Sports

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Kirk Edwards drew on his rich vein of form to craft his second first-class hundred, and lead Barbados’ batting in the WICB Regional first-class championship against England Lions yesterday.

BOSTON, (Reuters) – The Los Angeles Lakers spoiled  Ray Allen’s record-setting game with a second half comeback to  earn a 92-86 win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday.

PARIS,  (Reuters) – Belgium’s Kim Clijsters will  become world number one next week for the first time since 2006  after she reached the Paris Open semi-finals by beating Jelena  Dokic 6-3 6-0 yesterday.  

BANGALORE, (Reuters) – Australia captain Ricky  Ponting is relishing the opportunity of another batting duel  with India’s Sachin Tendulkar in what will probably be their  last World Cup.

(Barbados Nation) National hero and cricketing legend Sir Garfield Sobers yesterday described the late English cricket all-rounder and journalist Trevor Bailey as a “wonderful person”.

(Barbados Nation) I’m sorry! A repentant Tino Best has unreservedly apologized for the conduct that led to his omission from the Barbados team for the second round WICB regional four-day match against England Lions which started yesterday at Kensington Oval.

CHENNAI, (Reuters) – Left-arm spinner Ray Price and  former captain Tatenda Taibu have taken over the role of mentors  in an inexperienced Zimbabwe squad preparing to take part in the  World Cup.

CHENNAI,  (Reuters) – South Africa are determined to  make a new start at the World Cup opening on Feb.

COLOMBO,  (Reuters) – A giant cricket ball weighing  750 kgs will be displayed at Suriyawaya Stadium in the southern  port city of Hambantota during the World Cup opening on Feb.

Justice James Bovell-Drakes granted an injunction on Wednesday barring Bissondyal Singh and members of his faction of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) from acting as president and performing any duties of the Board pending the hearing of a matter on February 14.

The Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company’s (GT&T) 10/10 Softball tournament has exceeded expectations according to one of the organizers, Richard Sukhdeo.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – They may be a long-shot for the World Cup, but Chris Gayle has indicated West Indies’ aim is to reach at least the Super Eight stage.

Heavy and persistent rain on Wednesday night left the outfield of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda inundated, with only the pitch and parts of the 30-yard circle visible up to press time yesterday.

KARACHI, (Reuters) – Pakistan’s World Cup captain and  coach believe an outstanding performance in the tournament will  lead to the return of international cricket to the country and  also redeem Pakistan’s image in the cricket world.

DHAKA, (Reuters) – Cricket minnows Canada have no  intention of being the whipping boys of the World Cup and are  determined to cause upsets and advance to the second round,  skipper Ashish Bagai said yesterday.

National Sevens rugby Captain Theodore Henry told reporters shortly after arriving in Las Vegas for the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series that their game against England tomorrow will be like David versus Goliath.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Former England all-rounder Trevor  Bailey has died in a fire at his home at the age of 87, Essex  county cricket club said yesterday.

BANGALORE, (Reuters) – Speculation over the future of  master batsman Sachin Tendulkar and coach Gary Kirsten are more  distractions India will have to ignore if they are to lift the  World Cup on home soil, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said yesterday.

SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – While Ricky Ponting and co were  boarding a plane for the World Cup on Wednesday evening, lesser  known Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell was blasting his way  into the record books with a 19-ball half century.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Longtime Utah Jazz coach Jerry  Sloan said yesterday a drop-off in energy was behind his  sudden decision to resign after 23 years with the NBA team.