South Africa continue winning run against Australia

By Ken Borland

CENTURION, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa beat Australia for the third game in a row when they won the second Twenty20 international by 17 runs on Sunday.

After clinching the test series by winning the first two matches, Australia lost the third test in Cape Town by an innings and the opening Twenty20 match by four wickets.

Chasing 157 for victory on Sunday, Australia were derailed by off-spinner Johan Botha, who claimed two for 16 in four overs as the visitors crashed to 103 for five after 15 overs having been 63 for two at the halfway mark.

Earlier, debutant Roelof van der Merwe lifted South Africa to a respectable 156 for five with a lively 48 off 30 balls.

Van der Merwe, playing on his home ground, then picked up the key wicket of David Hussey for 27 as South Africa's spinners took control, restricting Australia to 139 for eight.

Australia will hope for a prompt return to form when the five-match one-day international series gets underway in Durban on Friday.

Laxman scores century,Test ends in draw

Laxman scored his 14th Test century after Gambhir had batted for almost 11 hours to ensure India secured a draw in the second Test.

NAPIER, New Zealand (Reuters) - Vangipurappu Laxman scored his 14th test century after Gautam Gambhir had batted for almost 11 hours to ensure India secured a draw in the second test against New Zealand on Monday.

India, forced to follow on after being bowled out for 305, declared their second innings closed at 476 for four shortly after Laxman had scored his century.

With New Zealand needing 163 to win in less than 17 overs, both captains agreed to call the match off.

Laxman was unbeaten on 124 and Yuvraj Singh was 54 not out for India, who lead the three-match series 1-0 after a 10-wicket victory in the Hamilton test.

"After the performance we had in Hamilton, to bounce back and play like we did here is very pleasing," New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori told reporters.

"The performances of Jesse Ryder (201), Ross Taylor (151) and Brendon McCullum (115) with the bat and backed up by a magnificent first innings bowling spell.

"I think the amount of pressure we put India under was fantastic."