage to remain unbeaten with Laxman at stumps.New Zealand will fancy their chances of winning this Test, a position India would have expected themselves to be in after their first innings. First, they hadn't anticipated New Zealand's spirited batting performance. Williamson, supported by his captain Vettori, who played a characteristically gritty innings, added 86 in the morning before Williamson fell in the final over before lunch with New Zealand well past 400.India's chances in the session before that late breakthrough came in the first four overs: a couple of lbw appeals against Vettori and a Williamson nick just short of third slip. For the next 100 minutes, it was all New Zealand. Williamson hit a couple of boundaries off Zaheer Khan - a pull behind square and a glance to fine leg three balls later - to move from 93 to 101 and become the eighth New Zealander to make a hundred in his first Test. There were no extravagant theatrics that you might expect from a 20-year-old who had played a fine innings to rescue his team from a tight spot; just a big grin and a wave of the bat towards the dressing room.

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McKay's five wicket hall ends Australia's losing streak

Australia 119/2(Clarke 50*) beat Sri Lanka 115 (Silva 33, McKay 5-33, Starc 4-27) by 8 wickets

Australia, trying to avoid a record eighth straight international defeat, hit back in the final One-Day International, bowling Sri Lanka out for 115 at the Gabba on Sunday.

Sri Lanka's series-winning hangover allowed Australia to end their seven-match losing streak as Clint McKay and Mitchell Starc set up the eight-wicket victory.

Despite the strength of their performance, Australia's opponents were not fully focused after achieving their first series win Down Under on Friday. McKay gained his maiden five-wicket haul and Starc picked up his first four international wickets as Sri Lanka fell to 115 on a bouncy surface with only a hint of green.Kumar Sangakkara won the toss, batted and was soon regretting the decision. Only two batsmen reached double figures and 25 extras, including 14 wides, boosted the total in front of only 9,037 spectators. The total was the worst crowd for an ODI involving Australia at the Gabba.The local batsmen had no real problems in their reply and Shane Watson (15) and Brad Haddin (31) were the only casualties, both going to Dilhara Fernando (2 for 47). Michael Clarke, who was in charge during Sri Lanka's stunning win in Melbourne, made sure of the win in the 22nd over, with his glide for four taking him to 50 off 51 balls.Clarke peaked with back-to-back boundaries off Thisara Perara and lofted a straight six off Suraj Randiv shortly before the finish. The innings ended a difficult week for Clarke and gave him something to smile about.McKay's three early strikes floored the tourists and Starc, the 20-year-old left-armer in his second ODI, did not let them get up as the batsmen lasted only 32 overs. McKay's damaging burst left the visitors at 3 for 14 in the fifth over and he returned to mop up Randiv and Perera to grab 5 for 33 off nine. Starc stepped in during his second spell to prevent a recovery on the way to a highly encouraging 4 for 27 off nine.

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Ryder and Williamson dominated on Day3

New Zealand 331 for 5 (Ryder 103, Williamson 87*, McCullum 65, Taylor 56) trail India 487 by 156 runs

Jesse Ryder, playing his first Test in 14 months, and Kane Williamson, playing his first Test, batted with the assurance of gnarled pros to help New Zealand clamber out of trouble to a position where they have an outside chance of a first-innings lead. The prospect of New Zealand being asked to bat again had loomed large at lunch, after they lost both Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor in the space of six runs when they were less than halfway to the follow-on mark.

The pair had just about survived a nervy six-over spell before lunch, but were more confident after the break - Williamson started the session with a lovely back-foot drive through cover. Both batsman were circumspect early on, with few attacking strokes against India's senior bowlers Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan. They started to be more enterprising once Sreesanth and the part-time spinners - Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina were brought on. Sreesanth nearly got the breakthrough when Ryder wafted at a wide delivery on 11, only for Rahul Dravid to fluff a shoulder-high chance at a wide first slip.

Ryder and Williamson put on 194 - New Zealand's second-highest stand for the fifth wicket - as India's bowlers toiled for more than two sessions without success. It was only in the final over of the day that India broke the stand. Two deliveries after Ryder brought up his third Test century - all of which have been against India - with a carve through cover, Sreesanth got one to nip past Ryder's bat and into the pad. By then, New Zealand had belied expectations that they would be rolled over by the world's No. 1 side.

Even before Ryder and Williamson came together, the New Zealand batsmen were comfortable against everything thrown at them by India. McCullum, needing to justify his place as a specialist batsman after giving up wicketkeeping gloves earlier this year, continued the form that has resulted in his most productive phase in Tests - two hundreds and three half-centuries in his previous six Tests.

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Younis turned this time for Pakistan

Pakistan 275 for 9 (Younis 73, Hafeez 42) beat South Africa 274 for 6 (Smith 92) by one wicket

Veteran Younus Khan scored a patient 73 to lay the foundations for what turned into a frantic one-wicket victory for Pakistan with just a ball to spare in the fourth one-day international against South Africa on Friday.Chasing a formidable 275 for victory, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals.But they always maintained the required run rate with almost everybody contributing to a run chase which levelled the series at two-all after the teams produced a thrilling finish for the third match in a row.It should have been so much more comfortable for Pakistan who needed 64 to win from the final 10 overs with five wickets intact and a batting powerplay to come.But Morne Morkel claimed the pivotal wickets of Younus and Abdul Razzaq (33) to spread panic in the Pakistan camp.It was left to a mad scramble by tailenders Wahib Riaz, who belted two vital fours in an innings of 18 from 10 balls, and wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider (19 not out) to help Pakistan cross the line.

Captain Graeme Smith (92) anchored the Proteas' innings on his return to the side after missing the last two games with a hand injury.With useful contributions of 49 from AB de Villiers and 36 from JP Duminy there was a sense that Pakistan would struggle to compete having limped to just 226 in a losing cause on the same pitch two days earlier.However, captain Shahid Afridi hammered 29 from 25 balls to give the innings a boost in the usually quiet middle overs and, while Pakistan were good value for their victory in front of a near capacity and partisan 20,000-strong crowd, South Africa will question another highly undisciplined bowling effort.

It included 12 wides and figures of 10-0-79-1 for Dale Steyn playing his first match for two months following injury.

The decider in the five-match series will be played at the same venue on Monday.@Cricket Buzz

Australia faces another defeat by D/L

Sri Lanka 3 for 213 (Tharanga 86*) beat Australia 210 (Watson 40) by 29 runs on D/L method

Sri Lanka came on this tour with one goal and achieved it with a match to spare. By handing Australia a seventh straight defeat, Kumar Sangakkara's men delivered their maiden series win in Australia in 26 years of trying. When the hosts slipped over for 210 in the greasy conditions it gave Sri Lanka victory by 29 runs - and it had come more easily than expected.There was much to like about Sri Lanka's play in a match regularly threatened by rain, but there was little to inspire the hosts as they head to Brisbane for Sunday's dead rubber. The only time the visitors struggled was in the first two overs of the match - when they didn't score - but once the openers Upul Tharanga, who held the innings together with 86 not out, and Tillakaratne Dilshan got going there was nothing that could stop them. Not even the weather.
The rain disrupted Sri Lanka's innings twice as it finished early at 3 for 213 in 41.1 overs, but Australia's target was quickly inflated to 244 in 39 overs under the Duckworth Lewis method. The calculations added more difficulty to what was already a tricky pursuit in a seamer-friendly environment, and they began needing more than a run a ball. A short rain break towards the end trimmed another over from the match and reduced the target to 240. It didn't help.
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Good fight back by NewZealand on Day2

After having scored 487 in their first innings,India have ended Day 2 with New Zealand on 69/2after 28 overs. The home side picked up McIntosh and Watling early but the experience of McCullum(38*) and Taylor(18*) saw them play sensibly and cautiously after that. The pair added an unbeaten 42 for the 3rd wicket but their side needs a lot more from them.

Starting the day with 329/3,Jeetan Patel gave a double blow by returning Sachin and Laxman to pivillion at thier individual score of 40. Later Harbhajan made good 69 and make the score pass 450+.

Newzealand started thier innings and lost 2 wickets for score of 69 at the end of the day.

India 1st innings

Gautam Gambhir: b Jesse Ryder 21(41)

Virender Sehwag: b Daniel Vettori 173(199)

Rahul Dravid: b Chris Martin 104(227)

Sachin Tendulkar: c & b Jeetan Patel 40(133)

VVS Laxman: lbw b Jeetan Patel 40(105)

Suresh Raina: c Brendon McCullum b Kane Williamson 3(19)

MS Dhoni: c Bradley Watling b Daniel Vettori 10(9)

Harbhajan Singh: c Gareth Hopkins b Daniel Vettori 69(97)

Zaheer Khan: b Daniel Vettori 1(11)

Pragyan Ojha: lbw b Jeetan Patel 11(59)

Sreesanth: not out 2(16)

extras:13

Total:487/10

NewZealand 1st Innings

Tim McIntosh:c MS Dhoni b Zaheer Khan:0(10)

Brendon McCullum:Batting:38(75)7050.67

Bradley Watling:b Pragyan Ojha:6(22)

Ross Taylor:Batting:18(61)

Extras :7

Total:69/2

India bowling

Zaheer Khan:7-4-14-1(2)

Sreesanth:6-1-21-0(3.5)

Pragyan Ojha:10-3-15-1(1.5)

Harbhajan Singh:5-2-12-0(2.4)

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Sizzling tons by Sehwag and Dravid on Day1

India 329/3 (V Sehwag 173,R Dravid 104) at Stumps

An excellent first day for the No.1 side! India end on 329/3 at Stumps on Day 1. Sehwag led the way with his blistering knock of 173. Dravid looked good and smashed his 30th Test ton. Once they departed, Tendulkar(13*) and Laxman(7*) looked to play for stumps, which was pretty sensible. As far as the Kiwis are concerned, they had a tough day at the office and if not for few quick wickets tomorrow morning, expect India to dominate with their star-studded batting line-up.

India Batting 1st innings

• Gautam Gambhir:b Jesse Ryder:21(41)
• Virender Sehwag:b Daniel Vettori:173(199)
• Rahul Dravid:b Chris Martin:104(227)
• Sachin Tendulkar:Batting:13(47)
• VVS Laxman:Batting:7(29)

NewZealand bowling

• Chris Martin:16-2-52-1(3.25)
• Hamish Bennett:15-2-47-0(3.13)
• Daniel Vettori:28-3-69-1(2.46)
• Jesse Ryder:10-1-44-1(4.4)
• Jeetan Patel:13-1-79-0(6.07)
• Kane Williamson:8-0-31-0(3.87)

Batting:runs(balls)

Bowling:Overs-Maidens-Runs-Wickets(economy)

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Mathews and Malinga drive Srilanka home

Sri Lanka 9 for 243 (Mathews 77*, Malinga 56, Doherty 4-46) beat Australia 8 for 239 (Hussey 71*, Perera 5-46) by 1 wicket

Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga produced one of the great one-day international fightbacks to clinch an improbable victory for Sri Lanka, extending Australia's losing streak to six international games since July. The visitors seemed destined for a humiliating loss when they crashed to 8 for 107 chasing 240, but Mathews and Malinga kept fighting, spurred on by noisy support from a crowd dominated by Sri Lankan fans.

The Duo made the highest ninth-wicket partnership in ODI history, beating a 27-year-old record set by Kapil Dev and Syed Kirmani at the 1983 World Cup, and the 132-run stand left Australia's confidence in tatters. Malinga belted his way to his first one-day half-century and Mathews played the guiding hand with a wonderful unbeaten 77 as the pair raced towards their target with plenty of time to spare.

Earlier Thisara Perera's five-wicket haul ensured Australia's total wasn't too imposing but Michael Hussey at least gave the hosts a competitive score, and eased a small amount of the pressure on him in the lead-up to the Ashes. Sri Lanka will fancy their chances of chasing down Australia's 8 for 239 but they would be disappointed to have let the hosts escape from a shaky 4 for 88 after a triple-strike from Perera.

XJ Doherty(Australia) in his debut ODI took 4 wickets with economy of 4.60 and impressed everyone.Man of the match was given to Mathews(Srilanka) for his stunning and impresive 77 at critical stage

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South Africa hang on for win

South Africa 228 for 9 (Amla 119*, Shoaib 3-39) beat Pakistan 226 for 9 (Fawad 59*, Morne Morkel 4-47) by two runs

They fell apart again at the death but ultimately a hundred from Hashim Amla and four wickets from Morne Morkel were just about enough to sneak South Africa home in the third ODI in Dubai. A second death-overs meltdown in two games let Pakistan come within two runs, but a 2-1 series lead was secured.

South Africa were exceptional for 42 overs in defending 229. Pakistan had just lost Abdul Razzaq, they needed 76 on a sluggish, boundary-shy surface: game over. But Morkel, Rusty Theron and Lonwabo Tsotsobe lost their minds, nerves, lengths and lines. Fielders began to drop catches as Wahab Riaz, of all batsmen, smashed an 11-ball 21 and, with Fawad Alam, pillaged 56 runs in the Powerplay. Ultimately, despite a panic-stricken last over from Theron, Pakistan just didn't have enough batsmen. Alam remained unbeaten on 59, valiant but not deal-sealing.Before that, Morkel and Tsotsobe had opened with sterling spells. The visitors have made light of Dale Steyn's absence, mainly because Tsotsobe has had a fine series. He is uncomplicated, using the natural left-arm angle well and has subtle changes in pace. If he hasn't bowled an outstanding spell that will stick in the mind, neither has he bowled a poor one. Today was no different.Having Morkel at the other end, bowling with unspeaking meanness, helps. Morkel gave nothing away for long, not on width, not on length; both the pace and bounce added to an unceasing atmosphere. One over to Younis Khan was particularly good, five dot balls which left him nowhere to go but out, and he was, off the last ball.

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Ntini announced retirement from International Cricket

Makhaya Ntini, the South Africa fast bowler, has announced his retirement from international cricket but will continue representing domestic sides. Ntini will be given a farewell during the Twenty20 international between South Africa and India at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on January 9, when he will make his final appearance for South Africa.An emotional Ntini, fighting back tears, announced his decision at a press conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday. He reflected on his journey from being the first black African cricketer to play for South Africa in 1998 to becoming one of the nation's premier bowlers.

"It has been a wonderful journey for me to represent my country," Ntini said at his retirement press conference in Johannesburg. "I have so many great memories, which I will carry with me for the rest of my life. My career is by no means over; it just means that internationally my time has come to hang up my boots. Domestic cricket is thriving at the moment, and I want to be a part of the set up, as a player, for as long as possible."

Ntini said he made his decision "two months ago" but only announced it on Tuesday because he has been in meetings with Cricket South Africa over his future. "I was in Port Elizabeth and thought it's time to call it a day. I can't keep waiting to end something when I don't know when it's going to end. I didn't want to be pushed out of the game."

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Pakistan steal win in 2nd ODI

Pakistan 289 for 9 (Razzaq 109*, Afridi 49, Alam 48) beat South Africa 286 for 8 (Ingram 100, Amla 65, Duminy 54) by one wicket

An outrageous 72-ball 109 from Abdul Razzaq dragged Pakistan to a series-levelling target of 287 against South Africa, one ball and one wicket left.It was scarcely-scriptable and only when Razzaq hit his tenth six in the last over, slogging Albie Morkel over midwicket to climax an unimaginable orgy of power-hitting, was a Pakistan win even worth contemplating; until then he had played to a backdrop of impending, imminent doom. To even get to that point needing 14 was a feat because for 99 overs Pakistan looked a distant second best; a solid, now-to-be-forgotten century from Colin Ingram, hands from Hashim Amla and JP Duminy and the continuing refusal of Pakistan's top order to turn up, the distinct story till then.Shahid Afridi and Fawad Alam had tried gamely to make something of the disaster of 70 for 4 in the 19th over. The spinners were on, Afridi was around so inevitably some fun was had. When Afridi went in the 30th, the score at 136, still the best they could hope for was an honourable scrap.Razzaq began quietly, expressive as a stone, and even a dance-down six off Robin Peterson four overs after Afridi left felt decorative. Alam, meanwhile, was getting bogged down by his own inability to clear a field. But South Africa relaxed, the pair stuck at it. Alam suddenly got going and Razzaq smoked a couple more sixes. By the 40th over, at 200 for 5, theoretically it looked possible - in this age of Twenty20 at least - even if, in reality, it didn't feel gettable.But for once, Pakistan timed their Powerplay right and when Johan Botha was taken for 11 in the very first, a little tension crept in. Only a little though, for Alam went soon, Morne Morkel bowled two fine overs, there was the inevitable run-out and even though Razzaq had reached his fifty, it was done and dusted.The 47th over, bowled poorly by Charles Langeveldt, was pivotal. Razzaq launched a sequence of length balls for three sixes in his favourite areas - flat-batted over extra cover, high over long-on and down the ground. Eighteen runs but no expression. Wahab Riaz's run-out off the last ball was merely collateral damage as 53 from 24 became 33 from 18.

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