Sri Lanka 232 for 9 (Mathews 43, Murali 32, Aamer 3-45) beat Pakistan 196 (Gul 33, Thushara 3-29, Kulasekara 2-30, Murali 2-46) by 36 runs

	Thilan Thushara’s three wickets derailed Pakistan’s chase, which left them struggling at 134 for 8 at one stage© Associated Press

After Angelo Mathews and Muttiah Muralitharan had combined to devastating effect with the bat, Sri Lanka’s pace bowlers scythed through Pakistan’s top order to lead them to a 36-run victory on a blustery day in Dambulla. Sri Lanka seemingly had the game in the bag at 134 for 8, but a gritty and stroke-filled 62-run stand between Umar Gul and Mohammad Aamer so nearly spoilt their day. Pakistan had bossed the opening exchanges after electing to field on a green-tinged pitch, but they never quite recovered from a batting Powerplay in which 54 runs were conceded. With none of the frontline batsmen able to build on starts, it was left to the tail to try and pull off a miracle.

Sri Lanka had scripted a stirring revival of their own in the morning. After 44 overs, they were an underwhelming 169 for 6. But once Nuwan Kulasekara fell, having added 42 with Mathews, Murali whirled his bat like a dervish. Gul was top-edged for four and then straight-driven for six in an over that cost 15, and Shahid Afridi then clobbered through the off side for fours before Aamer put the sheen on a superb debut display by bowling him for 32. It had taken just 15 balls though, and by then, on a surface where run-making was not easy, Sri Lanka had enough of a total to defend.

Pakistan appeared deflated by that revival, and their batting effort never left the ground. Kulasekara started things off, tormenting Shoaib Malik outside his off stump. The odd ball would move away, while others would nip back and force him into the most awkward contortions. The scoreboard was moving thanks to a couple of lovely drives from Kamran Akmal but there was an air of inevitability about Malik’s dismissal, bowled playing down the wrong line to a straighter one.

After Lasith Malinga’s slingshot pace and slower balls had failed to provide a breakthrough, Kumar Sangakkara turned to Thilan Thushara, and he struck with his very first delivery. Akmal also played down the wrong line to one that deviated little, and saw his stumps pegged back. When Mohammad Yousuf then chased a wide one from Kulasekara, Pakistan had slumped to 48 for 3.

Afridi injected some energy into proceedings, clubbing Malinga over midwicket for six, but there was nothing distinguished about the lazy slice to Thushara that ended his innings at 27. Once Younis Khan flayed Thushara down to Mathews at third man, and Misbah-ul-Haq popped one back to Murali off the leading edge, the cause was hopelessly lost.

Fawad Alam and Abdul Razzaq delayed the inevitable while making no dent on the asking-rate, but it was left to Gul and Mohammad Aamer to send some frissons of worry through the Lankan camp with some cavalier hitting in their own Powerplay. Some sloppy bowling from Malinga helped their cause and it was left to Mahela Jayawardene to seal the deal late on with a direct hit from point to run out Aamer. With Malinga yorking Gul next ball, it was all over.

It could have been so very different for Pakistan, who had seen Razzaq and Aamer bowl really well with the new ball in the morning. The initial breakthrough was delayed only because of indifferent fielding. Akmal put down a sharp chance off Sanath Jayasuriya down the leg side, denying Razzaq a fairytale return after two years in the wilderness. And Razzaq himself could have had Jayasuriya a couple of overs later, but a miscue straight back down the pitch was embarrassingly dropped right in front of the batsman’s face.

At the other end, Upul Tharanga was in poor touch, beaten repeatedly outside his off stump with feet scarcely moving. It was Jayasuriya who went first though, slashing the second ball he faced from Gul down to Aamer at third man. Aamer had impressed with the new ball, bowling with pace and beating the bat often. And after Tharanga was put out of his misery, nicking one behind, it needed a 48-run stand between Sangakkara and Jayawardene to resurrect the innings.

As in the Test series, Sangakkara seldom failed to cash in on the bad ball, stroking Gul through mid-on and cover, and clipping Younis’ part-time medium-pace through midwicket for fours. But just as it seemed that the time was ripe to accelerate, he was undone by a Saeed Ajmal delivery that dipped and turned, and the attempt to cut merely looped to point.

Then came an almighty stutter. Chamara Kapugedera edged Afridi behind, and the onus was on Jayawardene to up the ante. Thilan Samaraweera couldn’t do much on his return to the side, miscuing a pull to mid-on, and when Jayawardene was caught short going for a non-existent second run by Younis’ flat throw from midwicket, the wheels were off and the axle nearly broken.

But Mathews and Kulasekara didn’t panic, scoring in singles and twos before the Powerplay was taken. The final flourish did the rest, as the previously economical Afridi and Gul were taken apart. Gul tried to return the favour when Pakistan took their own Powerplay late in the game, but by then, it was far too late to be anything more than a consolation.

Big Picture

	Can Travis Dowlin help prevent a clean sweep? © AFP

Bangladesh have wrapped up the three-match series by winning the first two matches and have a chance to complete a rare whitewash. West Indies will be kicking themselves for giving up the second ODI having had a good total to defend only to allow Bangladesh three crucial overs in their chase to seize the momentum. The home side should be ready to prove a point to their critics but Bangladesh’s form and energy leaves them as clear favourites, and a cursory glance at the form of the two rival captains sums up the state of the two sides.

Shakib Al Hasan has led from the front in both the first two games, contributing runs with the bat - he is just behind Mohammad Ashraful in the run tally - picking wickets and inspiring in the field. Shakib’s captaincy has been exciting and that has apparently rubbed off onto his batting. His decision to open the attack in the last game with the recalled Abdur Razzak’s spin paid rich dividends.

West Indies will be aiming for a competitive effort to finish the series after they showed a marked improvement from the first ODI, but it’s hard to see how Floyd Reifer can inspire. His batting hasn’t clicked all series, two Tests included, and he has looked all at sea against spin, spooning catches to a packed off-side field in both ODIs. For Reifer, the goals are not only to win but also to give some of West Indies’ lesser-known players a chance to shine. He will need to set the example and hope the rest follow.

Form guide

(last five matches, most recent first)

Bangladesh - WWWWL
West Indies - LLNLW

Watch out for …

Tamim Iqbal: A powerful striker of the ball, Tamim will look to make a mark in the series against this West Indies attack. Tamim got a first-baller in game one, chasing a full-pitched delivery, and in the second his nervy innings of 29 was cut off by an enthusiastic fielder. Tamim is yet to impress in the series but a big one could just be around the corner. If Tamim can help set up a hefty total, it could give Bangladesh their best chance of a clean sweep.

Travis Dowlin: He missed a Test century by a whisker and his maiden ODI century proved in vain as Bangladesh won by three wickets to clinch the series. With the impending return of the leading players, Dowlin’s opportunities at this level could be limited. He’s in form and has shown his capabilities against this attack.

Team news

Bangladesh’s desire to make absolutely certain of a 3-0 result means they are unlikely to tinker with their best XI.

Bangladesh: (likely) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Junaid Siddique, 3 Mohammad Ashraful, 4 Raqibul Hasan, 5 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Naeem Islam, 9 Abdur Razzak, 10 Syed Rasel, 11 Rubel Hossain.

Chris Gayle and other top players still find no place and the only change was the exclusion of fast bowler Nelon Pascal, who sustained a finger injury in the first ODI last Sunday. The wicketkeeper Devon Thomas didn’t get a chance to bat in the second ODI but did grab two surpising wickets and should keep his place, but the pressure will be on Andre Fletcher who has yet to impress in the series. His place at the top could go to Kieran Powell, the left-handed batsman.

West Indies: (likely) 1 Devon Smith, 2 Andre Fletcher/Kieran Powell, 3 Travis Dowlin, 4 David Bernard, 5 Floyd Reifer (capt), 6 Devon Thomas (wk), 7 Darren Sammy, 8 Rawl Lewis, 9 Nikita Miller, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Gavin Tonge.

Weather

It’s forecast to be windy with scattered showers in the afternoon in Basseterre on Friday.

Australia 126 for 1 (Watson 62*) v England

	Shane Watson played confidently in his new rule of Test opener © Getty Images

Australia’s batsmen refused to suffer further from the team’s Edgbaston curse, which robbed them of the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin after the toss, as they raced to 126 for 1 on a first day significantly curtailed by rain. Shane Watson, who had come in for the discarded opener Phillip Hughes, quickly eliminated any doubt over his unorthodox promotion to add his second Test half-century in his ninth match, an innings which helped justify Ricky Ponting’s decision to bat despite the potential for swing and seam.

England’s bowlers were treated like Australia’s on the first day at Lord’s, giving up 85 in 19 overs before they picked up Simon Katich. By then they knew they would not be receiving any significant support from a placid pitch, although they had already benefited from the visitors’ misfortune. Following a long delay when nothing happened quickly, Australia were suddenly thrust into frantic behind-the-scenes action while Ponting was at the toss.

All the team discussions over how Australia would recover from a 1-0 deficit required an instant re-think when Haddin suffered a suspected broken finger in the warm-up. With the team sheet already handed in, they had to ask permission to replace Haddin with Graham Manou, the South Australia gloveman, who received an unthinkable debut. The tourists were floored in similar circumstances here four years ago when Glenn McGrath hurt his ankle on the morning of the game, an event which started Australia’s fall to a 2-1 loss.

None of this bothered Watson, who knew of his promotion on the eve of the match, and he took guard for the first ball and was soon sending it through cover, point, midwicket and square leg during the 30 available overs. Entering the game with a Test average of 19.76, Watson played like he had been part of the team for years as he drove and pulled with freedom and power. He had failed as an opener with Queensland a couple of seasons ago but gained confidence from his stints there in the limited-overs sides.

By stumps there were no immediate regrets over his elevation after he pumped 10 boundaries, including a drive off Graham Onions that was so straight it bounced over the umpire, during an assured 62 off 105 deliveries. His only moment of serious discomfort came in the same over Graeme Swann removed Katich, with Watson missing a sweep and surviving a loud lbw appeal on 37.

Moving on quickly, his 89-ball half-century arrived with a clipped two to the legside. It was just what Watson, an allrounder who has fought a series of untimely injuries, needed and his fast-bowling will also provide cover for Mitchell Johnson, the out-of-sorts attack leader.

With 11 overs remaining Watson was joined by Ponting, who held firm to finish on 17, eight short of Allan Border’s Australia record of 11,174 runs. Ponting was required when Katich grew too confident and aimed a hefty pull to his first offering from Swann, falling lbw when struck on the front leg. He was unhappy to exit in such ugly fashion for 46 from 48 balls after such a smooth start.

James Anderson took the new ball with Andrew Flintoff but both bowled too short before Onions and Stuart Broad experienced some harsh treatment in front of a subdued sell-out crowd. Watson unfurled a crisp off-drive for four from Onions’ second ball and then pulled another to midwicket in the same over. Broad also gave away two early boundaries when he aimed at Katich’s legs and was twice caressed through square leg.

Play eventually started at 5pm after rain fell in Birmingham on Wednesday and Thursday morning, but the skies cleared after lunch and the match began in beautiful summer sunshine. The umpires Rudi Koertzen and Aleem Dar were particularly concerned by the soggy run-ups and the damp outfield and called Ponting and Andrew Strauss on to the field during two inspections before they agreed the conditions were suitable.

England’s only change from the outfit that won at Lord’s last week was Ian Bell coming in at No. 4 for the injured Kevin Pietersen, but the unaltered bowling attack must re-focus in the morning if they are to trouble their opponents. Both sides need to make an early impact if they are to pursue a positive result as further weather disruptions are expected on Saturday and Monday.

Pakistan 299 (Manzoor 93, Yousuf 90, Thushara 5-83) and 16 for 1 (Alam 14*, Younis 0*) lead Sri Lanka233 (Jayawardene 79, Dilshan 44, Kaneria 5-62, Ajmal 3-70) by 82 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	It was a welcome return for Danish Kaneria© Associated Press

Pakistan’s tail offered no resistance at all, but withDanish Kaneria at the forefront of a superb bowling performance, they still managed a 66-run first-innings lead. By stumps on the second day at the SSC, Pakistan had lost Khurram Manzoor, playing on to Rangana Herath, while adding 16. Sri Lanka’s 233 was largely down to a classy 79 from Mahela Jayawardene and attacking cameos from Kumar Sangakkara (45) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (44), and their plight might have been worse if not for some largesse from the Pakistan fielders.

Jayawardene continued his love affair with the ground where he had four successive Test hundreds - it was his 14th fifty-plus score here, a record for a batsman at any venue - but with Pakistan’s slow bowlers bowling beautifully, it was a real tussle for supremacy after lunch. Jayawaredene anchored the innings and a partnership of 71 with Angelo Mathews allowed Sri Lanka to recover from the depths of 82 for 4.

Mathews counterattacked from the outset, but he had made just 12 when Kamral Akmal put him down off Saeed Ajmal’s bowling. He drove powerfully down the ground and square of the wicket as Sri Lanka recovered from the loss of Thilan Samaraweera, undone by an offbreak that turned prodigiously. The star of the show was Jayawardene though. Whether it was driving down the ground, sweeping fine, or clipping precisely through midwicket, he played with all the confidence of a man who knows the venue inside-out.

Sri Lanka had lost both openers early, but it was the wicket of Sangakkara just before lunch that tilted the scales in Pakistan’s favour. Sangakkara had been reprieved twice earlier, and had taken just 56 balls for his 45 against bowling that could best be described as erratic.

Twice, Manzoor could have had him off Mohammad Aamer’s bowling. The first chance went to his at face-height at gully, while the second brushed his outstretched fingertips and went for four. The first reprieve was especially costly, with Pakistan right on top of proceedings. Younis Khan had just brought himself on to bowl the sixth over, and struck with his second delivery as Tharanga Paranavitana misjudged one that swung in from round the wicket.

Malinda Warnapura had lasted just one ball, playing a terrible shot across the line to an Umar Gul delivery that darted back in. But Sangakkara was in fine touch from the moment he arrived, clipping wayward deliveries through midwicket and stroking the ball beautifully down the ground. There was plenty of aggression, and a bit of lip, from both Aamer and Gul, and even Younis had a frustrated shy at the stumps with Sangakkara taking guard several feet outside the crease.

On the stroke of lunch, with Jayawardene also threatening to find his groove, Pakistan had much to ponder. But then Ajmal struck with the final ball of his second over, though there was considerable doubt over whether the ball had pitched in line before striking Sangakkara’s pad.

The end of the Pakistan innings had been swift, in keeping with the collapses that had cost them the series. Kaneria went leg before to Nuwan Kulasekara and both Akmal and Ajmal choppped deliveries back on to leave Thilan Thushara with figures of 5 for 83.

Thushara was to play a part later too after Kaneria, recalled after sitting out the first two Tests, had hauled Pakistan back into the game with a magnificent spell. After being treated for cramps, Jayawardene misread a straighter one that crashed into his stumps. Chaminda Vaas had been trapped leg before minutes earlier, and Dilshan should have followed too without scoring, but Ian Gould failed to spot a gloved paddle-sweep to backward short leg.

Kulasekara edged Saeed Ajmal to slip and Herath was given out leg before to Kaneria, before a 29-run partnership between Dilshan and Thushara held up Pakistan. Dilshan, who had come in at No.8 after sustaining a finger injury on the opening day, smashed sixes off Kaneria and Umar Gul and protected the tail-end batsmen by rotating the strike.

It took a freakish incident for his defiance to end. Dilshan top-edged a sweep, and the ball sneaked through the helmet grille to cut his eyebrow. Soon after, he went for a cut and Akmal managed to hold on to leave Kaneria with 5 for 62. On a pitch where the ball was starting to turn sharply, it could yet be a winning contibution.

	Andrew Flintoff had a tough physical game at Lord’s, and England remain wary about his long-term fitness© Getty Images

England’s coach, Andy Flower, is confident that his team can build on the success and momentum they took from their historic victory over Australia at Lord’s on Monday, regardless of whether their two star players, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, overcome their fitness concerns.

Amid the euphoria of England’s first Ashes win at Lord’s for 75 years, a result that gave them a 1-0 lead over Australia for the first time since 1997, there have been growing concerns about the ability of both Flintoff and Pietersen to take the field in the third Test at Edgbaston, which starts on July 30.

Pietersen, who struggled through the Lord’s Test and made a laboured 44 from 101 deliveries in the second innings, will see a specialist later in the week, amid reports in some daily papers that he has already been ruled out of the contest. Though Flower denied that that was the case, he admitted that the prospect of surgery on Pietersen’s troublesome Achilles tendon could not be ruled out at this stage.

“Kev is seeing a specialist later this week, they’ll assess his Achilles problem, and we’ll just get the expert advice and take it from there,” said Flower. “I’d rather not make a prediction [about his fitness], I’ll just let the medical guys make their decision. I don’t know if an operation is the right action to take, but those sorts of decisions will be made by the end of the week.”

Pietersen required four injections to get through the Lord’s Test, and admitted at the weekend that the injury - the first significant problem of his career - has been playing on his mind “all day and every day”. The same could not, however, be said of Flintoff, whose immense performance on the final morning at Lord’s propelled England to victory with 10 unstinting overs off the reel.

Flintoff’s final figures of 5 for 92 enabled him to become only the sixth player to score a century and take five wickets in Test cricket at Lord’s, a belated statistical accolade in a career that has often gone under-rewarded. But Flower admitted to feelings of unease as he watched his star player thunder in in the closing stages of the match, with the result more or less sewn up already.

“Fred had a tough physical game,” said Flower. “I was sitting up there thinking I’d quite like to see him taking a break, but he carried on, and he feels strong, and it worked out okay in the end … I hope. Chatting to him afterwards he was very bullish about being ready for the third Test, but obviously with his injury record we have to be careful about wear and tear on his body, and he will be reassessed.”

Regardless of what the doctors make of his conditions, with Steve Harmison finding menacing form for Durham in the County Championship, and James Anderson producing a superb four-wicket spell to help roll Australia over for 215 in their first innings at Lord’s, Flower was confident that England have the fast-bowling resources to see them through an arduous summer.

“Flintoff is a world-class performer as we know, so if he’s out of the side, of course that’s a blow,” said Flower. “But we’ve got a few fast bowlers waiting in the wings that we know can play international cricket, and can be very successful. Obviously we want Flintoff in the side, but we’ll see if his body is up to it. If not there are other guys that can do good jobs for us. This is an Ashes series, a Test series, it’s not his farewell series.”

With a ten-day break between matches, England’s players have got a timely opportunity to patch up their wounds before Edgbaston - and that includes the seamer Graham Onions, who was struck on the elbow while batting in England’s first innings, and was said to be experiencing a lot of pain when he straightened his arm. “I should imagine he’ll be fine because of the rest time available,” said Flower.

“Usually the man involved knows his body best and can feel certain things,” he added. “If the guys are fit enough to get through and contribute to winning Test matches, then they’ll be selected. If they are not, it’s not a tough decision to make, they are just not fit enough to be selected.” Flower confirmed that, if Pietersen was unable to take part at Edgbaston, then Ian Bell - a squad member for the past two Tests - would be the logical man to stand in.

“When asked before the series if we believed we could win the series, I said yes,” said Flower. “Whether we will win or not, we don’t know. The guys are confident, but we’ll have to play very good cricket. We’re playing against the No.1 side in the world. We know they will regroup and come back strongly at us, so we’ve also got to regroup. Sometimes you can get distracted as much by winning as by losing. We have to regroup this following week as well, and hit them hard at Edgbaston.”