Today's other stories in brief

Richardson knock gets Ireland home

CRICKET: Ireland got their Women's World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start as they beat hosts Scotland by five wickets in Stirling yesterday, reports Emmet Riordan.

Scottish captain Kari Anderson made an unbeaten 86 from 132 balls, but the Ireland bowlers were very economical as they made just 160 for four from their 50 overs.

Ireland lost Laura Delany and the key wicket of Isobel Joyce early in their chase but opening bat Eimear Richardson carved out a valuable 66 runs from 100 deliveries to help her side home with 80 balls to spare.

Ireland play an ECB Development XI today in a tournament that also doubles as the European Championship.

Meanwhile, Malahide all-rounder Shane Getkate took the only two wickets to fall as Ireland A restricted Gloucestershire seconds to 122-2 on a rain-interrupted first day of their three-day game in Bristol.

England cruise to a nine-wicket victory

CRICKET:Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott steered England to a nine-wicket victory against Pakistan after lunch on the fourth day of the second Test yesterday to go 2-0 up in the four-match series.

England, set 118 to win at Edgbaston, cruised to their target as Strauss, dropped three times, and Trott both finished on 53 not out after the early dismissal of the out-of-form Alastair Cook.

“There were a few butterflies this morning because we knew we had to work hard for a Test match win but that is the way it should be. It was hard work and we had to dig deep,” Strauss said.

Pakistan must now win the final two Tests at The Oval (starting August 18th) and Lord’s to draw the series.

Strauss added 111 for the second wicket with Trott as they weathered Pakistan’s early onslaught that claimed Cook’s wicket.

Trott was untroubled and grew in confidence the longer he remained but Strauss was dropped twice.

Steyn back in Springbok set-up

RUGBY: Fullback Francois Steyn's international career looks set to be resurrected after he was included in a 29-man Springbok training squad on Sunday for the home leg of the Tri-Nations.

The 23-year-old, a key member of the 2007 World Cup-winning South African side, last played for the Springboks against Wales in June before falling out with coach Peter de Villiers.

With the Springboks having lost all three of their away games in the Tri-Nations, De Villiers has been forced to add some flair to a squad that has laboured since winning the Southern Hemisphere’s premier competition last year.

Steyn’s hopes of adding to his 37 caps may be temporarily frustrated, however, as he injured himself in a pre-season game for his French club side Racing Metro last week.

South Africa Rugby said in a statement that Steyn will undergo a scan in Paris today to determine the extent of his injury.

Leona keeps frontrunners in sight

GOLF: Leona Maguire gave Irish followers something to cheer about at Royal Belfast yesterday when she finished the opening qualifying round of the Girls British Open Championship among the frontrunners.

The 15-year-old Cavan-based Curtis Cup star returned a two over par 72 – just three strokes off the pace – and is well placed to grab one of the top spots in the knock-out draw at the end of today.

But twin sister Lisa, who collected the Philomena Garvey Trophy as the leading amateur in the AIB Irish Open at the weekend struggled, possibly exhausted after her exploits, and finished with a 79. Muskerry’s Laura McCarthy had a nightmare of a round, recording 84 with halves of 43 and 41.

Leading the way after the first qualifying round was France’s Alexandra Bonetti with a 68, one ahead of Korean Julie Yang.