SPORTS DIGEST

Today's other sports stories in brief

New Zealand end losing run

CRICKET:A solid, 130-run opening stand by Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum inspired New Zealand to a 36-run win in the final Twenty20 international against the West Indies, their first victory under coach Andy Moles.

The victory ended New Zealand's run of eight Twenty20 losses and left the series tied at 1-1 after the visitors won the previous match in Auckland in a "super-over" eliminator.

There was no such drama at Seddon Park in Hamilton, although the departure of McCullum for 59 sparked a batting collapse that saw the next five New Zealand wickets fall for 34 runs in 34 balls.

New Zealand finished on 191 for nine, a total the West Indies never looked likely of reaching once Chris Gayle was dismissed by debutant Ewen Thompson for one in the second over. The prized wicket came off Thompson's second ball to give the Aucklander a wicket maiden in his first over in international cricket.

The opening stand between Ryder and McCullum was a New Zealand record for any wicket in a Twenty20 match and they set about the West Indies attack from the start.

A sloppy fielding effort by the visitors was punished as Ryder, who was dropped on 16 and 49, peppered the boundary on his way to a 41-ball 62.

At the other end McCullum was equally as expansive striking six fours and four sixes in his 34-ball 59.

But when McCullum was caught by Shivnarine Chanderpaul off the bowling of Gayle, the New Zealanders began to self-destruct and their hopes of breaking through the 200-run mark evaporated as the wickets tumbled.

Ross Taylor (six) was next to go when Xavier Marshall pulled off an outstanding diving catch by the boundary rope.

He was followed by Ryder, Daniel Flynn (three), Jacob Oram (nine) and Daniel Vettori (two).

The West Indies were left to chase 192 to win. Their reply got off to the worst possible start with Gayle's dismissal.

And despite a half-century by Ramnaresh Sarwan, his first 50 in Twenty20, the target never seemed within reach.

Harrington calls for Seve honour

GOLF:Pádraig Harrington has said Seve Ballesteros, who is recovering from a brain tumour, should be made an ambassador of the European Tour.

"It is a shame that in recent years Seve has not been leading out the European Tour as an ambassador," the Dubliner said.

"It's only when something like this happens that you see how much he is missed, so I hope the Tour can build more of a relationship with him and have him at the forefront of our Tour."

Alonso has 'deal' with Ferrari

MOTOR SPORT: Fernando Alonso has a secret agreement to join Ferrari for four years from 2011, according to a report in yesterday's Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The twice Formula One world champion has never hidden his desire to go to the Italian team, and Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo recently fuelled the speculation by refusing to rule out the Spaniard's arrival.

The newspaper said the deal had several get-out clauses for both sides, but added that Alonso could join Ferrari even earlier, in 2010, if 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen follows this year's disappointing season with another bad campaign.

By contrast, Alonso was in impressive form after returning to Renault following a difficult season at McLaren.

A Ferrari spokesman would not comment on the reports, apart from saying: "We can only repeat that we have two drivers signed to the end of 2010".

Exiles lose top spot with defeat

RUGBY:English Premiership pacesetters London Irish slipped to a first defeat in 11 league and cup matches as Saracens reignited their season with a 16-13 win in front of 16,000 at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Bath took advantage of Irish's first defeat since early October to replace them at the top of the table.

Saracens scrumhalf Moses Rauluni scored their solitary try, but Irish boss Toby Booth claimed: "We contributed to our own downfall.

"Saracens were very, very good in certain aspects. They bullied us at the contact area - we couldn't get any rhythm or control.

"Our performances this week and last week (Irish smashed Gloucester 42-12) are worlds apart. It is very disappointing."

Sri Lanka take complete control in Dhaka

CRICKET: Captain Mahela Jayawardene returned to form with his 24th Test century as Sri Lanka took complete control on the third day of the first Test against Bangladesh.

Jayawardene (129 no) earlier shared a third-wicket stand of 135 with Kumar Sangakkara (67) as the tourists recovered in their second innings from 18 for two to 291 for four by stumps, and a lead of 406.

Mahbubul Alam and Mashrafe Mortaza took a wicket each with the new ball, before Sri Lanka's middle-order pair got set.

Sangakkara and Jayawardene reached lunch unscathed, and afterwards the left-hander reached his half-century from 112 balls.

He hit only four boundaries on the way to that milestone but doubled his tally before going caught behind off Mehrab Hossain Jr.

Jayawardene passed his 50 at a slightly quicker tempo and, in company with Thilan Samaraweera, went on to hit 12 fours and a six in his 177-ball hundred.