Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc struck twice in two balls to leave Pakistan 213 for eight at tea on day three of the second test at Adelaide Oval, still 177 runs short of making the hosts bat again.

The smile on Joe Root's face midway through the final session on the third day of the second test against New Zealand underlined the overwhelming relief he must have been feeling.

Joe Root ended a poor run of form when he scored his 17th test century and led England to 269-5 before rain ended play early on the third day of the second test against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday.

Joe Root ended a poor run of form when he scored his 17th test century and led England to 269-5 before rain ended play early on the third day of the second test against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday.

Dec 1 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at stumps on the third day of 2nd test between New Zealand and England on Saturday at Hamilton, New Zealand England trail New Zealand by 106 runs with 5 wickets remaining New Zealand 1st innings Jeet Raval c Joe Root b Stuart Broad 5 Tom Latham b Stuart Broad 105 Kane Williamson c Joe Root b Chris Woakes 4 Ross Taylor c Joe Root b Chris Woakes 53 Henry Nicholls c Stuar

Rory Burns wasted a chance to build on his second test century when he was run out shortly after reaching the milestone before England reached 218-3 at tea on the third day of the second test against New Zealand in Hamilton.

Rory Burns and Joe Root thwarted New Zealand's hopes of making an early breakthrough with a 118-run partnership as they took England to 142-2 at lunch on the third day of the second test at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday.

David Warner's brilliant, unbeaten 335 in the second test against Pakistan on Saturday thrilled the Adelaide Oval crowd but a pragmatic declaration by Australia captain Tim Paine crushed hopes of a tilt at Brian Lara's world record.

* Pakistan slump to 96 for six at stumps (Adds details, quotes)

Nov 30 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at stumps on the second day of 2nd test between Australia and Pakistan on Saturday at Adelaide, Australia Pakistan trail Australia by 493 runs with 4 wickets remaining Australia 1st innings David Warner Not Out 335 Joe Burns c Mohammad Rizwan b Shaheen Afridi 4 Marnus Labuschagne b Shaheen Afridi 162 Steven Smith c Mohammad Rizwan b Shaheen Afridi 36 Matthew Wade

Nov 30 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at stumps on the second day of between Western Australia and South Australia on Saturday at Perth, Australia South Australia trail Western Australia by 368 runs with 4 wickets remaining Western Australia 1st innings Cameron Bancroft c Jake Weatherald b Joe Mennie 12 Jake Carder b Joe Mennie 13 Shaun Marsh c&b Chadd Sayers 41 Marcus Stoinis Run Out Wes Agar 79 Ashton Turn

* Australia declare at 589 for three (Updates at dinner break)

Nov 30 (OPTA) - Scoreboard at close of play on the second day of between Tasmania and Queensland on Friday at Hobart, Australia Queensland win by 10 wickets Tasmania 1st innings Jordan Silk lbw Mark Steketee 0 Alex Doolan lbw Cameron Gannon 34 Beau Webster lbw Mark Steketee 0 George Bailey lbw Mark Steketee 2 Ben McDermott c Jimmy Peirson b Jack Wildermuth