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New Zealand’s Dambulla adventure had started so promisingly, with their biggest win over India, but it ended on a disheartening note for their inexperienced side, which was eliminated after a 105-run defeat in the final league match.Hamstrung by the absence of senior bowlers, Daryl Tuffey and Jacob Oram, New Zealand were unable to keep the pressure on India after their bowlers inflicted another top-order collapse. Their captain, Ross Taylor, picked out the 107-run stand between Virender Sehwag and MS Dhoni for the fifth wicket as the turning point.”The partnership between Sehwag and Dhoni was about 100-odd and we lost by that margin,” he said. “We were just outplayed in all areas of the game. India played well and we didn’t.”After that partnership, New Zealand prised out the final five wickets for 24 runs, restricting India to 223, which Man of the Match Sehwag didn’t think was enough at the time. “I didn’t think it was a winning total,” he said. “But since they had only two experienced batsmen in Styris and Taylor, we knew if we could get early wickets, we would put them under pressure.”Both Styris and Taylor were part of a feeble batting performance, which began so poorly that New Zealand’s chances of victory evaporated as early as the ninth over. “I guess we didn’t start well and, when you get put on the back foot straightaway, a total like 220 is a long way away,” Taylor said. “They bowled well but our batters, we just didn’t step up. It’s disappointing to finish the tournament on a poor note.”New Zealand briefly threatened to break the record for their lowest total in ODIs but avoided that embarrassment thanks to an entertaining, but futile, half-century from vice-captain Kyle Mills. He lashed two straight sixes off Ravindra Jadeja and one powerful pull over square leg off Praveen Kumar on his way to a 35-ball 52. From 52 for 7, Mills hauled New Zealand to a more respectable 118.”When I went out to bat, I just tried to be as aggressive as I possibly could,” Mills said. “There probably was no expectation of you to go out and chase down 220 runs. I was fortunate I was able to get myself in for the first six or so balls and I decided I would be aggressive. I got a couple in my areas and I was able to get them away.”While the margin of defeat was dispiriting, Taylor said there were plenty of gains for New Zealand during the tournament, and chose Andy McKay and Kane Williamson as players to watch. “One of the biggest things is probably the experience over here, and the experience we have given some youngsters.”McKay was the fastest of New Zealand’s bowlers while Williamson had a tough initiation to international cricket, making ducks in his first two matches. “I guess Andy McKay is not young but he is very raw and the way he has bowled over the last two or three games is exciting,” Taylor said. “Williamson, we didn’t see the best of him with the bat, but his bowling – he’s a better bowler than a part-timer. If he can keep improving both skills, then we can take that.”Dambulla’s pitch wasn’t the typical flat, batting wicket expected of the subcontinent, which would have been ideal preparation for next year’s World Cup, but New Zealand will get a taste of those conditions in their next assignment, a full tour of India starting in early November.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Sachin Tendulkar made his 48th Test century•Associated Press

Sachin Tendulkar led India’s attempt to stay alive in the series on an attritional day at the SSC, battling his way, supported by VVS Laxman and Suresh Raina, to a determined century that took India closer to avoiding the follow-on. This, after Sri Lanka’s spinners brought the Test back to life just when it seemed the bat would dominate for the third successive day.The conditions on Day 3 were still batsman-friendly but the Sri Lankan bowlers varied their pace and lengths with greater skill than their Indian counterparts to create chances. However, India survived a couple of nervy moments that helped turn the third day, if only slightly, in their favour. When on 29, Tendulkar attempted to upper-cut Dilhara Fernando and was dropped by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene. And an appeal against Raina was turned down in the final session when he was struck on the pads by a straighter delivery from Tillakaratne Dilshan; replays suggested the ball would have gone on to hit leg.Charged, yet again, with the responsibility of reviving the Indian innings, Tendulkar batted with assuredness amid the pressure. The spinners didn’t extract much turn though they did generate good bounce, but Tendulkar adapted well, opting to deal with the length deliveries outside off with caution while treating the ones that were pitched short harshly. He struck Suraj Randiv for eight boundaries through the off side – point, cover and past slip – and comfortably picked off deliveries bowled on his pads for a couple more. The one time he did step out to the spinners was when he brought up his half-century, a clean strike over long-on.Tendulkar played the ball late on a slowish track, and targeted Randiv while approaching his century, reaching the landmark, his 48th in Tests, with a sweep through square leg. He also ensured a steady flow of singles with Raina, whose strokeplay masked the nerves of a batsman making his first Test appearance.

Smart stats

• Sachin Tendulkar’s unbeaten 108 is his 48th Test hundred, and his 94th in all international cricket. It’s his fifth Test century in Sri Lanka; among overseas countries, only in Australia has he scored more hundreds (six).

• Suresh Raina is the second Indian batsman to score more than 50 in his debut Test this year – S Badrinath had scored 56 against South Africa in Nagpur. Virender Sehwag is the only other Indian to achieve this feat since 2000.

• Sehwag became only the third batsman to be dismissed stumped on 99. It’s also the eighth instance of an Indian being dismissed for 99.

• The 165-run stand between Sehwag and Murali Vijay is the fourth instance of a century stand for the first wicket by India in Sri Lanka. It fell six runs short of equalling the record, between Navjot Siddhu and Manoj Prabhakar, in 1993.

Raina was uncertain early on against the round-the-wicket line bowled by the two spinners, failing to pick a legspinner from Mendis and leaving a straighter one from Randiv. But, unlike Tendulkar, it was against the length deliveries that he was most comfortable. He stepped out to both spinners to drive them through mid-on, and struck Dammika Prasad for consecutive boundaries. He was equally solid in defence, offering the full face, and eased towards his maiden half-century with a couple of delicious cover drives off the spinners.Tendulkar began India’s recovery after Virender Sehwag’s swipe on 99 triggered a rush of wickets that undermined a strong start. Facing Randiv’s first delivery of the day, Sehwag stepped out and swung hard towards cow corner, missed and was stumped to become the offspinner’s maiden Test victim.The wickets that followed were a consequence of some crafty bowling from the spinning pair. Mendis snared opener M Vijay with a googly that he failed to pick after erroneously opting to play the length delivery off the back foot. Rahul Dravid was trapped in front with a ball that skidded on before Laxman joined Tendulkar to rebuild the innings.Laxman was edgy during his stay and was troubled by Randiv as he played inside the line while expecting more turn. He got the leading edge twice and edged one to slip on the bounce. He appeared far more comfortable against Mendis, capitalising with a couple of boundaries when he was generous enough to stray on the pads. But his concentration wavered and he didn’t read Mendis’ wrong ‘un and was struck in front of leg stump. His wicket at the stroke of tea shifted a see-saw day Sri Lanka’s way, but Tendulkar and Raina, with a bit of fortune, put India’s survival plans back on track.

Chris Gayle has said he is keen on continuing as West Indies captain despite the team’s dismal run of form over the past few years culminating in a 0-2 reversal in the home Tests against South Africa.”Definitely I want to go on,” Gayle said. “Before the series I was brought into a meeting and had a discussion about my future and gave them my everything so we will see what happens.”Under his leadership West Indies have won only three of 20 Tests while tasting defeat nine times. His record is not much better in the shorter formats, losing 30 in 53 ODIs and 10 out of 17 Twenty20s. But Gayle was not ready to give up just yet.”I am still willing to go on. I am still pushing to go on. I still have a lot to offer in that particular area. There are a few issues I need to sort out before I progress,” Gayle said. “When you are not getting the support there is going to be a problem. So we need to address that as quickly as possible and see how well be can come up with a better system.”Gayle had a poor series against South Africa with the bat, managing just 159 runs at an average of 31 against South Africa, but he was quick to point that his batting record has improved with captaincy. “Since I have been captain, I didn’t even notice it but my average in Test cricket has been over 50 [1528 runs at 47.75, against a career average of 40.31] which is a tremendous achievement. It has helped me become a more mature person as well. I am willing to move forward and have better results for West Indies cricket.”Gayle’s attitude came under the scanner last year when he turned up in England barely 48 hours before the start of the first Test, preferring to play in the IPL than prepare for the tour. “I wouldn’t be so sad if Test cricket died out,” he had said then, a remark that caused much consternation.

Tim Paine is hopeful of making his Test debut next month after being called in to Australia’s one-day side to replace the injured Brad Haddin. The uncertainty over Haddin’s recovery time for his elbow problem means that Paine could easily be kept on in the squad after their games against England, when they will then play two Tests against Pakistan.”I think it’s a possibility,” Paine told the of a potential baggy green. “He [Haddin] is hopeful he’ll be right for the two Tests but at the same time I don’t think he is going to take any chances with the Ashes very close around the corner.”That is something that might work in my favour. I’m sure if he’s not 100% he won’t risk it because I know speaking to him he is obviously very keen to be part of the side that wins back the Ashes so that is something he certainly won’t be jeopardising.”Paine, 25, has played 17 ODIs since stepping into Australia’s No. 2 wicketkeeping role last year. If he plays the two Tests in July he will be the second Australian gloveman to win a Test call-up due to a Haddin injury, after Graham Manou was a late replacement for the Edgbaston Ashes Test last year.Paine has been around the playing group regularly over the past year and was part of the ICC World Twenty20 squad, although he didn’t play a game in the Caribbean. His strong performances in the one-day team when opportunities have arisen earned him a Cricket Australia contract and he is looking forward to another chance in the starting line-up.”It is very exciting,” he said. “Obviously this is another opportunity to play for your country and do well and if I can do well it puts me in good stead for the future. I’m looking forward to going and being part of the side and being more comfortable around the group. It is going to be very enjoyable.”

Ryan Harris, the Australia pace bowler, almost threw his lot in with English cricket before giving his career down under one final chance. It was a decision that has paid off handsomely because Harris now has a chance to play a key role in the Ashes series later this year.Harris had aimed to take advantage of holding dual passports when he signed for Sussex at the start of the 2008 season as a Kolpak player, and started with 4 for 36 in the Champion County match at Lord’s, but was given some poor advice and didn’t realise that he wouldn’t be able to play as a local in Australia. He knew a county career would put paid to any international ambitions and withdrew from the Sussex deal to make one final push for the baggy green.”It was a bit of a muck up with my management, but it was something I did think of with the dual passport,” he told Cricinfo. “I was quite close to doing that, it was just in the final hurdle that I thought maybe not yet. I’d still hoped to play for Australia and wanted to give it another year or two.”If it hadn’t happened then I may have made the move, but things turned around and I probably made the right decision. I got to the point where I said to my management that I’d give it another year or two then I’ll look to move.”He made his ODI debut in January 2009, but the real breakthrough came in early 2010 when he secured his Test debut against New Zealand, at Wellington, having enjoyed a golden spell of one-day action. He had taken 30 scalps in 12 matches including consecutive five-wicket hauls on his recall against Pakistan.”Before Christmas in our season I’d played two games after injury then it all happened very quickly,” he said. “I’ve loved every minute of it. To make my Test debut was something I didn’t think would happen and it’s been great fun.”There is now major competition in the Australian pace ranks with Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle – the trio that made up the Ashes attack last year – absent from the current one-day tour. Harris and Doug Bollinger and currently leading the line-up, with support from Clint McKay and the uncapped Josh Hazlewood, which means a real battle for places.Harris’ ability to swing the ball at good pace has given him a strong chance of making the Ashes starting XI and he admits to letting the mind wander occasionally to the prospect of taking the new ball at his home ground, the Gabba, in Brisbane.”It sends a tingle down the spine thinking about,” he said. “If it happens then brilliant, it would unbelievable to just be part of it. It’s a few months away, but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it at all. We’ll wait and see what happens.”The main thing is the depth we’ve got. A couple of years ago people were starting to think whether we capable of replacing the likes of McGrath, Lee and Gillespie. That’s a very positive thing and it is healthy competition. We are all mates and talk about what we have to do, we are all a team.”I know I need to keep bowling well and the Ashes are a long way away, there are blokes out of the side who have done very well, so hopefully the series against Pakistan will go well for me. If they come back and I get dropped that’s the way it happens, I’m not going to be too upset. I want to play, but they’ve proved they are good enough and I’d have to wait for the chance.”

If all goes well for Usman Khawaja, he could be on a plane to England in July to face the country of his birth in a Test series. What’s more he could the plane himself. At 23, Khawaja is a qualified pilot, a batsman of rare class and he could soon be the first Pakistani-born player to represent Australia.But first things first: Khawaja has been chosen for Australia A’s series against Sri Lanka A in Brisbane in June. The selection was no surprise, for Khawaja posted three Sheffield Shield centuries and averaged 63.45 for New South Wales last summer. But the timing, as with so many of Khawaja’s strokes, has been exquisite.The Australian selectors have delayed naming the squad for the two Tests against Pakistan until they see how the A-team performs and thanks to Phillip Hughes’ busted shoulder there is a backup batting spot available. Khawaja’s stiffest competition is likely to come from the Australia A captain George Bailey and the No. 3 Michael Klinger.Khawaja’s youth means he is more of a long-term prospect than Klinger, who will be 30 by the first Test, and his first-class average of a touch under 50 dwarfs Bailey’s mark of 38. He’s not thinking of Test tours just yet, although the baggy green has been Khawaja’s primary objective ever since he was introduced to the sport by his cricket-mad father.”There is a Test spot but there’s still a few games in the A tournament and I’ve just got to keep scoring runs,” Khawaja told Cricinfo. “Aussie A is really exciting. I used to watch the Aussie A guys on TV back in the day when they were in the one-day series. I’m pretty excited, representing Australia in anything is really, really exciting. It’s another step up – I can’t wait.”When the family moved from Islamabad to Sydney, Khawaja was three. His father Tariq continued to support Pakistan but gradually switched allegiances to Australia as his son moved through the ranks. There have been semi-regular trips back to Pakistan, but Khawaja never considered playing for the country of his birth.”Even if they [Pakistan] came calling, there was never a chance of me going there anyway,” he said. “Ever since I was young I’ve been loyal to Australia and all I’ve ever wanted to do is represent Australia and get that baggy green. The thought never even crossed my mind. Australia feels like home, so I don’t think it would be right.”He reckons his dad was “pretty stoked” to hear of the A-team call-up, although Khawaja has shown such poise since making his state debut two years ago that it was only a matter of time. His cricketing success means that his second passion, aviation, has been put aside and he hasn’t taken to the cockpit for 18 months.”Piloting was the thing I was doing, pretty much as a fall back plan for cricket,” he said. “I love cricket to death, and all I ever wanted to do was play cricket. When you’re about 18 and nothing’s certain, I didn’t have any contract and had just made the NSW U-19s team, it was all uncertain. I just felt like I had to do a degree, get it under my belt and I didn’t have to worry about that part of my life.”There’s nothing like a great landing – it’s a great feeling. But I don’t think there’s anything in the world like scoring a hundred or winning a big title for your team. Cricket has always taken that mantle.”Perhaps having not piloted for a while he’d better not fly that plane to London after all. But if he performs against Sri Lanka A, he might just earn a passenger’s ticket.

Mahela Jayawardene is showing the world that an orthodox approach can be wildly successful in Twenty20. Jayawardene has scored 279 runs at 139.50 in Sri Lanka’s first three games and his unbeaten 98 off 56 balls was responsible for a heavy Super Eight defeat of West Indies on Friday.While most batsmen try to muscle every shot in Twenty20, Jayawardene has been able to succeed with a more traditional approach and still own a strike-rate of 163.15. “I haven’t changed a lot but, having said that, I am playing a few more different shots than I am used to in one-day or Test cricket because of different tactics,” Jayawardene said after the win. “You tend to analyse and see what works for you and what doesn’t.”Jayawardene, 32, is also showing you don’t have to be a young shot-maker to excel. “I am enjoying it,” he said of opening the batting. “For me it was about me pushing myself with my technique and ability to see how it would suit for me to play T20 cricket.”Batting in the middle was a challenge, I adapted and I did different things but I think opening the batting has given me much more freedom to go out and express myself – guys need to find that.”Trevor Bayliss, the coach, praised Jayawardene’s mature approach, which will be on display again on Sunday when his side plays Australia. “Opening in the 20-over game is really one of the only spots you can make a big score from,” Bayliss said. “We have got a guy [Jayawardene] here who is used to making big scores, knows how to go about making big scores, not only in the shorter version but in Test matches as well.”Jayawardene narrowly missed becoming the first batsman to score two Twenty20 international centuries after giving away the strike to his fresher team-mates in the final overs. “At that point I couldn’t even get the ball out of the 30-yard circle I was that tired,” he said. “I wasn’t focused on the hundred but on getting as many runs as we could.”

Luke Ronchi has capped his strong comeback season by winning the Laurie Sawle Medal as Western Australia’s Player of the Year. Ronchi, who has appeared in four ODIs, was dropped at the end of the 2008-09 campaign but forced his way back and finished on 44 votes, 15 ahead of Shaun Marsh.Ronchi was the Warriors’ leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield with 716 at 47.73, including three centuries, and he was tied with Chris Hartley as the most successful gloveman in the competition with 44 dismissals. He was also a useful contributor in the one-day and Twenty20 tournaments, which helped him win the Players’ Choice nomination.Michael Hussey was recognised as the state’s most outstanding player across all levels, which earned him the Gold Cup for the fourth time in five years. The opener Wes Robinson collected the Excalibur award for the player who best upholds the Spirit of the Warriors.Mitchell Marsh gained the Future Legend prize after a summer in which he was a regular of the state teams and captained Australia in their Under-19 World Cup win. Rene Farrell became the first player to win back-to-back Zoe Goss Medals for the most outstanding female cricketer of the season.

Deccan Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist is confident of reworking the magic that helped them lift the title in the second season of the IPL. He believed the team spirit and the new inclusions in the squad would be crucial in ensuring success again. “We’ve got a great bond that is a legacy of last year’s victory,” Gilchrist told the . “It’s certainly something that will be an asset for us.”The defending champions had purchased Kemar Roach, the West Indies fast bowler, for $720,000 during the auction in January and also recruited Mitchell Marsh, who led Australia Under-19 team to success in the World Cup.”We are very excited about the new players,” Gilchrist said. “I am looking forward to playing positive and entertaining cricket again. We’ve made up for the loss of [fast bowler] Fidel Edwards with the inclusion of Kemar Roach – he was very impressive during West Indies’ series in Australia. Then there is young Mitchell Marsh, an exciting talent who has captained the Australian Under-19 team to the World Cup triumph recently.”Marsh is a hard-hitting batsman and a good bowler. We’ve got some superb youngsters among the local players as well – Monish Mishra and Rahul Sharma to name a couple, have been very impressive during our practice sessions.”However, Gilchrist said it may be a while before Deccan hit top gear with the entire squad unavailable initially. “We do not have the whole squad together for the first couple of games. The Indian players are sort of on-and-off owing to commitments in domestic matches. It’s a little bit tight but we will be fine once we get into the tournament.”Gilchrist, along with fellow-Australian Matthew Hayden of the Chennai Super Kings, were among the foreign players who had confirmed their participation for the third edition early, and he dismissed security fears surrounding the tournament. “I’ve been here for six days and feel very comfortable with the security arrangements,” Gilchrist said. “Obviously, once the tournament gets underway, I’ve got no doubt the IPL will be doing all that it can to create a secure environment.”However, he was disheartened that Hyderabad will not host any matches. Hyderabad, Deccan’s home ground, will not be hosting any matches in the third season of the tournament following a decision of the league to shift all matches scheduled to be held in Andhra Pradesh. The move was perceived as a response to the sporadic violence that has hit the region due to a separatist movement in the state. According to the revised schedule, Deccan would be playing their home games across three venues in Mumbai, Nagpur and Cuttack.”It is extremely disappointing that we won’t be playing in front of the home crowd, that’s frustrating. I do feel for the Hyderabadi people,” he said. “But I don’t see that as a negative about how we will go about our cricket. We will try and focus on the grounds where we are going to play.”Deccan begin their campaign with the IPL opener against Kolkata Kinight Riders at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai on March 12.

Leeward Islands hit back superbly to gain the initiative at the end of a see-saw day against Combined Colleges and Campuses in St Lucia. Left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh tore through the top and middle orders – he finished with a maiden five-for – to leave Leewards reeling at 85 for 7 at one stage. But wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton contributed an invaluable 98, adding 122 with Lionel Baker to rescue Leewards and post a respectable 227. Baker, in CCC’s response, was lethal with the ball, taking 3 for 14 to rattle the top order. He was backed up by legspinner Anthony Martin, who took two wickets in his first over, to reduce CCC to 36 for 5 at stumps, still 191 adrift.Guyana got themselves into a comfortable position against Windward Islands in St George’s, reaching 239 for 3 courtesy unbeaten half-centuries from Assad Fudadin and captain Ramnaresh Sarwan. Offspinner Shane Shillingford took all three wickets to fall on the day, and had Guyana in a spot of a bother at 95 for 3. But Fudadin and Sarwan added 144 in a patient stand to turn the game in Guyana’s favour. Sarwan, who finished the day on 81, reached his half-century before Fudadin, pulling medium-pacer Delorn Johnson for a boundary. He had been dropped on 11 by Miles Bascombe, a lapse Windwards were left to rue at stumps.Centuries from opener Brenton Parchment and Danza Hyatt put Jamaica in a strong position against Trinidad and Tobago at St Andrew’s. Jamaica reached 348 for 7 at stumps, though they would have expected to fare far better after their openers had put together a partnership of 200. Legspinner Imran Khan took much of the credit for the T&T fightback, grabbing five for 101 to undermine an intimidating opening stand. Jamaica lost three wickets for 40 after Parchment and Hyatt’s association but Horace Miller’s 66 stabilised the innings. However, there was another burst of wickets, this time four falling for 40 as Imran chipped his way through the line-up to leave Jamaica a touch disappointed at stumps.