Sports digest

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

Thorpe's Olympic hopes are fading

SWIMMING: Ian Thorpe's hopes of competing in a third Olympic Games lay in jeopardy last night after he crashed out of the 200 metres freestyle semi-finals at Australia's swimming championships in Adelaide, leaving him "gutted".

Thorpe, whose rushed comeback bid after five years out of the pool has captivated the Australian public, charged out of the blocks but flagged dramatically in the final lap to finish sixth in his semi-final.

Tendulkar ends long wait for 100th international ton

CRICKET:After waiting more than a year, India's Sachin Tendulkar finally became the first cricketer to score 100 international centuries during an Asia Cup one-day match against Bangladesh in Dhaka yesterday.

The 38-year-old further cemented his place as one of the greatest of cricketing greats when he stroked a single off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan to reach the landmark. He has scored 51 centuries in Tests and 49 in One-Day Internationals.

India ultimately lost the match by five wickets, but Tendulkar hit 10 boundaries and one six on the way to his hundred, which he reached off 138 deliveries on an easy-paced pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

The celebrations for his much-awaited target were muted and Tendulkar looked more relieved than elated after completing the 100th run. He stood looking at his bat for a moment before thanking the heavens. He then raised his helmet towards the crowd, planted a kiss on the Indian logo and was hugged by team-mate Suresh Raina.

Wales pays tribute to 'Merv the Swerve'

RUGBY: Welsh rugby has united in tribute to its 1976 Grand Slam captain Mervyn Davies following his death at the age of 65. The Welsh Rugby Union said Swansea-born Davies passed away after a long illness.

Current Wales assistant coach and former national team skipper Rob Howley described Davies – who was known worldwide as “Merv the Swerve” – as a “colossus” and “icon”.

Ex-playing colleague Phil Bennett believes Davies would have led the 1977 Lions in New Zealand had his career not been cut short by a brain haemorrhage suffered during a Welsh Cup semi-final the year before.

And another former team-mate, John Taylor, said: “This is one of the saddest days of my life. I have lost a brother.”

Sweetnam wins jump-off in Florida

EQUESTRIAN SPORT:Corkman Shane Sweetnam, who is based in the United States, got his St Patrick's weekend off to the best possible start when winning Thursday night's Challenge Cup at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida. The 31-year-old was one of 12 riders to go through to the jump-off but one of only two to leave all the poles in place second time around. He won in 45.73 seconds on Spy Coast Farm's bay stallion Amaretto d'Arco.

Rankin helps Ireland roll over USA

CRICKET: Ireland go into tomorrow's crunch Group B clash against Scotland at the World Twenty 20 qualifiers in Dubai knowing that only a win will do, but also that they have an opening bowler in the form of his life in Boyd Rankin, writes Emmet Riordan.

The 6ft 8in Warwickshire player tore through the United States top order yesterday as they were bowled out for 96 to help Ireland record a 64-run victory. His four wickets for nine runs helped him go top of the wicket-taking charts with 10 from the opening four games.

After losing Paul Stirling (17) and Alex Cusack in the space of two balls to leave them on 32 for three, Ireland rebuilt through Ed Joyce and Kevin O’Brien adding 86 in 68 balls. Both fell before recording half centuries, O’Brien departing for 47 from 36 balls to a brilliant caught and bowled by Abhimanyu Rajp, who also took a much easier return catch off Joyce after he made 46 from 47.

The in-form Gary Wilson hit 19 late on, while John Mooney was unbeaten on 12 as Ireland posted a total of 160-6.

With Namibia remaining unbeaten, tomorrow’s game looks like deciding second place in the group. If the Africans don’t slip up in their remaining three games, it would leave just one spot available for the finals, with the group winners facing each other for the first qualifying place next Thursday.

Cavendish may quit Tour early

CYCLING:Mark Cavendish could quit the Tour de France early to focus on the Olympic cycling road race, the world champion's coach said yesterday.

Cavendish, who won the green jersey for the points classification last year and at 26 already has 20 Tour stage wins to his name, would not enter the race with the goal of defending the shirt.

“Mark has said he wants to finish the Tour, but if he knows he can win the Olympics he will take the final week day by day,” said coach Rod Ellingworth, who is also Britains Olympic road-race team manager.

“If the green jersey comes, it comes. He wants to win stages at the Tour, not have the green jersey as his main objective.”

The Tour ends in Paris on July 22nd, with the London Olympic road race scheduled for July 28th. Should Cavendish actually give up his green jersey ambitions, his Team Sky could favour compatriot Bradley Wiggins, who emerged as a potential Tour winner after his Paris-Nice victory this month.