New Zealand v England: Tourists clinch victory in ODI series

England secured victory in their one-day international series with New Zealand after cruising to a five-wicket victory in the third and final contest at Eden Park.

After winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Steven Finn led the way with 3-27 as England dismissed New Zealand for 185 in just 43.5 overs despite an explosive 79 from Brendon McCullum.
Skipper Alastair Cook then top-scored with 46 as England knocked off the target with relative ease, Tim Southee's figures of 3-48 doing little to interrupt the tourists' march to victory.
England's new-ball pair had immediately put New Zealand on the back foot with three wickets inside the mandatory powerplay, Finn striking with just his fourth ball when he had BJ Watling caught at second slip by Graeme Swann.
He also removed Hamish Rutherford for just two, while in between Kane Williamson (seven) edged Anderson through to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott did their best to launch a recovery with a stand of 53, only for the former to then run his partner out for 24 with some poor calling.
Stuart Broad (2-38) then had Taylor controversially caught behind for 28 - the third umpire backing up his on-field colleague despite 'Hot Spot' showing no contact with the bat - as the Kiwis slumped to 67-5 in the 25th over.
It was once again left to McCullum to boost his team's final total, the right-hander hitting six fours and five sixes as he fought a lone hand against England.
His one-man onslaught was eventually ended by a fine catch by Anderson out on the mid-wicket boundary, giving Swann his second wicket of the innings. It meant New Zealand had failed to use 37 deliveries.
England's batsmen were never likely to be taken out of a comfort zone with such a modest chase, and openers Cook and Ian Bell soon put things firmly on track
Bell (24) mis-pulled first-change Andrew Ellis (2-35) to be caught at deep midwicket and there was a minor wobble when Jonathan Trott (38) and Cook were both caught behind to loose shots in successive overs from Southee.
But a stand of 56 between Eoin Morgan (39) and Joe Root (28 not out) helped settle the issue with 12.3 overs to spare.
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,19822,11066_13559_1,00.html

Pakistan follow-on after seven-wicket burst from South Africa's debut seamer Kyle Abbott

South Africa seamer Kyle Abbott marked his Test debut with figures of 7-29 as Pakistan were made to follow-on at Centurion.

Pakistan were bowled out for 156 in reply to South Africa's 409 and then slipped to 14-1 in their second innings at stumps on day two of the final Test, still 239 runs behind.
South Africa, who need a win to complete a 3-0 series sweep, advanced their first innings from 334-6 to 409 all out at the start of the day.
AB de Villiers, on 98 overnight, completed his 16th Test century before being eighth out for 121, one of left-arm paceman Rahat Ali's 6-127 haul.
Openers Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat put on 46 either side of lunch as Pakistan made a promising start in reply.

Collapse

But Farhat's exit, lbw to Vernon Philander for 30, sparked a collapse as South Africa's seam attack ran riot.
Abbott, a 25-year-old who was the leading wicket taker in South Africa's first-class competition this season and only playing in this game due to Jacques Kallis' calf strain, claimed Hafeez as his maiden Test scalp.
Philander (2-30) bowled Azhar Ali (6) and Dale Steyn (1-25) chipped in with the wicket of Asad Shafiq (6) but otherwise it was the Abbott show as he ran through the lower order.
Younus Khan was last out, lbw to Abbott, for 33, the top score of an innings lasting 46.4 overs.
Abbott's figures are the second best by a South African on debut, only bettered by Lance Klusener - his bowling coach at the Dolphins franchise - who claimed 8-64 against India in Kolkata in 1996.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith enforced the follow-on and Steyn promptly bowled Hafeez for a duck with the first ball of Pakistan's second innings.
Ali and Younus managed to negotiate the final nine overs of a miserable day for Pakistan without further loss.
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,19822,11066_13505_1,00.html

South Africa batsmen Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers punish Pakistan

AB de Villiers hit 98 not out as South Africa reached 334-6 at stumps on the opening day of the third Test against Pakistan at Centurion.

De Villiers and Vernon Philander (45no) put on an unbroken 86 for the seventh wicket during the final 22 overs to ensure the home side justified their decision to bat first.
Hashim Amla had earlier struck a boundary-filled 92 as South Africa - who need a victory to complete a 3-0 series sweep - recovered from 38-2.
Rahat Ali (3-95) and teenage debutant Ehsan Adil (2-54) each made a breakthrough with the new ball for Pakistan, Ali trapped Alviro Petersen lbw for 10 and Adil had Graeme Smith (5) held by a diving Younus Khan at second slip.
Amla counter-attacked with 13 fours in his 128-ball contribution, sharing stands worth 69 with Faf du Plessis (29) and 79 with De Villiers.
Pakistan hit back either side of tea; left-arm seamer Ali had Amla caught behind and trapped Dean Elgar lbw for seven before Robin Peterson (28) was run out to leave South Africa on 248-6.
But De Villiers, who has hit 13 fours in his 179-ball contribution so far, and Philander dominated the remainder of the evening session.
www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,,11066_13505_1,00.html

New Zealand beat England by three wickets in the first ODI in Hamilton

New Zealand drew first blood in the three-match one-day series against England, winning the opener by three wickets in Hamilton.

The match teetered one way and then the other as the Black Caps looked to chase down 259 for victory after England were bowled out in the final over of their innings.
But the return of Martin Guptill (27 not out), who had retired with a damaged hamstring after six overs, turned the course of the match as he joined Brendon McCullum (69 not out) to see his side home with seven balls left.
Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell and Joe Root had all struck half-centuries for the tourists but the innings never caught fire and their total was only par after being put in.
James Anderson, returning from a break, put England in the driving seat though with a wicket in his first over, bowling BJ Watling to become his country's all-time leading wicket-taker across all international formats.
Guptill then pulled up in pain having made three before Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor dug in, the pair taking the score to 75 before Chris Woakes (2-52) had the latter caught by Steven Finn behind square.
Woakes also sent back Grant Elliot after a quick-fire 22 and when Williamson was run-out for an impressive 74 following smart work by the same bowler, New Zealand's hopes rested with McCullum.
The hosts slipped behind the run-rate as wickets fell at the other end, Nathan McCullum slightly unfortunate to be given out LBW to Graeme Swann while Finn did well to cling on in the deep when Anthony Ellis skied Stuart Broad.
But his exit brought Guptill back to the crease and the timing was exquisite, the opener swiftly adding 41 with McCullum to scupper England's hopes of victory.

Foundations

Trott (68) helped to lay the foundations with stands of 84 with Bell (64) and 89 with Root (56) but the last seven wickets only added 66 in England's 258.
Mitchell McClenaghan (4-56) struck early by bowling Alastair Cook with a ball that held it's line, but England recovered albeit in dogged fashion.
Bell was the more adventurous but on 26 had a let-off, mistiming a slog-sweep in Nathan McCullum's first over and dropped at deep midwicket by BJ Watling - who got to the ball but could not hold on.
The opener completed his 50 from 67 balls with a chip from the crease off Andrew Ellis straight over long-on for his second six to go with five fours.
But soon afterwards, up the wicket to try to manufacture runs into the off-side off James Franklin, he edged behind.
Joined by Root, Trott gradually increased his strike rate, but the big shots were hard work for both players - Root reprieved on 32 when DRS over-turned a caught-behind decision off Kyle Mills.
Trott went selflessly, bowled making room for a slog in powerplay - only for Eoin Morgan to follow him for just a single when he speared a low catch to point, very well held by Martin Guptill.
Root posted the quickest of England's 50s, from 58 balls but containing just four fours.
Jos Buttler stayed long enough to hit two sixes off just 13 balls. But immediately after the second, crashing McClenaghan over wide long-on off the back foot, he toe-ended a full-toss straight into the hands of extra-cover.
When Root also went trying to slog, bowled by Franklin, England were in danger of falling disappointingly short.
The tail chipped in, though, to help rescue a still below-par 68 in the last 10 available overs and make it appear an even contest.
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,,11066_13561_1,00.html

Ian Bell scores unbeaten century as England beat India by seven wickets in final ODI

Ian Bell scored a superb unbeaten century to guide England to a morale-boosting seven-wicket victory over India in the fifth and final one-day international in Dharamsala.

Bell finished on 113 not out, becoming the tenth Englishman to record a one-day hundred on Indian soil, to ensure the tourists ended on a high despite India ultimately claiming a 3-2 series win.
Earlier Tim Bresnan had led the way for England with the ball on his final appearance before being sent for treatment on a nagging elbow injury, taking 4-45 as the hosts struggled to 226 all out.
Suresh Raina held the India innings together as he made a tenacious, if at times fortunate, 83 to help his side recover from 49-4 early on.
But things could and perhaps should have been better for England who put down a total of five catches, including two tough ones in three balls off Raina.
Bresnan quickly proved he was still fit enough to cause India problems when he sent back Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli with successive balls in the fourth over; Sharma was first to go for four as he edged to James Tredwell at second slip and the dangerous Kohli bagged a golden duck next up, following a wider one and offering Tredwell a second catch which he clung on to after a spot of juggling.
Yuvraj Singh survived the hat-trick ball but was soon gone for nought, squared up by Steven Finn and floating a catch to Eoin Morgan at point and, when Gautam Gambhir (24) was caught by Ian Bell off Tredwell, India had still not reached 50.
Raina and Mahendra Singh Dhoni set about rebuilding the innings and added 30 - including a straight six from Raina off Tredwell - before Finn returned to trap the home captain lbw for 15.

Huge scalp

It was a huge scalp but Raina had not given up the fight and found a willing ally in Ravindra Jadeja (39), who helped accelerate the run-rate with two straight sixes of his own and taking the score to 136-5 with 15 overs left.
England put down Raina twice in the space of three balls, on 61 and 63, Cook diving at square leg and Tredwell getting finger tips to a return chance, but Tredwell (2-25) continued his memorable series by breaking the 78-run partnership when a Jadeja mis-hit looped into Bell's hands.
Raina was now playing a lone hand and reached 83 before pulling Woakes straight to Bell at mid-wicket, but the Indian tail then wagged as Ravichandran Ashwin (19) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (31) both had fun towards the end to push India on towards respectability.
But the total always looked below-par, and even more so after Alastair Cook and Bell had given England a solid start to their reply by reaching 50 without loss.
Cook did depart soon after as Ishant Sharma snuck one through his defences to bowl him for 22, while Kevin Pietersen managed just six before he was well caught on the boundary rope by a running Jadeja off the bowling of Shami Ahmed.
But Joe Root joined Bell to put England back on track, the Yorkshireman contributing 31 in a stand of 79 before succumbing to Jadeja, bowled as he attempted a rather ambitious sweep.
That would be India's last success, though, as Eoin Morgan produced an impressive cameo of 40 from 40 balls to get England over the line alongside the majestic Bell.
The Warwickshire right-hander's innings contained 13 fours and a single six, while Morgan blazed four maximums during his stay to ensure the tourists got home with 16 balls to spare.
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,,11066_13380_1,00.html

India v England, 3rd ODI: India move ahead with comprehensive seven-wicket win

India powered into a 2-1 series lead following a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over England in the third one-day international at Ranchi.

Alastair Cook's men turned in a second inept batting display in the space of four days to be bundled out for just 155 batting first in what was the inaugural ODI at Mahendra Singh Dhoni's home town.
The total was never going to trouble India's powerful batting line-up and they passed their meagre target with 21.5 overs to spare thanks to an unbeaten 77 from Virat Kohli.
The teams will resume battle in Mohali for the fourth ODI on Wednesday - a match England must win to keep the series alive.
The tourists made a solid enough start after being put in to bat but a middle- and lower-order collapse put them firmly on the back foot.
Joe Root top-scored with 39 while those around him crumbled, with three wickets falling in the space of nine balls at one point.
Ravindra Jadeja finished as the pick of the bowlers with 3-19 and only Tim Bresnan's knock of 25 down the order added a hint of respectability to the England total.
Dhoni claimed three catches behind the stumps although there was more than a hint of controversy in his take to dismiss dangerman Kevin Pietersen (17), with replays on whether he edged Ishant Sharma proving inconclusive.
India saw opening batsman Ajinkya Rahane clean bowled by Steven Finn for the second time in the series in just the third over of the reply, however a 67-run partnership between Gautam Gambhir and Kohli deflated England's spirits.
Kohli cruised past 50 after Gambhir had picked out Root at mid-on off James Tredwell (2-29) and the Kent spinner then removed Yuvraj Singh (30) to allow Dhoni to hit the winning runs in front of his adoring fans.
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,,11066_13378_1,00.html

Lahiru Thirimanne made a century as Sri Lanka beat Australia in Adelaide

Sri Lanka levelled the one-day series against Australia with an eight-wicket victory in Adelaide.

The second match in a series of five proved a one-sided affair after the Aussies were bowled out for 170 in 46.5 overs.
Lahiru Thirimanne then struck a maiden one-day century, reaching three figures in hitting the winning runs, to lead the tourists home.
Sri Lanka won the toss and succeeded in shackling the hosts after reducing them to 12-2, Aaron Finch caught off Angelo Mathews before Nuwan Kulasekera had opening match centurion Phillip Hughes plumb lbw.
Skipper George Bailey struggled to 26 before Thirimanne took a leaping catch off Lasith Malinga (3-32) and Steve Smith edged a Thisara Perera leg cutter to keeper Kushal Perera.
David Hussey looked well set but on reaching 29 hesitated going for a single and Tillakaratne Dilshan scored a lightning hit on the stumps from mid-wicket.
Brad Haddin proved the mainstay, putting on 57 with debutant Ben Cutting before the latter edged behind off Malinga for 27.
Haddin tried to go on the attack as he ran out of partners but on reaching his half-century from 67 balls holed out to Thirimanne off Ajantha Mendis.
A total of 170 at the Adelaide Oval was never likely to be enough and although Upul Tharanga edged Clint McKay's third ball of the reply, the result was never in doubt.
Thirimanne (102 not out) and Tillakaratne Dilshan rode their luck early on to put on 137 for the second wicket, Cutting eventually removing Dilshan for 51 with Glenn Maxwell taking the catch.
With wickets and time in hand Thirimanne turned his attention to garnering the strike in a bid to reach his first hundred in blue and yellow, which he did by cutting Maxwell to the boundary in the 41st over.
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,,11066_13641_1,00.html

Delhi condemn England to second warm-up defeat ahead of India series

England will head into their one-day international series with India on the back of two straight defeats after they suffered a six-wicket loss to Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first in the warm-up clash, England seemed to be in the driving seat as Ian Bell continued his fine form with the bat to help his side to a healthy total of 294-5.
Bell, who made 91 as England went down to India A on Sunday, passed three figures this time but his score of 108 proved to be in vain as Delhi mounted an impressive chase.
Shikhar Dhawan top-scored with 110 while Milind Kumar (78 not out) and Rajat Bhatia (45no) led home the hosts, who secured the win with nine balls to spare.
England decided to rest Kevin Pietersen, while captain Alastair Cook was brought back in after missing the India A loss due to a cold. Joe Root and Stuart Meaker also came in as Jos Buttler and Tim Bresnan were left out.
There was no cause for concern early on as Bell made a fine century before being trapped lbw by Varun Sood.

Good start

Eoin Morgan contributed a half-century to the cause, while returning skipper Cook set the innings off on the right note with a knock of 44.
Sood returned figures of 3-45 but England had the last word in the innings as some big hitting from Craig Kieswetter (41 not out from 27 balls) led them to the brink of 300.
Cook initially scored at a faster rate than opening partner Bell but after the skipper, Root (10) and Samit Patel (13) all fell, Bell put on a fourth-wicket stand of 113 from 93 balls with Morgan, who departed in the 48th over for 52.
England were not finished, however, as the quick-scoring Kieswetter ended the innings in style by hitting the last two deliveries for six.
The total appeared to be enough for a confidence-boosting victory but Dhawan and India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand (37) attacked the touring bowlers straightaway.
The scoring subsided a little after Dhawan was dismissed by Root, but Kumar and Bhatia struck back late on to knock off the runs with relative ease.
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,,11066_13533_1,00.html

New Zealand slump to heavy defeat against South Africa despite Dean Brownlie's maiden Test century

South Africa sealed a landslide victory over New Zealand before tea on the third day of the opening Test in Cape Town.

The tourists, on 169-4 in their second innings overnight, were bowled out for 275 to give South Africa victory by an innings and 27 runs.
Dean Brownlie stood tall with 109 - his maiden Test century - in a losing cause, while South Africa seamer Dale Steyn led the way with figures of 3-67.
New Zealand's batsmen at least improved second time around, although it would have been difficult not to given they were bundled out for 45 inside 20 overs on the opening day of their Newlands nightmare.
Brownlie advanced from his overnight 69 to reach a 160-ball hundred as New Zealand went through the first hour of the day without offering a chance.
The Canterbury right-hander's resistance was finally broken just before lunch when he cut a delivery from Morne Morkel (1-50) straight to Robin Peterson at deep point.
Brownlie's exit reduced New Zealand to 229-5, still 83 runs short of making South Africa bat again.
BJ Watling and James Franklin held up South Africa with a 23 in 12 overs either since of lunch before Vernon Philander (2-76) had Watling held by Graeme Smith at first slip for 42.
The tail subsided quickly thereafter and New Zealand's defeat was sealed in suitably comical fashion when Chris Martin was run out for a duck without facing a ball after being sent back.
The two-match series concludes in Port Elizabeth from January 11-15.
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,19822,11066_13514_1,00.html

Michael Clarke set to lead out Australia v Sri Lanka in Mike Hussey's Test farewell

Michael Clarke is set to lead Australia out in the final Test against Sri Lanka in Sydney after passing a fitness test.

The home captain has been troubled by a hamstring problem, but he is expected to take his place in the side as Australia look to complete a 3-0 whitewash.
Mike Hussey will be playing in his 79th and final Test, but all-rounder Shane Watson has been ruled out after he aggravated a calf problem.
Australia opening batsman Ed Cowan has spoken of his desire to send team-mate Hussey off in style.
"We have spoken at some length about our determination to make sure we win this series 3-0," he said.
"We experienced some disappointment earlier in the season and this is us, I guess, trying to vent that a little bit and we're pretty keen to see Mike off with flying colours."
Cricket Australia selectors have confirmed that pacemen Mitchell Starc will return, while there could be a debut for all-rounder Glenn Maxwell in Watson's place.
Sri Lanka will be without veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara after he fractured a finger in the Boxing Day Test, while seamer Chanaka Welegedera is out with a hamstring injury.
The deflated tourists also have fitness doubts over wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene (thumb) and paceman Nuwan Kulasekara (ribs).
Lahiru Thirimanne has joined the squad and Suranga Lakmal is on his way for what will be Mahela Jayawardene's last match as captain before he hands over the reigns to Angelo Mathews.
The players will observe a minute's silence ahead of Thursday's start in memory of former England all-rounder Tony Greig, who died on Saturday aged 66.
While the Test is the traditional 'pink' match in honour of the former wife of retired quick Glenn McGrath, the life of Greig will also be remembered.
"Tony Greig in Sri Lanka will be very fondly remembered for embracing Sri Lankan players and the Sri Lankan people from 1995 onwards, and getting behind us and promoting us positively across the world," said batsman Kumar Sangakkara, who misses the match and subsequent one-day series following an injury in the Boxing Day Test.
"He's been a very good friend of the Sri Lankan cricket team. He has been a great non-Sri Lankan ambassador. Everyone in Sri Lanka feels sad."
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_preview/0,,11066_13636_1,00.html

Vernon Philander passed fit for South Africa's opening Test against New Zealand

Vernon Philander has been declared "provisionally fit" for the opening Test against New Zealand in Cape Town, starting on Wednesday.

The seamer has come through a fitness test on a hamstring strain and is expected to spearhead the home attack at Newlands.
"He's come through his fitness test well," said Proteas captain Graeme Smith. "Unless he stiffens up later today or tonight he's fit to play."
Philander will share the new ball with Dale Steyn with Morne Morkel coming on at first change as South Africa look to consolidate their place at the top of the ICC Test rankings.
New Zealand will be reliant on skipper Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson for runs in the absence of Ross Taylor.
Handed the captaincy in controversial circumstances, McCullum confirmed that he will also open the batting in the absence of the injured Peter Fulton, with Dean Brownlie coming in at No.4.
"Peter was going to open but he has been struck down by an injury. That gives an opportunity to Dean Brownlie," McCullum said.
"I'll come back to the top of the order and Dean will come in at number four. I've been opening the batting for the last little while and you've got to bat at some point."
Left-arm seamer Trent Boult and veteran Chris Martin will lead the bowling attack with Tim Southee and Daniel Vettori both sidelined by injury.
South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (capt), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (wkt), Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Jacques Rudolph, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Rory Kleinveldt.
New Zealand (from): Brendon McCullum (capt), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Daniel Flynn, Dean Brownlie, BJ Watling (wkt), James Franklin, Colin Munro, Doug Bracewell, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Jeetan Patel, Bruce Martin, Chris Martin, Mitchell McClenaghan.
http://www1.skysports.com/cricket/news/12345/8374988/Vernon-Philander-passed-fit-for-South-Africa-s-opening-Test-against-New-Zealand