Sri Lanka in England

Third Test, Old Trafford, day three (stumps):
Sri Lanka 130-1 v England 512.

The true quality of the Old Trafford pitch came to light on a day in which 265 runs were scored for the loss of just five wickets in a game seemingly headed for a draw.

Alec Stewart's supreme 123 - many of the runs coming in an important 102-run partnership with Ashley Giles (45) - essentially put England in a situation where they could not be beaten.

With the home side holding a precious 1-0 series lead, England seem set to claim their first Test series since March last year - when Sri Lanka were also the opposition.

Scorecard | Match report | Slide show

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Left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas captured his 200th Test wicket for Sri Lanka after a delayed start to the third day of the third and final Test against England at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Vaas reached the landmark in his 62nd Test by having Alex Tudor caught off an outside edge by Russel Arnold at second slip for 19.

Stewart and Tudor began to make up for lost time with a flurry of strokes before Vaas broke through with his 200th wicket. It was a rare moment of joy in the series for the Sri Lankan paceman, who had a total haul of two for 305 in the first two Tests.

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Alec Stewart's fine century on Saturday was the final nail in the coffin as far as Sri Lanka were concerned.

They need to win the final Test to prevent England winning the series, and that doesn't look like happening now.

For someone who likes the ball coming onto the bat, Old Trafford is a good ground to score your runs on.

And Stewart - who has put pressure on the selectors with this innings - is well aware of that. The 39-year-old said: "I'm very pleased. I've had a bit of success here at Old Trafford.

Pakistan in Australia

Second one-day international, Melbourne:
Pakistan 168-8 (48.5 overs) beat Australia 167 all out (45.4 overs) by two wickets

Pakistan skittled out Australia for just 167 in the second one-day international in Melbourne after Wasim Akram claimed two wickets in the first over of the innings.

But the tourists were made to fight for a two-wicket victory, limping home with just seven balls remaining indoors at Colonial Stadium.

Akram's run out for 10 after a close call by the video umpire left the visiting side at 150 for eight in the 44th over.

Younis Khan made an unbeaten 56, but it was skipper Waqar Younis, batting with a runner because of a leg injury, who hit the winning runs with a thick edge off Glenn McGrath. The Australian veteran conceded just 16 runs from nine overs at the indoor stadium.

Scorecard | Match report | Slide show

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Pakistan gained a two-wicket victory over Australia in the second one-day international but captain Waqar Younis felt the win should have been more clear-cut.

Damien Martyn top-scored for Australia with 56, but was on seven when he mistimed a pull shot off Wasim to Waqar Younis at mid-on.

Waqar claimed a catch low to the ground but, after almost three minutes' scrutiny, TV umpire Simon Taufel ruled in Martyn's favour.

The Pakistan skipper, though, was diplomatic about the incident when he faced a post-match news conference.

"I thought I had caught it nice and clear. I didn't have any doubt," he said.

"I thought he was going to walk but he thought there was a doubt so that's why he stopped."

New Zealand in West Indies

West Indies pace bowler Mervyn Dillon has been ruled out of Sunday's decisive one-day international against New Zealand with a back injury.

Dillon sustained the injury in the fourth match of the series, won by New Zealand in Trinidad on Wednesday.

"We are hoping that with a few days of rest and some intensive physiotherapy he'll be ready and raring to go for the Test match," coach Roger Harper said.

After winnings a rain-hit fourth match at Port of Spain by nine runs, New Zealand could now tie the series 2-2 in the final match.

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All-rounder Scott Styris has been added to New Zealand's squad for the two cricket Tests in the West Indies after the current one-day series has finished.

The New Zealand selectors initially named a 13-man squad for the Tests with the intention of naming a 14th on the back of form during the one-day series which the West Indies lead 2-1.

Styris scored 63 not out in the last one-day match, following up a knock of 85 not out earlier in the series.

He also took six for 26 in the last game as New Zealand kept the series alive.

Miscellaneous

Sri Lanka manager Chandra Schaffter has been told that his contract will not be renewed at the end of the team's tour to England.

The news came on the third day of the third and final Test, with the tourists struggling, and already 1-0 down in the series.

And it follows rumours of a dressing room spat amongst the side before the start of the match.

But the decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) is not expected to affect the position of coach Dav Whatmore.

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