Dravid holds key to Warne

Shane Warne against Rahul Dravid. The world's greatest spinner against one of the best players of spin. It was a mouth-watering prospect for the final first-class game to be staged at the United Services Ground, in Portsmouth. Both stars were playing their first seasons of county cricket, and such contests surely defy the claim that overseas players should not be welcomed into the county fold because they are holding back talented young Englishmen.

Shane Warne against Rahul Dravid. The world's greatest spinner against one of the best players of spin. It was a mouth-watering prospect for the final first-class game to be staged at the United Services Ground, in Portsmouth. Both stars were playing their first seasons of county cricket, and such contests surely defy the claim that overseas players should not be welcomed into the county fold because they are holding back talented young Englishmen.

While the rest of the Kentish batsmen were all at sea against the tweaker in the first innings, the Indian scored 137. Then his undefeated 73 led the visitors to victory over Hampshire by six wickets. But this time he was ably supported by a former England Under-19, Robert Key, who contributed 60 and can only have benefited from batting with Dravid. And while the Australian guru went wicketless for 190 balls, Shaun Udal, who once promised much as an England spinner, caused what disruption there was, taking 4 for 42 as Kent made 205 for 4.

Glamorgan's Australian import Matthew Elliott made his second century in successive 300-plus run-chases as the Welsh county recorded their fourth victory in a row against Northamptonshire at Cardiff and stormed to the top of Divis-ion Two a month after being on the bottom. The left-hander hit 117 off 247 balls with 13 fours and Michael Powell made 53, after which the middle order held firm to reach 310 for 5.

South Africa require 172 to avoid an innings defeat against Sri Lanka after the third day of the First Test in Galle. They were forced to follow on for only the second time in eight years since they returned to the Test arena - the first was against England in Durban last year - after the off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took 6 for 87.

Only Daryll Cullinan resisted with an unbeaten 114 out of 238, his 11th Test century, off 231 balls with 12 fours and a six. Following on, they reached 112 for 2, though Gary Kirsten was run out for 55 in the last over.