Sports Digest

A roundup of today's other sports news in brief

First America’s Cup race abandoned

SAILING: The first race of the 33rd America’s Cup between Swiss holders Alinghi and US challengers BMW Oracle was abandoned yesterday because of unreliable wind, further delaying a bitterly fought event.

The race between the hi-tech, multi-hull boats was reset for tomorrow, the next scheduled sailing day in the best-of-three regatta off the Spanish port of Valencia.

Crew members aboard Alinghi and BMW Oracle had a frustrating, cold and wet wait of almost four hours more than 25 km (16 miles) off shore before heading back to port.

“We were convinced we were going to race,” said Alinghi owner Ernesto Bertarelli. “Yesterday looked good and this morning when we left it looked good, but then around 10 o’clock the hopes started fading away with the rain and the wind died.”

Ingle Philips Manager of the Month

BASKETBALL: Mark Ingle, head coach of DCU Mercy women’s team, has been named Philips Sports Manager of the Month for January.

Having lost four semi-finals in a row, DCU Mercy defeated holders Montenotte 68-55 to claim the Superleague National Trophy for the first time.

The win reversed last year’s double overtime loss and ended Montenotte’s search for a fourth successive cup win.

Smit, Matfield set for World Cup

RUGBY: John Smit and Victor Matfield are among a group of 10 players to be awarded national contracts by the South African Rugby Union that will run until next year’s World Cup.

They are joined by Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Juan Smith and Pierre Spies in a move which seems to all but guarantee their places at the finals in New Zealand.

Nine other players have been handed one-year deals by Saru.

They are Andries Bekker, Heinrich Brussow, Bismarck du Plessis, Adrian Jacobs, Tendai Mtawarira, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, Danie Rossouw and Morne Steyn, while additional players called up will be receive pro-rata payments in line with the contracted group.

As expected, there were no contracts awarded to players based overseas – the most notable absentees being Munster centre Jean de Villiers and utility-back Frans Steyn, who now plays for Racing Metro 92 in France.

Sky’s Arvesen injured in fall

CYCLING: Team Sky endured a difficult second day of the Tour of Qatar as Kurt-Asle Arvesen suffered a broken collarbone.

The Norwegian rider played his part in the opening team time trial victory on Sunday but he failed to start yesterday’s second stage after a fall as the field prepared to go racing.

There was further bad news for David Brailsford’s team when Edvald Boasson Hagen, who held the overall lead coming into the stage, suffered a puncture with more than 40 kilometres of the run from Camel Race Track to Qatar Foundation remaining and could only come home in 61st place.

Holland’s Walter Moul is the new leader after he and Belgium’s Geert Steurs made the most of an early breakaway that saw them establish a 12-minute lead over the peloton.

Steurs eventually took the stage honours.

Devastating Steyn leaves India struggling

CRICKET: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam will not travel with a new-look team for two Twenty20 internationals against England later this month in Dubai.

Former Test captain Alam, who has a two-year contract with the board that does not end until October this year, faces an inquiry after the disastrous tour of Australia. Alam has been replaced for the matches by former Test batsman Ijaz Ahmed, who has been given the title of batting and fielding coach. The 14-man squad announced by selectors will be led by all-rounder Shoaib Malik.

Shahid Afridi was named in the squad but will not be available for the first match on February 19th as he is serving a two-match ban for ball-tampering against Australia earlier this month.

PAKISTAN (squad): Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik (capt), Shahid Afridi, Yasir Arafat, Abdul Razzaq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Gul, Muhammad Talha, Fawad Alam, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal.

Alam not in Pakistan set-up

CRICKET: South African Dale Steyn confirmed his status as the world’s premier quick bowler with a career-best seven for 51 on the third day of the first Test against India yesterday.

Steyn took five wickets for just three runs in a post-tea display of top-class reverse swing after dismissing Murali Vijay for four and Sachin Tendulkar for seven with conventional swing bowling early in the first innings.

He then took his eighth wicket of the match when he dismissed Sehwag for 16 after India had followed on to leave the hosts at 66 for two at the close with Vijay (27) and Tendulkar (15) at the crease.

India, the world’s number one side, were left struggling to save the match, still 259 runs behind South Africa’s imposing first innings 558 for six declared, in the two-Test series between the world’s top sides.

Steyn’s awesome display overshadowed a fine innings by Sehwag, who batted with uncharacteristic patience for his 18th Test century.