World champions Australia will play their first tests in New Zealand in eight years following a T20 series in February, the countries’ cricket boards has confirmed.

Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman struck defiant half-centuries to help Pakistan overcome Prabath Jayasuriya’s onslaught and just about keep the tourists on course to match Sri Lanka’s first-innings 312 on day two of the opening test in Galle.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Mathews helped Sri Lanka to overcome a top-order collapse and reach 242-6 on day one of the opening test against Pakistan in Galle.

England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt struck a blistering century but was unable to prevent Australia from claiming a three-run victory in the second one-day international, as the tourists retained the Ashes after taking an unassailable lead in the series.

India handed the West Indies a crushing innings and 141-run defeat in the first test at Windsor Park in Roseau with Ravichandran Ashwin claiming seven wickets as the hosts were bowled out for 130 in their second innings.

Men’s and women’s teams competing in International Cricket Council (ICC) events will receive equal prize money, the sport’s governing body said on Thursday.

India are on course for a significant first-innings lead after off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 5-60 to bundle out West Indies for only 150 runs on the opening day of the first test at Windsor Park in Roseau.

A superb 75 from Harry Brook and some big hitting from tailender Mark Wood earned England a pulsating three-wicket victory in the third Ashes test, dragging the hosts back into contention in the series in breathless fashion.

Wardens continued their fine run in the India-Fiji T-20 Cricket Tournament after defeating Army in their Pool A clash yesterday at Albert Park in Suva.

A superb 77 from Travis Head in difficult conditions steered Australia to 224 all out in their second innings, setting England 251 to win the third Ashes test, with the hosts closing a rain-delayed day three on 27-0 in pursuit of that target.

On another sensational day of Ashes action, the pendulum swinging this way and that, it was difficult to call who had the advantage as England finished day one of the pivotal third Test on 68-3, having bowled Australia out for 263 at Headingley.

Queen Victoria School has been crowned the new champion of the Fiji Secondary School Under-19 Southern Zone competition.