Sri Lanka's slow bowlers spun a web around South Africa who collapsed for a meagre 126 to concede a significant first innings lead on a spin-dominated second day of the opening Test.
Sri Lanka were made to work hard for an 82-run win over Scotland to top Group B
Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews was on Wednesday dropped from their limited-overs squad to face England next month, two days after the country's cricket board asked him to relinquish his captaincy in the shorter formats of the game.
The tourists reached the close at 42 for one in their reply, a deficit of 316 runs that they will seek to wipe out on a slow pitch on day three in the first match of a two-Test series.
Jadeja sent a message asking for declaration as he wanted his side to exploit the variable bounce
Pakistan are traditionally good against spinners but Babar Azam and Co. would take the likes of promising Dunith Wellalage and company lightly at their peril.
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has been included in the 16-man squad for the second Test of the three-match series against India which begins on Thursday after recovering from illness.
New Zealand were bowled out for 249 in the first session but Sri Lanka struggled to get going during Patel's spells and finished on 227-7, trailing by 22 runs.
Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls both scored double centuries and shared a partnership of 363 as New Zealand flayed Sri Lanka's bowling to rack up an imposing 580/4 declared on the second day of the second Test.
This is his 'Test' and for Kohli, a century to mark a 'century' is something he would be craving
Sri Lankan cricketers resumed training as they begun their 12-day Residential Training Camp in Colombo on Monday, returning to action after a gap of nearly two and half months following the coronavirus pandemic. After England and West Indies, Sri Lanka became the third cricket playing nation and the first Asian country to resume players training after coronavirus enforced break.
Sri Lanka's openers shared a fluent century stand to lead their side to 162 for one in reply to England's 416 on the second day of the third and final Test at Lord's on Friday.
Kusal Mendis remained unbeaten on 166 and combined in a fourth-wicket partnership of 196 with Asela Gunaratne to put Sri Lanka on course for a big first innings total against Bangladesh on the first day of the opening Test at Galle on Tuesday.
New Zealand's campaign has hit a disheartening flatline after their early domination and the Kiwis will have to rediscover their bowling mojo for a World Cup reboot when they face knocked-out Sri Lanka in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The hosts, who put up their best batting show in the series so far were all-out for 386 in the second innings despite twin centuries from opener Dimuth Karunaratne (141) and No 3 Kusal Mendis (110).
Dom Bess claimed five wickets as England dismissed hosts Sri Lanka for 135
West Indies, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka will enter the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 Qualifier high on confidence
Du Plessis also put on a record seventh wicket stand against Sri Lanka of 133 with Keshav Maharaj (73), who went to his highest Test score before he was the last batsman out.
Sri Lanka's late order batsmen held their nerve to beat Pakistan by two wickets and level the series in a match in which fortunes swung from one side to another in Dubai.
England beat Sri Lanka by 211 runs inside four days in the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at the Galle International Stadium on Friday.
Images from Friday's World Cup match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Chester-le-Street.
Kusal Mendis remained unbeaten on a match-high 86 to help Sri Lanka weather a wobbly morning and reach 116 for four at lunch on the third day of the bowler-dominated first Test against Australia on Thursday.
Sarfraz Ahmed will continue as Pakistan captain at the World Cup in May despite serving a suspension for breaching the anti-racism code, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani said on Tuesday.
Opener David Warner is still looking for his first Test hundred against Sri Lanka while Smith has managed only one century in his last 18 Tests.
Keshav Maharaj claimed a career-best eight for 116 to prevent Sri Lanka from making the most of a strong start and limiting them to 277 for nine on the opening day of the second and final Test on Friday.
Sri Lankan batsmen need to play more sweep and reverse sweep shots against Indian spinners to negotiate the turn and bounce if they wish to save the ongoing second Test in Colombo.
Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis scored centuries as Sri Lanka crushed the West Indies by 161 runs in the second One-Day International in Hambantota on Wednesday to clinch the series. Chasing 346 for victory, the West Indies were bowled out for 184 in 39.1 overs, wrist spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Lakshan Sandakan taking three wickets each.
Pakistan's teenage fast bowler Naseem Shah led the hosts' recovery against Sri Lanka on a riveting opening day as Test cricket returned to the country on Wednesday for the first time since a militant attack in 2009.
England face fellow strugglers Sri Lanka in a must-win World Cup match on Thursday.
An injury-hit Pakistan will have the tough task of taming a high-spirited Sri Lanka when they lock horns in a virtual semi-final match in the Asia Cup 2023 match on Thursday.
IMAGES from Asia Cup Super 4 match played between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Colombo on Saturday.
According to a statement from the ICC, "the venue has received one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process".
Survival will be foremost in Bangladesh's mind whereas Sri Lanka will aim for a winning start when they cross swords in the second Super 4 match of the Asia Cup in Colombo on Saturday.
Moeen Ali scored a majestic century as England amassed an impressive first-innings total by lunch on Day Two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Durham.
Vihari, Gill and Iyer have all played Tests for India in the absence of regular players and Rohit said a decision on the composition of the side against Sri Lanka was yet to be made.
Bowlers dominated the day with 16 wickets falling in the entire day.
England took charge of the first Test after James Anderson and Stuart Broad took nine wickets between them in favourable conditions for seam bowling to shoot out Sri Lanka for 91 after Jonny Bairstow's excellent knock at Headingley on Friday.
Images from Day 3 in the first Test between India and Sri Lanka, in Mohali, on Sunday.
Australia opener David Warner became the fifth batsman at the World Cup to get an unexpected reprieve after he dragged a ball on to his stump but the impact failed to dislodge the zing bails in Sunday's match against India.
South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs
