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Ireland slip after promising start

CRICKET: Ireland failed to make full use of a promising start as they were bowled out for 229 in their one-day clash against Jamaica at Discovery Bay yesterday, writes Emmet Riordan.

Having lost the toss and put in to bat, Ireland were motoring along at the halfway point to 138 for three after 25 overs.

Skipper William Porterfield made 44, while Gary Wilson top-scored with 53.

But Jamaica’s spinners put the brakes on Ireland’s innings, with only 91 runs added.

In reply, Jamaica were 99 for three off 22 overs, with opening batsman Danza Hyatt having scored an unbeaten half-century.

Freire second for third day running

CYCLING:Spain's Oscar Freire pounded the handlebars of his bike in frustration after finishing second for the third day running on the Tour of the Basque Country yesterday.

Italian Francesco Gavazzi won the 187km third stage from Viana to Amurrio ahead of Freire, and although the former world champion’s consistency earned him the overall race lead, it brought little comfort.

“Being leader doesn’t count for me, what I want is stage victories,” said Freire, who is two seconds ahead of Spain’s Alejandro Valverde in the standings.

“I’ve missed out on the three opportunities I had, although in the first stage in more normal circumstances I would have won,” the 34-year-old said. “This time I was in the wrong position on the final bend, I was only eighth or ninth and that wrecked my sprint.”

“I tried everything, I’ve got three second places in three days, but in cycling the only thing that counts is if you win.”

Spain’s top classics rider, Freire has 73 wins in his career, but as a non-climber he will have little chance of taking his first victory in the Basque Country race since 2006.

Change of plans for Kurten in World Cup final

EQUESTRIAN: Jessica Kürten has revealed that she will be competing with Lady Georgina Forbes's Castle Forbes Cosma and Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois at the Rolex FEI World Cup final which begins in Geneva on April 15th, leaving behind her top-rated mare Castle Forbes Libertina, writes Margie McLoone.

Having consulted with the owner, Kürten yesterday confirmed her plans: “Libertina is 14 years old and missed a lot of last season with injury. She is currently in great form but the World Cup final is a very tough competition over four days and it would be a lot to ask Libby.

“It is a long season and my other horses are going well so I have decided to bring Castle Forbes Cosma and Castle Forbes Myrtille Paulois who have been showing great form in recent weeks.”

US-based Darragh Kenny will also be competing for Ireland at the Swiss finals, as will former world champion Dermott Lennon, who this weekend takes part in the British open championships in Birmingham along with Billy Twomey, Shane Breen and Alex Duffy.

Denis Lynch, Capt David O’Brien, David Simpson, Brian Cassidy and Jack Dodd will represent Ireland at three-star level in Lummen, Belgium, while Cameron Hanley and Niall Talbot travel to the three-star show in Arezzo, Italy.

Manerbio in Italy also sees three-star and one-star jumping, and flying the Irish flag will be Paddy O’Donnell, Edward Doyle and Declan McEvoy.

Navratilova has breast cancer

TENNIS: Martina Navratilova, who won 59 Grand Slam titles, singles and doubles, including a record nine at Wimbledon, said yesterday that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and that her prognosis is good.

“It’s kind of bad news, good news,” said the 53-year-old Navratilova. “The good news is that it’s DCIS, a kind of non-invasive form of breast cancer, and I have a very great chance of recovery and a small chance of it coming back.”

It is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer that affects her.

Navratilova said she decided to speak publicly about her condition to encourage women to get tested yearly.

Navratilova, a health and fitness ambassador for the American Association of Retired Persons, said: “I took four years before I took my last mammogram. I let it slide.”

Navratilova won her last Grand Slam at the age of 49 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2000.