Swann spins second string to major win

<preform>Sri Lanka A 228 &amp; 239 </BR> England A 424 &amp; 240-5dec</BR> <i>England A win by 197 runs</i></preform>

Graeme Swann bowled England A to a 197-run victory over their Sri Lankan counterparts with a five-wicket haul here yesterday. The Northamptonshire off-spinner polished off the tail with 5 for 79 after the hosts had been reduced to 120 for 6 following England's overnight declaration on 240 for 5 for a lead of 436.

Graeme Swann bowled England A to a 197-run victory over their Sri Lankan counterparts with a five-wicket haul here yesterday. The Northamptonshire off-spinner polished off the tail with 5 for 79 after the hosts had been reduced to 120 for 6 following England's overnight declaration on 240 for 5 for a lead of 436.

Swann broke a sixth-wicket stand of 49 between Prasanna Jayawardene, with 36, and Gayan Wijekoon, who scored 18, when the former was caught by Mike Powell. Wijekoon followed almost immediately to the same bowler, but Thilan Thushara scored 69 and Malinga Bandara 23 to put on a stand of 77 for the eighth wicket.

When Swann had Bandara caught behind by Matt Prior the end was near and it was hastened when Thushara offered a return catch after a 61-ball innings which included four sixes and eight fours. The last man, Nandika Ranjith, was bowled by Swann as Sri Lanka A were dismissed for 239.

"I think it was a very good victory," the England A coach, Rodney Marsh, said. "Every member of the the team contributed and it was a great team effort. Sri Lanka A was a very good side and the victory here will not mean that we will take them lightly in the other games. I thought we batted very well and also bowled and fielded extremely well."

* Shane Warne has signed a new two-year contract with Hampshire, with an option to extend it for a further two years.

* The England fast bowler Simon Jones has signed a new three-year contract with Glamorgan. The 26-year-old, who has a central contract with the England Cricket Board, has committed himself to the county until the end of the 2007 season.