Vaughan provides platform for England victory

SPORTS DIGEST: Michael Vaughan regained his form with a vengeance as England defeated South Africa by four wickets with 11 overs spare at Edgbaston in a dress rehearsal for Saturday's NatWest Series final at Lord's.

One-day skipper Vaughan looked in touch from the moment he came to the crease and England required only five for victory when he was trapped lbw by Andrew Hall for 83 - made off 115 balls with 15 fours.

Vaughan surpassed his previous best limited overs score for England of 63 against India at Cuttack in January 2002. A century partnership between Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff took the game out of South Africa's reach as England chased a 199 target.

The pair came together at 43 for three and decided that attack was the best form of defence as the 50 stand came up in only eight overs. Flintoff raced to 50 off 36 balls with six fours and a six as he continued the good form which had earned him the man-of-the-match award against Zimbabwe at Bristol on Sunday.

The 100 partnership came up off 104 balls before Flintoff eventually perished for 54 when he hooked at Ntini and was caught on the fine leg boundary.

RUGBY: Bath have appointed John Connolly as their head coach for the 2003-04 season. Connolly had been associated with the Leinster coaching position following the departure of Matt Williams to coach Scotland.

Connolly has 20 years of coaching experience to call on, having worked at Queensland, Stade Francais and Swansea.

RUGBY: The Romanian Rugby Union Federation (FRR) has relegated first division club Universitatea Remin Baia Mare after two of its players tested positive for banned substances, a FRR spokesman said yesterday.

Adrian Manolache and Dragos Manole failed tests for a nandrolone derivative last May and have been banned for two years.

TENNIS: Wimbledon champion Roger Federer battled to victory in the first round of the Swiss Open on Tuesday as he overcame Spain's qualifier Marc Lopez 6-3, 6-7, 6-3. The 21-year-old from Basel was forced to fight hard for victory on Gstaad's clay courts just two days after seeing off Australian Mark Philippoussis in straight sets to take the Wimbledon crown.