A round-up of today's other stories in brief
India clinch one-day series against England with one game to spare
CRICKET:India clinched the one-day series against England yesterday with a game to spare as Steven Finn was denied a crucial wicket for breaking the stumps in his delivery stride.
Finn’s habit of colliding with the stumps has caused much debate among the game’s law-makers but it had a very practical consequence in the fourth ODI, with umpire Steve Davis calling dead ball when Suresh Raina was held at slip with India 178 for four.
At that point India were still 80 short of victory but Raina, 41 at the time, finished unbeaten on 89 to seal a five-wicket win in the 48th over.
It was not the first time Finn has paid for the problem, Davis also officiating when South Africa’s Graeme Smith was reprieved in similar circumstances last summer. The incident overshadowed what was a fine contest, with Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen each scoring 76 and Joe Root (57 not out) adding a stylish maiden ODI half-century.
India’s response included a gutsy 83 from Rohit Sharma, recalled after a year in the cold, before Raina’s dramatic innings.
Sharma’s innings was ended by a dubious lbw decision in favour of Finn, who claimed England’s fourth success.
Crescent have an easy win
MUNSTER SCHOOLS RUGBY: Despite the difficult conditions Crescent Comprehensive scored five tries as they had a comfortable 36 -7 Munster Schools Junior Cup win over Limerick rivals St Clement's College at Rosbrien.
By half-time Crescent led 22-0 thanks to tries by Calvin Nash, Jordan Young O'Connor and Billy O'Hora.
Steve Ogie got a try for St Clement's in the last minute of the game as a reward for their efforts.
Scorers – CRESCENT COMP 36 (C Nash, J Young OConnor, G Dickenson, B OHora, C Slattery try each, C Clifford 4 cons, pen) ST CLEMENT'S COLLEGE 7 (S Ogie try C Quinlan con)
St Columba's show potential as Verwjis and Morris shine
LEINSTER SCHOOLS RUGBY: Centre Adam Verwjis was the two-try hero as St Columba's College beat Moyne Community School 17-5 to move into the Leinster Schools Fr Godfrey Cup (Section B) semi-final at Mullingar RFC yesterday.
They are one win away from qualifying for the Junior Cup proper and they just might be able to handle the step-up with players like Verwjis and their other try-scorer Fred Morris showing the way.
This quarter-final also doubled up as a Duff Cup (Section A) semi-final for which St Columba's have earned a match-up with another Fr Godfrey semi-finalist in St Patrick's Classical School. The Navan nursery easily dealt with St Conleth's 28-0 at Ashbourne RFC where outhalf Christian Byrne weighed in with a try and four conversions.
Wesley's loosehead Andrew Egan supplied the try and outhalf Adam Curry converted to edge High School 7-5 at Kirwan Park. High School produced a superb try from their 22, finished by loosehead Tucker.
