Pakistan clinch one-day series with match to spare

CRICKET / Test round-up: Pakistan clinched the one-day series against England by winning the fourth match by 13 runs yesterday.

The home team took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series after their attack battled hard to successfully defend a total of 210, bowling England out for 197 in 48.1 overs.

England were also beaten 2-0 in the Test series and have now lost their last three one-dayers after winning the first in Lahore by 42 runs. The last match is tomorrow. The Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who sustained a groin injury while making 81 not out with the bat, praised his bowling attack. "I thought today was our best performance in this series as we defended a low total," Inzamam told reporters.

England's tail fought to the end after being reduced to 114 for eight, with Ian Blackwell (29) and Kabir Ali (39 not out) putting on a fighting 50 runs for the ninth wicket.

Meanwhile, Pakistan paceman Shabbir Ahmed has become the first bowler to be banned for one year because of an illegal action, the International Cricket Council said yesterday.

Shabbir was reported for the second time during the first Test against England last month and an independent assessment by the University of Western Australia has confirmed he bowls with an illegal action.

"Having been reported and assessed as bowling illegally for a second time within two years of the first period of suspension, Ahmed has received a mandatory one-year ban." ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said Shabbir's ban was regrettable but appropriate.

"It is clear that Mr Ahmed has the capacity to bowl with a legal action but it would seem that on occasion he has the tendency to revert to old habits," he said in the ICC statement.

In Perth, South Africa were grateful the day's play was brought to a premature close as Australia edged towards a first Test victory yesterday thanks largely to the efforts of Brad Hodge.

Having set the Proteas 491 to win, Australia then removed openers Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers before the close to leave South Africa on 85 for two.

Their predicament could have been even worse but umpires Steve Bucknor and Billy Doctrove called a halt to proceedings with 17 minutes to play due to bad light even though the WACA floodlights were on.

In Ahmedabad, spinner Harbhajan Singh put India in control of the third Test with four wickets as Sri Lanka toiled.

Having made 398 in their first innings the hosts piled on the pressure to reduce Sri Lanka to 131 for five in reply before bad light ended play three overs early. The tourists' tormentor-in-chief was Harbhajan, who finished a wonderful spell with figures of four for 24 from 11 overs.