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Tasmania 322 and 2 for 105 (Watson 56*) trail New South Wales 462 (Bevan 216, Thornely 81, Katich 53) by 35 runs
Scorecard

Michael Bevan blows a kiss on reaching his double-century © Getty Images

Michael Bevan made his highest first-class score to give New South Wales first-innings points in their Pura Cup match against Tasmania at the SCG today.After Bevan guided NSW to a mammoth first-innings total of 426, Tasmania were 2 for 105 in their second innings at stumps on day three, still 35 runs behind NSW.Resuming on 110, Bevan made it to 216 when he was caught by Sean Clingeleffer off Dan Marsh. Bevan faced 416 balls in all, hitting 30 fours and a six. He combined in crucial partnerships with Dominic Thornely, who scored 81, and with Brett Lee. Those two stands, worth 163 and 100 runs respectively, ensured NSW a healthy total after struggling at 2 for 29 on the second day.Xavier Doherty finished with figures of 4 for 142 from 40.4 overs in a tidy effort which contained everybody except Bevan, Thornely and Simon Katich (53).Bevan’s century was the 59th of his first-class career, and has boosted him to 16,754 runs from 213 appearances.Resuming today on 4 for 255, NSW lost Thornely, Nathan Pilon, Lee, Nathan Bracken and Liam Zammit, but still led by 140 runs on the first innings after Tasmania’s total of 322.At stumps, Shane Watson was unbeaten on 56 for Tasmania after Lee trapped Jamie Cox lbw for a duck.

Michael Vaughan’s first-up match heroics in yesterday’s series-equalling thriller at Eden Park have made him flavour of the week in England’s Sunday newspapers.But, as with New Zealanders now embroiled in the annual diet of Super 12 rugby, so the English, who are in the midst of their soccer season, are forever competing with soccer for news space, the prospect of a series final has provided plenty of news space for the cricket.A sampling of English opinion follows:The Sunday Times: “If England’s cricketers ever learn how to leave the blocks fast they could be world-beaters, because they certainly know how to fight themselves out of corners. A clinical performance in Auckland yesterday, their second in four days, secured a win by 33 runs to level the one-day series at 2-2 and render the humiliation in Wellington last weekend a distant memory.”Not for the first time, Nasser Hussain and his team have transformed themselves from chumps to champs in little more time than it takes to write their obituaries. Now all eyes turn to Dunedin on Tuesday, where they will start favourites to win a series they looked certain to lose after going 2-0 down with a perplexing lack of focus.”Seven days ago, there were villains galore. Yesterday, in front of a capacity crowd of 35,000 eager to see the home side put matters beyond reach, several of the visitors vied for the limelight as the hosts looked more like the drop-outs on Eden Park’s portable drop-in pitch.”If one man did more than any other to set up victory it was Michael Vaughan. Bristling to justify his recall in place of Owais Shah after impressing his captain in the nets on Friday, he hit the ball as sweetly as he can ever have done for 59 at better than a run per ball. It was an innings that gave substance to the middle of an England innings of 193 for six, reduced from 50 to 40 overs by two stoppages for rain.”The Guardian: “With more drama than a Coronation Street episode at Eden Park, even a Duckworth popped in at half-time to tell us how many runs New Zealand wanted. With all that was going on, it was hard to believe that it wasn’t Vera.”Messrs Duckworth and Lewis conspired through their unfathomable but ultimately fair system to invite New Zealand to score 30 more than England scored for victory. The upshot was that in an incident-packed, rain-interrupted game, England won by 33 runs to square the series 2-2 with one match to play in Dunedin on Tuesday.”According to the playing conditions, this 50-over game was scheduled to be played over two days in the event of rain, but was reduced to 46 then 40 overs per side much to the enjoyment of a capacity 35,000 crowd. Confusion was the order of the early part of the day as England made a workmanlike 193 for six.”On a pitch prepared on the number-two ground and transported 300 yards on a huge wheeled cradle, both sets of bowlers enjoyed themselves, while Graham Thorpe and Michael Vaughan excelled with the bat. Thorpe’s 59 in 67 balls was a masterly exhibition of his craft, all nudged singles and thumping boundaries. He has not had the easiest of times lately, but his domestic situation is now more clear to him and his cricket will prosper once more as a result.”Vaughan was a revelation as he dominated even Thorpe with his innings of 59 in 53 balls. He also held two quality catches early in New Zealand’s innings before his untimely exit from the field with a jarred shoulder. His innings was all that a one-day knock should be, with plenty of straight drives, square cuts and pulls, coupled with that deft glide to third man. This was not a cobbled-together innings but one of great maturity.”The Independent on Sunday: “From zero to hero is usually a long, arduous journey between diverse points separated by rather more than 18 letters of the alphabet. England have made it look as easy as ABC in a week.”After being two down in the series against New Zealand and all but out, they pulled level yesterday with one match to play. Seven days ago the tourists were washed up when they were all out for 89, suffered an abject defeat by 155 runs and were fortunate to keep it so close. Now, they are riding the crest of a wave.”It was New Zealand’s turn to flounder, although when they were drowning in Eden Park last night they still managed a determined wave. Having been dealt an unkind hand by the vagaries of the Duckworth-Lewis Method – though coldly statistical vagaries – they were simply never on the required pace.”The Sunday Telegraph: “First it was India who were given a shock, and now it is New Zealand. England are making a habit of fighting back when all hope looks lost, and Saturday’s win, with a little help from the Duckworth-Lewis method, has set up a mouth-watering series finale on Tuesday.”Reading the newspapers in New Zealand last Sunday, you could have been forgiven for thinking England were one of the worst teams to have set foot in their country after the annihilation in Wellington. New Zealanders must surely have wondered how England had hit back to level the series 3-3 in India, of all places. Now they understand why, and Nasser Hussain’s team must start as favourites in Dunedin after squaring the series at 2-2.”Brilliant batting from Michael Vaughan and Graham Thorpe set up the prospect of a commanding total until two lengthy breaks for rain curtailed England’s innings by 10 overs, and then the Duckworth-Lewis method intervened to leave New Zealand with a stiff target of 223 in 40 overs after England had made 193 for six.”Their top order again made heavy work of it and, despite explosive batting from Chris Cairns – the first time he has fired with the bat this series – and Andre Adams, the task was too great.”

India had their third breeze of a match when hosts Malaysia put up atotally unsatisfactory performance in the Asian Cricket Councilunder-15 tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. On winning the tossIndia put Malaysia in to bat and skittled them out for 76. Even thistotal was made possible due mainly to some indisciplined bowling fromthe Indians, who gave away 33 extras in as many overs.For the hosts, no one managed to make it to double figures. India usedseven bowlers, with all but Subhash Dixit picking up at least onewicket.When India came out to bat, the result was never in doubt. The marginof victory however could not have been larger. Openers Swapnej Thakur(27) and Ambati Tirupati Rayudu (47) steered India to a comprehensiveten wicket victory in just 8.5 overs.This makes it three wins out of three for India. However, all thesevictories have come against sides that are well out of their depth.When India takes on Sri Lanka (on July 4) and Pakistan (July 5), thetruth about the strength of the team will be known.

Celtic have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of their upcoming Premiership meeting with Ross County.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by Sky Sports, Ange Postecoglou confirmed that, after exactly three months spent on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, David Turnbull will finally be available for selection for the visit of County on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking about the condition of the 22-year-old, the Greek-Australian coach said: “Dave Turnbull is available, he has trained the last 10 days.

“He was fantastic for us in the first half of the year and it was disappointing for him that he got a fairly significant injury that has kept him out for a while.

“But he has worked hard in rehab and I know he is itching to get back out there. He has been training really well over the last seven to 10 days.

“I was probably a bit conservative with him, I could have maybe thrown him in last week, but watching him train he is ready to go and I think he will be important for us.

“He’s a quality player, he is a goal threat, he is good on set-pieces and I think he adds something to our team.”

Supporters will be buzzing

As Postecoglou states, considering just how important a part of the Celtic starting XI Turnbull had proven to be for the Hoops in the first half of the season, the news that the attacking midfielder is finally available for selection once again is sure to have left the Parkhead faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his 18 Premiership appearances in the current campaign, the £5.85m-rated ace has been in the form of his life, scoring five goals, registering four assists and creating seven big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of an enormous 4.1 key passes and taking a whopping 3.7 shots per game.

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These returns have seen the £23.5k-per-week Scotland international average a rather breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.87, ranking him as the best player in the top flight of Scottish football.

As such, with just three points separating Celtic and their Old Firm rivals at the top of the Premiership table, it is clear for all to see that the return of a player who is currently ranked as the best in the country is a huge boost for Postecoglou and his side – particularly with a season-defining meeting against Rangers being the Hoops’ next fixture after today’s Ross County clash.

AND in other news: Ange drops behind the scenes Celtic update that will leave supporters devastated

	Michael Carberry has been in excellent form, scoring 264 runs in his last two games for England Lions © Getty Images

The final leg of the league phase of the Duleep Trophy kicks off on Monday with all four teams involved having a chance of making the final in Mumbai.In Group A, East Zone and North Zone, who have both won their games against South Zone, clash in Rajkot, while Group B’s table-toppers England Lions take on West Zone in Vadodara.The Lions are best placed to advance, with a two-point lead over second-placed West, and only need to avoid defeat to qualify for the title clash. They will also be buoyed by the two wins they have notched up since arriving in India, especially their successful pursuit of a stiff 296 in the fourth innings against Central Zone [the other win was in a tour game against a Mumbai Cricket Association XI].Lions’ fast bowler Steve Kirby, though, was wary of West, who have a strong side with several players with international experience like Parthiv Patel and Ramesh Powar. “Tomorrow’s game is going to be the hardest we have on the tour,” he told . “We know that they have got a lot of fantastic cricketers in their side. I think we’d be wrong not to be thinking about both those players. But if we stick to our basics and stick to our confident way of playing, it isn’t going to matter who we come up against.”In the other game, North, with their experienced batting line-up, will be confident after their commanding performance against South. With both North and East tied on five points, a draw after gaining the first-innings lead will be enough for either side to go through.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

‘Kumar Sangakkara thrilled with his punchy drives down the ground’ © Getty Images

Three fluent half-centuries set up Sri Lanka’s dominance before a scorching spell from Lasith Malinga made a mess of Bermuda’s maiden World Cup appearance at Port-of-Spain. The 243-run walloping was the third-heaviest in one-dayers and it was only thanks to some lower-order resistance that it avoided being an even more gory bloodbath.Choosing to bat on a flat deck, Sri Lanka’s power-packed line-up didn’t need to do anything out of the ordinary – Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara combined for a solid 150-run stand before Chamara Silva erected an imposing skyscraper. Bermuda’s unheralded batsmen were never going to threaten such a mammoth total, not with Malinga, exotic hairstyle and all, swinging out three wickets in as many overs.Just like Australia dispatched off the Scots yesterday, Sri Lanka were ruthless in their annihilation. Chaminda Vaas removed Clay Smith in the first over, curving one in and trapping him plumb, before Malinga took over with a devastating touch. Saleem Mukuddem limply hung his bat out to a slightly short delivery, David Hemp committed a similar error, just that the edge was thicker, and Irvine Romaine had no answer to a full-length ball that detonated his pads. Farveez Maharoof and Muttiah Muralitharan mopped up the lower order but Bermuda were deep into the triangle by then. Lionel Cann’s 28, including three fours and a six, avoided a slew of infamous records but it did nothing but delay the inevitable.Sri Lanka’s batsmen didn’t need to produce any sensational fireworks with the bat but just capitalise on the spate of loose deliveries on offer. None went on to a big score but all combined in an efficient operation built around the Jayawardene-Sangakkara union. The long-hops and wide deliveries were dispatched in style and there was little need for any risk in between. Singles and twos were plenty on offer, especially with the batsman manoeuvring the ball in the gaps, and the rate was always on the up.Jayawardene crossed fifty for the first time since June 2006 and also brought up his highest score in World Cup matches. Sangakkara achieved a similar feat and thrilled with his punchy drives down the ground. Their dismissals brought some cheer in the Bermuda camp but Silva ensured that the celebrations were short lived. Coming off a brilliant century against India at Vishakapatnam (Sri Lanka’s last ODI before the World Cup), he flayed the bowling to all parts. He was especially severe on the spinners, dancing down the track and slashing wide of the cover fielders. He also hustled between the wickets and brought up a half-century in his first World Cup match.

The impressive Saleem Mukuddem removed the dangerous Sanath Jayasuriya © Getty Images

Bermuda seemed to suffer from stage fright on their World Cup debut, turning in as lukewarm a bowling performance as the crowd response at Trinidad. Kevin Hurdle’s 14-ball third over was a sign of things to come and all their bowlers, barring medium-pacer Mukuddem, veered towards the erratic. There was sloppiness on the field as well, largely from the portly Dwayne Leverock, who let off Jayawardene on 0 and 51 and was made to pay. Two tremendous dives at the end of the innings was merely a consolation for a forgettable day.Hurdle promised much in the opening over of the day. Standing almost six-and-a-half feet tall and running in with an easy action, he extracted steepling bounce and jammed Sanath Jayasuriya’s left index finger. But he lost his run-up and direction soon after and conceded as many as 15 extras in his nine-over spell. His opening partner, Mukuddem, was far more impressive. Not as quick but far more accurate, he made the batsman play regularly and induced a few tentative prods.He removed the dangerous Jayasuriya – though that was thanks to the batsman’s indiscretion, cutting uppishly to point – and should have had Jayawardene for a first-ball duck, when the portly Dwayne Leverock grassed a regulation chance off an airy flash. Mukuddem was also unlucky not to have had Upul Tharanga’s wicket when he was on 28 after Ian Howell turned down a confident shout for lbw. His spell was probably one of the few silver linings in Bermuda’s disastrous opening.

Ashes tickets for next summer’s five-Test series will go on sale to the Australian “Cricket Family” on June 1, but fans not registered with the country’s board will have to wait more than two weeks to secure seats. The plan announced today encourages local fans to get in ahead of England threats such as the Barmy Army by expressing interest on Cricket Australia’s website.With estimates of 40,000 overseas supporters arriving for the series starting in November, local cricket authorities and the players are concerned England followers could dominate the Test venues. The WACA has already capped its membership after receiving numerous requests from supporters based in the United Kingdom. A board spokesman said tickets would be available to the general public and overseas customers from June 19.”In establishing this offer we will be aiming to reward Australian fans who register as members of the Cricket Family while also ensuring as many Australians as possible have access to next summer’s matches,” James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said. “If you’re an Australian and want to support the team in the forthcoming Test Series, register online now and give yourself the best chance of being there.”Sutherland said hotel bookings in Melbourne for the December 26 Test were “already significant” and he expected the previous MCG Test match crowd attendance record of 90,800 to be broken. “We’ve announced the tour program six months ahead of what we normally would and that’s just [because of] the sheer demand and public interest that’s out there right now,” he said.Pricing details will be released when the tickets go on sale. The first Test starts in Brisbane on November 23.

Shane Warne announces his positive test to a diuretic before Australia’s first match of the 2003 World Cup© Reuters

Shane Warne’s successful return from a one-year drugs ban and England’s 2004 unbeaten streak have earned nominations for the 2005 Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. The Laureus Awards are dubbed the “Oscars of Sport”, and the cricket representatives will line up alongside a cast including the golfer John Daly, England’s long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe, and the Italian Alessandro Zanardi, who returned to motor racing after losing both legs in a crash.Ian Botham, a Laureus World Sports Academy member, said Warne and England deserved the recognition. “Shane is simply the best legspinner in the world, he is an exceptional talent, a genuine matchwinner,” he said. “England were the only side in Test cricket to be unbeaten for the whole calendar year. That was a remarkable performance.”Warne was banned in February 2003 for taking a diuretic he claimed was given to him by his mother, but immediately made an impact once the suspension ended. Warne passed Muttiah Muralitharan’s world record in India, and finished 2004 with 75 wickets in 13 Tests.England, whose past results were a regular source of jokes for the rest of the cricket world, produced a stunning run of 11 wins in 12 Tests, including eight in a row, and registered series victories over West Indies (twice), New Zealand and South Africa. The winner of the 2005 award, which is voted for by sports journalists, will be announced in Portugal on May 16.

Stephen Fleming is a doubtful starter for the first Test of New Zealand’s home series against Pakistan. The match, which starts at Hamilton on December 19, is still more than two weeks away, but Fleming says he is struggling to regain his fitness after tearing abdominal muscles during the TVS Cup one-day tournament in India.According to a Reuters report, Fleming said: “I was hopeful it would improve with rest and I would not need an injection, but that hasn’t been the case, which is a worry. The tear is very deep and I’m in a race against time not only for the Test, but just to get some cricket under my belt.”Hopefully I can start light exercise at the end of the week and then we all might have a better idea of where I stand. I’d love to play in the first Test but if I’m not pain-free then I can’t.” The injury forced Fleming to miss New Zealand’s last match of the TVS Cup, and the five-match ODI series in Pakistan.

It wasn’t the greatest way to make the VB Series finals, having to rely on how other teams played, but New Zealand’s inclusion is a great reward for an innovative summer campaign.Now it is time for the ‘think tank’ that formulated the game plan that effectively shut down the great Australian bowlers, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, and put the pressure on the Australian batting order, the two Test match openers excepted, to turn up a game plan to end the South African dominance of ODIs against New Zealand.Much has been made of the record between the two sides and South Africa does have a marked dominance, but some would say that should make New Zealand’s odds of success all the higher.However it is looked at it is high time New Zealand began to get things going their way more often.There is also the thought that in the plethora of ODIs between the two sides in recent years New Zealand has rarely been at full strength. If Chris Cairns, Shane Bond and Dion Nash can get into shape for the finals, then New Zealand has every chance of really putting the South Africans to the test.The requirements for success are not much different to what they were before the series started.An opening combination is a must. Nathan Astle is due again and it is a shame that more has not been made of bringing Brendon McCullum through. With him gaining experience and performing reasonably well there has to be plenty of long-term benefit in his being exposed to this sort of pressure.There is no doubt that Lou Vincent offers more run scoring potential down the order.The other aspect has to be the bowling at the death. Resolving this issue must be a key project for the remainder of the summer.Making the finals has offered up to three more matches which, when they are put with the five games to be played against England and more at the Sharjah tournament, provide a chance to get the matter sorted so that whoever are entrusted with the duty can develop more confidence in the role before the World Cup.There has to be plans within plans from here on in.But in the immediate future, the pressure is on the batsmen. In the eight games played to date, Cairns is the best of the New Zealand batsmen with 257 runs while Stephen Fleming has 242, Craig McMillan 202, Chris Harris 200, Astle, in only three games, has 106, while Adam Parore has 107.More centuries are clearly required by the batsmen to get the sort of totals that will win such crucial matches.In the bowling area, the emergence of Bond has been reflected in the fact he has 20 wickets at 4.40 runs per over, 10 wickets more than anyone else in the New Zealand side. Cairns has 10 (4.72) while Harris has eight (4.53), Daniel Vettori seven (4.20) and James Franklin (5.20) and Nash six (4.37) each.There must be a temptation to continue to expose Andre Adams to the top level. He brings the sort of outrageous hitting ability that could prove vital in swinging a game in its latter stages.The feats of the CLEAR Black Caps have captured the imagination of New Zealand cricket fans and the general public in a manner not seen since the 1992 World Cup.Making the final will only increase that interest and the stage is set for another week of late nights while the tides of fortune wax and wane through what has been an outstanding summer of cricket.And in the middle of it all England arrive on Tuesday for their tour.Long may the fine weather last.