CRICKET: Richard Johnson ended years of frustration waiting for his international opportunity by enjoying a highly impressive debut to put England on course for an overwhelming victory over Zimbabwe in the second Test, in Durham.
The Somerset seamer savoured his first taste of international cricket nearly eight years after first being selected by England and looked born for the highest stage after a sparkling performance with bat and ball to leave the tourists facing another comprehensive defeat.
Having hit a quickfire 24 to help England reach 416, Johnson then delivered with the ball and claimed six for 33 as Zimbabwe crumbled to 94 all out in reply and followed on 322 runs adrift.
They recovered to reach 41 for one in their second innings by the close of an eventful second day, but England are now firm favourites to wrap up one of their most convincing victories in recent history in front of a sell-out crowd at the Riverside.
MOTOR SPORT: Estonian Markko Martin held the overnight lead in the Acropolis Rally yesterday while world champion Marcus Gronholm retired after the day's final stage had been cancelled.
Ford's Martin, who has yet to win a round of the championship, led Peugeot's Harri Rovanpera by 4.8 seconds with Norway's Petter Solberg in third place for Subaru.
"We expected to have a better lead after this day, to be honest," said Martin. "But it's now only five seconds. I am pretty confident that if we have good visibility from the car we should be okay for tomorrow."
Finland's Gronholm, Rovanpera's team-mate, retired with a fuel pickup problem on the road back to rally headquarters after the eighth stage was cancelled because of spectators on the track delaying the action. Colin McRae, who has won the event for the past three years, moved up to seventh place and 56.8 seconds adrift of Martin.
HOCKEY: Cork Harlequins, with a neatly taken equaliser by Richie Gash, gave a defiant performance to hold Gladbacher to 1-1 at half-time before the German side turned on full power to emerge 3-1 victors on the opening day of the European Club Championship (A division) in Brussels yesterday. Today, the Munstermen tackle Reading of England, who lost 2-1 to Grunwald of Poland yesterday.
RUGBY: Welsh rugby was plunged into further crisis yesterday as Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chairman Glanmor Griffiths resigned after six years in office. His resignation ends a week which has seen arguments over pay and as a result the squad missing their flight to Australia - who they play in Sydney on June 14th. Ironically, Griffiths, who was also WRU treasurer for 16 years, is believed to be emigrating to Australia.
BASEBALL: Major league baseball yesterday suspended home run power hitter Sammy Sosa for eight games for using an illegal corked bat. The Chicago Cubs star, who said the incident was a one-time, simple mistake caused by grabbing the wrong bat, can appeal the punishment and would be allowed to continue playing while the appeal is reviewed. The Cubs said the suspension would be appealed.
CRICKET: The draw for the second round of the Leinster Senior Cup, sponsored by Conqueror, will be made live on radio NEAR FM 101.6 at 8.00 p.m. tomorrow.
