CRICKET:EOIN MORGAN wasn't part of the England team at The Gabba when the first Test of the Ashes series got under way yesterday, but he was in action in Brisbane, playing for the England Performance Programme team who enjoyed a positive opening day to their tour match against Queensland Academy.

The tourists recovered from 43 for 3 thanks largely to Morgan and James Hildreth.

The Irishman struck a 140-ball 71 after Andrew Gale, Jimmy Adams and Steve Davies all fell relatively cheaply. The English side finished the day on 337 for six with Hildreth on 142 not out.

Morgan will be hoping to get his chance in the Ashes series, especially after England’s poor start with the bat.

PART-TIME bowler Tillakaratne Dilshan snapped up two West Indies wickets within the space of three balls to tilt the balance of the second Test in favour of Sri Lanka on the third day in Colombo yesterday.

At the close West Indies were 165 for 5 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 387 for 9 declared with play ending 52 minutes after tea due to bad light. West Indies trail by 222 runs.

Dilshan first broke a fourth-wicket partnership of 83 between Darren Bravo and Brendan Nash. He trapped Nash lbw for 29 with a straight ball. Two balls later Bravo spooned the ball to cover point where Rangana Herath took a spectacular catch inches off the ground. Bravo hit a Test best 80.

West Indies, having lost opener Adrian Barath before the lunch break, suffered two big losses in the afternoon when Sri Lanka captured the wickets of Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Earlier, Sri Lanka declared their first innings after adding 93 runs to their overnight total.