Alastair Cook closed in on becoming England’s highest Test run-maker as his team began their pursuit of West Indies’ 299 all out on the second day of the second Test in Grenada.

England skipper Cook (37) and fellow opener Jonathan Trott (32) negotiated 26 overs without real alarm as the visitors reached 74-0 at the National Cricket Stadium.

Cook achieved a milestone during his unbeaten knock on Wednesday, going past former player Alec Stewart as his country’s second-highest run-getter in Test history with a tally of 8 484 and is now targeting Graham Gooch’s 8 900.

Earlier, England’s bowlers eventually overcame the determination of Marlon Samuels and an entertaining last-wicket partnership to dismiss the West Indies for 299 in their first innings on a rain-affected second day. – AFP

BANGLADESH WHITEWASH PAKISTAN

Opening batsman Soumya Sarkar has hit a maiden one-day century as Bangladesh thrashed woeful Pakistan by eight wickets in Dhaka on Wednesday to sweep the one-day series 3-0.

The 22-year-old left-hander smashed an unbeaten 127 as the fired-up hosts surpassed Pakistan’s modest 250 all out in the 40th over at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

Pakistan captain Azhar Ali’s 100 made no difference to his team’s fortunes after Bangladesh had won the first match by 79 runs and the second by seven wickets.

It was the first series whitewash by the Tigers against an Asian Test-playing nation, and followed their appearance in the quarter-finals of the recent World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. – AFP

TUKS GET OFF TO WINNING START

Gerry Pike has scored an unbeaten 123 runs to set up Tuks’ first win in the national club championships in Pretoria on Wednesday.

The defending champions beat University of Free State (Kovsies) by 42 runs.