SPORTS DIGEST/ CRICKET: IRELAND SUFFERED a fourth straight defeat at the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia yesterday but this time there were enough signs to suggest coach Brian O'Rourke's charges are beginning to come to terms with what is required at international level.
After watching the West Indies ease home with seven wickets and 26.5 overs to spare in the first round of Plate matches in Johor, O'Rourke said: "That was much better. We improved in several areas from Thursday and I'm not going to get upset about losing to a very strong side."
Firstly, Ireland batted their full allocation of 50 overs to post a respectable 154 for nine despite losing early wickets to the lanky left-arm pace of Delorn Johnson, and then slumping to 93 for seven later in the innings. James Hall, with a patient 45 from 112 balls, took most of the batting plaudits but it was pleasing to see the Waringstown all-rounder receiving excellent support from two of the younger players.
Both James Shannon, who helped him repair the early damage in a partnership of 44, and Shane Getkate, who was outstanding in his first match of the tournament after recovering from a back strain, will still be eligible when the next World Cup comes around in 2010.
When Hall set off for a suicidal run to midwicket in the 48th over, to end an eighth-wicket stand worth 45, it was Getkate who stayed to the end to steer his side past 150 with a measured innings of 21 not out that belied his 16 years and four months.
Ireland face a rematch with Bermuda on Friday to reach a play-off against either Malaysia or Zimbabwe for 13th place on Saturday.
Security at Catalunya stepped up
MOTOR SPORT:SECURITY WAS stepped up to a new high for the Formula One testing at the Circuit de Catalunya yesterday as organisers sought to avoid a repeat of the racial abuse directed at Britain's Lewis Hamilton earlier this month.
The McLaren driver received a wave of racial taunts from a vociferous bunch of Fernando Alonso fans at testing three weeks ago in Barcelona and was also mocked by a group of supporters sporting wigs, blacked-out faces and abusive T-shirts.
One of those fans, Antonio Calderon Martinez, later described his actions as "a piece of fun", but Spain was widely condemned for the behaviour of its supporters. World governing body the FIA responded to the racist taunts by announcing their "Racing Against Racism" campaign for the Spanish event in two months' time.
No such chances were taken this time, and Hamilton appeared to flourish in his new secluded environment, clocking the fastest lap of the day with a time of one minute 22.276 seconds which saw him pip Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and the Italian team's tester Michael Schumacher.
Boost for Italy's medal push
OLYMPICS: FERRARI WILL use their expertise in aerodynamics to try to boost Italy's push for medals in several sports following an agreement with the country's Olympic Committee (CONI) yesterday.
The Formula One team will predominantly offer technical help to Italians competing in Winter Olympic pursuits such as bobsleigh and the luge.
Advice on materials used to build canoes and rowing boats for the summer Games also forms part of the agreement, with other sports set to be included at a later date.
"If in the victories of the athletes, the federations and CONI, there is a millimetre of Ferrari help, we will be proud," Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo said.
