Cricket: Mark Ealham transformed England's floodlit nightmare of Newlands into a stroll in the sun as Zimbabwe were crushed by eight wickets in the one-day international at the De Beer Diamond Oval yesterday.

The bustling Ealham became England's own diamond of Kimberley by adhering to the fundamental principles of bowling a straight, full length and made it as lopsided a victory as Mike Tyson's rapid dispatch of Julius Francis.

The game was sealed by the second century opening partnership between Nasser Hussain and Nick Knight as England won with 17.5 overs to spare.

Athletics: Gareth Turnbull's preparations for the European indoor championships were accelerated with a fine win in the British 1,500 metres championship at Birmingham yesterday. Turnbull led from start to finish to beat former Ballymena athlete Eddie King in three minutes 44.06 seconds.

Gillian O'Sullivan and Robert Heffernan set national records and championship bests in winning the 3,000 metres walking events. O'Sullivan won the women's race in 12:33.11, while Heffernan's figures in the men's event were 11:38.20.

Cycling: Ciaran Power slipped down the overall classification to 41st yesterday after two hard days racing in the Tour of Langkawi in Malaysia. Saturday's fourth stage finished on a 49 km category one climb, reputed to be the longest in cycle racing, and the length of the ascent proved too much for the 23-year-old who dropped back from the leaders in the final kilometres. Power conceded one minute 18 seconds to finish 38th on the stage.

The new professional crossed the top of the climb on yesterday's stage with the front runners, but a potential high placing was lost on the descent to the finish when he punctured.

Power's misfortune was compounded when the team vehicle was delayed.

Community Games: The Community Games administration staff is to have its new headquarters at Stadium Ireland, it was announced by Dr James McDaid, Minister for Sport, at the National Community Games a.g.m. in Limerick at the weekend.

Squash: Derek Ryan at last put an end to a run of six first round exits in major tournaments when he beat England's Mark Cairns at the Tournament of Champions in New York's Grand Central Station on Saturday. Ryan meets world number four Simon Parke, one of his training partners at his Nottingham base, in today's second round.