Myanmar protests grow over verdict

Protests against the conviction in Thailand of two Burmese men for the murder of a pair of British tourists have been growing in Yangon. The Thai embassy's consular section in the Burmese capital said it would be closed for the week in the wake of the "unexpected and prolonged" protests. Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin were sentenced to death last week for the 2014 murders of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge. Thai police have denied allegations the men were forced to confess. But many in Myanmar believe the men were made scapegoats for the crime. The convicted migrant workers denied killing the tourists, saying they were forced by Thai police into confessing under duress, which they later retracted. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Protests have been growing in Myanmar over the court verdict ever since it was handed down Image copyright AFP Image caption Burmese Buddhist monks have also protested, such as these in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo Hundreds of people, including Buddhist monks and ordinary citizens, were reported to have taken to the streets on Tuesday. Thai media has earlier reported that Thai authorities asked Myanmar to contain the protests. A statement made by the Thai embassy released earlier this week said the demonstrations made it hard to access their entrance.

Martin Guptill became the highest run scorer

 Martin Guptill became the highest run scorer in one-day international cricket this year as he guided New Zealand to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first game of their five match series on Saturday. Guptill, who scored 237 not out in the World Cup quarter-final against West Indies and was the highest run-scorer at the tournament, was dismissed for 79 within sight of the 189 needed for victory at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Ross Taylor was on five with debutant Henry Nicholls hitting the winning runs to move to 23 as New Zealand raced to 191 for three in 21 overs. Captain Brendon McCullum scored 55 from 25 balls in an 108-run opening partnership with Guptill, who moved to 1,366 runs from 30 matches in 2015. Compatriot Kane Williamson, who has a knee injury and missed the match, has scored 1,317 runs this year with South Africa's AB de Villiers third on 1,193. While Guptill and McCullum made light work of the run chase, victory had been set up in Sri Lanka's innings when opening bowlers Adam Milne and Matt Henry reduced the visitors to 27-5 inside the first 10 overs with the latter taking four wickets. Both Henry and Milne, who started in place of the rested regular new-ball pair of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, were consistently faster than 140 km per hour in their opening spells with the fiery Milne exceeding 150 kph on several deliveries.

Sri Lanka investigates attempt to fix international cricket match

Sri Lankan authorities are investigating an attempt to fix an international cricket match involving the national team and the West Indies. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said a suspected bookmaker had approached two Sri Lankan players ahead of the match to try to convince them to under-perform and lose the match. Both players turned down the approach and the authorities were informed, Mr Jayasekara said. Sri Lanka went on to win the game. Wicketkeeper Kusal Perera and bowler Rangana Herath were approached shortly before the match in Galle, Sri Lanka, in October, the minister said.

Marlon Samuels given 12-month West Indies bowling ban

West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels has been banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months because of an illegal action. Match officials reported the spinner, 34, during his side's first Test defeat by Sri Lanka in October. An independent assessment revealed his elbow extension exceeded the permitted 15 degrees while bowling. He was handed a year-long ban because he had already been banned from bowling his faster deliveries in December 2013. An International Cricket Council statement read: "As this report constitutes the player's second suspension within a two-year period, he is now automatically suspended from bowling in international cricket for a 12-month period. "Samuels is entitled to appeal any procedural aspect of the independent assessment that has led to this automatic suspension. However, only after the expiry of this one-year period will he be entitled to approach the ICC for a re-assessment of his bowling action." Samuels has taken 145 wickets in 279 matches for his country across Test, one-day and Twenty20 formats.

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in first Test in Dunedin

 Neil Wagner's "miracle" ball helped New Zealand complete a 122-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Dunedin. Set 405 to win, Sri Lanka resumed on 109-3 looking to bat out the final day to secure a draw and Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal survived an hour. But Wagner followed two short balls to Mathews (25) with a fuller delivery to bowl the Sri Lanka captain and break a 56-run fourth-wicket partnership. Chandimal (58) went 17 balls later and the tourists subsided for 282. "Neil Wagner really stepped up for us," New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said of the left-arm seamer who was recalled after a year out to play his 18th Test. "Once he got that breakthrough, got Angelo out, then we certainly relaxed the shoulders and were able to push home the advantage.

Ireland to face Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2016 one-day series

Ireland will play one-day series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Dublin in 2016. Malahide will host Sri Lanka on 16 and 18 June, and Pakistan on 18 and 20 August. Ireland have lost both their completed ODIs against Sri Lanka, while their only win in six attempts against Pakistan came in the 2007 World Cup. Ireland also face South Africa on 25 September and Australia on 27 September, with both games in Benoni.

Ireland to face Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2016 one-day series

Ireland will play one-day series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Dublin in 2016. Malahide will host Sri Lanka on 16 and 18 June, and Pakistan on 18 and 20 August. Ireland have lost both their completed ODIs against Sri Lanka, while their only win in six attempts against Pakistan came in the 2007 World Cup. Ireland also face South Africa on 25 September and Australia on 27 September, with both games in Benoni.

World T-20 2016: England to face champions Sri Lanka

From the section Cricket Sri Lanka celebrate winning the World T20 Sri Lanka won the 2014 World Twenty20 in Bangladesh England have been grouped with defending champions Sri Lanka for the 2016 World Twenty20 in India. Eoin Morgan's men will also face South Africa, West Indies and a qualifier in the second group stage of the tournament which begins on 8 March. Ireland and Scotland enter at the first group stage, but have been drawn in separate pools of four teams. In the women's competition, England are in the same group as India, and Ireland will face champions Australia. Pakistan, who had threatened to boycott the tournament over a delay in agreeing a bilateral series with India, have been placed in the same group as their bitter rivals.