SPORTS DIGEST:Ben Spies has announced he is to quit the factory Yamaha team at the end of the current MotoGP season.
The American won the World Superbike champion in his rookie year in the series in 2009, but has failed to translate that form across to MotoGP.
Riding for the Tech3 Yamaha team in 2010, the 28-year-old scored two podium finishes en route to finishing sixth in the championship, and so earning a factory ride for 2011.
Although overshadowed by his more experienced team-mate in 2010 champion Jorge Lorenzo, who was second last year, Spies at least managed a victory and three other podiums in finishing fifth.
This year, however, has been a disaster for Spies who is currently languishing in 10th in the standings without a top- three finish to his name. That is in stark contrast to Lorenzo who leads the championship after chalking up five wins and three seconds.
He has also been outshone by other team-mates, Italian Andrea Dovizioso and Britain’s Cal Crutchlow.
Simmons looks for bowlers to step up
Ireland coach Phil Simmons will be looking for his A team bowlers to back up a solid batting display on the second day of the game against Durham seconds in Darlington today.
Having won the toss, Ireland A declared their first innings on 335 for nine to give themselves a chance of making inroads into the home batting line-up, only for the Durham opening partnership to make it to the close of play of 72 without loss.
Ireland had earlier got over the loss of opener Ben Ackland for 11 to make it through to lunch on 136 for one, with Chris Dougherty on 69 not out and John Anderson four short of his half-century.
Anderson failed to add to his score as he went to the second ball after the interval, while Dougherty (71), skipper John Mooney (duck) and Andrew Poynter (10) fell soon after to leave Ireland 179 for five.
A seventh-wicket stand of 77 between Stuart Poynter (68) and Johnny Thompson (36) and late contributions of 24 from Peter Eakin and 17 not out from Albert van der Merwe helped them towards the declaration.
– EMMET RIORDAN
McGee and King to meet in second round at Fitzwilliam
The Irish players had mixed fortunes in the first round of the at the FBD Irish Open in Fitzwilliam yesterday as James McGee and Barry King were victorious, while Daniel Glancy and Tristan Farron-Mahon both failed to advance.
Defending champion and third seed McGee had a tight 6-3 7-6 victory over Mexico’s Manuel Sanchez. The key moment in the match came at three games all in the first set when Sanchez had two break points but the Irish number one saved them both and broke the Mexican’s serve in the next game. That was the only break of serve in the match as Magee won the second set tie-break 7-1.
McGee will face King today after the former Davis Cup player had an impressive 6-4 6-3 win over Britain’s Aaron Banasik. Glancy put up a spirited display in losing to French second seed Albano Olivetti 6-3 7-6, while Farron-Mahon lost to Greece’s Alexandros Jakupovic 6-3 6-3.
British top seed Josh Goodall had to come back from a set down to beat Spain’s Jaime Pulgar-Garcia 4-6 6-3 6-4.
Berrington's ton gives Scotland win over Bangladesh
Richie Berrington smashed a marvellous century as Scotland produced a massive upset to comfortably defeat Bangladesh by 34 runs in their Twenty20 international at the Hague in the Netherlands.
Berrington made exactly 100 from 56 deliveries to almost single handedly carry the Scotland to 162 for seven.
Bangladesh, ranked fourth in the T20 world rankings having beaten Ireland 3-0 in Belfast last week, never got going in their chase and they were all out for 128, with Josh Davey and Majid Haq taking three wickets apiece.
Meanwhile, seamers Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews shared six wickets as Sri Lanka came back strongly to level the five-match ODI series at one-all with a crushing nine-wicket win over India in Hambantota.
Kelly delighted to extend Fulham deal by two years
Republic of Ireland full back Stephen Kelly has signed a two-year contract extension with Fulham.
The Dubliner established himself as a key part of manager Martin Jol’s plans last season and has now committed himself to the club until the end of the 2013-14 season.
The 28-year-old told the club’s official website: “I’m delighted that it’s sorted now and I can hopefully continue on from last year.
“It was a really good end to the season with the way we finished off, the way we were playing and I just hope we can continue on with that again.
“Last season was fantastic for me, playing pretty much every game from Christmas onwards. To cement myself as the number one right back was great and hopefully I can continue on with that this season. To sign another contract here is fantastic. I’m delighted to be staying at the club and I just want to carry on with the progression I’ve made over the last year or so.”
Despite 30 international caps, Kelly has yet to seal a regular place in the side under Giovanni Trapattoni
