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Cricket

Vaughan targets third Test win

13/12/2007

England captain Michael Vaughan has already turned his attention to the final Test against Sri Lanka following today's drawn match in Colombo.

The Yorkshireman, who top-scored in the tourists' second innings of 250-3 before the match was ended prematurely by rain, believes his side can still square the series when they travel to Galle next week.

Despite giving up nearly 550 runs to their hosts in the first innings, England played Muttiah Muralitharan well on a fifth-day pitch and Vaughan believes the approach they adopted will give his batsmen confidence.

"On a last-day wicket against Murali, the way we did it made it one of the most comfortable draws I've ever been involved with," he said.

"We got through with some really good batting.

"The pitch was very conducive to batting for all five days but full credit to both sets of bowlers to toil away on that sort of surface."

Vaughan also said he hoped today's performance, which saw himself and opening partner Alastair Cook share a century partnership and number three Ian Bell grab a half-century of his own, would help them push on to the final match.

"We usually have a panic somewhere," he admitted. "But not this time.

"We have a lot to fight for and a lot to play for so we'll try to go out there and win."

The third Test in Galle begins next Tuesday, December 18th, with England needing a win to square the series.

The tourists trail 1-0 after their 88-run defeat in the first Test in Kandy.