Briefs

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Brownlie offers stronger resistance on day two

CRICKET:An unbeaten 69 from Dean Brownlie helped New Zealand reach 169 for four in their second innings on day two of the first Test against South Africa yesterday.

The Proteas, who dismissed the touring side for just 45 on day one, declared their first innings on 347 for eight shortly after lunch with a lead of 302 and they were still 133 runs ahead at the close.

But New Zealand, largely through Brownlie and captain Brendon McCullum who made 51, offered much stronger resistance second time round, reponding well to widespread condemnation of their woeful performance on Wednesday. New Zealand also bowled better in the morning session and made the ideal start when Trent Boult forced Alviro Petersen to play on after adding just three runs to his overnight score of 103.

Ominous grey skies remained for much of the morning and AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis had to survive an awkward period in which the pitch offered the seamers lateral movement.

Brownlie survived a review for a caught behind off Steyn and he and Watling negotiated the remaining overs of the day and will resume on scores of 69 and 10 not out respectively.

Australia's pace attack overcomes spirited resistance

CRICKET:Australia's four-pronged pace attack overcame spirited resistance from Lahiru Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardene before dismissing Sri Lanka for 294 to end the opening day of the third Test.

Both Thirimanne, who scored a career best 91 just three days after joining the Sri Lanka squad as an emergency replacement, and Jayawardene, who hit 72 in his penultimate innings as captain, threatened to make a sunny day in Sydney their own.

Ultimately though, Australia captain Michael Clarkes decision on winning the toss to send his pacemen out to bowl first was all but vindicated and the hosts will have finished the day confident they can wrap up the series 3-0.

Jackson Bird, the least experienced of the quartet, took 4-41.

Lauda to concentrate on Mercedes role

FORMULA ONE:Retired triple Formula One champion Niki Lauda has left the board of Air Berlin so he can devote more time to his new role with Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes Formula One team, the airline said yesterday.

Austrian Lauda was named as non-executive chairman of the British-based team's board when 2008 champion Hamilton was signed from McLaren last September.

Since then, Mercedes have announced the departure of motorsport chief Norbert Haug after more than 20 years in the high-profile job.

Lauda (63) and a former Jaguar team principal, is expected to play a link role between the team and Stuttgart car manufacturer.

The Austrian retired from Formula One racing in 1985.

Jamshed star of the show again

CRICKET:Nasir Jamshed scored another century as Pakistan wrapped up the one-day international series against India with an 85-run win at Kolkata.

The tourists' total of 250 proved enough to give them a second victory in this three-match series, as India managed just 165 in reply.

Jamshed was the star again, following his 101 in the series-opening six-wicket win at Chennai with 106 yesterday.

The 23-year-old shared in an opening partnership of 141 with Mohammad Hafeez, which was only ended in the 24th over when Hafeez – attempting to sweep Ravindra Jadeja – missed and was bowled for 76, from 74 balls.

Jamshed's contribution contained 12 fours and two sixes.

Murray survives scare to set up quarter-final against Istomin

TENNIS:Andy Murray started the new year with a scare as he was pushed to three sets by Australian qualifier John Millman at the Brisbane International.

Murray shrugged off a second set set-back to triumph 5-1, 5-7, 6-3 in two hours and five minutes against the world number 199, to set up a quarter-final meeting with Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.

Murray raced through the opening set with three breaks of the Millman serve but was broken twice in the second as the 23-year-old fought back to take the tie into an unlikely decider.

Fears grew for Murray as he looked in some pain at times in the third set, but he managed to claim the solitary break to wrap up a hard-fought victory.

Canadian Milos Raonic was eliminated 6-3, 6-4 by Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

Brunei prince sets his sights on Asian Tour's Q school

GOLF:Prince Abdul Hakeem Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei is one of a record 761 golfers who will compete in the Asian Tour's qualifying school in Thailand this month.

The 39-year-old, who was his country's first Olympian when he took part in skeet shooting at the 1996 Atlanta Games, will need to finish 40th or better to become the first Brunei golfer on tour.

The Prince, who took up golf having watched his grandfather – the former Sultan of Brunei – play, only turned professional last year after getting his handicap down to zero.

He is one of 156 golfers confirmed for the final stage (January 23rd-26th) with more to come from the first stage which features 605 players split into two sections (January 9th-12th and January 16th-19th).

Also taking part at the key final stage is Germany's Alex Cejka, who has four European Tour wins, and Australia's Jake Higginbottom, the 2012 New Zealand Open winner.