Sports digest

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

Petrov apologises to Renault team

FORMULA ONE:Russian Formula One driver Vitaly Petrov has apologised to his Renault team for a television outburst where he criticised their tactics and pit stops.

His manager Oksana Kossatchenko said Petrov gave an interview to Russia 2 in the heat of the moment after finishing 13th in Sunday’s race in Abu Dhabi but immediately regretted his comments.

“It was an emotional interview,” she said. “It was an exception and he apologised afterwards to the team.”

Petrov had said that although his contract barred him from saying anything bad about the team, he had to speak out.

“We have lost positions in about 10 races or even more. Even without a fast car we could have gained good points, we could have finished with points if we had had a good strategy,” he said.

Rule pushes final dates back

GAELIC GAMES: The GAA has emphasised the decision to play the All-Ireland finals of next year and 2013 a week late is based on a rule change introduced at last year's annual congress, writes Seán Moran.

Apparently reacting to speculation about the schedules for the next two years, the association pointed out in a statement the decision is simply in keeping with the rule book.

“The association’s Official Guide states that the football final will be played on the penultimate Sunday of September and the hurling final two weeks earlier.”

Next year is the first year since the rule change in which September will have five weekends and therefore the finals move from their usual dates of first and third Sundays in the month. They will therefore be played on September 9th (hurling) and 23rd (football).

The All-Ireland finals were switched back to the first and third to avoid a clash with the Ryder Cup in 2006 and left on those dates.

Ireland's World Cup hopes are dashed

CRICKET: Ireland saw their hopes of appearing in next year's Women's World Cup evaporate in the heat of Dhaka yesterday as they lost to hosts Bangladesh by 95 runs, their third defeat from four at the qualifying event, writes Emmet Riordan.

Needing a victory to keep their hopes of one of the four places alive, Ireland held Bangladesh to 209 for seven from their 50 overs, thanks in the main to five runs outs, three of those credited to Cecelia Joyce.

Joyce went on to top score in Ireland’s reply with 44, putting on 68 for the second wicket with Jill Whelan as Ireland recovered well after Clare Shillington was out off the first ball.

Yet again it was spin that proved their undoing as Khadiza-Tul Kubra took six wickets for 32 as Ireland were bowled out for 114.

Ireland now go into the play-offs for fifth to eight places, but must wait until next Thursday for their next game.

Kruger takes advantage of Coetzee's disastrous finish

GOLF: South African Jbe Kruger took advantage of a collapse by compatriot George Coetzee to race clear in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.

Coetzee, the only member of the world’s top 100 taking part, led by four but then dropped five shots in the last three holes of his second round.

Kruger, also chasing a maiden European Tour victory, stepped in to add a five-under-par 67 to his opening 64 and so reached halfway on the 13 under mark of 131.

The 25-year-old is four ahead of England’s Seve Benson, Scot George Murray and Chilean Felipe Aguilar.

Spaniard Pablo Martin, winner of the title the past two years, suffered the embarrassment of finishing 155th and joint last after nightmare rounds of 81 and 82.

They were played alongside Coetzee, who was sailing on smoothly until he found water on the short seventh, his 16th.

Ireland’s Paul Cutler was well outside the level par cut mark, after adding a 74 to his opening 78.

Australia collapse after bright opening

CRICKET:Australia led by just 30 runs after a fine start by openers Phil Hughes and Shane Watson was almost thrown away by a batting collapse in the second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.

The visitors had reached 174 without loss and were only four down at tea before a determined fightback by the home side at the Wanderers left the game finely poised with the tourists needing a win to level the two-match series.

Hughes and Watson had put on a century partnership but each fell for 88. Australia also lost former captain Ricky Ponting, for a duck, and Michael Clarke (11) to reach tea on 220 for four to trail South Africa’s first innings by 46 runs.

South Africa had faced four balls, without scoring, when bad light stopped play.

Pakistan reclaim one-day series lead

CRICKET:Pakistan took victory in the third ODI against Sri Lanka to reclaim the series lead as the tourists' frantic run-chase saw them bowled out 22 runs shy of their 258 target in the 49th over in Dubai.

A big opening stand between Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Farhat set Pakistan on their way to 257 for eight from their 50 overs earlier in the day. But Sri Lanka were still in with a chance as they needed 24 from the final two overs.

However, Umar Gul collected the wickets of Seekkuge Prasanna and Angel Fernando in the space of four balls to wrap up the victory, bowling Sri Lanka out for 236.

Hafeez and Farhat put on 151 for the opening stand as Pakistan gave themselves an early platform for victory.Saeed Ajmal finished with figures of three for 42, while Gul was three for 48 and Pakistan now lead the five-game series 2-1.