Cricket: Zimbabwe spinners keep team on toes

GALLE - Zimbabwe's spinners fought back to restrict Sri Lanka to 243 for six on the opening day of the third and final test.

The Zimbabweans, who have already lost the series after being well beaten in the opening two tests, had the best of the final session, with Grant Flower and Douglas Marillier both claiming two wickets at the Galle International Stadium.

Mahela Jayawardene top-scored with 76 and Marvan Atapattu made 50.

Sri Lanka had looked in control at tea, scoring 101 in the second session on their way to 175 for three before being checked.

* In Dhaka, Danish Kaneria returned career-best figures of seven for 77 as Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh by an innings and 178 runs in the first test.

The leg-spinner tormented the batsmen with tight bowling as Bangladesh were shot out for 152 soon after tea on the third day, their ninth defeat in 10 tests so far.

Bangladesh were 330 behind on the first innings after Pakistan, 436 for six overnight, declared at 490 for nine before lunch.

Kaneria, 21, took 12 wickets in the Asian test championship match against Bangladesh at Multan last year, during which he registered his previous best of 6-42.

- AGENCIES