Sports Digest

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

Umar double ton sets up Pakistan

CRICKET: Taufeeq Umar became the first Pakistan opener to hit a double century for 19 years as he guided his side into a dominant position in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Taufeeq batted for almost 12 hours across three days in stifling heat in making 236 as Pakistan declared an hour before the close on the third day on 511 for six.

Sri Lanka’s second innings started badly when Tharanga Paranavitana was trapped leg before wicket by Umar Gul from the first ball but Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara stabilised things to close on 47 for one – a deficit of 267.

The day was all about Taufeeq though. He passed his previous Test best of 136 in the opening session and looked untroubled thereafter in a 496-ball knock.

The 30-year-old’s vigil ended shortly before the declaration, run out by a combination of Sangakkara and wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene after partner Asad Shafiq surprisingly refused a single.

Schleck has only Tour first in mind

CYCLING: Three-time Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck has dismissed suggestions he cannot win next year’s race, saying he is tired of finishing second.

The route for 2012 features more time trials than usual and Schleck, 26, has often been slower against the clock than many of his main rivals.

But the Luxembourger is convinced he is improving as a time trialist.

“I am growing, I am getting stronger, I am more experienced. I don’t want to finish second again,” said Schleck.

“I have finished second three times in a row and I don’t want to finish second again.”

Schleck, who has also won three white jerseys for being the best young rider in the Tour, led this year’s race going into the penultimate stage, a 42.5km time trial around Grenoble.

The Leopard-Trek team leader had a 53-second advantage over Cadel Evans but that was not enough to hold off the Australian’s charge. Evans was two and a half minutes quicker on the day and sealed a first triumph in cycling’s most prestigious race.

India seal unassailable one-day lead

CRICKET: India pulled off a thrilling five-wicket victory over England with four balls to spare in the third one-day international on yesterday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Set 299 for victory in Mohali, world champions India reached the target when captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit two consecutive boundaries off the first two deliveries in the last over.

Dhoni (31-ball 35) kept his calm and with Ravindra Jadeja added 65 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket to see India home.

A 111-run stand for the second wicket between Ajinkya Rahane (91) and Gautam Gambhir (58) kept the hosts close to the required scoring rate.

England came back strongly after Gambhir’s departure and picked up four wickets in quick time with some inspired seam bowling but made crucial errors on the field in the closing stages.

Craig pinches it for St Louis Cardinals

BASEBALL: The St Louis Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 3-2 in a pitchers’ duel in the opening game of the World Series late on Wednesday.

After league championship series dominated by the sluggers, pitching ruled Game One of the Fall Classic on a chilly night at Busch Stadium as pinch hitter Allen Craig’s run-scoring single in the sixth inning provided the winning margin for starter Chris Carpenter and a stingy bullpen.

Craig lashed a sixth-inning single down the right-field line that eluded Rangers rightfielder Nelson Cruz and allowed David Freese to trot home from third, and break the 2-2 tie.

Ballesteros junior to start in Majorca

GOLF: The late Seve Ballesteros’s son Javier is set to make his European Tour debut in next year’s Majorca Open. Javier, 21, will take a break from his law studies to play in the event in May as an amateur, yesterday’s Marca newspaper reported.

“I have an invitation to play next May in the Majorca Open and I will play, for sure,” the one-handicapper said. Then when I’ve finished my law degree I would like to give it a shot and turn pro.”

Thorpe accepts comeback unlikely to be successful

SWIMMING: Five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe says he is more likely to fail than succeed at London 2012.

The Australian, 29, makes a competitive return to swimming next month after five years away from the sport.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Thorpe said: “I’m more concerned about because that’s what I’m not prepared for.

“I’m more comfortable knowing that, chances are, I’m going to fail at this. I’ve become comfortable with that.”

After winning two golds at the Athens Olympics in 2004, Thorpe took a year away from the sport before announcing his retirement in November 2006 aged 24.

He is now preparing to return to competition with Australia at the Singapore World Cup meet on November 4th-5th, with further meets in Beijing and Tokyo to follow.

Thorpe faces a huge challenge if he is to challenge the likes of Michael Phelps and return to his gold medal-winning days.