Cricket: 'Warney' spins into the 400 club

LONDON - Shane Warne became only the sixth bowler to take 400 test victims as he claimed six wickets yesterday to leave a spirited England side battling to avoid the follow-on in the fifth and final Ashes test.

The home team, in reply to Australia's 641 for four declared, finished the third day on 409 for eight, still needing 33 to force Australia to bat again. Mark Ramprakash was 124 not out after a 59-run stand with No 10 Darren Gough.

Warne reached his historic mark during the afternoon session with his fourth wicket, as Alec Stewart was caught behind at The Oval.

The Australian leg-spinner punched the air in delight before being mobbed by team-mates.

With the next ball, the applause and back-slapping began again as Andy Caddick fell lbw.

Warne later took his tally to 402 with the wicket of Jimmy Ormond.

Australia, who claimed the Ashes after winning the opening three tests, lead the series 3-1. There was one consolation for England as Ramprakash completed only the second century of his turbulent test career.

With Gough at the other end and the less-than-reliable Phil Tufnell to come, Ramprakash reached 99 with an extra-cover drive for four before sweeping the leg-spinner away for another boundary.

He threw his arms up in delight and was quickly hugged by his partner. He has had questions asked of his temperament throughout his stop-start 46-match test career. Ramprakash's only other century, in 81 test innings, was against West Indies in 1997-98. Three other England batsmen - Marcus Trescothick, captain Nasser Hussain and Usman Afzaal - made half-centuries.

* In Kandy, embattled Indian captain Sourav Ganguly struck an unbeaten 98 as the tourists won the second test against Sri Lanka by seven wickets.

Ganguly passed 50 for the first time in 14 innings and Rahul Dravid made 75 to steer the injury-hit tourists past the victory target of 264 just before tea on the fourth day, levelling the series at 1-1.

Ganguly just missed his eighth test century when Mohammad Kaif flicked Chaminda Vaas to fine leg for the winning runs. Vice captain Dravid added 61 for the second wicket with opener Sadagopan Ramesh and 91 for the third with Ganguly. It was a remarkable win by India, who were without five top players through injury. The third and deciding test starts in Colombo on Wednesday. Sri Lanka won the first test at Galle by 10 wickets.

- AGENCIES