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Today's other stories in brief

Russia through to Fed Cup semis

TENNIS: Russia edged out Serbia in Belgrade to qualify for the Fed Cup semi-finals where they will face the US.

The hosts appeared to be in the driving seat when Jelena Jankovic put her side 2-1 ahead after beating Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 4-6 6-3.

But former world number one Ana Ivanovic was thrashed 6-2 6-3 by Alisa Kleybanova to level things.

Russia came out on top in the doubles, Alisa Kleybanova and Kuznetsova beating Jankovic and Ivanovic 6-1 6-4.

The US cruised past France 4-1.

There was another tight finish in Brno as the Czech Republic beat Germany 3-2. Lucie Hradecka and Kveta Peschke won the decisive doubles rubber 6-1 6-3 to earn the Czechs a dramatic victory.

Earlier in the day, Hradecka beat Andrea Petkovic 6-1 7-6 (7/5) only for Groenefeld to level the tie with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 win over Petra Kvitova.

They will play Cup holders Italy who beat the Ukraine 4-1.

Home triumph for Cilic

TENNIS:Marin Cilic defended his Zagreb Indoors crown yesterday with a hard-fought 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 win over Michael Berrer of Germany.

The top seed, who reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open last week, needed just one break of serve to take the opening set but missed out on a closely-fought second with Berrer playing an impressive tie-break. Another break in game four proved enough for Cilic to secure his fifth ATP Tour trophy.

Australia remain unbeaten

CRICKET: Australia kept their bid to go through the entire 2009/10 home summer unbeaten yesterday as they beat West Indies by 113 runs in the first one-day international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

After Australia made 256 for eight from their 50 overs, any chance the Windies had of victory effectively disappeared when they slumped to 12 for three in the fifth over as they were eventually dismissed for just 143.

Meanwhile, Hashim Amla hit a superb double century as South Africa moved into a position of domination on the second day of the first Test against India in Nagpur.

Amla hit an unbeaten 253 and was the common denominator in sizeable partnerships with Jacques Kallis (173), AB de Villiers (53) and Mark Boucher (39) as the visitors remorselessly continued to pile on the runs against a toiling and tiring Indian attack.

Top of the class for Dockrell as Ireland shine

CRICKET:As reasons for missing a week's school go, helping your country qualify for a World Cup sure beats getting your tonsils out, writes Emmet Riordan in Sharjah.

And 17-year-old Dubliner George Dockrell looks like he could prove the star pupil with the ball for Ireland as they set out to qualify for the World Twenty20 Finals in the United Arab Emirates this week.

Yesterday the left-arm spinner took four wickets for 19 as Ireland beat Canada by 11 runs in the final warm-up game ahead of tomorrow’s crunch opener against Afghanistan.

This cemented his place in the starting XI, giving coach Phil Simmons a boost after losing Kyle McCallan and Regan West.

Ireland recovered well after losing three wickets in nine balls to post 138 all out from their 20 overs on the original sticky wicket after being put in to bat by Canada.

Skipper William Porterfield continued his fine form as he top-scored with a patient 36 from 31 balls, putting on 38 with Niall O’Brien (20) at the top of the order. Andre Botha and Kevin O’Brien combined well to stabilise things and Peter Connell picked up a wicket in the third over.

But it was Dockrell’s introduction that was to prove vital as he bowled Canadian big gun John Davison for 17. Varying his flight and pace brilliantly, the Gonzaga Leaving Cert student went on to pick up a wicket in each of remaining three overs to reduce Canada to 82 for six, with Alex Cusack taking three wickets late on to wrap up the win.

MacHale family tradition goes on

MOTOR SPORT: Gareth MacHale followed his father Austin's success in winning the Safety Direct Galway International Rally, the first round of the Citroen Irish Tarmac Rally Championship (ITRC) yesterday.

Driving a Ford Focus, MacHale had 1:43 to spare over teenager Craig Breen, who brought home the Ford Fiesta 2000 in second place on its debut on the ITRC.

Aaron MacHale, Gareth’s brother, took the runner-up spot behind Breen, who is the current Motorsport Ireland Young Rally Driver of the Year.

Gareth took the lead on Saturday morning when Keith Cronin crashed out while avoiding spectators who were standing on a slip road.

MacHale and McNulty traded places for most of Saturday, before McNulty lost time with a puncture, handing the lead to the young Dubliner.

The top six was completed with Alastair Fisher, Kevin Barrett and Alan Ring, while Dubliner Robert Barrable won the Citroen C2 R2 category.

Eeckhout claims final stage

CYCLING: Veteran rider Niko Eeckhout won the final stage of the Etoile de Bessèges, in France, yesterday. The An Post team rider, who took overall honours back in 2001, beat off the close attention of Alentin Iglinsky (Astana) and Hans Dekkers (Landouwkrediet) in a sprint finish to take the fifth and final stage from Gagnières to Bessèges (145 km).

His win came on the back of an excellent week for the An Post team. Fellow Belgian Pieter Ghyllebert finished third in Saturday’s stage and third in the General Classification, while Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne) was the overall winner.

Best of the Irish was Belfast man Connor McConvey, who finished 48th in the GC and sixth in the young riders classification.