New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori became only the eighth player in history to achieve the double of 3,000 runs and 300 wickets as Sri Lanka made a steady start in the second Test on Wednesday.

The left-arm spinner, who has scored 3,329 runs, claimed his 300th wicket when he dismissed his Sri Lankan counterpart Kumar Sangakkara in the afternoon session of the first day’s play.

Vettori, 30, joins a select band of all-rounders including Kapil Dev (India), Ian Botham (England), Richard Hadlee (New Zealand), Imran Khan (Pakistan), Shane Warne (Australia), Shaun Pollock (South Africa) and Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka).

He is already the most successful left-arm spinner in history, having surpassed Englishman Derek Underwood’s tally of 297 wickets in the first Test in Galle last week.

“I still see myself as a bowler rather than an all-rounder,” said Vettori, playing his 94th Test.

“As a spin bowler, I did not think a feat like this will happen, so it’s a very special feeling.”

Vettori said the wicket at the Sinhalese Sports Club was “extremely flat,” but gave credit to Sri Lanka’s batsmen for putting up a reasonable total.

Sangakkara, former captain Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera scored half-centuries as Sri Lanka went to stumps at 3-262 on a firm wicket that Vettori said “looked like a road” at the toss.

Jayawardene was unbeaten on 79 and Samaraweera was on 78, having shared a fourth-wicket stand of 147 after tight bowling by the Black Caps had kept the Sri Lankans on a tight leash.

When play began 30 minutes late due to a wet outfield, Sri Lanka plodded to 3-146 by tea before Jayawardene and Samaraweera caned the second new ball in the final session.

“We were ideally looking at five wickets, but Mahela and Thilan are seasoned players and are at the top of their game,” Vettori said.

“I hope our batsmen will take a leaf out of their book and put up a big score too.”

Vettori, who began the match with 298 wickets, had left-handed opener Tharanga Paranavitana (19) edging his second delivery to Ross Taylor in the slips.

Sri Lanka suffered a crucial blow in the third over after lunch when Tillakaratne Dilshan, who hit 92 and 123 not out in the first Test, was dismissed for a unusually lacklustre 29.

Seamer Iain O’Brien, who had dropped a return catch off the previous delivery, made no mistake a second time as Dilshan mis-timed a drive and looped the ball back to the bowler.

Sangakkara and Jayawardene had put on 40 for the third wicket when Vettori was rewarded a second time during an unchanged 17-over spell to reach the milestone.

Sangakkara, who made 50, pulled a short ball to mid-wicket where Jacob Oram took the catch and ran to his team-mates to join in the celebrations for their captain.

Sri Lankan coach Trevor Bayliss said he was delighted at the total so far.

“When we lost three early wickets, I thought 300 was possible, but now it looks like 400,” he said. “Mahela and Thilan really did the job for us.”

– AAP

John Danks(notes) says he feels better ever since he loosened his grip on the dip.

Danks, a White Sox lefty, had been experiencing circulation problems and blisters with his left index finger earlier this season. He underwent several tests and doctors could not pin down a cause, though they did tell him chewing tobacco could be a factor.

So, Danks, who picked up the harmful habit in the minors, quit putting a pinch between his cheek and gum about a month ago and says he feels better.

From MLB.com:

“I think it’s something that it probably didn’t help, but I’m over a month now without a dip, and it was something I wanted to do even before the finger problem. But definitely it’s a battle for me to quit, but I feel like I’m past the worst, and it really is a big accomplishment for me to be able to quit.”

Quitting might seem like a simple act, but as anyone who struggles with an addiction knows, it’s anything but easy. A lot of players will agree, including the following …

• Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton(notes) relapsed with alcohol this off-season (at least once, that we know about) and also said he was going to quit tobacco. However, Hamilton recently said that he hasn’t been able to kick the habit as quickly as he wanted.

• Two years ago, Red Sox manager Terry Francona made a big money bet with a club executive that he could quit chewing tobacco.

• I’m not sure if Dodgers catcher Russell Martin(notes) is still abstaining from chew as he was in spring training, but more power to him if he is.

Some have called for MLB to ban chewing tobacco, as it did in the minors (with mixed success at best). The crotchety old man in me agrees that a business should be allowed to shape its image. The libertarian in me says grown men should be allowed to ingest whatever legal substance he wants. The librarian in me just wants to make everyone go “shush.”

But no matter if the stuff is banned or passed out like candy, players are on their own once hooked. Danks’ next start comes tomorrow at Fenway Park. Check on his progress.

– By David Brown | Yahoo!

Four months after securing one-day international status, Afghanistan on Wednesday celebrated their maiden first-class victory with a one-wicket victory over the Netherlands.

In the four-day match, part of the Intercontinental Cup tournament, Afghanistan began the final day needing 168 to win, with eight wickets to spare, and reached their target when Samiullah Shenwari smashed Mudassar Bukhari for a boundary.

In a low-scoring, rain-affected match, the Dutch were bowled out for 181 in their first innings with Hamid Hassan and Mohammad Nabi grabbing four wickets each.

Afghanistan were dismissed for just 107 with Nowroz Mangal top-scoring with 41 before the Dutch were then bowled out for 132 in their second innings.

This time, Shapoor Zadran and Mirwais Ashraf claimed four wickets each.

Opener Noor Ali top-scored for Afghanistan in their second innings making 56.

– AAP

ROME – Italy coach Marcello Lippi was rebuked by one of Italy’s leading gay associations on Wednesday for saying two members of the national team could not have an open homosexual relationship.

“Why, dear Lippi, couldn’t footballers openly experience gay love when they show their flirts with every type of showgirl in front of every TV camera?” said a statement on the Arcigay association’s website (www.arcigay.it).

The 2006 World Cup winning coach had made his comments in an interview with Swiss media expert and journalist Klaus Davi published on the internet (www.youtube.com/klauscondicio).

– Reuters

QUITO – Ecuador international Paul Ambrossi has agreed to join Rosario Central of Argentina from LDU Quito, the Ecuadorean Football Federation said on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old defender, who has played for LDU since 1997 and helped them win the South American Libertadores Cup last year, played for Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Local media reported Ambrossi was moving for a fee of $700,000 on a two-year contract.

– Reuters

Australian driver Will Power remained in hospital on Wednesday in the wake of his IndyCar practice crash with French driver Nelson Philippe on Saturday.

The 28-year-old Queenslander has been fitted with a back brace and is expected to be transported to Indianapolis within the next two days for further examination by IndyCar Series orthopaedic specialist Terry Trammell.

The crash occurred when Philippe’s stalled car was hit by Power’s vehicle as the Australian driver rounded a blind corner at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

Power suffered a concussion and compression fractures of two vertebrae in his lower back.

He remains at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital but is expected to make a full recovery, the Indianapolis Star reported.

Philippe has been released from hospital and has returned to his home in Florida after surgery to repair a serious fracture of his left foot.

– AAP