Selectors look to experience for Sri Lanka

	Umar Gul is among the experienced group set to return to the Pakistan Test team against Sri Lanka © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Umar Gul | Wahab Riaz Series/Tournaments: Sri Lanka tour of United Arab Emirates Teams: Pakistan

Pakistan may shift their focus back to experience to take on Sri Lanka in the home series in the United Arab Emirates, according to chief selector Mohsin Khan. Khan hinted the bowling attack was likely to be strengthened after testing new players against Zimbabwe.

"We can't just go out [to play Sri Lanka] with the similar combination as it [ the Zimbabwe tour] was just a test for our back-up lot for future prospects," Khan, told ESPNcricinfo. "Indeed it was a successful experimentation but at the same time we are wary of the opposition as Sri Lanka are a tough side to play.

"[Finding talent] is an ongoing process and the emphasis is currently on finding players with good fielding ability."

The Pakistan squad for the recent series against Zimbabwe was an experimental one, with the bowling attack in particular featuring several new names and missing some senior players.

Seasoned fast-bowlers Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed and Wahab Riaz, who have been Pakistan's three premier bowlers in recent times, were rested, with Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Aizaz Cheema and Junaid Khan making up the pace attack.

There were changes in the spin department as well: left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman was rested while legspinner Yasir Shah was called up.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan also said the bowling combination needed some changes before the series.

"Senior players have their own importance and we have to go with the [them] when playing Sri Lanka," Misbah told reporters on the sidelines of ongoing Twenty20 Championship in Karachi. "The major goal was to induct youngsters in the side [for the Zimbabwe series] to have a tested lot in the back-up, since we are in the transition process.

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England denied Rose Bowl win by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara

Third Test, The Rose Bowl (day five):

England 377-8 dec drew with Sri Lanka 184 & 334-5

Match scorecard

Sangakkara's 25th Test century was his first in England

Kumar Sangakkara's maiden Test century in England denied Andrew Strauss's side victory on the final day of the third Test at the Rose Bowl.

After Sri Lanka had resumed on 112-3, 81 behind, Sangakkara (119) shared 65 with nightwatchman Rangana Herath (35).

Herath eventually fell lbw to Graeme Swann before Thilan Samaraweera (87 no) added 141 more with his captain.

Sri Lanka were 334-5, 141 ahead, when rain arrived at tea, leaving England to settle for a draw and a 1-0 series win.

England will rue the early chances they missed to dismiss Herath, with Strauss dropping a chance at slip off James Anderson and the Lancashire paceman missing with a shy at the stumps when the batsman was well short of his ground.

At the other end, Sangakkara took advantage of some below-par England seam bowling by punctuating some careful leaves with elegant drives through the covers and down the ground.

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Nadal's grip on title and Federer tightens

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Rafael Nadal of Spain bites the trophy as he poses during a ceremony after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland during their men's final at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris June 5, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Vincent Kessler

By Mark Meadows

PARIS | Mon Jun 6, 2011 2:25am EDT

(Reuters) - Rafa Nadal had doubted he could seal a sixth French Open title having started in shaky form and with rivals looking imperious, but the Spaniard need not have worried after triumphing with another claycourt masterclass.

His 7-5 7-6 5-7 6-1 victory over his great rival, the in-form Roger Federer, in Sunday's final was a microcosm of the Spaniard's tournament as he equalled Bjorn Borg's record for Roland Garros men's singles crowns.

Ice cool Swede Borg won his six titles in eight years while Nadal has reached that mark in seven and his delight was clear as he sank to his knees on the court that since debuting in 2005 has become a private stage for his audacious skills.

This year had not all been plain sailing though.

The top seed, who has clung on to the world number one spot under pressure from Novak Djokovic, slumped 5-2 down in the first set just as he was two sets to one down in the first round against John Isner in his first five-set match at Roland Garros.

Both times Nadal refused to budge and roared back despite the majority of the crowd supporting the underdog.

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Dilshan sets record before weather halts Sri Lanka

Second Test, Lord's (day three):

Sri Lanka 372-3 v England 486 all out

Match scorecard

Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan tormented England's bowlers throughout his innings

Tillakaratne Dilshan scored a record-breaking 193 as Sri Lanka closed in on England's first innings total of 486 on a weather-affected third day of the second Test.

The captain made the highest score by a Sri Lankan at Lord's and helped the touring side reach 372-3 before rain and bad light brought a premature end to play.

In truth, Dilshan's task was made easy by some wayward bowling from England's seamers, who fired an alarming number of deliveries down the leg side and never really built enough pressure to unsettle their opponents despite plenty of evidence that the ball was swinging under heavy cloud cover

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Dhoni and Gambhir lead India to World Cup glory

India 277 for 4 (Gambhir 97, Dhoni 91*) beat Sri Lanka 274 for 6 (Jayawardene 103*, Sangakkara 48) by six wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

MS Dhoni played a masterful captain's innings to steer his side to World Cup success © Associated Press Enlarge

Twenty-eight years on from the match that transformed the history of world cricket, India recaptured the crown that Kapil Dev and his men first lifted at Lord's in 1983, and this time they did so in their very own back yard. An iron-willed 97 from Gautam Gambhir was matched for intensity by the finest captain's innings since Ricky Ponting in Johannesburg eight years ago, as MS Dhoni trumped a poetic century from Mahela Jayawardene to pull off the highest run-chase ever achieved in a World Cup final.

Against a triumphant backdrop at the Wankhede Stadium, victory was sealed by six wickets with 10 balls to spare, as Dhoni - who had promoted himself to No. 5 to heap extra lashings of responsibility onto his own shoulders - rushed through the gears as the victory target drew nearer. With 15 required from 17 balls, he flicked Sri Lanka's only true threat, Lasith Malinga, through midwicket for consecutive boundaries, before smoking Nuwan Kulasekara over long-on to finish on 91 not out from 79 balls, and spark the most delirious scenes of celebration ever seen on the subcontinent.

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The Real War Begins Tommorrow

	Who will hold it for real tomorrow? © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Analysis : Battle of the wicketkeeper captains Analysis : It's all about remaining in the present - Dhoni Matches: India v Sri Lanka at Mumbai Series/Tournaments: ICC Cricket World Cup Teams: India | Sri Lanka

The defending champions didn't make it, the mercurial outsiders stumbled, the strong contender choked, the Ashes winners ran out of gas, and after six weeks of high drama, we have come to this: the first all-Asian World-Cup final. And they deserve to be there: five of the top six run-getters, two out of top five wicket-takers, the fielder with the most catches and the wicketkeeper with the most dismissals will all be on show. The two teams have rallied around two of the best modern-day captains: MS Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara.

Sangakkara is a fiercely ambitious man. Arjuna Ranatunga was almost the freedom fighter, infusing self-respect and clearing the colonial hangover, Mahela Jayawardene was the astute captain who brought so much tactical nous and cricketing intelligence, and Sangakkara is trying to add ruthlessness. Ranatunga pushed the boys to become men, Jayawardene made the men self-aware, and Sangakkara is trying to turn them ruthless. The evolutionary journey has produced a World Cup triumph, a runners-up finish and now, a chance to win it for the second time.

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Sri Lanka edge NZ to reach final

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final, Colombo: Sri Lanka 220-5 beat New Zealand 217 by five wickets
Match scorecard

Highlights - Sri Lanka through to final

Sri Lanka reached the World Cup final after holding their nerve to beat a spirited New Zealand by five wickets.

The Black Caps looked set for a competitive score in Colombo, but they collapsed from 192-4 to 217 all out.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (73) and Kumar Sangakkara (54) sent Sri Lanka charging towards victory before a flurry of wickets brought the match to life.

But Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews kept their cool to see the hosts home with 13 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka, the 1996 winners and 2007 finalists, will face the winner of Wednesday's showdown between India and Pakistan in Saturday's final in Mumbai.

And although they will be leaving the comfort of home soil, Sangakkara's men will go into the showpiece in confident mood, and all the better for having had their mettle tested by the ever-gutsy Kiwis.

When Chamara Silva was dismissed to leave the co-hosts 185-5 in the 43rd over, their score was almost identical to New Zealand's at the same point in their innings.

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