India v Sri Lanka 3rd Test, Day 2

A brilliant unbeaten 107 by Kumar Sangakkara steered Sri Lanka to a 2-run first innings lead against India as the hosts piled up 251 before bad light stopped play on the second day of the third and final test between India and Sri Lanka. Sangakkara dispatched loose deliveries from spinners and pacemen alike with impunity and raced to his 17th Test century with the help of 11 boundaries.

Brief Scores : India 1st innings 249. Sri Lanka 1st innings 251/6 (92 overs) Sangakkara 107 n.o., Vaas 47. Bowling Zaheer 2/57, Harbhajan 2/81.

England v South Africa 4th Test, Day 3

Play was called off on the third day of the fourth Test between England and South Africa after rain reduced the action to just 82 minutes. Lunch was taken early and with drizzle persisting the umpires called off play just before 1600 GMT. South Africa were 12 runs behind England's first innings total of 316.

Brief Scores : South Africa 1st innings 194. England 1st innings 316, South Africa 2nd innings 110/2 (26.5 overs) Amla 71 n.o., Mc Kenzie 29. Bowling : Broad 1/10, Anderson 1/31.

Team India Coach Gary Kirsten's Mother No More

Team India Coach Gary Kirsten's ailing mother Garyl Hall passed away in Cape Town today after loosing a battle against cancer. Garyl, 64, was undergoing treatment for lung cancer at Vincent Pallotti Hospital. The Indian Team according to Captain Anil Kumble has sent his condolences to Kirsten. "Its a personal message...We've already sent it," Kumble told shortly after the opening day's play.

Kirsten was to join the team for the five match one day series but now it remains to be seen when he would be able to return to be among the players.

India v Sri Lanka 3rd Test, Day 1

The Indian middle order failed yet again but opener Gautam Gambhir and a 51-run last wicket stand helped the visitors post a total of 249 against Sri Lanka in the third and final test in Colombo. Sri Lanka's mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis also picked up a 5 wicket hawl on the opening day of the final test match.

Brief Scores : India 1st innings 249 all out (80 overs) Gambhir 72, Ganguly 35. Bowling Mendis 5/56, Prasad 3/82. Sri Lanka 1st innings 14/1 (8 overs) Warnapura 8. Bowling Ishant 1/2.

England v South Africa 4th Test, Day 2

England captain Kevin Peiterson hit his 14th Test century and tailender Steve Harmison had his highest Test score to boost the host's chances of winning the fourth Test against South Africa at the Oval. At stumps on day II, South Africa holding an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, had moved to 37 for one in their second innings. They trail England by 85 runs. Kevin Peiterson became the fourth England player to score a century in his first match as captain.
Brief Scores : South Africa 1st innings 194, England 1st innings 316, Pieterson 100, Collingwood 61. Bowling Ntini 5/94, Kallis 3/51. South Africa 2nd innings 37/1.

South Africa v England, 4th Test, Day 1

In the final Test Match between South Africa and England at the Oval, it was the home team who managed to bundle out the visitors for a score below 200. Pieterson whose side have already lost the series, will have enjoyed the pace and swing his bowlers found on a largely overcast day at The Oval.
Brief Scores : South Africa 1st innings 194 all out (64.5 overs) Smith 46, AB' Villiers 39. Bowling Anderson 3/42, Panesar 2/4. England 1st innings 49/1 (17 overs) Bell 22 n.o., Cook 20 n.o. Bowling Ntini 1/27.

Kevin Peiterson All Set To Trigger As Captain

Kevin Peiterson embraces the toughest challenge of a career already packed with incidents and controversy, when he leads England against his native South Africa in the fourth Test at the Oval on Thursday. Peiterson was confirmed as England's new captain on Monday after Michael Vaughan concluded his time was up following South Africa's third Test victory at the weekend.
Kevin, 28, has not lacked self confidence since his debut against Australia in 2005.

Team India Coach Gary Kirsten To Fly Cape Town

Team India Coach Gary Kirsten won't be around the 3rd and final Test Match between India and Sri Lanka due to some emergency reasons. " This is a sad chapter of my life" said the coach before leaving for his home in Cape Town where his mother's condition has taken turn for the worse. " She has terminal cancer and is in hospital...Unfortunately her general condition has worsened...It's something one has to face up to", said Gary.

" I can't at this moment, say anything more... If she doesn't come through, then...Let's see how things go," Kirsten said emotionally.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni To Recieve Khel Ratna Award

According to sources, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has decided to confer the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to Team India Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the Arjuna Awards to 10 sportspersons in as many disciplines.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the second cricketer to bag the Khel Ratna. The first one is none other than the little master himself, Sachin Tendulkar. No doubt Dhoni is on a high and we convey our blessings to him and his team so that Team India can do much better to keep the glory of this award alive.

Asif's 'B' Sample Test Delayed

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif's efforts to get a visa to travel to Switzerland for his 'B' sample test met with failure with the embassy officials advising him to apply afresh for new travel dates.

Asif's Lawyer Shahid Karim confirmed that they sent another email to the Indian Premier League organisers asking them to extend the date for the 'B' sample test.

We wish Mohammad Asif all the good luck from our side so that he can once again represent his team Pakistan and play as many as more matches for the team.

Batting Still A Worry : Kapil Dev

India's series equalling win against Sri Lanka notwithstanding, former captain Kapil Dev is just not happy with the brittle middle-order that continues to fail the second time. The 1983 Prudential World Cup winning captain said although the 170-run win enabled India level the three match series 1-1, he felt disappointed by the much vaunted middle order.

Mahela Jayawardene Blames It To Batsmen

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene blames it all to the batsmen. Losing three early wickets in their second innings made things difficult for them, rued Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene. Besides Mahela also praised all his bowlers specially Ajantha Mendis who scalped a 10 wicket hawl. Sri Lankan skipper said that they are fully prepared for the third Test Match.

India Bonce Back By Winning the 2nd Test Match

India made their mark in the 2nd Test Match by beating Sri Lanka and winning by 170 runs in Galle. Back to doing what he does best star India spinner Harbhajan Singh said that he is relieved to have put behind recent controversies and deliver the goods for the team. Apart from Harbhajan pacer Ishant Sharma also played a vital role in the victory. Overall it was a complete team effort.

Brief Scores : India 1st innings 329. Sri Lanka 1st innings 292. India 2nd innings 269 all out (76.2 overs). Sri Lanka 2nd innings 136 all out (47.3 overs)