More sports news in brief.
Strauss's century steers England to victory
CRICKET: Andrew Strauss struck his 12th test century yesterday to help England complete a remarkable six-wicket victory over New Zealand on the fourth day of the second test at Old Trafford.
England, who trailed New Zealand by 179 runs on the first innings, reached their victory target of 294 in the final over before tea.
Strauss, recalled to the team in March, made 106 after productive partnerships with Alastair Cook (19), captain Michael Vaughan (48) and Kevin Pietersen (42 run out).
England, resuming on 76 for one after dismissing the Kiwis for only 114 in their second innings, also bettered the previous highest fourth-innings winning total at Old Trafford.
Contador extends his overall lead
GIRO D'ITALIA:Italy's Franco Pellizotti of the Liquigas team won the 16th-stage mountain time-trial in the Giro d'Italia yesterday, while Spain's Alberto Contador extended his overall lead.
Pellizotti set a time of 40 minutes and 26 seconds for the 12.9-km course. He was only fifth fastest on the 7.6-km road section but sealed victory by setting the fastest time on the steep final 5.3-km section on dirt roads.
Fellow Italians Emanuele Sella and Gilberto Simoni were second and third, at six seconds and 17 seconds respectively.
Contador finished fourth at 22 seconds and extended his overall lead over Italy's Riccardo Ricco to 41 seconds. "My objective was to keep the pink jersey and perhaps gain a few seconds," said Contador.
Taylor in training for title defence
BOXING:World and European lightweight champion Katie Taylor will begin her preparation for the World title defence in China later this year at the Ahmet Cup in Istanbul, Turkey, next month.
Taylor, from the Bray boxing club, the Belfast trio of Ryan Lindberg, Carl Frampton, Anthony Cacace and Kilkenny's Darren O'Neill were yesterday named in a squad for the Turkish senior international tournament from June 9th to 15th.
Taylor will move up to light-welterweight for the Istanbul tournament.
Meanwhile, Irish 2008 Olympians Ken Egan, Darren O'Neill, John Joe Joyce, John Joe Nevin and Paddy Barnes will compete in the EU Championships in Cetniewo, Poland, from June 15th to 22nd.
Beijing in sight for Davis
TRIATHLON:Emma Davis is now one result away from becoming Ireland's first Olympic triathlon representative, writes Ian O'Riordan. Her 10th-place finish in Sunday's World Cup event in Madrid has moved her into a Beijing qualifying position for the first time.
There are 55 Olympic places available, based primarily on world rankings. Davis is now ranked 57th in the world, but 47th in the Olympic simulation rankings, with the final qualification event being the World Championships in Vancouver on Sunday week.
Unless she has a poor result, Davis should hold on to her qualifying spot for what will be Ireland's first such honour.
