A round-up of today's other stories in brief
South Africa lose momentum
CRICKET:South Africa lost momentum after a brisk start to their second innings yesterday but will take a lead of 323 runs over Pakistan into the final day of the second and final Test at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Hashim Amla, who became the third batsman after India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag to score 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year, hit a run-a-ball 62 as South Africa reached 173 for four at the close yesterday.
Amla’s departure in the sixth over after tea resulted in a loss of momentum with slow left-armer Abdur Rehman and off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez applying the brakes with economical spells.
Pakistan’s battling tailenders had earlier frustrated South Africa who had dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq (77) with the first ball of the day, trapped lbw trying to drive a Dale Steyn in-swinger.
The first Test, played in Dubai, was drawn.
Indian bowlers turn on the style
CRICKET:New Zealand's batsmen surrendered meekly to the Indian bowlers in the second innings on a turning day-four pitch at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, India, to give the hosts a 1-0 series win yesterday.
Paceman Ishant Sharma and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh led the attack who dismissed the tourists for a paltry 175 in the second innings to win the deciding Test by an innings and 198 runs, with more than a day and a half to spare.
Harbhajan, adjudged the player of the series for his all-round show with the bat and the ball, added the wickets of Gareth Hopkins and Ross Taylor to his overnight scalp of opener Tim McIntosh.
“It’s been a satisfying series, especially with the bat. But I think I could have got a few more wickets,” the off-spinner, who scored two centuries in the series, said.
The 30-year old praised the pitch and said it had offered help to both batsmen and bowlers.
Dominant Federer sweeps Murray aside
TENNIS:Handed the chance to put another dent in Roger Federer's armour in London yesterday, Andy Murray was swept to one side as their eagerly anticipated round robin clash at the ATP World Tour Finals turned into a Swiss romp.
Federer often struggles against the Scot, except when it really matters, most notably in their two Grand Slam finals, but he was supreme, dropping just eight points on his serve in a 6-4 6-2 drubbing to score his second easy Group B win.
“I think if you play many times against each other, you can’t go the distance every single time,” a charitable Federer said after improving his career record against Murray to six wins in 14 meetings.
“Maybe he’ll just need a feel-good talk or just a nice dinner. That should do the trick,” the former world number one added when asked how he felt Murray would respond to a chastening 76-minute loss in front of 17,000 fans.
“Tennis is not rocket science. It’s pretty straightforward. I think he’s going to turn around and come back and play a real good match in the next round.”
Federer was clearly expecting a tougher test like last year here when he prevailed in three extremely high quality sets before bowing out to Nikolay Davydenko in the semi-finals.
Luckily for Murray the round robin format of the event featuring the world’s top eight men means he can still reach the semi-finals. He will have to dust himself down quickly before taking on Spain’s David Ferrer in his final group match tomorrow.
France look to Monfils
TENNIS: In-form Gael Monfils will lead team-mates Michael Llodra, Gilles Simon and Arnaud Clement in the Davis Cup final against Serbia, France captain Guy Forget said yesterday.
Richard Gasquet will be substitute for the men’s team tennis event, but could have a role to play, Forget added in Saint-Cyprien where the French team are holding a five-day training camp. The Davis Cup final will be hosted by the Serbs in Belgrade from December 3rd-5th.
