New deal for McGrath

Yorkshire captain Anthony McGrath has signed a new three-year contract to stay at Headingley.

The 33-year-old is entering his benefit season with the White Rose county, almost 14 years after making his debut.

The Bradford-born right-hander played a leading role for Yorkshire last season, and finished as their top-scorer in Twenty20 action.

"I'm delighted to stay at the club for the next three years," McGrath said. "I have enjoyed a fantastic career here so far and I think the next three years will be an exciting time for the club and for me, especially in my new role as captain."

Stewart Regan, Yorkshire's chief executive, added: "It's great news that one of our most senior players and our captain has chosen to commit himself to the club for another three years.

"Under Anthony's leadership I'm confident that 2009 will be a successful year for the team and the Yorkshire County Cricket Club."

Mahela not worried about form

Sri Lanka's outgoing captain Mahela Jayawardene has said that he is not worried about his form with the bat.

Jayawardene, who will step down as Sri Lanna captain after the two-Test series against Pakistan, said he does not have the runs to show but he was hitting the ball well.

"Generally we tend to evaluate a batsman's form by the runs he scores. But to me I see how he is playing the ball and I have been comfortable in the last few months although the runs have not flowed from the bat," Jayawardene told a news conference.

"I just want to go out there tomorrow and try to execute my batting plans properly and get the runs that matter. But I would not say I am worried," he said.

Under pressure to come out of the prolonged bad patch, Jayawardene said he would be treating the series just like any other series.

Jayawardene has to come to terms to quitting captaincy

Besides, Jayawardene said he had come to terms with the fact that he would quit captaincy after this series.

"It is really not on my mind now that I am going to leave the captaincy after the series. The other players are now reconciled with my decision and we are ready for the match," he said.

He said he enjoyed leading his country and would love to go out on a winning note. "But I think the time for this talk about giving me a good farewell as captain is over. It is going to be a tough challenge out there and we need to perform as a team and get our basics right to do well," he said.

Jayawardene felt it really did not matter that Pakistan has not played a Test for the last 14 months.

"They are always a dangerous side and they have a new captain in Younis Khan who is a very seasoned player. So it is going to be a hard series and we are not underestimating them at all," he said.

Sri Lanka have not lost a Test series in Pakistan since 1995 but their last two Test defeats have both come at the National Stadium here.

Jayawardene said Sri Lanka had not decided about their team combination as yet but insisted they were not under any pressure because of the recent one-day series defeat at home to India .

"Look that is one-day cricket and our Test side is very different so this is a new ball game and we are looking ahead to a good match," he added.

Aus clinch a thriller

Australia earned a thrilling one-run win over New Zealand in the one-off Twenty20 international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Set 151 for victory, New Zealand fell just short of their target when Nathan McCullum smashed a four and a six from the final two deliveries of the match.

Brendon McCullum (61) top-scored for the tourists, while Nathan Bracken finished with 1-16 from four overs.

David Hussey (41) was the pick of the Australia batsmen, with Daniel Vettori (1-23) outstanding for New Zealand.

The Black Caps had looked on course for victory with the destructive Brendon McCullum at the crease in the penultimate over.

The wicketkeeper put on 71 runs with Neil Broom in an enterprising third-wicket stand before his partner fell for 36 top-edging a James Hopes delivery to Callum Ferguson with the score at 73-3.

However, the complexion of the match changed courtesy a moment of inspiration from Adam Voges when McCullum launched a Ben Hilfenhaus length ball down the ground in the 19th over.

With the ball set to fly for six, long-on fielder Voges made the catch on the boundary, but his body's momentum took him over the rope.

However, just before he crossed the boundary, the Western Australian threw the ball back into play, regaining his composure before sprinting on to the field to complete a quite outstanding catch, a dismissal confirmed by the third umpire Rod Tucker.

Needing 14 from the final over, bowled by Bracken, New Zealand's hopes of victory looked to have ended when Grant Elliott (23) was run out off the first delivery.

The next three went for just two runs, leaving the tourists needing 12 runs to win from the final two balls.

Nathan McCullum promptly slapped them for a four and a six, leaving New Zealand agonisingly short of their winning target.

With Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke or Mike Hussey all absent, Australia stand-in captain Brad Haddin won the toss and elected to bat at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The wicketkeeper made a flying start alongside David Warner at the top of the innings, racing to 34 inside four overs before he was caught and bowled by Tim Southee.

Warner and Ferguson fell soon after before Hussey steadied the innings with a composed 41 off 39 deliveries, ably assisted by Voges (23), Cameron White and James Hopes (both 16).

Aussies under pressure

Australia will be a touring team under pressure when they arrive in South Africa Monday, according to South African captain Graeme Smith.

Australia will play three Test matches, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals on their two-month tour.

South Africa will be favourites after winning both the Test and one-day series in Australia recently.

It is a position with which the host nation will be comfortable, Smith said in the South African Sunday Times, although he warned that he expected an Australian backlash.

"It's going to be an unusual place to be for a South African team," said Smith.

"It's a great feeling and a reward for all the sacrifices everyone has made. But we know that Australians are very competitive people and they don't like to be on the back foot. The only way we can keep them there is by playing better cricket again."

The side that Ricky Ponting will lead is one of the most inexperienced Australian touring parties in recent history and Smith said they would lack the confidence that previous sides had on the second leg of the back-to-back tours that have been the norm for South Africa-Australia contests.

"On previous tours they have come here with confidence having had the foot on us right through the summer there and they've just carried it on. Now, even their experienced guys will come here in a different frame of mind, while the younger players are coming here for the first time."

Smith said the Australians faced several selection issues while South Africa had already announced they would field the same starting eleven, with the addition of left-arm pace bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe, that won the first two Tests in Australia before losing the third game.

"They're a touring team under pressure and it's never easy," he said. "If we can play well in the first Test maybe we can open up a few cracks."

One good omen for the Australians is that they will travel to the small university town of Potchefstroom, an hour's drive west of Johannesburg, immediately after their arrival.

With good training facilities and no big-city distractions, Potchefstroom was chosen by Australia as their pre-tournament base before the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. They went on to lift the title without losing a match.

After three days of training, the Australians will open the tour with a three-day match against South Africa A in Potchefstroom

Clarke doubtful for series-decider

A back injury has left Michael Clarke doubtful for Friday's series-deciding final ODI between Australia and New Zealand.

Team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris confirmed Clarke has soreness in his thoracic spine. The injury is different from the lower-back pain that has troubled Clarke in the past.

It flared up during Australia's six-wicket victory over New Zealand in Adelaide on Tuesday when he opened the batting and bowled eight overs.

"Don't think he will be able to play"

"It is not the lower back, where he usually has problems, but his upper back. He's sore and it's quite painful and I don't think he will be able to play," Kountouris said.

"But this type of thing doesn't hang around for long. (It) comes and goes quickly, so we expect him to get better fairly soon," he was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

Clarke, due to captain Australia in the Twenty20 match against New Zealand in Sydney on Sunday, will be given time until Friday morning to prove his fitness.

If Clarke's condition lingers, it could force Ricky Ponting to play in the Twenty20 International despite he and Mike Hussey being rested by the selectors from that match.

SL snap India streak

Tillakaratne Dilshan top-scored with a solid 97 as Sri Lanka prevented an Indian clean sweep with an emphatic 68-run win in the fifth and final one-day international here on Sunday.

The hosts posted 320-8 following impressive knocks from opener Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara (84), and then dismissed the tourists for 252 to register their first victory in the series after four successive defeats.

It also ended India's nine-match winning streak, beginning with a 5-0 series victory over England at home last year.

"The wicket played a major role and it allowed us to push the score," said Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.

"Credit to India, they played really well in the series. We were up against a really good side."

India's batting came under pressure for the first time after the hosts made their highest total of the series, but only Yuvraj Singh posed a real threat with a fighting 62-ball 73.

Debutant Ravindra Jadeja (60 not out) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (53) also defied the Sri Lankan attack, but their efforts came too late.

"We won the series, but it is never easy playing in Sri Lanka," said Dhoni.

"Sri Lanka played brilliantly today. Our bowling was not so strong."

The hosts never allowed India to build a big partnership with a disciplined bowling performance, with seamers Nuwan Kulasekara and Farveez Maharoof, and spinners Muttiah Muralidaran and Ajantha Mendis taking two wickets apiece.

Sri Lanka strengthened their position after reducing India to 85-4 in the opening 15 overs, with Kulasekara removing in-form opener Gautam Gambhir (13) and Suresh Raina (no score).

Sri Lanka virtually made sure of the win when record-breaking Muralidaran held a return catch to dismiss Yuvraj in his third over. The Indian hit one six and 11 fours.

Muralidaran, who became the highest wicket-taker in one-dayers on Thursday, then trapped Yusuf Pathan leg-before for three runs.

Sri Lanka's top order earlier flourished for the first time in the series, with Dilshan, Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya (37) dominating the Indian attack on a flat track.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sangakkara smashed one six and eight fours in his 70-ball 84, his third successive half-century.

Sri Lanka were strongly placed at 255-2 in the 42nd over before India struck back with four wickets for just one run, with paceman Ishant Sharma taking two in one over.

Sharma bowled Thilina Kandamby (26) and had Chamara Kapugedera caught behind for no score to peg the hosts back. Dilshan was run out in the same over following a mix-up with Jayawardene.

Maharoof hit a 23-ball 32 with one six and three fours in the closing overs to help his team cross the 300-mark.

Indian captain Dhoni used nine bowlers, including four part-timers, but failed to stem the runs as Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayasuriya batted comfortably against pace and spin.

Jayasuriya exploded with a flurry of boundaries, pulling Sharma for three fours in an over. His cameo saw the hosts race to 66 off just 10 overs.

Sangakkara looked in good form from the beginning, firmly driving and cutting to find various parts of the boundary. He outscored Dilshan during their big stand with his exciting stroke-making.

The wicketkeeper-batsman fell immediately after hoisting part-time spinner Yuvraj for a six over long-on, caught by Rohit Sharma in the deep while attempting another big shot.

Australia stay alive

Brad Haddin hit his maiden century as Australia ended a five-match losing streak with a 32-run win in the third one-day international against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Promoted to open the batting, Haddin made 109 off 114 balls before being run out as the home side totalled 301-9.

They then reduced New Zealand to 183-7 but all-rounder Grant Elliott kept them in the hunt with a superb 115.

He was caught in the 45th over and the Kiwis were eventually all out for 269, but still lead the series 2-1.

Haddin was named man-of-the-match and, reflecting on his innings, he said: "It was a good one, especially with the occasion. We spoke a lot about being the guy to make a difference today and I enjoyed it at the top of the order."

His elevation to the top of the order for the first time since September 2004 was prompted by Australia's decision to cut short skipper Ricky Ponting's two-match break following a six-wicket defeat in Melbourne.

It proved a shrewd move as Haddin and Michael Clarke set them on their way with an opening stand of 135 before Clarke, on 64, drove a ball from Elliott to extra-cover.

Elliott also picked up the wicket of Ponting for 16, caught at deep square leg, but Haddin hit three sixes as he progressed to his century -- although he needed a slice of luck on 75 when Peter Fulton dropped him at long-on.

He was finally run out by fellow wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum as he attempted a quick single, but Mike Hussey (51) and Callum Ferguson (28) added 62 in seven overs for the sixth wicket to keep the score ticking over.

Hussey's half century took only 30 balls and Australia were only three runs short of 300 when he was caught off Kyle Mills at deep mid-wicket.

Iain O'Brien was the most successful bowler with three wickets, but they cost him 68 runs and chasing down such a big total looked a tall order for New Zealand, especially as McCullum was nursing a sore shoulder after being struck by a delivery from Mills.

Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor departed with only 16 on the board and although Elliott and Fulton (40) shared an 80-run partnership before Fulton fell to James Hopes, a collapse followed which reduced from 149-3 to 183-7.

Tim Southee made 17, but it was McCullum, who finally came in at number nine, who finally helped Elliott put the pressure back on Australia.

McCullum hammered Hopes over the offside field for six and also collected two boundaries off the normally reliable Nathan Bracken.

Elliott, meanwhile, responded to being dropped by a diving Adam Voges on 79 with three fours in one over from Bracken, and went to his hundred with a steer to third man for two.

He celebrated by driving Hopes through the covers for his eight four, but the bowler got his revenge four overs later when Hussey took a straightforward catch at backward square leg.

With Elliott gone, it was up to McCullum to try and clinch the series for New Zealand but he was caught by Ponting off Ben Hilfenhaus and although tail-ender Jeetan Patel lofted a six, he was bowled by Bracken half-way through the 48th over as Australia wrapped up the match.

"Dhoni best captain in international cricket"

Former captain Ajit Wadekar feels that MS Dhoni will enjoy a higher success rate than Sourav Ganguly as India captain.

He also said that current skipper Dhoni is the best leader in world cricket at the moment.

Wadekar: Dhoni will break all records

Wadekar, under whose captaincy Indian team won their first series in England and West Indies back in 1971, feels Dhoni will break all records of captaincy.

"The Indian team is lucky to have a captain like him. He is the best captain in the world at the moment. He knows how to get the best out of the team and leads from the front. He is very cool and has tremendous faith on his decisions and squad," Wadekar told PTI in an interview.

The former chief selector said Dhoni will eventually surpass Ganguly as India's most successful captain.

"Definitely Dhoni will become the most successful Indian captain very soon. He will break the record set by Ganguly," he said.

"Definitely Dhoni will become the most successful Indian captain very soon. He will break the record set by Ganguly," he said.

"He does not believe in giving big statments. He is well balanced in dealing with media. He backs young cricketers and never hurt the egos of senior players which is commendable," Wadekar added.

"This team has a chance to win World Cup"

Wadekar said the current team has what it takes to clinch the 2011 World Cup to be held in South Asia.

"This team has got a lot of young blood. It has won matches without senior player. In fact, for the first time in the history of Indian cricket we have a balanced team.

"It has great pacers and spinners, an equally good batting line up and fielders. I think this team has a chance to win the World Cup," he said.

"We are defeating champions in every format of the game. We have pacers and batters who performed well on every pitch including in Australia. No one should have doubt on the their capabilities now," he added.

Kolkata wins bid for Mashrafe

Kolkata Knight Riders bid $ 6 lakh for Bangladeshi allrounder Mashrafe Bin Mortaza to get him in the team for Indian Premiere League, the official Twenty20 league of India.

Mashrafe was the first player up for sale from Pool F, according to cricinfo.com.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians bought Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful for $ 75,000.

With Kolkata bidding with the base price of $50,000 for Mashrafe, Kings XI Punjab entered the race and the bids spiralled slowly towards $400,000 and the auctioneer asked Punjab if they want to go $410,000.

As Kolkata touched the $500,000 mark, Punjab went further at $550,000. Kolkata was the first to bid $600,000 for Mortaza at which point Punjab bowed out of the race.

It was the longest lot in the auction.

Gambhir powers India

Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralidaran completed a record bowling double before a Gautam Gambhir-inspired India scored a challenging 332-5 in the fourth one-day international here on Thursday.

Left-handed opener Gambhir smashed a career-best 150 off 147 balls for his sixth hundred in one-dayers to boost his team's chances of posting their record ninth successive win.

India lead 3-0 in the five-match series, having already beaten England 5-0 at home last year.

Off-spinner Muralidaran, the world's leading bowler in Test cricket, became the highest wicket-taker in one-day internationals when he dismissed Gambhir for his 503rd victim.

Gambhir and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (94) dominated the Sri Lankan attack with a wide range of attacking shots, adding 188 for the second wicket after the early dismissal of in-form Virender Sehwag.

Sehwag, who scored 116 in the last match, contributed just five this time before uppishly driving fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara to Sanath Jayasuriya at mid-off in the third over.

Sri Lanka then had to wait for more than 30 overs for their next success as Gambhir and Dhoni made the most of a mediocre attack on a slow pitch. The hosts' fielding also left a lot to be desired under pressure.

Gambhir was the first to reach his half-century, hoisting seamer Angelo Mathews over long-on for a six. Dhoni also completed his fifty in style, swinging Muralidaran over mid-wicket for a six.

Dhoni, who promoted himself in the batting order, fell six short of his fifth hundred in one-dayers when he mistimed a shot off left-arm spinner Jayasuriya, with Dilhara Fernando taking a one-handed catch at point.

The Indian skipper hit two sixes and four boundaries in his 96-ball knock.

Kulasekara then bowled Yuvraj Singh for five and Yusuf Pathan for no score off successive deliveries to raise his team's hopes of restricting India.

But there was no stopping Gambhir, who reached his century with a lofted four over covers off Kulasekara. He hit one six and 14 fours before being the fifth man out.

India's chance to become No. 2

India can grab number two spot in ICC rankings if they complete 5-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka & Australia lose to New Zealand.

Having already pocketed the series by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series against Sri Lanka, India are within two ratings points of Australia and four behind leaders South Africa (125).

A 5-0 whitewash of Mahela Jayawardene's team may help the Indians topple Australia from the number two spot, provided Ricky Ponting's men, who lost their firsrt ODI against New Zealand, continue their poor shows.

With Dhoni's men touring New Zealand in March where they will play five one-dayers, a lot can change before the April 1 cut off date.

The top side in the ODI Championship will be richer by USD 175,000 with the runners-up getting USD 75,000, the ICC said in a press release.

Current rankings: 1. South Africa (125 points); 2. Australia (123); 3. India (121); 4. New Zealand (115); 5. Pakistan (111); 6. England (108); 7. Sri Lanka (104); 8 West Indies (91); 9. Bangladesh (46); 10. Zimbabwe (23); 11. Ireland (19); 12. Kenya (0).

India eyeing record win

Having clinched the five-match series by taking a 3-0 lead, India will look to maintain the momentum in the fourth ODI.

The win would be a record ninth consecutive win for Team India and by the looks of it the team looks unstoppable.

Although the visitors would ideally like to make a clean sweep of the series, giving an opportunity to the bench players will be their priority in the remaining two games.

Everything has gone well for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and company til now and the team will be keen to keep the momentum going.

The Indian batting has looked far superior than the Sri Lankan batting attack and the bowling has also been much more sharper and disciplined.

New players might get a look in

Dhoni made it clear after the third win that giving reserve players a chance to prove themselves would be his priority rather than the pursuit of the record ninth straight ODI win.

"We are not looking at the record. Rather, we will give chance to players who didn't get a chance to play in the series so far," Dhoni said.

"We are 3-0 up and have already won the series. It gives us an opportunity to play those players. For us, this is the priority. The team is not looking at the record but giving chance to those players," he said.

India humiliated Sri Lanka with a 147-run win under floodlights at the R Premadasa stadium on Tuesday to seal the series. Sri Lanka, however, have only pride to play for in the remaining matches which are of no more than mere academic interest now.

Jayawardene will have to ensure that his team executes the game plan well and wins the next two matches to reclaim their lost confidence ahead of the busy season.

Jayawardene admitted his team was not up to the standard of Dhoni's men and there were some areas which needed immediate attention, especially the bowling which was absolutely off the mark on Tuesday.

"There are certain areas we need to tighten up. Against a good opposition like India, certain things were not up to the standard," he said.

"We'll definitely have a chat with the selectors now but we need our best team to win the next two matches, which is very important to get back the confidence. We have a lot of cricket ahead," he said.

Bowling concern for SL

Bowling would be the main area of concern for the home side after seeing Ferveez Maharoof and Dilhara Fernando perform in the third match returning figures of 7-0-68-0 and 8-0-63-1 respectively.

Other bowlers - Nuwan Kulasekara (10-0-68-0), Ajantha Mendis (9-0-64-1) and Muttiah Muralitharan (10-0-60-1) were also no better.

"I am disappointed with the bowling," Jayawardene said after the match.

Besides, his main weapons Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis will also need to urgently find a way to stop the rampaging Indians.

For the Indians, there are really no major worries and it remains to be seen who are the seniors to be rested for Thursday's match to be played under lights at the SSC.

Umpiring howler claims Sachin again

Sachin Tendulkar has fallen victim to dubious umpiring decisions three times in a row and would be keen to make his presence felt with a substantial contribution.

Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag, the two centurions in the last game, could be rested along with pace spearhead Zaheer Khan who has taken a lot of bowling load in recent times.

Ravindra Jadeja could get a look in, in place of Yuvraj Singh.

Teams (from):

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jaywardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilina Kandamby, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilina Thushara and Angelo Mathews.

Pak players barred from IPL

Pakistan Cricket Board official Asif Suhail said: "We had asked the government for advice and we were suggested not to send our players to India on security grounds."

The auction for foreign players for the second edition of the IPL is scheduled on February 6 and Pakistani leg spinner Danish Kaneria was the most valued player from the country.

Asim Kamal, Yasir Hamid, Mohammad Hafeez and Yasir Arafat were the other Pakistani players, who would have gone under the hammer.

On being asked whether it is a tit for tat reaction by the PCB and the Pakitani government after India's refusal to tour the trouble torn country in January, Suhail sai: "Look, if the Indian government can refuse to send their team to our country, our government too reserves the right to keep our players from travelling to India."

In the first edition of the IPL last year, Pakistan had then skipper Shoaib Malik, Younus Khan, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif participating

Taylor steers Kiwis to a thrilling win

New Zealand managed to clinch a thriller against Australia, winning the first one-dayer by two wickets at Perth.

After bundling out Australia for a mere 181 runs in the first one-dayer at the WACA Ground, New Zealand won the cliff-hanger by two wickets to lead the the five-match ODI series 1-0 on Sunday.

New Zealand lost both the openers -- Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill early. While, Peter Fulton (7) and Grant Elliot (8) followed them to the dressing room as well.

But Ross Taylor came to his team's rescue, playing a patient knock of 64, which ultimately turned out to be decisive and helped his team win the game. He also shared a valuable 62-run partnership with Kyle Mills (26).

However, Australia did well to fight back after returning Taylor.

The world champions, who forfeited their official status as the world's best ODI team following a 4-1 series defeat against South Africa, needed a dominant display with the ball in order to make an immediate return to the top of the one-day international rankings.

A victory today would have moved them back to the top but the Black Caps managed to hold on to their nerves.

Earlier, Mike Hussey (49) was the only Australian batsman to offer any resistance, but his dismissal summed up the home side's batting performance - uncharacteristically chipping a simple catch to mid-off from Iain O'Brien from the first ball of Australia's batting powerplay in the 44th over.

Some late hitting from Mitchell Johnson (20) and Shaun Tait (nine), who put on 27 for the last wicket, gave the score some respectability as they were bowled out for the fourth consecutive game.

Mills takes four for 35

The Kiwis effort was led by new-ball bolwer Kyle Mills, who quickly removed inexperienced openers Shaun Marsh (15) and David Warner (seven), on his way to figures of four for 35.

Australia's cause was not aided by untimely run outs of captain Ricky Ponting (five) and Michael Clarke (12) and when David Hussey was caught down the leg side by Brendon McCullum off the bowling of off-spinner Jeetan Patel, Australia were reeling at 54 for five.

Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin stemmed the tide with a 61-run stand for the sixth wicket, but those runs came at a laboured pace - mainly due to the stifling off-spin of Black Caps skipper Daniel Vettori who conceded just 22 from his 10 overs.

Eventually Haddin's patience broke and he played on to his own stumps after advancing down the wicket to Mills for 31 from 54 balls.

That left Australia 115 for six from 35 overs and while Mike Hussey and James Hopes (18) put on 27 runs to set the scene for a late attack, both fell in the first over of the Australians' batting powerplay, bowled by O'Brien, to further frustrate the home fans.

Nathan Bracken then fell for a duck in the next over when he was trapped lbw by Tim Southee (one for 34).

Johnson and Tait frustrated the visitors briefly in their 27-run stand for the last wicket, but Mills had the final say when he bowled Johnson.

Teams:

Australia: Shaun Marsh, David Warner, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Brad Haddin (wk), James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori (capt), Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien.

Dhoni warns team against complacency

After their second consecutive win, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has warned his team not to be complacent.

Dhoni did not feel the job was done yet despite his team enjoying a 2-0 lead and said he expects the same level of commitment from all the members of the team in the remaining three matches.

"It was tough and we did not have such a game for a long time. We have to be careful as such wins often make us relaxed a bit. We should remember that the series is yet to be won. We want to win the series and for that each of us have to give 100 per cent," Dhoni said after his side's 15-run victory here yesterday.

Although India is just a win away from pocketing the series, he said his team would have to make improvements in some departments of the game in the coming matches.

"Today's game was a tough one during which we have committed some mistakes which we would like to rectify before going for the next match," he said.

"We had couple of run outs. Besides, the bowlers should maintain line and length in the slog overs," he added.

An unflappable Dhoni also admitted that he lost his cool when he found his bowlers clueless during the power plays in the middle of the Sri Lankan innings.

"I lost my cool especially when bowlers got confused with the power plays. I was not myself especially in the second power play," he said.

Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene conceded that India played better cricket and were the deserving winners.

"They (Indians) played better cricket today. It was a good game. They deserve to win. We have also some positives to take. We fought back well. It was a bit too much for Kandamby to finish the match. Myself and Kapugedera should have been there," he said.

"During India innings we gave way too many runs when we were in control. We have to minimise mistakes and raise our game in the remaining matches," Jayawardene added.

India go 2-0 up

Sri Lanka's Thilina Kandamby smashed a solid 93 not out under pressure, but failed to stop India from posting a 15-run victory in the second one-day international here Saturday.

The tourists restricted Sri Lanka to 241 after scoring 256-9 in a day-night match, which was held up for five minutes during the hosts' innings after Indian fielder Ishant Sharma was struck by an object from the stands.

The 20-year-old paceman Sharma (4-57) was the bowling star for India, who now lead 2-0 in the five-match series.

Indian fast bowlers Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar and Sharma did the early damage, exploiting the conditions well under lights during their sharp opening spells to reduce the hosts to 36-3 in the eighth over.

Left-handed Kandamby sustained his team's hopes with a 100-run stand for the fourth wicket with skipper Mahela Jayawardene, who regained form with 52 -- his first half-century in 14 one-dayers.

But the asking rate kept climbing despite impressive knocks from Jayawardene and Kandamby, with Sri Lanka needing 91 to win with six wickets in hand in the last 10 overs.

India strengthened their position when man-of-the-match Sharma removed Chamara Kapugedera (31) and Farveez Maharoof (seven) in successive overs.

Kandamby, playing only his ninth one-dayer, hit nine fours in his 129-ball knock for his second half-century.

India earlier rode on Yuvraj Singh's 66 to post a competitive total after electing to bat.

The middle-order batsman's 38th half-century came after his side had lost three wickets for 83 runs. He steadied the innings with an 85-run stand for the fourth wicket with Suresh Raina (29).

Yuvraj applied himself remarkably well on a slow pitch and reached his half-century in style, driving off-spinner Muttiah Muralidaran through the covers for a four.

Yuvraj hit one six and seven fours in his 88-ball knock before falling to a dubious decision, adjudged leg-before by Sri Lankan umpire Gamini Silva off paceman Nuwan Kulasekara.

The TV replays suggested the batsman had inside-edged the delivery on to his pads.

India managed just 46 in the closing 10 overs as seamer Maharoof (2-40) and Muralitharan did not allow the batsmen to score freely.

Record-seeking Muralidaran went wicketless but conceded only 32 in his 10 tight overs. He is still two wickets short of surpassing former Pakistani paceman Wasim Akram's world record of 502.

India got off to a brisk start as they raced to 83 off 12.2 overs but lost three big wickets in the process.

Virender Sehwag (42) and Gautam Gambhir (27) punished Sri Lanka's new-ball bowlers with their bold strokeplay after the third-over dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar (six), trapped leg-before by Kulasekara.

Kulasekara was replaced by Maharoof after conceding 42 in his opening six overs. Maharoof struck instantly, having Gambir caught behind with his third delivery.

Sehwag's flourish ended when he was caught short of the crease while going for a third run. He hit seven fours in his 26-ball knock.