SPORTS DIGEST:CRICKET: A brilliant 13th one-day international century from opener Upul Tharanga took Sri Lanka to a 78-run win over Australia in the third one-day international at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium yesterday.
Invited to bat first after Michael Clarke the Australian captain had won his first toss of the five-match series, Sri Lanka piled up a competitive total of 286 for nine wickets with Tharanga scoring 111 off 139 balls (12 fours).
Australia were never allowed to settle down by a rampant Lasith Malinga who tore into their batting to capture five for 28 runs as they were dismissed for 208 in the 45th over. Mike Hussey was Australias top scorer with 63 off 77 balls (five fours).
Australia lead the five-match series 2-1.
Niland beaten in Spain
TENNIS:Conor Niland yesterday failed in his bid to set up an intriguing all-Irish clash against Louk Sorensen, in the ATP Challenger Tour event in San Sebastian, Spain.Sorensen, who made a comeback to tournament action on Monday after announcing his retirement last May following a succession of injuries, kept up his side of the bargain by defeating France's Gianni Mina 6-3 6-4 in his first round match.
But Niland yesterday crashed to his third first round defeat on the trot, coming up short against home player Daniel Gimeno-Traver, who now faces Sorensen today.
Elsewhere, Ireland’s Amy Bowtell advanced to the second round of the ITF Women’s Circuit event in Westende-Middekerle, Belgiumthanks to a 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over Britain’s Natasha Starling.
But the number seven seed’s Fed Cup team-mate, Julia Moriarty, bowed out against French 17-year-old Josepha Adam on a 6-1 7-6 (7/1) scoreline.
Mushfiqur century not enough
CRICKET:A century from wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim was not enough to stop Bangladesh losing the one-day series against Zimbabwe as they slipping to a five-run loss in Harare.
The hosts’ own keeper, Tatenda Taibu (83), top-scored as Zimbabwe scored 250 for seven in their 50 overs. Mushfiqur (101) then put his side in a great position to keep themselves in the series, but they collapsed to another defeat as their last five wickets fell for 16 runs, allowing Zimbabwe to take a 3-0 series lead with two to play.
The tourists got an early breakthrough when Brendan Taylor edged an innocuous delivery from Shafiul Islam straight to slip for four.The quick scoring of Mushfiqur meant the visitors had the chance to win and keep the series alive as they entered the final over requiring eight runs to win with only one wicket remaining. But the centurion tried one big shot too many and played straight into the hands of Sibanda at long-off.
Injured Kiprop out of Kenya’s team
ATHLETICS:Kenya's world half-marathon champion and African 10,000 metres champion Wilson Kiprop has dropped out of the east African nations team for the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, because of injury, officials said yesterday.
His place has been taken by Paul Kipngetich Tanui, who won a silver medal at the world cross country championships in Punta Umbria, Spain, in March.
Tanui finished fifth at last month’s national championships, which served as qualifying for the World Championships starting on August 27th.
“Wilson pulled a hamstring during training and subsequently dropped out of the team,” Athletics Kenya secretary general David Okeyo said.
Tanui joins Peter Kirui and Martin Mathathi, who were first and third respectively in the national championships.
Leinster’s emerging talent on view at Donnybrook
RUGBY:Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has announced a young 28-man squad for Friday's game against the Super 15 side, the Melbourne Rebels, in Donnybrook (7.0pm), writes JOHN O'SULLIVAN.
Denied his international contingent, the New Zealander will appraise both the up and coming talent in the province and also several summer signings.
Eoin O’Malley (ankle) is progressing well following surgery earlier this summer but this week’s game is likely to come too soon for him, a state of affairs that will also apply to Shane Horgan (knee) and prop Simon Shawe (quad tear).
Academy centre Eamonn Sheridan has recovered from a fractured ankle and may feature in a backline that includes new summer signing, the former Canterbury Crusaders outhalf Matt Berquist.
Up front, Balbriggan’s Jamie Hagan returns from Connacht, so too does former Ireland Under-21 captain Dave Gannon, via New Zealand and the Exeter Chiefs.
South African secondrow signing Steven Sykes is named, so too newly acquired ex-Ireland A international, Damien Browne. The team will be named tomorrow lunchtime.
LEINSTER SQUAD: Berquist, Boyle, Carr, Conway, Cooney, Hudson, D Kearney, Macken, Madigan, O'Shea, Sheridan, Willis, Auva'a, Dundon, Flanagan, Gannon, Hagan, Harris-Wright, McGrath, Marshall, O'Connell, C Ruddock, R Ruddock, Ryan, Strauss, Sykes, Toner, van der Merwe.
ULSTER (v Neath, Friday, The Gnoll, 7.15) Nelson; Allen, Farrell, Marshall, Gilroy; Jackson, Porter; McAllister, Burns, Cronin, Lewis Stevenson (capt), McComb, McComish, Faloon, Diack. Replacements: Warwick, Black, Macklin, Simpson, Birch, McIlroy, Olding, Gaston.
Walker shaves over one hour off record
SAILING:As the Rolex Fastnet Race entered the closing stages of the 608-mile course last night, more than half the record 318-boat fleet had reached the famous lighthouse off the west Cork coast and were sailing to the finish at Plymouth.
Earlier in the day, the second major course record was decided when former Green Dragon skipper Ian Walker brought his Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team home to shave one hour and 18 minutes off Mike Slade’s Leopard time.
Walker has Cork’s Justin Slattery crewing and they managed to slip into the lead with five minutes to spare over rival Volvo Ocean Race entry Groupama 4 skippered by Frack Cammas with Kerry’s Damian Foxall sailing as watch-leader.
