BASEBALL: The New York Yankees won the World Series for a record 27th time after an inspired performance from Japanese designated hitter Hideki Matsui saw them beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3, for a 4-2 series win.
Matsui matched the World Series game record of six runs batted in (RBIs) thanks to a two-run homer in the bottom of the second, which was followed by a single and a double which each allowed two colleagues to score.
In their first season at the new Yankee Stadium, the New York side lost the opening match of the post-season but then hit back to lead the series 3-1, only for the Phillies to slash that lead with Monday’s 8-6 victory at Citizens Bank Park.
Game six was dominated by the Yankees though, and with the Empire State Building lit up in blue and white, it was a landmark day for the team.
CRICKET:A magnificent 175 from Sachin Tendulkar overshadowed a maiden century from Shaun Marsh, but it was Australia who won by three runs in the fifth one-day international against India in Hyderabad.
Marsh was twice dropped but made the most of those reprieves as he powered to 112, while opening partner Shane Watson (93), Cameron White (57) and Ricky Ponting (45) all contributed to power Australia to a massive 350 for four.
Tendulkar replied in style and, aided brilliantly by Suresh Raina (59), brought India within sniffing distance of victory, but Australia kept their heads as India were bowled out for 347 with three deliveries to spare. Australia lead 3-2 in the seven-match series.
TENNIS:Second seed Nikolay Davydenko remained on course for his fifth ATP Tour title of the season with a straight-sets win over Argentinian Juan Monaco at the Valencia Open.
The 28-year-old Russian took one hour and 42 minutes to see off the world number 30, coming through 6-3 7-5.
Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny earlier overcame Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 6-2 2-6 6-1 in one hour and 34 minutes.
EQUESTRIAN:Alison Corbally of Horse Sport Ireland was in Copenhagen yesterday to accept the prize on behalf of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook which, for the 15th year in succession, topped the rankings for eventers published by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses.
Corbally, HSI’s director of breeding and programmes, was presented with the prize by the WBFSH’s patron, Princess Benedikte of Denmark, and afterwards paid tribute to Irish breeders of eventers.
“To win this for 15 years in succession is fantastic,” she said, “but, with other nations’ revising their breeding programmes and graining ground, we have to ensure our breeding programme is effective. We will have a new, enhanced programme in place for 2010.”
The top ranked Irish-bred eventer for 2009 was Ringwood Cockatoo, a 1991 gelding by the thoroughbred stallion Peacock out of the Irish Sport Horse mare Baileys Folly.
