Sports Digest

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

London to host two NBA games

BASKETBALL:The NBA will play two regular season games in London next March part of a push to bring professional basketball to the city before it hosts the 2012 Olympics, NBA commissioner David Stern said yesterday.

The matches on March 4th and 5th, will feature the Toronto Raptors and the New Jersey Nets and will represent one home date and one away date for both teams.

The league has played a handful of regular season games outside North America since holding its first in Japan in 1990.

De Villiers cleared of misconduct

RUGBY:South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has been cleared of misconduct by Tri-Nations organisers over comments he made suggesting New Zealand had favourable treatment because they were the hosts of next year's World Cup.

De Villiers made the remarks on Australian television on July 21st after the world champion Springboks were beaten 32-12 and 31-17 by the All Blacks in their first two Tri-Nations matches of the season.

“I’ve got my own observations about the last two Tests, and I can’t say it in public,” De Villiers said. “But we do have a World Cup in New Zealand next year, and maybe it was the right thing for them to win the games so they can attract more people to the games next year.”

The charge of misconduct was dismissed by Jannie Lubbe, governing body SANZAR’s judicial official, after a hearing last Friday.

“Mr Lubbe stated that during his interview Mr De Villiers never mentioned or referred to referees or match fixing, read” a SANZAR statement.

De Villiers said he was satisfied with the outcome of the hearing.

“As the verdict makes clear, at no time did I mention referees or a conspiracy and the finding has put this whole incident into context.”

Pettigrew found dead in Carolina

ATHLETICS:Former world 400 metres champion Antonio Pettigrew has been found dead, his University of North Carolina employers said in a statement on Tuesday.

Although we are still learning the circumstances, we are deeply saddened to learn of Antonios death, said the schools athletic director Dick Baddour.

The 42-year-old American captured the world title in 1991.

No Americans in world's top 10

TENNIS:There are no US players in the world's top 10 for the first time since the ATP rankings began in 1973, following Andy Roddicks fall to number 11.

The 27-year-old, who has been a fixture in the top 10 for the past four years, dropped from number nine following his third-round defeat at the Legg Mason Classic in Washington.

Roddick, a former world number one, was the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title, at the US Open in 2003 – 27 major tournaments ago.

There has been concern for sometime about the decline in US tennis, with John Isner, Sam Querrey, Mardy Fish, Taylor Dent and Michael Russell the only other US players in the world’s top 100.

Taylor and Scott inspire Kiwi rout

CRICKET:A run-a-ball record fourth wicket partnership of 190 by captain Ross Taylor and Scott Styris guided New Zealand to a thumping 200 run victory over India in the opening match of the one-day tri-series yesterday.

India was bundled out for 88, their lowest one-day total against New Zealand, in the 30th over after the Kiwis had run up 288 all out.

New Zealand recovered brilliantly from a poor start when they were reduced to 28-3 in the seventh over to post a competitive score for India to chase under lights.

Taylor inspired his team with an excellent knock of 95 off 113 balls which comprised eight fours and a six. Styris smacked nine fours and a six in his swashbuckling 95-ball innings before falling 11 runs short of notching up a century.

The Indian batsmen failed to handle the bounce and fell easy victims to New Zealand’s disciplined attack which was consistent in length and line.

The second match of the tournament is between hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand on Aug 13.

Maguire twins progress in Open

GOLF:The Maguire twins are Ireland's flag-bearers in the Girls' British Open Amateur Championship at Royal Belfast after both moved into the knock-out stages.

The sisters made progress in vastly contrasting fashion, Leona grabbing one of the top spots after two excellent rounds while Lisa had to rely on a card play-off to keep her championship dream alive.

Leona posted a 73 yesterday to add to her 72 of Monday for a 36-hole aggregate of 145 — five over par to qualify in joint third spot, behind Korean Julie Yang on 141 and French champion Alexandra Bonetti on 142.

Lisa, the leading amateur in the Irish Open last week, improved by three strokes on her first day’s performance but for the second consecutive round she did not have a birdie but her 155 total was just good enough to see her through.

Anna Courtney was the next best of the Irish but her aggregate score of 157 meant that she missed out by two stroke. Emma O’Driscoll is also out aftercarding a score of 158.

Bolt out until next season with lower back injury

ATHLETICS:World 100 metres record holder Usain Bolt will not run again this season because of a back injury, his agent said on Tuesday.

Bolt, beaten by American Tyson Gay in Stockholm last Friday, had been due to compete in the Diamond League meetings in Zurich and Brussels this month.

Bolt was examined on Monday by a Munich doctor who found a problem with the Jamaicans lower back, which if not treated could cause injury to his hamstring or calf muscles.

With a view to his future career further treatment to loosen his back followed by a period of rest will be in his best interest, Bolts agent said in a statement.

I am very disappointed to miss two of the top meetings on the circuit but trust that it is better for me not to take any risks this year, said Bolt.

2011 and 2012 are very important championship years and I hope to be back fully fit, he added in reference to next years World Championships in Daegu and the London Olympics.