happy new year 2012

Herath spins Sri Lanka to victory

Sri Lanka levelled their series in South Africa with victory by 208 runs on the fourth day of the second Test at Durban.

Set an imposing 450 to win and clinch the three-match series, the hosts were dismissed for 241, with only AB de Villiers (69) and Dale Steyn (43) - who put on 99 for the seventh wicket - offering much resistance.

Rangana Herath took five wickets for 79 runs to seal a first Test win for Sri Lanka since the retirement of legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and set the stage for a thrilling decider in Cape Town next week.

Aus media

India were "bounced and bruised at the MCG", declared a gleeful Aussie media which hailed the hosts for their surprise humbling of the famed India batting line-up.

The much-vaunted Indian batting line-up came under attack from the Australian media as the visitors could post just 282 and 169 in the two innings against an inexperienced home side bowling attack to lose the Test by 122 runs.

Only Sachin Tendulkar seemed to be in control over the Australian fast bowlers as he top-scored in both innings with a fluent 73 and 32, the local media said.

'The Daily Telegraph' wrote that the pressure is now on India and their famed batting line-up would have to prove that they are not flat-track bullies.

"MS Dhoni has conceded India's great weapon is now its weakness - a cast of batting flops who must prove they are not flat-track bullies," the newspaper said.