India's tour of West Indies

India's pace attack grabbed five of the six West Indian wickets to fall on day two of the second Test at the Queen's Park, Oval, tilting the game in their favour.

At close of play, the West Indies were floundering at 197 for 6, still 142 runs short of India's first innings total of 339, after Brian Lara got his first half-century after returning from an injury that kept him out the game for five months.

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Srinath grabbed three wickets to reduce West Indies to 197 for six in reply to India's first innings 339, but said the difference had been made by left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan who had Lara caught behind with an outswinger for 52.

"The key wicket was Brian Lara's," Srinath said on Saturday.

"As long as he was at the crease, batting looked very easy. We all tried hard but the wicket finally went to Zaheer, who bowled a fantastic delivery to get him out."

Srinath, India's most experienced paceman with 225 wickets in 61 tests, said it had been one of the team's better bowling performances.

New Zealand's tour of Pakistan

Skipper Stephen Fleming is hopeful his team will give Pakistan something to think about in the ODI series, which gets under way at Karachi's National Stadium on Sunday.

The Black Caps will make a late decision on their final eleven after vice-captain Craig McMillan (twisted ankle) and wicket-keeper/batsman Chris Nevin (hamstring) have undergone fitness tests. "We are professionals and once we are in the ground we should combat everything - including the heat," said Fleming.

Sri Lanka's tour of England

Injured off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will be out for at least four weeks but may be back in time for the second Test of the England tour, Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore said on Sunday.

Muralitharan suffered a slight dislocation and torn ligaments in his left shoulder while fielding against Pakistan in the Sharjah Cup final last week but a specialist in Australia said he would not need surgery.

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