SPORTS DIGEST: West Indies made the highest-ever fourth innings winning total to beat Australia by three wickets in the fourth and final Test in Antigua yesterday and avoid an unprecedented home whitewash.
West Indies, set 418 to win and 3-0 down in the series, reached the historic target with an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 46 from lower order batsmen Omari Banks and Vasbert Drakes.
Drakes's winning hit set off wild celebrations when he cut a four down to backward point off costly leg-spinner Stuart MacGill.
The triumph surpassed the previous record - India's 406 for four to beat West Indies in Port of Spain in 1976 - and handed captain Brian Lara his first success in his second stint as captain.
Drakes made 27 and 20-year-old Banks, in only his second Test, a battling 47.
Against the best bowling attack in world cricket, it was a remarkable performance by West Indies, who early on the fourth day had slumped to 74 for three before they were boosted by centuries from Guyanese pair Ramnaresh Sarwan (105) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (104).
CRICKET: Decker Curry (Limavady), who won the last of his 50 Ireland caps in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Tournament in Toronto two years ago, has been named in the North West Cricket Union (NWCU) squad for next weekend's Inter-Regional Challenge 2003 competition at various Dublin venues, writes Karl Johnston.
The NWCU XI will play the Southern XI at Rathmines on Saturday (12.0) and the North Leinster XI at Malahide on Sunday (11.0).
Meanwhile, Andrew White (North Down) has taken over the captaincy of the Northern Cricket Union (NCU) squad from the former Ireland captain, all-rounder Kyle McCallan. McCallan is recovering from a recent operation and will coach the side, which faces North Leinster at Milverton on Saturday (12.0) and the Southern XI at College Park on Sunday (11.0).
TENNIS: Spain's Carlos Moya set up a second round clash with talented teenage compatriot Rafael Nadal after overcoming a spirited challenge from Australian Scott Draper in the Hamburg Masters yesterday.
Roger Federer of Switzerland enjoyed a more comfortable victory over Belarussia's Max Mirnyi, winning 6-3 6-3. The only threat Federer faced was while serving for the match, when he was forced to hold off four break points.
Moya, meanwhile was relishing his showdown with Nadal. "It will be a special match for both of us, I think," said second seed Moya after his 6-3 5-7 6-3 win over Draper.
"We've never played but know each other well. We've been practising a lot the last few years," added Moya, who is sharing his coach with the 16-year-old and has been acting as his mentor.
"I've seen his progression, and it's amazing. He's only 16 but he's able to play some great tennis and he will play very hard to beat me."
