Australia in South Africa

Second Test, Cape Town, day two (stumps):
South Africa 7-0 and 239; Australia 382.

Adam Gilchrist recorded his sixth Test century to put Australia in a commanding position at the end of the second day of the second Test in Cape Town.

The Aussie wicket-keeper continued his remarkable run of form as he struck a brilliant 138 not out.

Australia were bowled out for 382, a lead of 143 over South Africa's first-innings total of 239.

South Africa were 7-0 in their second innings when bad light stopped play.

Gilchrist and Shane Warne shared a Newlands record seventh-wicket stand of 132, and put Australia back in the driving seat after a mid-innings wobble.
Match report

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South Africa are rapidly growing sick of the sight of Adam Gilchrist's flashing blade.

Already in this short series he has hammered 342 runs in two innings, and the home side are still waiting to dismiss him.

Gilchrist became the scorer of the fastest Test double century of all time in Johannesburg. And at Newlands, he went to three figures off just 91 deliveres.

"It was important to me to back up after a big innings. I've tended to miss out straight after before," Gilchrist said.

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Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist believes the radar gun which has sanctioned Brett Lee as the fastest bowler in world cricket got it wrong.

Asked whether Lee's fastest delivery seemed as quick as the speed gun said it was, Gilchrist said "no".

"He may well have been quick, but I don't think that ball was," said Gilchrist, who took four catches, including two screamers. "With all due respect to the sponsors of the speed gun, I'm not 100 per cent sure of how accurate it is.

"Sometimes you take a ball and you think 'gee, that was really quick', and you look around and it was 145 or something.

"Other times you look up and see a high figure up there and you don't think it was that quick. "If it's the fastest one ever recorded, well done, Brett. I do think he bowls some balls that are quicker than what it shows, too."

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South Africa's sporting public last night erupted in celebration of a major cricketing milestone - getting Matthew Hayden out for less than 100.

Hayden, questing to join Sir Donald Bradman as the only batsman to score centuries in five successive Tests, fell for "only" 63 as Australia moved aggressively to 2-152 at lunch on day two in response to South Africa's 239, adding 2-106 in the session.

It was a fair session for the home side and could have been better had not captain Mark Boucher missed Mark Waugh on 10 with a leg-side stumping chance off wrist spinner Paul Adams.

Asian Test Championship

Asian Test Championship final, Lahore, day four:
Pakistan 234 all out & 248-5; Sri Lanka 1st innings 528 all out.

Frequent rain showers - including one or two really heavy ones - meant Saturday was a thoroughly frustrating one for Sri Lanka.

Pakistan began the day in dire straits - but in the 34 overs of play possible, they managed to eke out 55 runs. Crucially, they also avoided losing any wickets.

Inzamam-ul-Haq, in an uncharacteristically patient knock, is still there on 72, made off 210 balls.

Shoaib Malik is on 19, having seen out 125 deliveries.     Match report

England in New Zealand

Despite enduring a dour last day in the field, Nasser Hussain insisted he was pleased with England's overall performance in their final warm-up game before the Test series in New Zealand.

"I'm very satisfied after this match," Hussain said. "It was important to get some big runs on the board and to get away from the one-day mentality.

England took just two New Zealand second innings wickets on the final day after declaring at 432-9, for a lead of 220.

"We bowled well first up and in the second innings the wicket flattened out but we stuck at it well," insisted the England captain.

Miscellaneous

Suspended NSW batsman Graeme Rummans has revealed how a message of support from Test captain Steve Waugh lifted his spirits after the "nightmare" of returning a positive drugs test.

Rummans was at Waitara Oval watching his St George team-mates play grade cricket yesterday as he attempts to pick up the pieces after receiving a one-month suspension and $2000 fine for using the banned substance probenecid.

"I've had a lot of support, including the Waugh brothers," said the 23-year-old.

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