Sports digest

Today's other stories in brief

India's Sehwag races to record 309

CRICKET: India opener Virender Sehwag hit his second career triple century in the first Test against South Africa in Chennai, India, yesterday.

Sehwag finished unbeaten on 309 as India reached 468 for one in reply to South Africa's first innings 540 all out at the close on the third day.

The 29-year-old - who also made 309 against Pakistan at Multan in 2004 - became only the third player to achieve the feat of two triple 100s, matching Australian Don Bradman and West Indies batsman Brian Lara.

It was the fastest triple hundred in Test cricket since the scorers began recording number of balls faced by a batsman.

Sehwag raced to 300 off 278 balls in the final session.

Sullivan breaks world record again

SWIMMING: Eamon Sullivan broke the 50-metres freestyle world record for the second time in 24 hours at the Australian Olympic trials yesterday, enhancing his claims as the early favourite to win gold in Beijing.

The 22-year-old stormed down Sydney's Olympic pool in 21.28 seconds to win the final and slash 0.13 off the previous record he set in Thursday's semi-finals.

Sullivan broke Alex Popov's long-standing world record last month, but lost it to Alain Bernard of France at the European championships last weekend.

However, after posting the second and third fastest times for the 100, he regained his title as the fastest man in the water by twice breaking the 50 record.

"Hopefully they will be shaking in their boots," said Sullivan.

Murphy to face Selby in last four

SNOOKER:English duo Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy will face each other in the semi-finals of the China Open, with the other last-four clash between Glaswegian Stephen Maguire and Wales' Ryan Day.

Selby again proved a thorn in the side of John Higgins as he sent the world champion crashing out with an impressive 5-2 win.

And there was success too for former world champion Murphy as he dispensed with Irishman Mark Allen in a confident 5-3 victory at the Beijing Sports Gymnasium.

"The four players left have been the best this week, and with the exception of Ronnie O'Sullivan they are probably the best four in the world at the moment," said Murphy.

"Mark Selby and I are good friends and we've had some good matches in the past. We're both playing well so it should be a quality game of snooker, and I think it will be quite close."

Lee rematch with Vera could be held in Ireland

BOXING: Texan middleweight Brian Vera is backing out of a rematch with Limerick southpaw Andy Lee in New York next July but both men could renew acquaintances in Ireland this summer, according to Lee's manager Emanuel Steward.

Vera controversially beat Lee at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut last week. The bout, which was promoted by Pugnacious Promotions, was stopped in Vera's favour in the seventh round when Lee was still ahead on points and had landed with a solid left.

According to Pugnacious Promotions, they are very eager to stage a rematch in New York on July 25th, but Vera won't agree.

However, Steward says they have received a strong expression of interest from an Irish promoter to stage a rematch in Ireland this summer.

Meanwhile, unbeaten Derry light-welterweight Paul McCloskey will face the biggest test of his career tonight when he faces former world champion Cesar Bazan in Letterkenny.

The Mexican has more knockouts (30) than McCloskey has had fights (15), but the Ulster man has insisted he is ready to step up and do the business in Donegal.

Lorenzo takes home advantage

MOTO GP: Spanish rookie Jorge Lorenzo clocked the fastest time in second free practice in Jerez yesterday.

The 20-year-old finished ahead of team-mate Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards, who was fastest in the first morning session on his Tech 3 Yamaha.

World champion Casey Stoner escaped injury when he slid off his Ducati in the afternoon session.