GOLF: Roope Kakko, who became the third amateur to win on the Challenge Tour when he won his home Finnish Open in 2004, moved closer to his dream of full European Tour membership when he topped the leaderboard at PGA Golf de Catalunya at the halfway stage of second stage of the European Tour Qualifying School.
The 24-year-old carded a 69 for a seven-under-par total of 135 for a one-shot lead at one of the four venues, and from which the top 20 players will progress to the final stage at the San Roque Club, starting this day week.
There will also be 20 players progressing from Costa Ballena Club de Golf and Emporda, where the respective leaders were Sweden's Per Barth, who carded a 69 for an 11-under-par total of 133, and Michele Reale of Italy, who posted a 68 for a seven-under-par total of 133.
The final venue, Sherry Golf, will see 19 players progress, and leading there are Australian Andrew Tampion and Julien Xanthopoulos of France, on seven-under-par 137 after respective rounds of 71 and 69.
Of the 12 Irish competitors, Colm Moriarty is best placed in a tie for 15th at Sherry Golf on two under after rounds of 69 and 73, while Philip Walton (68, 70) and Stephen Browne (67, 71) share 18th place at Emporda.
CRICKET: Chris Gayle smashed 133 not out to power holders West Indies into the Champions Trophy final with a six-wicket victory over South Africa in Jaipur, India, yesterday.
The 27-year-old Jamaican stroked his third hundred of the tournament and amassed 154 runs for the first wicket with fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul (57) to snuff out South Africa's challenge.
Gayle's second successive hundred, his 15th overall, guided West Indies to 262 for four in 44 overs after South Africa were restricted to 258 for eight.
Herschelle Gibbs top-scored with 77 for them after skipper Graeme Smith elected to bat.
The 2004 winners face world champions Australia in the final on Sunday.
Gayle blew away the bowling with Chanderpaul in a calculated early assault, and then held firm at one end after the latter retired with cramp. He hammered 17 fours and three huge sixes in his 135-ball effort to help West Indies reach their third final.
The victory helped the Windies avenge their 1998 final defeat against South Africa in the inaugural edition of the tournament in Dhaka.
Gayle had made 101 in the previous game after scoring 104 not out against Bangladesh in a qualifying match in Jaipur.
There is a near full programme of Leinster League matches this weekend.
Three Rock Rovers, who have Peter Blakeney to call upon again, will be defending their unbeaten record first against a Corinthian side intent on putting that 6-1 mauling by Glenanne out of their system, and then against Pembroke Wanderers on Sunday.
Having retained the Mauritius Cup in Limerick yesterday Trinity will hope leg weariness doesn't get the better of them in their two weekend ties, against Monkstown and Corinthian.
Meanwhile 20 clubs will be vying for a place in the third round of the Irish Senior Cup, when the top seeds enter the competition, in tomorrow's second round.
IRISH SENIOR CUP (second round) - Saturday: Queens v Mossley, Upper Malone, 1.0; Antrim v Bandon, Antrim Forum, 2.30; Clontarf v Belfast Harlequins, Clontarf, 1.30; South Antrim v Avoca, Laurelhill, 1.0; Naas v Cliftonville, Naas, 2.30; Portadown v North Down, Edenvilla, 1.0; Kilkenny v Raphoe, Kilkenny College, 2.0; UCC v Weston, UCC, 3.0; Navan v Skerries, Navan, 2.15; UCD v Portrane, UCD, 1.0.
LEINSTER LEAGUE (Division One) Saturday: Bray v YMCA, Loreto Bray, 3.0; Trinity v Monkstown, Santry, 2.30; Pembroke Wanderers v Fingal, 2.0; Three Rock v Corinthian, Grange Road, 1.0. Sunday: Bray v Glenanne, Loreto Bray, 1.30; Corinthian v Trinity, Whitechurch, 1.30; Fingal v Monkstown, ALSAA, 2.0; Three Rock Rovers v Pembroke Wanderers, Grange Road, 1.30.
