CRICKET:Captains Brian Lara and Inzamam-ul-Haq have criticised the pitch for the second Test which ended in a high-scoring draw between Pakistan and West Indies.
A total of 1,409 runs were scored in 15 sessions of play for the loss of 27 wickets with Lara scoring a brilliant 216 and Mohammad Yousuf making 191 on the final day.
"It was a batting track from day one. I mean the bowlers toiled hard to get success. It was not a good test pitch," Lara said.
West Indies lost the first Test in Lahore by nine wickets after being bowled out for 206 on the first day. The final test starts on Monday.
SQUASH: Madeline Perry delighted home fans at the Belfast Boat Club when she overcame her second-round hurdle in the Women's World Open Championship to earn a place in the last eight of the biggest squash event to be staged in Northern Ireland.
The eighth seed from Banbridge, who has been the focus of widespread interest in the event in the region, beat Australia's Kasey Brown 9-7, 9-0, 5-9, 9-2 in 52 minutes.
Perry earlier beat Irish team-mate Aisling Blake 9-3, 9-5, 9-0 in the first round.
England claimed two of the other quarter-final slots after victories by Tania Bailey and Laura-Jane Lengthorn.
SPORTS BOOK: Back from the Brink, the autobiography of Paul McGrath written in association with Vincent Hogan, won a second award yesterday when it scooped the 2006 Boylesports Irish Sports Book of the Year Award.
This is the second year of the award, which was won in 2005 by Denis Walsh.
Back from the Brink candidly details McGrath's battle against depression and alcoholism. McGrath won 83 caps for Ireland, playing a crucial role in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and the 1988 European Championship.
Last week McGrath's book was named the inaugural winner of the William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year.
GAELIC GAMES: One of the country's most experienced GAA officials is stepping down after over a quarter of a century spearheading the organisation in Galway.
Frank Burke has been chairman of the Galway County Board for the past 17 years and was secretary for almost a decade before that.
But while the Loughrea national school principal is stepping down as chairman, he will continue to work with the Connacht Council as well as with the GAA in Galway.
"The GAA is a wonderful organisation, it has moved with the times and I have just been pleased to be part of it," said Burke..
ATHLETICS:Alistair Cragg finished third in yesterday's Manchester Thanksgiving Race in Connecticut, one of the leading road races in the US, behind the two top Americans Ian Dobson and Simon Bairu.
Cragg clocked 21:42 seconds in cold, windy conditions, just three seconds behind the winner, and looks set to compete in next month's European cross country in Italy.
Meanwhile, Kenya's Sydney Olympic 1,500 metres champion Noah Ngeny announced his retirement from international athletics yesterday. Ngeny hit the headlines when he beat Morocco's 1,500 metres king and big favourite Hicham El Guerrouj to win the gold medal in 2000.
