Sports digest

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

South Africa surrender their advantage against Australia

CRICKET: South Africa continued the trend for batting collapses in the short series against Australia as they surrendered their advantage late on the opening day of the second Test in Johannesburg yesterday.

After Jacques Kallis had become the first South African to pass 12,000 Test runs, the Proteas lost their final six wickets for just 25 runs to be bowled out for 266.

Half-centuries from Kallis, AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince had seemingly set South Africa on course for a healthy first innings total only for the batting jitters that marked the first Test to set in.

Peter Siddle was the best of the Australian bowlers, removing key men Kallis and De Villiers, as he took three for 69, while spinners Nathan Lyon and Michael Clarke shared two each.

The hosts had been 241 for four shortly after tea with De Villiers and Prince in a stand of 112.

Bad light prevented Australia from going out to bat after the Proteas’ collapse.

Ireland rout Japan to stay in hunt 

CRICKET: Ireland will fight it out with hosts Bangladesh for the final play-off place at the Women’s World Cup qualifiers today after completing a massive 255-run victory over minnows Japan in Dhaka yesterday, writes Emmet Riordan.

All-rounder Eimear Richardson proved the star, with an innings of 57 from 45 deliveries as Ireland made 311 for nine off their 50 overs, with other valuable contributions from top-scorer Cecelia Joyce (64), Jill Whelan (49) and skipper Isobel Joyce (35).

Richardson then recorded stunning figures of five wickets for just four runs with her off-spin. Opening bowler Kim Garth picked up two wickets as Japan were skittled for just 56.

Ireland must beat Bangladesh today and hope the hosts are then beaten in the final round of games by West Indies if they are to remain in the hunt for one of the four spots at the World Cup.

Niland set for rankings tumble

TENNIS: Conor Niland is set to fall almost 80 places in the singles world rankings after losing his second round match in the Salzburg Open in Austria yesterday.

On the back of the 6-3 6-3 defeat to Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk in the indoor ATP Challenger Tour event, Niland will drop from 209 to around 287 when the ATP rankings are updated next Monday.

Niland peaked at 129 for five weeks last December and January, rising from 288 in January 2010.

The Limerick man won last year’s Salzburg Open title, but he had to defend 80 ranking points as a result of his 2010 success. And on this occasion he managed to pick up only seven ranking points courtesy of his 6-1 6-0 first round win over Spain’s 186-ranked Ivan Navarro.

Niland only converted one of five break points in the match.

Egan sees Test as good preparation

BOXING: Kenneth Egan is hoping next week’s Olympic Test event in London will be a good preparation for the real thing in 2012.

The Neilstown southpaw has been named in a six-strong Ireland squad for the Test, which begins next Thursday at the ExCel, the 2012 Olympic Games boxing venue.

Declan Geraghty, David Oliver Joyce, Conrad Cummings, Tommy McCarthy and Con Sheehan are also included in the team.

“The Test will give us the opportunity to get the feel of the place and to experience competing at the venue,” said Egan.

Meanwhile, Willie McLaughlin and Seán Turner will be on opposing sides when Milano Thunder host Los Angeles Matadors in the World Series of Boxing tonight.

McLaughlin will line out Thunder versus Zaal Kvachatdze of Georgia, while. Turner will fight Poland’s Michal Olas.