Sports Digest

Other sports stories in brief

Joyce badly injured

Ireland's Ed Joyce was carried off in agony at the start of the Twenty20 contest against Sri Lanka as England's injury curse deepened.

Joyce (21), who made his one-day international debut for England this week, badly twisted his ankle in attempting a catch, slumping in a heap and immediately signalling for assistance.

In just the second over of Sri Lanka's innings, a Sanath Jayasuriya upper-cut off a Steve Harmison bouncer flew off the edge to Joyce, who landed awkwardly after jumping to reach the ball.

His ankle appeared to pop out of its joint and, following attention from a physio and medical officer an ambulance made its way on to the outfield to take him away.

Calzavara claims lead

Tullia Calzavara gave the home crowd something to cheer as her five-under-par 67 lifted her into the lead after the second round of the women's tour BMW Italian Open in Rome yesterday.

The 22-year-old from Venice, yet to win a professional title, leads by two on nine under par from current European number one Gwladys Nocera, who carded a 66 for the lowest round of the week at Sheraton Parco de' Medici.

One shot behind Nocera are Spain's Elisa Serramia and Denmark's Amanda Moltke Leth, with Scotland's Clare Queen in a group on five under after rounds of 71 and 68.

Rebecca Coakley is seven shots back on 142 after a 73.

Aguilar in pole position

Felipe Aguilar, the first Chilean to play on the European Tour, made his bid for a one-year exemption in his rookie year on the Challenge Tour when he took a one-shot lead in the St Omer Open in Lumbres, France, yesterday.

Aguilar's first-round five-under-par 66, which came after a two-hour rain delay, took him ahead of late finishers South African Jean Hugo and Sweden's Klas Eriksson.

Argentine Cesar Monastario, Spain's Juan Parron, Briton David Dixon and Frenchmen Adrien Mork and Cedric Menut share fourth place, two strokes back.

Colm Moriarty shot a two-over-par 73 while Stephen Browne is well down after 78.