Kürten eyes top spot

SPORTS DIGEST: England wilted in the Goa heat as India opened up a 3-0 lead in their one-day series with a 49-run win at the Nehru Stadium yesterday.

Things did not go for Andrew Flintoff's men from the start as Kevin Pietersen, the tourists' most potent batsman, was ruled out by a stomach bug.

The toss and weather also conspired against them as the bowlers were asked to flog themselves in humid conditions on a lifeless surface.

It took its toll as Yuvraj Singh hammered a brilliant hundred from only 73 deliveries to power the home team to 294 for six.

Suresh Raina joined in a late assault to share 142 runs for the fifth wicket and register his second half-century in three days. It was the kind of stand to shape any contest's outcome and Flintoff conceded it put the match out of his side's reach.

"Going out in the second innings to score 290-odd on a wearing pitch was always going to be tough," he said.

England's batting has caused most concern so far in India and the margin of defeat would have been greater but for another century stand between Paul Collingwood and Geraint Jones.

The drama did not quite get to the final act, however, as both holed out in the deep, Collingwood seven short of third ODI hundred but still 49 runs short.

Jessica Kürten has maintained her world number two ranking for the third month in succession, reports Grania Willis.

Kürten, who will be Ireland's lone representative at the World Cup finals in Kuala Lumpur at the end of this month, has edged closer to the top spot, with just 124 points separating her from leader Marcus Ehning. Kürten was 314 adrift of the German at the end of February.

The Irish rider has also moved further ahead of third-placed Rodrigo Pessoa, who is now now 285 points behind Kürten. There were just 86 points between the two in the February standings.

Ireland's Bernard Dunne brought his perfect professional record to 20-0 last night just outside Turin, Italy, when he defeated the Argentinian champion Sergio Carlos Santillan, writes Johnny Watterson.

The Dubliner took the full eight rounds to take a step closer to his possible showdown with European champion Michael Hunter at the end of the year.

Once again Dunne showed his class in the super bantamweight bout and by the fifth round had the contest completely under control despite a small cut in the corner of his right eye.

"He was tough as hell. I hit him with a few clean shots but he kept coming back," said Dunne, who fights next in the National Stadium in June 3rd.