League Cup: Liverpool blank Spurs

Liverpool will play Newcastle in the English League Cup final after routing Tottenham 4-0 on Thursday.

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GALLE: Commanding centuries from Steve Smith (120*) and Alex Carey (139*) gave Australia a dominating lead at stumps on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Friday.

Australia, leading by 73 runs at 330-3, were poised to post a mammoth first-innings total, with Smith and Carey stitching together an unbroken 259-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Sri Lanka's bowlers showed some early flair but the spinners struggled to get the same fizz off the surface once the ball lost its bite, and Smith exploited the gap. The Australian skipper made a scratchy start and his innings could have been cut short on 24, when he was judged lbw to Nishan Peiris. However, a timely review saved him and Smith never looked back.

Smith tightened his grip on the contest with elegant cover drives and precise pull shots.

He took a few calculated risks and, with Sri Lanka lacking a substantial total to defend, the field was soon spread out to cut off boundaries rather than hunt for wickets. That didn't deter the Australian captain, who pierced the gaps with ease in dispatching nine fours and a six.

He brought up his 36th Test hundred in style, pulling part-timer Kamindu Mendis to the mid-wicket boundary.

Carey was promoted to No.5 in place of Josh Inglis and grabbed his chance.

LONDON: