Today's other stories in brief
South Africa on top of the world
CRICKET: South Africa have dethroned Australia as the world's top-ranked one-day team with yesterday's victory over Bangladesh to complete a 3-0 series whitewash.
After opting to bat first for the third successive match, the hosts were again woefully out of form as Albie Morkel (4-29) helped bowl them out for 143.
Herschelle Gibbs fell early but Graeme Smith (68 no) and AB de Villiers (40) steered South Africa towards the win.
Smith hit a six to seal a seven-wicket triumph off just 34.2 overs.
The result puts South Africa ahead of Australia in the one-day international rankings by a mere 0.191 rating points but provides them with a timely boost ahead of the three-match Test series in India.
And, but for a decent enough start that saw Tamim Iqbal and Shahriar Nafees put on 34 for the first wicket, the outcome was never really in doubt.
The result also sees Smith's side end their tour, which included two Tests, with a 100 per cent record.
Morgan's form continues as Ireland see off Essex
CRICKET:Ireland's cricketers will touch down in Dhaka today with a spring in their step after completing their stay in the United Arab Emirates with a six-wicket victory over English county side Essex in a 35-over friendly game in Abu Dhabi yesterday, writes Emmet Riordan.
Eoin Morgan's outstanding form continued ahead of next week's three One Day Internationals against Bangladesh when he made an undefeated 57 as the Ireland XI chased down Essex's total of 196 with six balls to spare at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
The 21-year-old Middlesex player could be forgiven for rolling up the wicket and taking it with him as he brought his tally of runs, and his average, to 509 in four innings on the ground, including an Irish record of 209 not out and an undefeated 196 against an Abu Dhabi XI on Wednesday.
Andre Botha proved the pick of the Irish bowlers, taking four wickets for 36, while leg-spinner Greg Thompson chipped in with a brace, including the prized scalp of ex Zimbabwe Test player Grant Flower, caught and bowled for two.
Mark Pettini top-scored for Essex with 84 from 82 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes, while Tim Phillips made an undefeated 24.
Ireland opening bat Reinhardt Strydom made 73, sharing a partnership of 80 with 17-year-old Paul Stirling for the second wicket. The Cliftonville player went for 26, but Morgan joined Strydom in putting on 75 for the third wicket to put their side within sight of victory on 177 for three.
Niall O'Brien fell without scoring, trapped leg-before by Phillips, leaving his brother Kevin to help Morgan knock off the winning runs.
FRIENDLY MATCH: Essex 196-8 (35 ovs) (M Pettini 84, T Phillips 24no; A Botha 4-36, G Thompson 2-32), Ireland XI 199-4 (33.4 ovs) (R Strydom 73, E Morgan 57no; T Phillips 3-25). Ireland XI won by 6 wickets.
Irish hopefuls begin Beijing bid
BOXING: The IABA began the process in search of additional Olympic qualifiers with a series of box-off contests at the National Stadium last night, reports Pat Roche.
The final qualifiers for Olympic recognition will be staged in Athens next month. So far Ireland have two assured representatives at the Beijing Olympics.
They are Holy Family's Paddy Barnes and Cavan's John Joe Nevin. The second and final series of box-offs will be staged at the same venue tonight.
Among the impressive winners last night were Athy's John Joe Joyce, Willie Mullaly of Illies and Con Sheehan of Clonmel.
LAST NIGHT'S RESULTS - 60 kilos: A Cacace (Holy Trinity) bt E Donovan (St Michaels Athy) 12-9; 64 kilos: J J Joyce (St Micheal Athy) bt P Sutcliffe (Crumlin) 28-9; 69 kilos: W McLoughlin (Illies) bt R Brennan (Dalgan)inj round one; 75 kilos: D Sutherland (St Xaviers) bt S Shevlin (Dalgan) inj round two; 81 kilos: M Mullaly (Claremorris) bt C Curtis (Dalgan) 11-10; 91 kilos: C Sheehan (Clonmel) bt W Burns (Knocknagashel) stopped round three - 20 point rule; T Sheehan (St Michaels Athy) bt P Corcoran (Galway) 6-1.
Barredo makeshis quick step
CYCLING: Spaniard Carlos Barredo gave his Quick Step team a third victory in the Paris-Nice race when he surged home to win the 172.5km fifth stage in Sisteron yesterday.
Belgium's Geert Steegmans had already won the first two stages for the Quick Step team but Barredo scored Spain's first success in the controversial race.
Another Spaniard, Tour de France champion and Paris-Nice title holder Alberto Contador is a notable absentee from the race after organisers refused him entry because of the past doping record of his Astana team.
