Sports Digest

A round-up of other sports news in brief

Sarwan gets West Indies out of trouble with century

CRICKET: An unbeaten century from Ramnaresh Sarwan helped dig the West Indies out of an early hole as they beat Ireland by six wickets in their One-Day International at Sabina Park in Kingston on Thursday, writes Emmet Riordan.

Chasing a modest 220 for victory, the home side lost both openers with just one run on the board as Peter Connell and Trent Johnston struck in their opening overs.

A rain delay of an hour saw the target reset to 213 to win off 45 overs, with the West Indies moving along cautiously at first as they looked to rebuild.

They lost Wavell Hinds for 20 when he hit a return catch to George Dockrell to give the 17-year-old his first ODI wicket on his debut. But a fourth-wicket stand of 111 between Sarwan and Guyana team-mate Narsingh Deonarine put them back in command.

Hendry in dark about opponent

SNOOKER: Stephen Hendry admits he knows “absolutely nothing” about Chinese teenager Zhang Anda as the pair prepare to clash in the first round of this year’s Betfred.com World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield.

Zhang, 18, caused a major surprise when he qualified for the tournament, and was then handed a dream draw against the seven-time world champion.

To Hendry he is an unknown quantity, and the 41-year-old Scot is just hoping he can survive his test against the youngster.

“I know nothing about him. Absolutely nothing. I’ve never seen him play, never met him, so it’s tales of the unexpected!” Hendry said.

Hendry had won his first world title before Zhang was born, and he knows taking on a player who he will meet for the first time just minutes before they take to the table is far from ideal. “It can be a bit of a banana skin, because you don’t know how he plays. Is he an aggressive player? I’m sure he is because all the players are these days. But is he slow? Is he fast? Is his long-potting a speciality?” Hendry said.

Three wins for Irish at Fontainebleau 

EQUESTRIAN SPORT: The Irish pony riders were on top of their form at Fontainebleau yesterday with three wins. Afterwards, the team was declared for today’s Nations’ Cup and in jumping order this is Tom Foley (Dibidoe), Shane Kenny (Moore Clover), Jeremy Sweetnam (Allihies Fir Baoi) and Paraic Kenny (Cappagh Romeo).

In other news, Horse Sport Ireland has agreed a contract with eventing high performance coach Ginny Elliot up until the London Olympics while agreements have also been reached with dressage coach Ferdi Eilberg and show jumping coach Michael Quirke up to 2012.

Nadal eases past Ferrero

TENNIS: Juan Carlos Ferrero had high hopes of advancing into the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters, but instead smacked into an impenetrable brick wall named Rafael Nadal yesterday.

Nadal’s shock fourth-round defeat at last year’s French Open was long forgotten as the claycourt master, four times a winner at Roland Garros, powered past his fellow Spaniard 6-4 6-2.

Ferrero, who had won 17 of his 18 matches on the slow surface this season, tried to attack Nadal’s backhand. Nadal in turn reacted by stifling Ferrero.

The second seed, looking for a record sixth win in Monte Carlo and a first ATP title in 11 months, will next face compatriot David Ferrer, a 7-5 7-6 winner of German Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Stynes move

AUSTRALIAN RULES: A campaign has begun to have a medal created in honour of Jim Stynes. Former team-mates, politicians, other sporting personalities and fans have joined the campaign to launch a Jim Stynes Medal of Courage in recognition of the Dublin native’s battle against cancer, his successful Aussie Rules playing career forged against the odds, his charity work and his efforts as club president to turn the fortunes of Melbourne Demons around.

Fallon injured in parade ring

RACING: Kieren Fallon was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading yesterday for precautionary X-rays on his upper right leg after being kicked in the parade ring at Newbury.

The six-time champion jockey was about to take the mount aboard Mick Channon’s Ayam Zainah in the Bridget Maiden Fillies’ Stakes when Alioonagh bolted, causing mayhem in the paddock.

The Matthew Salaman-trained daughter of Giant’s Causeway upset several of her rivals and caused Fallon’s mount to kick out in alarm and strike the jockey.

The 45-year-old fell to the ground and lay at the side of the parade ring surrounded by black screens while being attended to by the medical staff.

Initial fears of a break to his leg later subsided slightly after a check-up in the racecourse medical centre, but he was still whisked away for X-rays.