Sri Lanka face uphill battle
CRICKET A first-innings collapse by Sri Lanka put India in a strong position after three days of the second Test in Colombo. Despite a century from Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lankans lost their last seven wickets for 65 runs to finish with a total of 306 in response to India’s score of 393. Amit Mishra was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets. India reached 70 for one at stumps in their second innings, with an unbroken partnership of 67 from Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane, to establish a lead of 157.
Ogier picks up the pace
RALLYING World championship leader Sebastien Ogier took control on the second day of the German Rally. The French driver extended his lead over Volkswagen teammate Jari-Matti Latvala to 33.8sec, with four stages in the Mosel vineyards remaining today.
Ireland furious after Rio calamity
EQUESTRIANISM Cian O’Connor said he was ‘totally gutted’ after the Ireland showjumping team’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s Olympics were dashed at the FEI European Championships in Aachen, Germany. Ireland finished just 0.380 penalties behind the third and final Rio qualifiers Spain after a dramatic finale to the team competition on Friday night. O’Connor, inset, Ireland’s third of four team riders, had jumped clear on Good Luck approaching the 11th fence when a member of the arena staff appeared to run in front of him, before leaping into a flowerbed to avoid the horse and rider. O’Connor had the next fence down. Ireland’s protests were rejected yesterday and they may appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Ecclestone talks tough on Monza
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FORMULA ONE Italian Grand Prix organisers have been told there can be no cut-price deal to keep Monza on the race calendar after 2016. ‘They’ve got a contract, all they’ve got to do is find a pen,’ said the F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. ‘We had a deal with them two years ago, if they just continue with that it’s all OK.’
Kung leads field in Vancouver
GOLF Candie Kung shot an eight-under 64 to establish a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Vancouver. The Taiwanese-American moved to 11 under par, two shots clear of Lydia Ko and Karine Icher. China’s Lin Xiyu shot 66 to take fourth place at eight under. The Canadian teenager Brooke Henderson, fresh from her maiden LPGA win at the Cambia Portland Classic which secured her tour membership, made the cut at one over.
Williams faces Svitolina
TENNIS Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, the 14th seed, reached the semi-finals of the Western & Southern tournament in Cincinnati with a 6-4 2-6 6-0 win against Lucie Safarova. The Ukrainian, inset, will next face Serena Williams, who knocked out Ana Ivanovic in the last eight. ‘I did a Serena,’ Williams said after her 3-6 6-4 6-2 win. ‘Out of the previous nine times we’ve played I think we’ve gone three sets at least six times, so I know she plays really well.’ The other semi-final pitched Simona Halep against Jelena Jankovic.
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Horsey makes running
GOLF England’s David Horsey will take a one-shot lead into today’s final round of the Danish Open. He shot a 68 to move to 15 under par. Australia’s Terry Pilkadaris lies in second place with two more Englishmen, Chris Paisley and John Parry, tied for third on 11 under. In Vancouver, Candie Kung shot an eight-under 64 to establish a two-stroke lead at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. She was two shots clear of Lydia Ko and Karine Icher.
Murray in a hurry
MODERN PENTATHLON The last time Samantha Murray competed in a major final on British soil, the home fans roared her on to a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic, writes Neil Rose. Today she aims to go one better as she leads a four-strong British contingent in the Modern Pentathlon European Championships women’s final at the University of Bath. Germany’s Lena Schoneborn and Lithuania’s Laura Asadauskaite, the reigning World and Olympic champions respectively, are also in a strong field and finished ahead of Murray in Friday’s qualifying round. Murray, inset, has achieved the qualification standard for Rio but eight more Olympic places are up for grabs in today’s final. Boosting Brits Kate French, Freyja Prentice and Francesca Summers as they chase that target is the fact they are competing at their home venue. The Bath student Joe Choong yesterday produced a storming last 800m of the combined run/shoot to claim seventh spot in the men’s final and an Olympic qualification place. The gold went to Ireland’s Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe.
Champion Taylor fires nine-darter
DARTS Phil Taylor hit the first televised nine-dart finish in Australia on his way to victory at the Coral Sydney Darts Masters. Peter Wright was on the receiving end as the Englishman won their semi-final 10-7, including a 501 made up of seven treble 20s, a treble 19 and double 12. Taylor then defeated Adrian Lewis 11-4 in the final to complete a hat-trick of wins in Sydney.