Sports digest

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

Ireland beat Sri Lanka with ease

Ireland made it two wins out of two as they beat Sri Lanka ‘A’ by seven wickets at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo yesterday as they continue their build-up to the World Twenty20 finals later this month.

Ireland’s bowlers restricted the home side to 104 for nine from their 20 overs, with Alex Cusack taking three wickets for 11 a day after hitting 73 with the bat as a makeshift opener in the victory over an SSC XI.

Boyd Rankin took two for 13 off his four overs, while Middlesex seamer Tim Murtagh picked up his first wicket in Irish colours.

Ireland chased down the target with ease, with Ed Joyce making an unbeaten 53 off 39 balls, while Kevin O’Brien again showed his liking for conditions in the sub-continent with an unbeaten 28 off 19 deliveries as victory was wrapped up in the 15th over for the loss of just three wickets.

Ireland play the first of their official warm-up games against Zimbabwe on Thursday, with their opening Group B game against Australia taking place tomorrow week.

– EMMET MALONE

Bennett finishes in top ten as Howard takes win in sprint 

Following Peter Hawkins’ fine fifth place finish on Sunday’s opening stage of the Tour of Britain, Sam Bennett clocked up the second Irish top ten placing in the race yesterday when he finished ninth. The An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly rider sprinted in one second behind Leigh Howard (Orica-GreenEdge) who beat world champion Mark Cavendish (Sky Procycling) to the line.

Third-placed Boy Van Poppel (UnitedHealthcare) is now level on time with Howard, but has the jersey by better accumulated stage placings. Hawkins and Bennett are tenth and eleventh overall going into stage three.

Meanwhile Kamilla Sofie Vallin (Reelight.Bike Toyz) took over the lead in the An Post Rás na mBan, moving to the fore after overnight leader Clare Dallat (Black Rose Racing) lost four minutes and two seconds on yesterday’s stage three to Kenmare.

Irish national team rider Lydia Boylan is six seconds back in second. Femke Van Kessel (Bike4Air-Dames) won the sprint to the line ahead of Irishwoman Louise Moriarty (Look Mum No Hands

Kilkenny seek Leinster club delay

KILKENNY officials have asked for the AIB Leinster senior club hurling semi-final involving their county champions to be postponed by a week in November.

The Kilkenny kingpins are currently fixed to play the Dublin or Wexford champions on Sunday, November 18th.

But county board chairman Paul Kinsella has confirmed that the Leinster Council will consider an official written request from Kilkenny tomorrow night, seeking a week’s grace until November 25th.

Kilkenny face a fixtures pile-up after lthe All-Ireland SHC final ended in a draw.

No club fixtures will be played this coming weekend as Kilkenny are involved in the All-Ireland under-21 hurling final on Saturday, and the following weekend is out because of the senior final replay a week later. Kinsella would also like the Kilkenny players to have a fortnight free after the replay before resuming club duties.

The quarter-finals of the Galway SHC were scheduled for the weekend after next but have now been put off until after the All-Ireland final replay.

Amla shows class but rain the only winner at Old Trafford

The second Twenty20 international between England and South Africa at Old Trafford last night was abandoned due to rain.

The start was initially put back to 8.45pm and the contest reduced to nine overs a side. South Africa managed to complete their innings with Hashim Amla again proving his mastery of English bowling extends to all formats with a rapid unbeaten 47.

The prolific South African has dominated England’s bowling all summer and, returning after a brief rest, continued in the same vein.

Batting at much higher tempo but with all his usual authority, Amla – although dropped on 31 – hit seven fours as he helped the tourists to 77 for five from their allocation.

But England were only able to get through 4.1 overs of their reply before the heavens opened, reaching 37 for the loss of two wickets.