3rd Test Day 5 WI 317 & 254 lost to NZ 293 & 331/7d by 52 runs

New Zealand 293 (Neesham 78, Benn 5-93) and 331 for 7 dec (Williamson 161*, Roach 4-55) beat West Indies 317 (Brathwaite 68, Wagner 4-64) and 254 (Holder 52, Southee 3-28, Boult 3-49) by 53 runs

Trent Boult and Tim Southee shepherded New Zealand to their first series win away from home against a top-eight nation in 12 years.

It took Jason Holder, a debutant at no.7, to provide the hosts' strongest source of resistance. He sustained a painful blow to the thumb while tackling a short-ball barrage but shook it off. After some time at the crease, he even took them on and when the ball ventured closer to his half, he played some sweet drives to fuel the innings' only half-century. 

Shane Shillingford provided dogged support as the eighth wicket contributed 77 runs. He weaved under bouncers, took body blows when the fifth-day pitch misbehaved and hit out with impressive power but their efforts could not resurrect a poor top order performance.

The visitors' declaration with an overnight lead of 307 was lazily dubbed brave. The fact that they were away from home would have been discussed. The criticism they would invite if West Indies overhauled the target and claim the series had the potential to frighten. But Brendon McCullum does not appear a captain who prefers the safe route. Moreover, in Boult and Southee, he had two exceptional new-ball bowlers, who would be operating against a depleted batting line-up. It wasn't a punt. 

McCullum was simply giving his bowlers the time they would need to dismiss the opposition, especially with showers predicted. Two of them did interrupt play, but in the end they contributed to a stunning finish as the Test went down to the final hour.

Boult's skill in swinging the ball both ways left the batsmen noticeably unsure. Kraigg Brathwaite shouldered arms to a rousing indipper that slid off his pad to cannon into off stump. 

Kirk Edwards followed the same method but had managed to protect his stumps with his pads. Boult flew into an appeal and the umpire obliged, but DRS surprisingly indicated that the ball would have bounced over off stump. Edwards survived but he was clearly shaken. Another lovely delivery - this one eased across the right-hander - took the outside edge and found Ross Taylor at second slip.

A sedate Chris Gayle was hoping to occupy the crease until New Zealand's momentum eased off. 

However, Southee enticed him with a fuller delivery and a booming drive ended up deflecting the ball back onto his stumps. West Indies had crumbled to 31 for 3 and were eyeing another collapse in the face. Shivnarine Chanderpaul abated those concerns for a brief period but traipsed down the track against offspinner Mark Craig to be stumped for the first time in 266 innings to leave his side reeling again.

Southee pierced through the middle order with an intelligent exhibition of seam bowling. He had a battle of patience with Darren Bravo, who had seemed on making up for a loose shot in the first innings. He was tight around his off stump and held his drives in check for 97 balls. 

Then came the teaser outside off and Bravo just couldn't help himself and perished at gully for the second time in the match. Denesh Ramdin succumbed soon after and a lengthy tail was exposed.

Craig did his bit to assist the seamers and with ample assistance from a worn pitch, he was able to generate good flight and dip to ensure the batsmen were being strangled from both ends. 

His heroics with the bat have overshadowed his primary responsibility but today he was key in quelling the lower order's defiance. New Zealand have looked an impressive outfit over their home summer but success on the road would rank all the more sweeter - it was only their fifth away Test win in five years. 

3rd Test Day 4 WI 317 V NZ 293 & 331/7 (NZ lead by 307 runs)

New Zealand 293 and 331 for 7 (Williamson 161*, Roach 4-55) lead West Indies 317 by 307 runs

Kane Williamson was at his meticulous best. His seventh Test century took his series tally past 400 and guided New Zealand into a commanding position. 

The visitors stretched their lead to 307 and, with the fourth-day Kensington Oval pitch showing signs of variable bounce, West Indies' hopes would have started to dwindle. A sudden downpour just before tea was the only menace to New Zealand's hopes of a series win.

Memories of Dunedin were appeased when play resumed after almost three hours' delay. Williamson switched from accumulator to aggressor to try and set up the declaration, but that avatar was given limited airtime as the ominous storm clouds returned to have the final say. 

New Zealand might be tempted to declare overnight considering weather is likely to intervene on the final day as well, with scattered showers predicted.

The West Indies bowlers struggled to pose much threat with the old ball. Turn was on offer but it was slow. 

Their desperation was best depicted when the new ball was taken and Jerome Taylor was seen talking to it, as if cajoling it would fetch him his first wicket of the match. His plea did work, but the benefactor was Kemar Roach who claimed his 100th Test wicket by dismissing BJ Watling. However, it was the batsman at the other end who sapped them of their energy.

Williamson had to defuse a tricky situation last evening and those skills were needed once again. He was the common denominator in all four of New Zealand's half-century partnerships. 

Soft hands were a feature of his play as he buckled down; decisive footwork got him into positions that allowed him to tackle extra turn or low bounce. He did not go chasing for runs. They came when the bowlers fed his strengths - behind square on the off side and through midwicket - to contribute to 90 of his 153.

He had begun with two fours off his first seven balls before settling into his designated role of sheet anchor. As familiar as that has become for New Zealand, it doesn't happen often during the second innings. Williamson had four fifties but the remainder of his last ten second-innings knocks had all been single figures. 

However, his ability to focus on the next ball helped both him and his side to gain a solid foothold into securing the series. He also joined Martin Crowe at the top of the list of centuries made by New Zealand batsmen by the age of 24.

West Indies had bet on the pitch misbehaving as well and utilised spin for much of the morning session. However, Jimmy Neesham did not let them settle. 

His second half-century of the match was characterised by confident footwork and clean hits, especially down the ground. Neesham's fluency melded with Williamson's composure and their 91-run stand completely offset the loss of an early wicket.

Brendon McCullum had not looked authoritative and was trapped leg before by an indipper from Roach. But aside from that West Indies lacked intensity for much of the morning session. Shane Shillingford, stripped of his doosra, traveled at 4.5 per over. Sulieman Benn managed only one maiden out of 26 overs. 

Their woes were compounded when Darren Bravo sustained a nasty blow to his hand at forward short leg when Williamson went for a pull and was not seen since. 

3rd Test Day 3 WI 317 V NZ 293 & 123/3

New Zealand 293 and 123 for 3 (Williamson 58*, McCullum 23*) lead West Indies 317 (Brathwaite 68, Edwards 58, Wagner 4-64) by 99 runs

New Zealand clawed back into the series decider on a dry, slow Kensington Oval pitch through their two left-arm quicks as West Indies surrendered another promising position - they had begun the day 169 for 2 and succumbed to 317 all out by tea. 

The visitors managed a lead of 99 runs but not before Kemar Roach and Jason Holder ripped out three wickets to keep West Indies in the hunt.

Much of New Zealand's position was down to Neil Wagner. 

He toiled with the old ball and epitomised an improved approach. They had been fickle with their tactics on the second day, but today they had well-devised plans and were patient enough to see them through to completion. 

Trent Boult had a quiet morning session but regained his mojo with new ball. He snared two wickets in two overs, including the last recognised batsman Denesh Ramdin for a plucky 45.

West Indies' tail did wag, but not quite enough. 

Holder, playing his first innings in Tests, marshalled a 36-run partnership for the eighth wicket and hinted at abilities beyond his first-class average of 15.40 through some delectable drives. He was excellent with the ball too, snapping up Ross Taylor as his maiden Test wicket. 

His height enabled him to extract a touch more bounce which helped spice up proceedings towards the end of the day's play. He gave Brendon McCullum some grief, narrowly missing out a leg before decision. Hawk-eye pegged the impact outside off, but there was doubt over whether the New Zealand captain was playing a shot.

Roach had been the other source of threat after he settled into a probing length quite readily. He drew Tom Latham into an ill-advised pull and elicited Hamish Rutherford's outside edge. Barring a few overs from Shane Shillingford, the rest of the attack was ordinary again. 

McCullum took 18 balls to get off the mark but he and half-centurion Kane Williamson - who had an outside edge bisect keeper and slip and escaped a tough stumping opportunity - managed to take New Zealand to stumps without further damage.

Inventive fields and consistency from their bowlers made for an absorbing morning session. The abrasive pitch sapped most of the pace off the ball and the search for wickets led McCullum to play hot potato with his close-in fielders. 

It started with twin gullies for Darren Bravo, then twin short covers, and as the batsman continued to drive on the up, a third short cover.

Bravo took on the challenge. Two fours were conceded before Wagner duped him with a slower ball that drew him a little too far outside the off stump. Williamson at gully completed a good catch and the visitors celebrated an astute plan coming off. 

The short ball was used as a surprise weapon as the dogged Shivnarine Chanderpaul found out on the cusp of lunch. Fitting reward for Wagner's wholehearted efforts.

There was brief resistance from Ramdin, who had flourished against the spin of Mark Craig. Two long hops were dispatched square on either side of the pitch and a lashing cover drive also featured among his best shots. As quick as he was with his footwork against the offspinner, he got into a woeful tangle against an inswinger and was out leg before. 

Boult added another wicket when he induced Roach's outside edge and BJ Watling took a smart, low grab.

It did help New Zealand that even set batsmen like Kirk Edwards had trouble regaining their stride. He had to contend with the bowlers targeting the stumps. His strokeplay was restrained and a simple defensive push skimmed across the turf to usher him to his half-century. However, pushing on from the mark has been a problem in recent times. 

The last three times he had reached this far, he could not reach 60. Tim Southee ensured the continuation of that trend by generating reverse swing in his second spell. The flick off the legs ended up as a leading edge that swirled in the air before Rutherford held a well-judged catch.

New Zealand's bowlers created opportunities and if they couldn't they kept things tight. But their batsmen were put under severe pressure in the latter half of the final session. The pitch is entertaining some turn, the odd delivery was keeping low and others were leaping up. 

A second series win in the Caribbean is still a strong batting performance away for the visitors. 

Tour Match Day 3/3 India v Leicestershire

Indians 333 for 4 dec (Dhawan 60 [ret hurt], Pujara 57, Gambhir 54) drew with Leicestershire 349 for 5 (Robson 126, Smith 101, Redfern 58)

Angus Robson, the younger brother of England's new opening batsman Sam, and Greg Smith hit run-a-ball centuries as their 221-run second-wicket stand ensured a chastening time in the field for the Indians' seven-strong fast-bowling attack on the final day of their first warm-up match against Leicestershire.

Both batsmen played with gusto and freedom to allow Leicestershire to dominate the day which saw the morning session curtailed to just 13 overs after rain interrupted play after an hour, but it did not matter to the Robson-Smith combination as they scored at almost six runs an over. The pair added 178 runs in the middle session comprising 30 overs.

It has been a fine week for the Robson family with Sam registering his maiden Test century at Headingley exactly a week ago against Sri Lanka. This was the younger Robson's highest score of the season which had previously included six fifties. He expects a phone call from his brother ahead of the Test series - for the odd bit of information about the Indian bowlers - and his only regret was that this was not a first-class fixture.

"It's been a pretty special day," he said. "Mum and Dad have been here. It's funny how it works out, two Saturdays in a row they've seen us make hundreds."

Ten days ago Smith scored a century at his home ground in the T20 Blast against Nottinghamshire. He also has a Championship hundred this season and reached the landmark today with consecutive sixes against the left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Both straight hits went crashing into the sightscreen at the Bennett End with the first one even creating a dent.

But a deeper dent was created in the opposition bowling camp. The Indians might say it was the first day on the job for the bowlers, but at times it became embarrassing.

Ishant Sharma, one of the three players from the current squad to have played Test cricket in England, and the bowling captain by default in the absence of Zaheer Khan, failed to make any impact and effectively became a figure of ridicule for a group of Indian fans at the Bennett End, who endlessly heckled him each time he walked back to his bowling mark.

Ishant, who had taken consecutive five-wicket hauls in the two-Test series in New Zealand in February, India's previous series in the longest format, was listless for most of his three spells. 

He started with a no-ball in the morning session which had to be immediately called off as the rain arrived and upon returning he delivered two further no-balls as his first over went for 11 runs. His first spell of four overs leaked 41 runs and he overstepped six times.

As he retreated to long leg Indian fans were not afraid to offer some advice. "Put some effort. Bend down," one fan shouted. As he lined up to deliver another over, Ishant would not have missed the annoying scream coming from the crowd: "How many fours are you going to give this over?"

It might have been amusing to the ear, but the Indians may have found the impatience of their fans a little bit irritating. Barring Ishant, none of the other quicks had ever bowled with the red ball in England. And it showed straightaway.

It was overcast right through Saturday and the Indians might have fancied taking advantage of what they perceived as helpful conditions. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose primary strength is swing, struggled to find the right length throughout his solitary spell of seven overs which went for 46 runs including ten fours, all of which came at the hands of an aggressive Robson.

Later Robson said that he took advantage of the fuller lengths Bhuvneshwar bowled while attempting to swing the ball. He felt the Indians started with intensity, but grew "tired" as he and Smith stretched the partnership. He also felt that while the bowling attack was inexperienced, it was their lack of knowledge of him that played into his hands.

"The lengths they bowled this morning were fullish and I was looking to drive as I usually do," he said. "After I faced the first couple of overs of Kumar I felt he was a skiddy sort of a bowler and the best way to take him on was to drive him and hit him for a few fours. He swing it around a lot and I felt that If I was stuck around in my crease I was just sitting ducks."

The key to succeed in England has always remained the same: pitch on lengths that make the batsmen play and move the ball enough to bring the slips into play. 

Today the Indians created just a handful of such opportunities. One of them was plucked spectacularly by Ajinkya Rahane early in the morning session when he intercepted an outside edge from Leicestershire captain Matthew Boyce who was troubled by some away movement from Pankaj Singh.

Pankaj, along with Mohammad Shami and later Varun Aaron, were the pick of the Indian bowlers as the trio bowled at a good pace and created some doubts for the batsmen.

With another three-day match against Derbyshire starting on Tuesday, the Indians will ideally want to get an idea of their lead pack of bowlers for the first Test at Trent Bridge on July 9. 

They did, however, get a late boost when Ishant took two wickets in three balls in an aggressive over he was allowed to bowl in fading light. 

3rd Test Day 2 WI 159/2 v NZ 293

West Indies 159 for 2 (Brathwaite 68, Edwards 41*) trail New Zealand 293 by 134 runs

A resolute half-century from Kraigg Brathwaite was the cornerstone of West Indies progress on the second day. However, the majority of it was lost to rain. Grey clouds had circled Kensington Oval throughout the morning session and limited the day's play to less than six overs after lunch. New Zealand might not have minded the intervention. They had begun well but lost the initiative by flitting between various lines and lengths.

The first half hour lived up to its clichéd billing with the ball buzzing past the batsmen's ears. Chris Gayle was placed under particular discomfort as Trent Boult softened him up and Tim Southee almost had him caught at leg gully. New Zealand might have persisted with the experiment a little more, but Gayle hit himself out of trouble and three fours in three balls earned him some breathing space. He was approaching a third fifty in four innings when the temptation to loft Mark Craig became too strong and he holed out at long-on. The offspinner would have relished the wear and tear on the pitch at Kensington Oval. There was rough to exploit against both right and left-handers but he could not quite assert himself the way Sulieman Benn did on the first day.

Brathwaite was one of the reasons for keeping Craig at bay. His solidity was a known quantity in West Indies. His driving was eye-catching - a strong forward stride to underpin a strong push. He used a strong bottom hand to assist his back foot play. He struck 10 fours and none of them bore the imprint of being hit too hard. It was a mark of his composure at the crease, but he might have been a touch too lax as he drove on the up and was caught at cover.

The scoring rates in this Test have been very healthy. Kirk Edwards contributed to the continuation of that trend. His strokes were more flashy and fueled a second-wicket partnership of 74 with four fours and a six. West Indies' top order is not often the most reliable but having gone in with five bowlers, they had extra responsibility and the response so far must be pleasing to the captain Denesh Ramdin.

New Zealand fussed over the ball for much of the morning session, trying to persuade the umpires to change it. When their efforts did bear fruit, the replacement seemed to offer the seamers a bit more bite but Boult and Southee, on whom the visitors' attack sorely depended, were rather lacklustre and West Indies benefited to the tune of 127 runs for the loss of two wickets.

New Zealand needed to streamline their plans after lunch, especially with Edwards chugging along on 41 off 45 and the new batsman, Darren Bravo, fresh off a century in the previous Test. Brendon McCullum had employed attacking fields - his ploy of using a silly mid-on almost bore fruit, but Brathwaite's lazy drive had fallen short. He worked the same principle against Edwards, whose strokeplay was characterised by hard hands, by having two short covers. He made the right moves and after the break his bowlers responded better. Craig went around the wicket to generate some good bounce, Neil Wagner was persistent. Contest had been imbued back into the game, but it was not allowed to unfurl as what began as a faint drizzle kept gaining strength.

Tour Match Day 2/3 India v Leicestershire

No change on Day 1 score

Showers that began the previous night and persisted through Friday morning and afternoon ended any chance of play on the second day of the Indians' warm-up match against Leicestershire. The umpires were meant to carry out an inspection at half past two in the afternoon, but their decision was made easier by the rain, which came down strongly, having stopped for an hour-long interval around lunch.

The covers had not been removed from overnight with the incessant drizzle dampening one of the largest outfields in cricket while causing large puddles to form across the covers that the groundstaff worked hard to clear but in vain. Incidentally the BCCI twitter even tweeted a premature message an hour before lunch: "Second day's play of the warm-up between Leicestershire and Indians has been called off due to rain."

Having managed quality batting time the Indians did not seem overly bothered. The visitors came to the ground at noon before heading to the indoor nets where they trained under the watchful eye of their coach Duncan Fletcher.

3rd Test Day 1 WI 32/0 V NZ 293 (WI trail by 261 runs)

New Zealand 293 (Neesham 78, Craig 46*, Benn 5-93) v West Indies 32 for 0 (Gayle 18*)

Jimmy Neesham occupies the No.6 position for New Zealand. Judging from the evidence in Barbados, he has the potential to bat much higher. The composure he showed while the rest of the middle-order was prised out was remarkable and more importantly much needed to push New Zealand to 293. Hometown boy Sulieman Benn coaxed a dry pitch to lend him turn and bounce in exchange for his steadfast accuracy, but his 5 for 93 lost a little of its shine as the day wound down. Mark Craig proved a thorn again, contributing an unbeaten 46 to remedy a situation that had been 172 for 7.

Chris Gayle and Kraigg Brathwaite survived nine overs till time but they will be wary of being a batsman short. They had opted for a five-man attack, handing a debut to Jason Holder, and would be pleased with their openers' positive display.

History was tempting both teams. West Indies ended a trend of five losses since the start of the year in Port-of-Spain and their new-look side could do with a series win. New Zealand's quest to win a series against a top-eight nation away from home spans over a decade. Benn epitomised that desperation and accounted for a set Kane Williamson, an aggressive Brendon McCullum, BJ Watling whose doggedness is not to be underestimated and Tim Southee, whose penchant for six-hitting could have hurt West Indies.

Benn forced the batsman to play more often than not, a ploy that usually provides dividends when the deck offers a little grip. His high-arm action and strong pivot of the hip contributed to the ball bouncing and turning disconcertingly. The threat he would pose was hinted when he troubled both Williamson and Ross Taylor despite them looking quite comfortable against the rest of the attack during a smart 74-run partnership for the third wicket. Benn bowled unchanged from lunch until the last over before tea, varying his pace and length to keep the batsman guessing. He also contributed on the field with a stunning grab, diving to his right at gully to cut a fluent Taylor short.

Yet for all the threat Benn posed, the other end could not keep up. Neesham was aware of that. He had targeted the seamers - a wayward Jerome Taylor was whipped for 21 off 13 balls. His comfort was no less against spin. Before lunch, he had worked on camping on his back foot unless the bowler was too generous with his flight. However, as his confidence grew he eased down the track to unsettle the status quo. There was turn and bounce available as early as one and a half hours into the Test. But Neesham's intent matched his execution, as 10 fours and a six would suggest.

Neesham's crispness ensured the run-rate hovered around the four-per-over mark and orchestrated a slump in West Indies' body language. They weren't helped by Shane Shillingford looking off his best. The offspinner struggled to elicit the same kind of help as Benn and was often guilty of bowling too short or too full. West Indies had conceded 122 runs between lunch and tea, but ripped out most of the middle order. The hosts should have been buoyant, when play resumed but sloppy fielding crept into their play. A five-man attack looked to be waiting for the tail to roll over, but Craig and Neesham exploited their dip in intensity. The cultivated 64 runs from 17.2 overs to force respect to New Zealand's total.

There seems to be a jinx on the opening partnership for New Zealand. Three different combinations have been attempted in the past 15 months, discounting Brendon McCullum's forced promotion in at Port-of-Spain, and only once has the 100-run mark been crossed. A revival was not on the cards as Kemar Roach hit an excellent length. Hamish Rutherford chipped to mid-on and Tom Latham was worked over quite intelligently - a few balls darting across him and then a full, fast one swerved into his back pad plumb in front of middle. Roach finished with 4 for 61.

Taylor and Williamson were cautious early on, but they were not indifferent towards scoring opportunities. Sixteen fours were hit in the morning session, with the above two contributing 13 of them. Jerome Taylor was the leak - he floated a half-volley that was caressed to the boundary to kick the match off and conceded eight further fours and a six. The discipline that has him at the top of the wicket-taker's chart for the series was absent as he flitted between short and wide and full and on the pads. It was this kind of inconsistency that helped New Zealand to reach so close to 300 and West Indies would want to remedy that with the bat tomorrow.

Tour Match Day 1/3 India v Leicestershire

Indians 333 for 4 (Dhawan 60*, Pujara 57, Gambhir 54) v Leicestershire 

"Atif bhai. Thoda aaram se. Mehman hain aapka. Sambhal ke dal na" (Atif, go steady. He is your guest. Please take care), a fan shouted from the Benett End after the left-arm seamer from Leicestershire hit the Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan on his right elbow, forcing the batsman to retire hurt.

Yet, it was the Indians who caused more pain for a half-strength Leicestershire side, with three of their batsmen recording elegant and effortless half-centuries. Only two batsmen were officially out as three players opted to retire before the visitors, as per the rules, declared at the end of the day.

After M Vijay bottom edged a wide delivery into gully at the stroke of the first hour, Dhawan and Gautam Gambhir created a strong platform by forging a 119-run stand for the second wicket. Cheteshwar Pujaraand Virat Kohli built on it by adding 64 for the third wicket, before an undefeated 74-run stand between Ajikya Rahane and Rohit Sharma lifted the Indians to 333 for 4, and deflated the spirits of the Leicestershire bowlers.

With the forecast indicating afternoon showers over the next two days, MS Dhoni opted to bat. The Indians decided to field all 18 players, though the plan was to play 15-a-side on the eve of the match. The visitors' batting XI included everyone apart from R Ashwin.

Dhawan was one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2013 for his match-winning knocks during India's triumph in the Champions Trophy. However, he began nervously by chasing after a full and wide delivery from Anthony Ireland and edging it to third slip, only to be handed a reprieve by Dan Redfern. It was a sharp chance. Ireland kicked the air in disgust. Dhawan brought up the Indians' fifty by slashing the medium-pacer Shiv Thakor past point for four and followed it up by going down on his knees to cover drive for another four.

Dhawan remained quiet for a brief period, going 14 deliveries without scoring, but then hit four consecutive fours. A light tap to the leg side brought up a 79-ball fifty, as well as the 50-run partnership for the second wicket with Gambhir.

By lunch, India were 106 for 1 and Leicestershire, who were missing most of their first XI following a ten-wicket loss to Surrey, were hurting. However, the hosts returned after the break with Ireland and Shaikh bowling with more intensity.

In the sixth over after lunch Shaikh, who has played only one first-class match, aimed a short and quick delivery into Dhawan's ribs. Dhawan backed out, but to his surprise the ball followed him swiftly and hit him on the right elbow. Dhawan threw the bat instantly, wincing in pain, and a few minutes later he walked back to the dressing room retired hurt. The Indian team management clarified later that the batsman was fine and there was no cause for concern.

Gambhir, in his first outing for India since losing his opening position to Dhawan more than a year ago, did not let the incident disrupt his tempo. He had hit his first boundary off his 13th delivery - an edgy square drive against Thakor - and seemed poised for a big score. He was compact, calm and comfortable against all bowlers.

Gambhir kept clipping and pushing the ball into gaps for runs, before collecting his half-century with a back-foot drive to the cover boundary against offspinner Jigar Naik. He immediately decided to retire, the first of three players to do so.

Leicestershire appeared listless for the majority of the day, with the bowlers failing to maintain a consistent line to trouble the batsmen. Having learned from their recent experiences in South Africa and New Zealand, the Indians were happy to go through the motions without doing anything silly.

Their only mistake came immediately after tea, when Kohli misread the line and played away to a full inswinging delivery from Thakor to lose his off stump. Pujara also retired soon after hitting fifty, Ajinkya Rahane started with four consecutive fours, and Rohit Sharma nearly raced to the fastest half-century of the day before the innings had to be declared.

More accustomed to the rumbling sounds inside Indian grounds, the visitors had to be content playing in front of a subdued Thursday crowd. Grace Road was reportedly sold out on the eve of the match, but virtually half the ground was empty today.

The Indians will not attach too much significance to the runs scored, considering Leicestershire and Derbysire, their opponents in the second tour match next week, occupy the bottom two rungs in Division 2 of the English County Championship. The last Championship match Leicestershire won was the final game of the 2012 season.

However, even after accounting for the quality of their opponents, the Indians wanted to clock adequate minutes in the middle and are bound to be satisfied with their returns on the first day.

2nd Test Day 5 ENG 365 & 249 lost to SL 257 & 457 by 100 runs

England fell two balls short of a remarkable escape as Sri Lanka won the second Test to secure a 1-0 series victory.

Last man James Anderson was caught at leg gully off Shaminda Eranga from the penultimate ball of the final day at Headingley.

Anderson had survived for 20 overs in the company of Moeen Ali, who batted through the day for an unbeaten 108 off 281 balls, his maiden Test century.

But when Anderson failed to ride a brutal bouncer, the ball looped to Rangana Herath to see England bowled out for 249 to lose by 100 runs.

Test Match Special analysis

Graeme Swann Ex-England spinner & Test Match Special summariser

"Sri Lanka threw everything at that last over - it was almost a Bodyline strategy. It was a perfectly directed bouncer. Jimmy Anderson couldn't do anything else - his natural reactions just took over."

Anderson, who was later in tears at the post-match presentation, slumped over his bat in disappointment, while Sri Lanka huddled on the pitch to celebrate their first series triumph in England, having won a one-off Test in 1998.

For England, the loss not only delivers a sixth reverse in seven Test matches, but also provides Peter Moores with defeat in his first series since being reappointed as coach.

The result will also put more pressure on captain Alastair Cook to deliver both runs and results in the five-Test series against India which begins on 9 July.

However, the spirit shown in this latest defeat at least saves some face for England following the surrender of an advantage that, at tea on the second day, looked impregnable.

A collapse of eight wickets for 87 runs, a masterful 160 from Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews and a fourth-evening collapse saw England begin the fifth day 57-5 in pursuit of 350.

They began with Moeen - playing only his second Test - and Joe Root at the crease, the latter virtually shotless in defence as they survived to reach a rain-induced early lunch before Root offered a leading edge off Nuwan Pradeep to gully.

Soon after, Matt Prior fended Dhammika Prasad to short leg. Replays suggested Prasad was over the popping crease, but third umpire Paul Reiffel sided with the bowler to give him a first Test five-wicket haul.

When Reiffel was faced with a similar decision after Chris Jordan edged Eranga to slip, he gave the benefit of doubt to the batsman, allowing the Sussex all-rounder to add 52 for the eighth wicket with Moeen.

England's home Test schedule

1st Test v Sri Lanka, Lord's: Match drawn
2nd Test v Sri Lanka, Headingley: Sri Lanka won by 100 runs
9 July: 1st Test v India, Trent Bridge
17 July: 2nd Test v India, Lord's
27 July: 3rd Test v India, Southampton
7 August: 4th Test v India, Old Trafford
15 August: 5th Test v India, The Oval

But when he and Stuart Broad were trapped lbw by the left-arm spin of Herath, England looked beaten.

That was to discount Anderson, who first saw off the occasional off breaks of Mahela Jayawardene - employed because of poor light - before repelling the pace bowlers.

When Sri Lanka turned back to slow left-armer Herath, Anderson was surrounded by as many as six close catchers but, bar the occasional optimistic lbw appeal, was relatively untroubled.

At the other end, Moeen, cutting through the off side and clipping through the leg, was nearing his maiden hundred.

When he got there with a fine leg glance off Pradeep, there were still seven overs remaining but, by that time, the last-wicket pair had already survived for 13.

The balls and minutes ticked down, the cheers for each ball survived grew louder and Sri Lanka became increasingly edgy.

Moeen pushed back the penultimate over, leaving Anderson to face the final six balls, perhaps expecting them to be delivered by Herath.

Instead, seamer Eranga was thrown the ball and, although Anderson repelled the first four deliveries, the fifth was one step too far and England were beaten.

Sri Lanka celebrate winning their first Test series in England

England captain Alastair Cook reflects on a sixth defeat in seven Tests

England's Moeen Ali recorded his maiden Test century in his fourth innings 

2nd Test Day 4 ENG 365, 57/5 v SL 257, 457 (SL need 5 wkts to win)

England are facing a first home series defeat by Sri Lanka after a dismal fourth day of the second Test at Headingley.

Chasing 350 to win, the hosts' top order was destroyed by Dhammika Prasad's 4-15 as they slipped to 57-5.

Sri Lanka earlier amassed 457, led by a masterful 160 from captain Angelo Mathews, who was supported by Rangana Herath's 48.

They added 149 for the eighth wicket, Mahela Jayawardene having made 79.

Mathews and Herath spent almost the entire afternoon session together and were parted only when Herath was run out in a mix-up off the final ball before tea.

By that time, Sri Lanka were already well on top thanks to the efforts of Mathews, who skilfully combined marshalling the strike with finding the boundary on a regular basis.

England's fielders retreated when Mathews faced the bowling at the beginning of an over, despite the fact the right-hander was not interested in surrendering the strike.

When the field converged, Mathews attacked, driving down the ground, cutting and, on one occasion, skipping to clip Liam Plunkett for six over mid-wicket.

He gave one chance, a caught and bowled hit back at Plunkett, who had earlier taken two wickets in two balls to give him nine in the match.

Plunkett's twin strikes - Dinesh Chandimal hooking to deep square leg and Dhammika Prasad guiding to third man - brought Herath to the crease for his stoic support of Mathews.

His main job was to stand at the non-striker's end and run when instructed, often left to face one or two balls at the end of the over.

Highest Test batting averages as captain
	Without captaincy	With captaincy
Donald Bradman, Aus	98.69	101.51
Angelo Mathews, SL	39.71	78.83

However, he grew in stature during his near-three-hour stay at the crease and by mid-afternoon was pulling and driving England's erratic seamers.

As the day wore on, so ineffective were the pacemen that ironic cheers came from the crowd when the spin of Moeen Ali was finally given a second over of the day.

The poor afternoon followed a morning when England defended to such an extent that Mathews and Mahela Jayawardene added 40 in seven overs before the second new ball, with which James Anderson and Stuart Broad were guilty of bowling too short.

When Anderson finally pitched the ball up, Jayawardene was caught behind by Matt Prior for 79.

After Herath was run out by Joe Root's direct hit it, sent back by Mathews looking for the single that would have taken him to 150, Anderson returned to mop up the tail, starting with Mathews chipping a full toss to mid-wicket.

Although openers Alastair Cook and Sam Robson survived for an hour in putting on 39, Prasad profited bowling the sort of full length that had earlier eluded the England seamers.

First Cook continued his year-long run of poor form by dragging a pull on to his stumps, then, from the next ball, Ballance was plumb lbw to a ball that shaped back in.

Robson chased a wide one to edge the same bowler to second slip and Ian Bell was bowled by a beauty that nipped back to take off stump.

The shambles was completed by nightwatchman Plunkett chipping Herath to cover from the final ball of the day, a fitting end to a day that will surely result in an England defeat. 

2nd Test Day 3 ENG 365 V SL 257 & 212/4 (SL lead by 106 runs)

SL 214/4 (lead by 106 runs)

FOW: Silva c Prior b Plunkett 13 (SL 40/1) pitched up in the channel... and gone, nicking to the keeper! Superb from Plunkett, getting the ball up towards the batsman, extra pace and Silva was feeling blindly for that, thin edge and well taken.

Karunaratne c Prior b Plunkett 45 (SL 93/2) given! Caught down the leg side, but we have a review. Is he checking to see if his hand was on the bat? Learning from Herath in previous Test. But doesn't appear he'll escape. The bottom hand, where the ball flicked the finger of the glove, is still holding the handle at the moment of impact so this will be upheld. The change of plan worked for England, Plunkett banging the ball in from round the wicket, angled towards Karunaratne ribs and forced him to play.

Sangakkara lbw b Ali 55 (SL 172/3) Moeen as the huge breakthrough! What a moment. He's given lbw, but Sangakkara has reviewed. It's hit in line and is smashing middle. The spinner, who has barely bowled, has broken the stand. Sangakkara has looked so solid, he just played the wrong line

Thirimanne b Ali 0 (SL 176/4) got 'im! It's not a king pair, but it's still a pair. A ripper from Moeen. A proper offspinner's wicket, Swann would have been proud of it. Drifting in towards middle and leg, gripped and turned past Thirimanne's outside edge to smash into middle.

2nd Test Day 2 ENG 320/6 V SL 257

ENG 320/6 - started Day 2 on 36/0

FOW: Cook c Sangakkara b Prasad 17 (ENG 49/1) in the channel, Cook pushes forward... and nicks to first slip! SL have their man and Cook's rough run continues his indecision around off stump reaching a critical level. Didn't need to play at this but was drawn out by the fuller length, just a familiar, indeterminate prod and a healthy deflection went low and conclusively into Sangakkara's hands this time.

Ballance c Chandimal b Mathews 74 (ENG 191/2) length ball sliding across the left-hander, Ballance plays forward to it and edges behind. I mentioned Sri Lanka needed a wicket from somewhere and the skipper has found it, a pretty innocuous delivery that Ballance has felt for slightly and got a thin edge on through to the keeper.

WICKET - Robson b Pradeep 127 (Eng 278-3)

All over for Robson - he aims a slightly loose drive at Pradeep and is bowled, third ball after the drinks break. The perfect delivery - hit the top of off stump. There's even a complete waste of time as Robson is made to wait while they check for a no-ball - it wasn't even close.
Robson lasted 373 minutes and faced 253 balls, with 15 fours and a six.

WICKET - Bell c Chandimal b Eranga 64 (Eng 311-4)

Bell inside-edges Eranga for four, then he's beaten all ends up by another unplayable delivery from the luckless seamer, who's bowled well today without reward. But after surviving that, Bell's out tamely to a ropey delivery down the leg side as he feathers an edge to the keeper.

WICKET - Root c Chandimal b Mathews 13 (Eng 311-5)

Moeen Ali walks to the middle with just over half-an-hour left of day two (a theoretical nine overs). And one wicket brings two - a hesitant edge behind ends Root's participation in this innings.

Thinking ahead to tomorrow's attendance, I can almost hear Yorkshire's accountant cursing from here...

WICKET - Moeen c Chandimal b Eranga 2 (Eng 313-6)

Having left his first six deliveries last over, Moeen leaves the first ball of Eranga's new over before the Worcestershire man opens his account with a firm off drive for two. But when Eranga switches to bowling over the wicket, he tempts Moeen with one outside off stump which he edges behind.

Three wickets have fallen for two runs in 24 balls, and Sri Lanka are very much back in the running.

England 318 for 6 (Jordan 4*, Prior 3*) lead Sri Lanka 257 by 63 runs

Sam Robson. It is a name that signifies no messing, a straightforward, orthodox sort of name. It will sound even more straightforward to those who watched Sam Robson make his maiden Test hundred at Headingley.

Nothing is likely to come easily for Robson in his England Test career. He is a batsman of few fripperies, committed to the long game. He made 127 before Nuwan Pradeep, armed with the second new ball, brought one back to strike his off stump, causing England to stumble to a lead of 62 with four wickets remaining by the close.

That lead is not what it should be. Sri Lanka made excellent use of that second new ball as evening cloud cover thickened. 

From 278 for 2, England subsided to 313 for 6. Joe Root was furious with himself at guiding Angelo Mathews to the wicketkeeper. Moeen Ali was worked over too easily for his own peace of mind, driving loosely at Shaminda Eranga, the innings of a Headingley ingénue.

The meat of the day for England - a slow roast- came in a second-wicket stand between Robson and Gary Ballance of 142 in 49 overs, a productive alliance between two new players to warm a selector's heart. Ballance was occasionally the more robust, but Robson possessed an understated elegance.

There was also an overly cute innings of 64 from Ian Bell, who was warmly received on his 100th Test - proof of a more exalted status these days - and who provided the impetus England needed, but nevertheless seemed a little too lightsome, addicted to the back cut that has brought him so much sustenance over the past year. He was strangled down the leg side, flicking at a nondescript ball from Eranga.

Mathews, a reluctant fourth seamer, his injury issues no doubt at the forefront of his mind, bowled at around 75mph (120kph) yet drew as much seam and bounce as any Sri Lanka bowler from the surface. He could also have dismissed Matt Prior for nought but failed to hold a low catch as he dived heavily to his right. With worse luck, Prior's Test comeback could have resulted in three successive ducks.

But it was Robson's intensity which characterised this Test match Saturday. It was fancy dress day at Headingley, and alongside a motley collection of scouts, crusaders and mime artists, he enacted the role of a forensic scientist, microscope pressed firmly against his eye, rejecting excess, intent on the pursuit of evidence.

The crowd watched Robson patiently, but not as intently as Robson watched the ball. He might have been auditioning for a role in Silent Witness, except with the most adventurous lines removed from the script. He did not just watch the ball; he appeared to be looking for stray fibres which might just help him unravel the secrets of the game.

On this occasion, there were not too many secrets to unravel. 

Headingley can still become treacherous for batsmen when the mood takes it, but this was a day when it rolled over and allowed its tummy to be tickled. Sri Lanka's trio of frontline pace bowlers maintained disciplined lines, but they received little assistance and, as such, the procession of right-armers seeking to move the ball away from the right-hander became samey.

Robson looked quite mechanical on his Test debut at Lord's, tension no doubt contributing to that, but as he made unflustered progress, so his body relaxed. His strength looks to be the off-side drive, off the front foot, but partial to that shot or not, he was rarely drawn into extravagance.

Robson's circumspection steadily edged England into a position of authority on a day when they lost only one wicket in each of the first two sessions. Alastair Cook, a captain uncertain in his game, continued to struggle, making 17 to follow scores of 17 and 28 in the first Test at Lord's.

Headingley was the venue for his last Test century, but this year it was the source of more breast-beating. He fell to Dhammika Prasad, a bat dangler as he pushed forward half-heartedly, held low by Kumar Sangakkara at first slip.

Bowlers think that by maintaining a fuller length they have his measure. 

He will probably have to play forward for the rest of his Test career and he needs to find a response.

Robson's fifty had a dash of a moment of impatience as he forced Pradeep off the back foot between slip and gully. 

Concentration disturbed, he had a nibble at the next one and almost edged to the wicketkeeper. Slim and fresh faced, he quietly admonished himself: a silent witness to his own error.

Ballance approaches an innings, one suspects, with less complexity. 

When Sri Lanka pitched the ball around off stump, his surname was inappropriate; he was liable to get into a tangle. If he was a forensic scientist, he would drop the odd test tube. Give him a clip off his hips, the chance to sweep the spinner or to cut off the back foot and he looks more at home.

It took a successful England review to spare him on 33 when umpire Billy Bowden adjudged him lbw to Rangana Herath as he trudged inelegantly into a straight ball, only for replays to show the ball turning high and wide of leg stump. 

Herath was again unfortunate when Ballance was dropped at short leg on 61, Kaushal Silva failing to get down to a catch by his right boot. 

He finally succumbed to an innocuous length delivery from Mathews which he guided to the wicketkeeper.

A more flamboyant player might have wanted their maiden hundred won or lost before tea, but not Robson. 

Bell contrived to give him three deliveries in the penultimate over, against the left-arm spin of Herath, but he could not pierce the off-side field. He gave him another three balls on strike in the last over, against Mathews, but he could only pick off a single. Bell gave him another single. One ball left, one could imagine him telling himself to play it on its merits: blocked.

He addressed that in the second over after tea - though not without having played out five more dot balls from Herath - chasing a wide, full one from Prasad and guiding it through cover. He even then skipped down the pitch to deposit Herath over long-on for six - and he only has half-a-dozen of those in his first-class career. 

But as the new ball came, and Robson departed, Sri Lanka infiltrated England's celebrations, leaving Cook's expression on the dressing room balcony a touch more troubled than it had been an hour before. 

Tea England 211 for 2 (Robson 98*, Bell 8*) trail Sri Lanka 257 by 46 runs

It was fancy dress day at Headingley and alongside a motley collection of scouts, Crusaders and mime artists, Sam Robson closed to within two runs of a maiden Test hundred while re-enacting the role of a forensic scientist, microscope pressed firmly against his eye. It is a role he may be about to play for a long time.

A more flamboyant player might have wanted that maiden hundred won or lost before tea, but not Robson. 

Ian Bell contrived to give him three deliveries in the penultimate over, against the left-arm spin of Rangana Herath, but he could not pierce the off side field. He gave him another three balls on strike in the last over, against Angelo Mathews, but he could only pick off a single. Bell gave him another single. One ball left: one could imagine him telling himself to play it on its merits: blocked.

Robson's circumspection steadily edged England into a position of authority on a day when they lost only one wicket in each session: Alastair Cook, a captain uncertain in his game, departed before lunch; Gary Ballance, for a sturdy 74, as tea hovered into view.

Ballance, on his home ground, was occasionally more bullish in a second-wicket stand of 142 in 49 overs, a productive alliance between two new players to warm a selector's heart, but it was Robson whose intensity characterised the first two sessions of a Test match Saturday.

He looked quite mechanical on his Test debut at Lord's, tension no doubt contributing to that, but as he made unflustered progress, so his body relaxed. His strength looks to be the off-side drive, off the front foot, but partial to that shot or not, he was not drawn into anything extravagant.

The crowd watched Robson patiently, but not as intently as Robson watched the ball. He might have been auditioning for a role in Silent Witness, except with the most adventurous lines removed from the script. He did not just watch the ball; he appeared to be looking for stray fibres which might just help him unravel the secrets of the game.

On this occasion, there were not too many secrets to unravel. Headingley can still become treacherous for batsmen when the mood takes it, but this was a day when it rolled over and allowed its tummy to be tickled. Sri Lanka's trio of frontline pace bowlers maintained disciplined lines, but they received little assistance and, as such, the procession of right-armers seeking to move the ball away from the right-hander became samey.

Robson's first Test fifty, in his second Test, was assembled in two-and-threequarter hours. Oddly, he reached it with a moment of impatience, forcing Nuwan Pradeep off the back foot between slip and gully. 

Concentration disturbed, he had a nibble at the next one and almost edged to the wicketkeeper. Slim and fresh faced, he quietly admonished himself: a silent witness to his own error. Between lunch and tea, he made only 43. England knew they would have to push on, but not yet awhile.

Ballance approaches an innings, one suspects, with less complexity. When Sri Lanka pitched the ball around off stump, his surname was inappropriate; he was liable to get into a tangle. If he was a forensic scientist, he would drop the odd test tube. Give him a clip off his hips, the chance to sweep the spinner or to cut off the back foot and he looks more at home.

It took a successful England review to spare him on 33 when umpire Billy Bowden adjudged him lbw to Herath as he trudged inelegantly into a straight ball, only for replays to show the ball turning high and wide of leg stump. 

Herath was again unfortunate when Ballance was dropped at short leg on 61, Kaushal Silva failing to get down to a catch by his right boot . He might also have been run out two runs earlier when he was slow to respond to Robson's eagerness for a single to an off-side parry.

He finally succumbed to an innocuous length delivery from Mathews which he guided to the wicketkeeper.

As for Cook, he continued to struggle, 17 to follow scores of 17 and 28 in the first Test at Lord's. Headingley was the venue for his last Test century, but this year it was the source of more breast beating. He fell to Dhammika Prasad, a bat dangler as he pushed forward half-heartedly, held low by Kumar Sangakkara at first slip.

Bowlers think that by maintaining a fuller length they have his measure. He will probably have to play forward for the rest of his Test career and he needs to find a response. 

Lunch England 106 for 1 (Robson 55*, Ballance 30*) trail Sri Lanka 257 by 151 runs

It was fancy dress day at Headingley and alongside a motley collection of scouts, Crusaders and mime artists, Sam Robson secured his first Test half-century while re-enacting the role of a forensic scientist, microscope against hs eye.

It is a role he may be about to play for a long time.

Robson's circumspection steadily edged England into a position of authority on a morning when they lost only one wicket, that of their captain, Alastair Cook. 

Alongside him, Gary Ballance, on his home ground, was occasionally more bullish, but it was Robson whose intensity characterised the morning of a Test match Saturday.

The crowd watched him patiently, but not as intently as Robson watched the ball. He might have been auditioning for a role in Silent Witness, except with the most adventurous lines removed from the script. 

He did not just watch the ball; he appeared to be looking for stray fibres which might just help him unravel the secrets of the game.

On this occasion, there were not too many secrets to unravel. Headingley can still become treacherous for batsmen when the mood takes it, but this was a day when it rolled over and allowed its tummy to be tickled.

Sri Lanka's trio of pace bowlers maintained disciplined lines, but they received little assistance and, as such, the procession of right-armers seeking to move the ball away from the right-hander became samey.

Robson's first Test fifty, in his second Test, was assembled in two-and-three-quarter hours. Oddly, he reached it with a moment of impatience, forcing Nuwan Pradeep off the back foot between slip and gully. 

Concentration disturbed, he had a nibble at the next one and almost edged to the wicketkeeper. Slim and fresh faced, he quietly admonished himself: a silent witness to his own error.

His strength looks to be the off-side drive, off the front foot, but partial to that shot or not, he will not be drawn into anything extravagant.

Ballance approaches an innings, one suspects, with less complexity. When Sri Lanka pitched the ball around off stump, his surname was inappropriate; he was liable to get into a tangle. 

If he was a forensic scientist, he would drop the odd test tube. Give him a clip off his hips, the chance to sweep the spinner or pretty much anything on the back foot and he looks more at home.

As for Cook, he continues to struggle, 17 to follow scores of 17 and 28 in the first Test at Lord's. Headingley was the venue for his last Test century, but this year it was the source of more breast beating. He fell to Dhammika Prasad, a bat dangler as he pushed forward half-heartedly, held low by Kumar Sangakkara at first slip.

Bowlers think that by maintaining a fuller length they have his measure. He will probably have to play forward for the rest of his Test career and he needs to find a response.