Pollock bows out with winning blow
Cricket
Shaun Pollock ended his international career in perfect fashion, hitting the winning runs as South Africa won the fifth one-day international against West Indies in Johannesburg by eight wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method to clinch a 5-0 series sweep. Pollock, with one for 33 from ten overs, was the only economical bowler as West Indies made 295 for seven Graeme Smith was bowled by Daren Powell in the third over of the chase, but Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs put on 175 for the second wicket before Pollock was given the honour of winning the game.
Bowley on a roll
Bowls
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Mike Bowley helped Nottingham’s Denny Cup team to reach the semi-finals of the national inter-club championship and then toppled one of the top seeds in the Welsh International Open in Llanelli. Bowley helped his club to beat Torquay United 96-63 on Saturday, then rushed to Llanelli, where he beat Kelvin Kerkow, the 2006 champion 4-9, 9-3, 2-0 in the first round of the Welsh Open.
Sears relieved
Tennis
Nigel Sears, the captain of the Great Britain Fed Cup team, admitted his relief after the team’s 2-0 victory over Portugal secured their Europe/Africa Zone group one status. Britain had to win to avoid relegation to group two, with Anne Keothavong and Katie O’Brien, the British No 1, both comfortble victors. “We needed to survive as going down to group two would have been a disaster,” Sears said.
England take lead
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Cricket
England’s women won their first one-day international in Australia since 1988, beating the home team by 56 runs in Melbourne. Having been put in to bat, England made 233 for six in 50 overs, with Sarah Taylor, the 18-year-old opening batsman, making 44 and Lydia Greenway and Jenny Gunn each making 48. Gunn then removed both openers as Australia were bowled out for 177.
Hallam double vision
Badminton
Tracey Hallam, the Commonwealth champion, is considering a doubles career instead of retiring after winning the women’s doubles at the English National Championships in Manchester yesterday. Hallam lost 21-15, 21-19 to Elizabeth Cann before partnering Donna Kellogg to a 22-24, 21-13, 21-14 win over Joanne Nicholas and Natalie Munt. “This could be the future for me,” Hallam, 32, said.
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Holmes edges home
Golf
Phil Mickelson had to make do with second place in the Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, after he was beaten by J. B. Holmes, an outsider, in a play-off. Holmes, whose only other victory on the PGA Tour in the United States came in the same event two years ago, birdied the 18th hole to take the tournament into a sudden-death finish, then birdied it again in the play-off to lift the title.
Foster defeated
Rackets
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Alex Titchener-Barrett pulled off the upset of his career, by defeating Harry Foster, the world champion, in six games to reach the final of the Lacoste British Open Championship. Titchener-Barrett was too sharp for Foster, unbeaten in singles for two seasons, and will meet Jamie Stout, the US Open champion, who was too strong for Mark Hubbard, the British professional champion.