SPORTS DIGEST

Other sports news in brief

Strauss banking on England's pride

CRICKET:Andrew Strauss is banking on England's pride to deliver a match-winning performance for the first time this winter in today's opening one-day international against the West Indies.

England’s newly-installed one-day captain, who has shrugged off a hamstring strain to declare himself fit, will lead out the tourists at the Providence Stadium confident his side have a point to prove after a dismal winter of results.

In 13 international matches this winter in India and in the Caribbean, England are yet to register their first win and that run of results has convinced Strauss he has a dressing room full of players desperate to restore some pride in their cricket.

But if they are to reverse their fortunes, Strauss is aware the one-day side will need to improve their level of performance.

Bammer injury gives Ivanovic a walkover

TENNIS:Defending champion Ana Ivanovic reached the semi-finals of the WTA event in Indian Wells with a walkover yesterday after Austria's Sybille Bammer pulled out because of an injured left shoulder.

Bammer, the 23rd seed, had been due to play fifth-seeded Serb Ivanovic later in the day in the last of the women’s quarter-finals at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. World number seven Ivanovic will meet Russian teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the last four.

Pavlyuchenkova continued her golden run at the event, upsetting seventh-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 7-6 6-4 in

the quarter-finals. The 18-year-old, who eliminated second-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the second round, sealed victory in one hour 36 minutes.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray spoiled Croat Ivan Ljubicics 30th birthday with a hard-fought 7-5 7-6 victory last night to advance to the semi-finals of the ATP event.

Coláiste Iognáid the surprise package

HOCKEY:Coláiste Iognáid were the surprise package at the All-Ireland schools' finals at Grange Road yesterday, the Galway team winning through to the final of the girls' competition after a draw with Ballymena and a penalty strokes victory over Leinster champions St Andrew's in the pool phase, reports Mary Hannigan.

The Connacht champions will play Foyle in today’s tournament decider, the Ulster school seeking the province’s eighth success in nine years in the competition, only Munster’s Mount Mercy (in 2006) breaking Ulster’s stranglehold on the Kate Russell trophy in recent times.

The boys’ final is an Leinster v Ulster affair after defending champions St Andrew’s and 2007 winners Cookstown topped their respective pools.

After a 3-3 draw with Banbridge Andrew’s secured their place in the final with a 5-0 defeat of Bandon, while Cookstown won through with a 2-1 win over Wesley College and a 2-2 draw with Ashton.

Bolt confirms Paris date

ATHLETICS:Triple Olympic sprint gold medallist Usain Bolt has confirmed he will compete in the AF Golden League meeting in Paris on July 17th.

Bolt, who set world records over 100 and 200 metres at last summer’s Beijing Olympics, has not revealed over which distance he will run in the French capital.

The 22-year-old Jamaican, who also anchored his country to another world best in the 4x100m relay, is expected to be joined by several of his team-mates at the Paris meeting. Bolt achieved a wind-assisted victory in Spanish Town at the weekend in his first 100m since last September’s Brussels GL.

Bolt – whose priority this year is August’s World Championships in Berlin – announced on Wednesday he would take part over 150m in a street competition at the CityGames in Manchester (May 17th).