Cricket Lord’s will have to bid for the right to host the final of the Friends Provident Trophy from 2010. The domestic cup final has been held in St John’s Wood since 1963 but has been added to a list of Major Match Group games, including Tests, put out to tender. Edgbaston is believed to be putting in a rival bid, although Keith Bradshaw, the secretary of MCC, said that “most teams want to play at Lord’s”. A decision is due by April.
Snooker Shaun Murphy took another step towards retaining the Malta Cup by beating Stephen Maguire 4-2 at the Portomaso Hilton yesterday and must overcome Stephen Hendry to guarantee a semi-final place. Murphy trailed Maguire 2-1 but compiled breaks of 104 and 61 to lead 3-2 before stealing the sixth frame with a last red to blue clearance. Hendry, who opened the event by beating Mark Selby, the Masters champion, 4-2, safeguarded his 100 per cent record with a 4-2 win over Tony Drago.
Rugby union Jerry Flannery has had his eight-week suspension for stamping on Julien Bonnaire in the Heineken Cup pool match between Munster and Clermont Auvergne last month halved and will now be available for Ireland’s final three Six Nations matches. Alexandre Audebert, who was cited in the same match for stamping on Ronan O’Gara, lost his appeal against the same ban.
Cricket Michael Carberry helped England Lions to a stunning five-wicket win over Central Zone in Vadodara, India - a result that puts them on the verge of a place in the Duleep Trophy final. The Hampshire opener hit 112 as England’s A team chased down their 296-run target. Despite a 115-run deficit after the first innings the touring team got home shortly after lunch on the final day.
Bowls David Gourlay, the Sydney-based Scot, lost his world No 1 status when he was beaten in the second round of the WBT Welsh International Open in Llanelli yesterday by Billy Jackson, from Lincoln, who has twice partnered him to the world indoor pairs title. Jackson won the first set, but Gourlay took the second before a drive on the third end of the tie-break saw Jackson home 10-4, 2-10, 2-1.