SECOND ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL, Dambulla:

SECOND ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL, Dambulla:
England 234-8 (50 overs) bt Sri Lanka 169 (44.3 overs) by 65 runs

Owais Shah's 82 and some fine bowling helped England beat Sri Lanka by 65 runs to level the one-day series 1-1.

The tourists were 61-4 and 142-6 on a slow surface but Shah worked the ball around shrewdly as they posted 234-8.

Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad took two wickets each to reduce Sri Lanka to 38-4 before captain Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan put on 52.

Graeme Swann and Paul Collingwood also struck twice and despite Jehan Mubarak (44), the hosts were dismissed for 169.

It was only England's second one-day international triumph on the island - their previous one was more than 25 years ago - and just the tonic they needed after an abject surrender in Monday's opener at the same venue.

Shah will quite rightly take most of the plaudits after a brilliantly paced knock which rescued his team after the top order had failed dismally to cope with the variations in pace and length the home seamers employed, particularly Farveez Maharoof (3-30).

Alastair Cook wafted leaden-footedly to slip, Ian Bell was lbw shuffling across his crease, while Phil Mustard and Kevin Pietersen - who scratched around for 41 balls for his 12 - spooned catches off ill-judged swipes.

Captain Collingwood was never totally at ease on a sluggish pitch but he passed 1,000 ODI runs for 2007 in helping Shah lay the foundations for the recovery.

They kept the scoreboard ticking against the spinners in a partnership of 78 with a measured approach which was studded with rare boundaries.

Collingwood pulled Dilhara Fernando for England's only six in the 35th over before he was pinned in front trying to work the seamer away on the leg-side and when Ravi Bopara lost his leg-stump to part-time spinner Dilshan, the visitors were still some way short of respectability.

Shah took them there with his fourth one-day fifty and Graeme Swann's support in a stand of 70, and only a brilliant catch from Chamara Silva ended his 92-ball defiance.

Sidebottom produced an impressive opening spell to rock the hosts

It was the best score by an Englishman in a one-day international in Sri Lanka, bettering Graham Gooch's 74 in that 1982 success.

And its importance was magnified when Sidebottom and Broad extracted bounce and movement from a pitch that quickened significantly in the evening.

Upul Tharanga edged Sidebottom to Cook at second slip and Sanath Jayasuriya - playing in his 400th ODI - cracked the left-armer to Bell at cover.

Kumar Sangakkara was dropped twice by Cook at slip and Mustard before the keeper redeemed himself with a superb catch, while Silva was snapped up at backward point when a Broad delivery reared up.

England were rampant but their fires were doused by Dilshan's aggression and the composed class of Jayawardene.

The duo seized on errors in line and length from Broad and James Anderson to pick up a flurry of boundaries as their fifty partnership came up in 44 balls.

However, Swann's third ball, a vicious off-spinner, ripped through Dilshan's defences and Collingwood saw his opposite number flip him straight to mid-wicket to land two hammer blows.

The same duo worked their way through the tail and although Mubarak struck several lusty blows and Fernando (20) made his highest one-day score, nothing could take the shine off Shah and England's day.

NZ's Carter back to face France

New Zealand v France
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday, 6 October
Kick-off: 2000 BST

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has ushered fly-half Dan Carter back into the side for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final with France in Cardiff.

Carter, 25, missed the 85-8 victory over Romania with a calf strain and has yet to return to full training, but he is hoping to be fit to face the French.

New Zealand's record try-scorer Doug Howlett is left out of the 22.

"Dan Carter was playing 50% of the time in practice [on Tuesday] but it looks like he'll be fine," said Henry.

"We can't be 100% sure on that but we have Nick Evans ready to step in if required, so it's not a major issue.

The selection of the side is probably the most difficult it's been since we've done the job, particularly the backs New Zealand coach Graham Henry

"Dan is reasonably positive he'll get through, but if we keep pushing him in training he won't get there.

"For him to train at 100% would be suicidal so we need to keep the reins on him a bit."

Only five players remain from the side that beat Romania - inside centre Luke McAlister, wingers Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu, lock Keith Robinson and back row Jerry Collins.

Howlett, who has scored 48 Test tries, has been kept out of the side by Sivivatu, while Leon MacDonald starts at full-back and Mils Muliaina comes in at outside centre.

Robinson is preferred at lock to Chris Jack, while Anton Oliver starts at hooker, with Keven Mealamu on the bench.

"The selection of the side is probably the most difficult it's been since we've done the job, particularly the backs," said Henry.

"We could have picked any of our 14 backs in this match because they're all playing exceptionally well.

"Up front, there is a bit of a gap between the top and second players in some positions. "That's no criticism of the second player, that's just the fact of the matter.

"Having tough choices to make is a great situation to be in but it's also difficult to inform the guys who haven't been picked."

Henry had all of the 30-man squad available for selection, with the exception of loose forward Sione Lauaki, who was banned for two matches for a dangerous tackle on Romania winger Gabriel Brezonianu.

Henry added: "We are excited to play France. Sudden-death rugby obviously has its own tensions and that's the reality all eight teams face this weekend.

"France probably weren't expected to be in this quarter-final so there may be some extra tension in this match particularly.

"As a team we have really enjoyed the big occasions over the last few years and we've enjoyed a good and thorough preparation for this match."

New Zealand will wear their grey "away" strip instead of their traditional black after losing a coin toss to France, whose shirt is dark blue.

"The All Blacks are a very strong team and if they play in pink, blue or white they would be as strong as playing in black," said France captain Raphael Ibanez.

New Zealand: MacDonald, Rokocoko, Muliaina, McAlister, Sivivatu, Carter, Kelleher; Woodcock, Oliver, Hayman, Robinson, Williams, Collins, McCaw (capt), So'oialo.
Replacements: Mealamu, Tialata, Jack, Masoe , Leonard, Evans, Toeava.

Federer pulls out of Japan Open

World number one Roger Federer has pulled out of the Japan Open.

Federer, who beat Tim Henman to win the Tokyo title in 2006, cited fatigue after winning his fourth consecutive US Open title earlier this month.

"I have not physically recovered 100% from the US Open and Davis Cup," said Federer, who has been ordered by doctors not to play for 10 days.

Spain's David Ferrer and France's Richard Gasquet will both play in the event, which starts on 1 October.

World number eight Ferrer is the tournament's highest seed following his late entry.

American Venus Williams, currently playing in South Korea, has been added to the women's draw.

England 36-20 Tonga

England (19) 36

Tries: Sackey 2, Tait, Farrell

Cons: Wilkinson 2

Pens: Wilkinson 2

Drop-goals: Wilkinson 2

Tonga (10) 20

Tries: Hufanga, Pole

Cons: Hola 2

Pens: Hola 2

Champions England clinched a World Cup quarter-final against Australia with an ultimately convincing win over Tonga.

Tonga opened the scoring through Sukanaivalu Hufanga's sparkling try but two Paul Sackey scores helped England into a 19-10 half-time lead.

Pierre Hola's second penalty saw Tonga reduce the lead to six points.

But Mathew Tait and Andy Farrell went over to secure victory before Hale T Pole's late consolation, while Jonny Wilkinson kicked 16 points in Paris.

The England fly-half now has 222 World Cup points and is just five behind Gavin Hastings, who is the competition's all-time leading scorer with 227.

No champions had ever failed to reach the knock-out stages at the World Cup, but following their dismal start to the tournament there had been real fears England would crash out before the last eight.

They had showed signs of life in the win over Samoa but Tonga had beaten their Pacific Island rivals and then pushed South Africa right to the last whistle.

The pre-match script suggested the Sea Eagles' pace and power was likely to trouble England initially before the defending champions' set-piece ability, superior tactical game and greater fitness began to bear fruit, and so it proved.

Tonga threatened from the first whistle with Epi Taione and Finau Maka blasting into the England midfield and they took the lead after 10 minutes.

There looked to be little danger when Mark Cueto fielded a poor Tonga kick but the Sale winger dithered and Tonga captain Nili Latu wrapped him up.

Cueto held on as the ruck formed and Hola stepped up to drill the penalty between the posts, but England were level within three minutes after Tonga handled in a ruck and Wilkinson opened his account for the night.

Tonga enjoyed the best of the territory in the opening quarter and they went back in front with a fine try after 17 minutes.

Taione handed off former Newcastle team-mate Wilkinson and fed Hufanga, who beat three men before sliding over by the posts despite inside centre Olly Barkley's attempted tackle.

Hola converted but England hit back immediately with a dramatic score.

Tonga infringed as England drove at the heart of their defence from the re-start and it looked as though Wilkinson would take the shot at goal, but instead he kicked to the right wing.

The giant Joseph Vaka had left Sackey unattended and the Wasps flyer just managed to catch the ball and get it down before rolling over the dead ball line.

Wilkinson, who had spoken earlier in the week about his trouble timing his kicks with the official World Cup ball, caught his conversion attempt horribly and missed the posts by miles.

As the game moved deeper into the half England's upper hand in the set-piece began to pay dividends and Wilkinson knocked over a trademark drop-goal and a regulation penalty to put the defending champions 14-10 up.

Undaunted, Tonga went back on the attack, with the likes of Taione battering away at England's thin white line, but when Hola threw a poor pass it fell at the feet of Sackey.

He was on England's 22 but the Wasps winger has pace to burn and Hufanga gave up the chase with 30m still to go.

Wilkinson once again missed the conversion attempt to the left of the posts but England were 19-0 up and the quarter-finals were in sight.

The rain which began to hammer down during the half-time interval benefited England, who had a better kicking game and the advantage in the set-piece.

But they missed the chance to extend their lead when Wilkinson missed a kickable penalty - yet again to the left - after the battered and bloodied Lewis Moody fell victim to a high tackle by the otherwise excellent Tonga captain Latu.

The let-off boosted Tonga's morale and, after England brought on former Great Britain rugby league captain Farrell for Barkley with just under half an hour to play, they trimmed the gap with a second Hola penalty.

England looked a little rattled but within three minutes the scoreline had a very different air.

Cueto dummied his way through the Tonga defence and although he failed to find the supporting Farrell, when England switched play to the left Tait sliced over for the try.

While Wilkinson was adding the conversion to make it 26-13 England captain Phil Vickery sauntered on with the air of a gunslinger walking into "his" saloon before embracing Matt Stevens, the man who kept him out of the starting line-up.

Farrell looked fired up from his first touch and after 66 minutes he made the game safe, cutting back against the grain to score his first try for England after dummying a run-around with Wilkinson.

The Newcastle fly-half kicked the conversion and added a late drop-goal and although Pole went over for a last-gasp converted try, the champions ensured their defence of the Webb Ellis trophy will last for another week at least.

England: Lewsey; Sackey, Tait, Barkley, Cueto; Wilkinson, Gomarsall; Sheridan, Chuter, Stevens, Borthwick, Kay, Corry (capt), Moody, Easter

Replacements: Mears, Vickery, Dallaglio, Worsley, Richards, Farrell, Hipkiss.

Tonga: Lilo; Tu'ifua, Hufanga, Taione, Vaka; Hola, Tu'ipulotu; Tonga'uiha, Lutui, Pulu, Vaki, Fa'aoso, Pole, Latu (capt), Maka

Replacements: Taukafa, Taufa'ao Filise, Molitika, Afeaki, Havea, Huson Tonga'uiha, Havili.

Bonds to part company with Giants

Home run record holder Barry Bonds will leave the San Francisco Giants at the end of the season after the club decided not to renew his contract.

"Although I am disappointed, I've always said baseball is a business and I respect their decision," the 43-year-old told his personal website.

Bonds, who beat Hank Aaron's all-time record of 755 home runs in August, added he had no intention of retiring.

"There is more baseball in me and I plan on continuing my career," he said.

"My quest for a World Series ring continues."

Unfortunately for Bonds, his record-breaking feat has been overshadowed by claims he has used steroids.

The left-hander has never tested positive for drug use and denies knowingly taking performance-enhancing substances.

Nevertheless, he has been dogged by rumours since his home run tally took off after he turned 35, moving past the legendary Babe Ruth into second place in May last year with his 715th career home run.

Bonds added that he regretted not knowing he would be leaving the Giants sooner so he could say a proper goodbye to club's fans.

"I don't have nor do I want any ill feelings towards the organisation," he said.

"I just wish I had known sooner so we had more time to say our goodbyes and celebrate the best 15 years of my life."

Bonds hit his 756th homer in the game against the Washington Nationals on 7 August.