Peter Siddle's maiden five-wicket haul blighted South Africa's response as Australia tightened its grip on the proceedings on day three of the third and final cricket Test in Sydney on Monday. Resuming on 125 for one, South Africa folded for 327 runs, bulk of which came from the blades of Hashim Amla (51), Mark Boucher (89) and Morne Morkel (40) -- the last two featuring in a spectacular 115-run sixth-wicket stand between. Australia, in their second essay, were 33 for no loss at close of play, having stretched their overall lead to 151.

Peter Siddle picked up five wickets to help Australia secure a 118-run first innings lead over South Africa on day three of the third and final Test in Sydney. By stumps, Australia were 33 without loss, 151 runs ahead after they bowled their tourists out for 327 having hit 445 themselves. Siddle returned five for 59 as South Africa's main batsmen, for the first time in the series, failed to fire, despite Hashim Amla (51) and Jacques Kallis (37) putting on 55 for the second wicket.

Wasim Jaffer's second career triple-hundred and his 227-run stand with Sachin Tendulkar all but ensured Mumbai's place in the Ranji Trophy final by virtue of a first-innings lead. On a dead wicket that has seen four wickets fall in 158 overs, it is unlikely Mumbai's bowlers can dismiss Saurashtra twice and these two batsmen will have to bat the opposition out of the match. Jaffer brought up his second double-hundred of this season early in the day. He was joined by Tendulkar at the fall of Ajinkya Rahane - who looked out of touch and often mistimed the ball - to offspinner Kamlesh Makvana.

Kumar Sangakkara hit a fine half-century to put Sri Lanka in control on the third day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh here on Monday. Sangakkara hit four fours in his 103-ball 54 as the visitors reached 187-4 in their second innings at tea to take their overall lead to a commanding 363. Thilan Samarweera (33) and first-innings centurion Tillakaratne Dilshan (15) were the not out batsmen at the break.

Aussie fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has won the Alan McGilvray medal for the Test cricketer of the year, 2008 accorded by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The lanky fast bowler, who claimed 63 wickets in 14 Tests in 2008 at an average of 29.01 and at a wicket every 55 balls, with a best of 8 for 61 - the best bowling figures by an Australian left armer, topped the votes ahead of opener Simon Katich and his skipper Ricky Ponting, according to reports here.

Pakistan's chief selector Abdul Qadir has suggested that the captain of the country's cricket team should be selected on a series-by-series basis. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is at present planning to give an extension to Shoaib Malik, the Daily Times reported. "Although it is up to the PCB chairman to appoint the captain, a series-to-series appointment automatically keeps the leader under check and balance," Qadir said.

Paceman Peter Siddle struck five stunning blows as South Africa dismissed for 327, handing Australia a 118-run lead on day three of the third Test at the SCG. Later Aussie lead was stretched to 151 as they reached 33 without loss at stumps on third day of the Test. South Africa had been looking on track at 5-308 to match Australia's total before a dramatic collapse. Boucher shared in a 115-run partnership with Morne Morkel (40) to frustrate the home side before Siddle changed the course of the match with his inspired spell.

South Africa got off to a sedate start after Michael Clarke's sterling century and some spectacular rearguard action powered Australia to their best score of the series so far on day two of the third and final Test here on Sunday. Resuming on 267 for six, overnight batsmen Clarke (138) and Mitchell Johnson (64) stitched together an invaluable 142-run stand for the seventh wicket before Nathan Hauritz (41) and Peter Siddle (23) also chipped in as Australia raised 445 runs in their first essay.

Sri Lanka took a stranglehold on the second Test in Bangladesh today thanks to the spinners Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan. The pair finished with figures of four for 71 and three for 62 respectively as the tourists established a 176-run first-innings lead on day two in Chittagong – an advantage that would have been even greater had Bangladesh not managed a 63-run last-wicket stand. There was just time in the evening session for Sri Lanka to begin their second innings, ending the day 13 without loss to extend their overall lead to 189.

Wasim Jaffer led from the front with an unbeaten 162 as Mumbai, with Sachin Tendulkar yet to bat, piled up 268 for one on the opening day of their Ranji trophy semifinal match against Saurashtra here on Sunday. Six Saurashtra bowlers toiled for 90 overs and the lone success of the day came when Rakesh Dhurv trapped Mumbai opener Vinayak Samant (49). At stumps, Jaffer had Ajinkya Rahane (52) for company after the duo had completed their individual 1000 runs this season.