Perth, December 18:

The Ashes belong once more to Australia. Captain Ricky Ponting and a team of aging champions took the precious urn from England’s grasp when it won the third Test by 206 runs, clinching the five-match series 3-0.

Australia set England 557 to win the match then dismissed them for 350. England resumed at 265/5. They reached 336/5 as Kevin Pietersen and Andy Flintoff added 75 for the sixth wicket. But Flintoff’s dismissal for 51 ignited a collapse which saw England’s last five wickets fall for 14 runs. When Monty Panesar was the last man out, Pietersen was stranded at 60 not out. Shane Warne took four wickets finishing the match with 699 Test dismissals.

India defeat SA

Johannesburg: Leg-spinner Anil Kumble took three wickets as India completed an historic triumph beating South Africa by 123 runs on the fourth day of the first Test.

A defiant 97 by Ashwell Prince could not prevent India from achieving their first Test win in three tours of South Africa. Prince and Shaun Pollock put on 67 for the seventh wicket to delay India’s victory. India’s win was set up when they bowled out South Africa for 84 in reply to India’s 249 in first innings. India then scored 236 in the second innings, setting a target of 402 for the hosts. South Africa were bowled out for 278. India’s Shanthakumaran Sreesanth finished the match with the figures of eight for 99. — AFP

SL level series

Wellington: Muttiah Muralitharan took 6-87, completing match figures of 10-118, as Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 217 runs in the second Test to tie the two-match series 1-1.

Muralitharan helped spin New Zealand out for 286 in their second innings at the Basin Reserve, after they resumed on the fourth day at 75 for 2, chasing 504 for victory.

Muralitharan’s victims on Monday included top-scorer Daniel Vettori (51), adding that to his seven wickets in Sri Lanka’s second innings and his 10 wickets in the match.

James Franklin made 44 runs in a 96-run eighth wicket stand which briefly delayed the outcome. Matthew Sinclair made 37 runs and skipper Stephen Fleming scored 27. — AP