SPORTS DIGEST:CRICKET: Michael Hussey smashed three sixes in four balls to lead Australia to a remarkable three-wicket win over Pakistan in the last over of yesterday's Twenty20 World Cup semi-final in St Lucia.
Hussey hit six sixes in all to finish with an unbeaten 60 in just 24 deliveries as Australia passed Pakistan’s 191 for six, the joint second highest score of this tournament, with a ball to spare to clinch a final meeting with England.
Australia were in trouble at 62 for four in the ninth over but then Cameron White blasted five sixes in his 43 off 31 balls to get his side back in the game. When White went in the 17th over it still looked a long shot for Michael Clarke’s men with 53 needed from 3.3 overs.
That was reduced to 34 off two overs and then 18 from the final over by spinner Saeed Ajmal. Mitchell Johnson pushed a single to give Hussey the strike and he responded with some great batting.
Clijsters out of French Open
TENNIS:Former world number one Kim Clijsters has pulled out of the French Open starting on May 23 because she has not fully recovered from an injury to her left foot.
Belgian Clijsters (26), who returned to competitive tennis in 2009 after a two-year retirement and lies 10th in the WTA rankings, reached the final of the claycourt tournament twice, in 2001 and 2003. World number six Nikolay Davydenko has also withdrawn due to a wrist injury.
Offaly rovers run in aid of GOAL
GAELIC GAMES:The Offaly footballers are preparing for their upcoming championship clash with Meath by taking part in a novel 20-plus-mile run from Edenderry to Tullamore today to raise funds for the aid organisation, GOAL, writes Seán Moran.
Organised to help support GOAL’s work in Haiti, where the aid organisation is continuing to deliver aid to the survivors of the earthquake which struck in January of this year, the event starts in Edenderry town square at 11.0 tomorrow morning.
The convoy of footballers will move from there and pass through a number of towns and villages on the way, including Daingean and Ballinagar, before finishing up at Tullamore GAA Centre later in the afternoon, where a function is planned to acknowledge the efforts of all those who took part and supported the run.
Nadal moves into Madrid semi-final
TENNIS:Gael Monfils managed the rare feat of getting a Spanish crowd on his side in a match against Rafa Nadal yesterday but was unable to prevent another claycourt masterclass from the four-times French Open champion.
After Nadal had stormed into a one-set lead in their Madrid Open quarter-final, the French 12th seed’s antics at 2-2 in the second set briefly had the normally partisan locals behind him on a chilly Manolo Santana centre court at the Magic Box arena.
World number three Nadal, bidding for a third straight Masters title of the year on his favoured surface after triumphs in Monte Carlo and Rome, was unfazed and quickly claimed two more breaks of serve to add to a pair in the first set as he strolled to a 6-1 6-3 victory.
Impressive Powell powers to clinical victory in Doha
ATHLETICS:Jamaican Asafa Powell eased to victory in the 100 metres with a wind-assisted time of 9.81 seconds in the inaugural IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha yesterday.
Powell, 27, who ran 9.75 in the heats, made a slow start before cruising to a time aided by a following wind of 2.6m per second – beyond the legal limit.
Kenya’s David Rudisha ran a seasons best of 1:43.00 to win the 800m, with Briton Michael Rimmer sixth in 1:45.96. Fellow Briton Christine Ohuruogu posted 50.88 to finish fifth in the 400m.
Olympic and world champion Ohuruogu appeared not to have settled in her blocks as the starter fired the gun and she struggled over the lap against a high-quality field.
Allyson Felix, the three-time 200m world champion, won the 400m in 50.15, a world leading time this season. Earlier, Powell showed his class in the heats with an impressive 9.75. Jamaican Nesta Carter was second in 9.88 with Travis Padgett (USA) third in 9.92.
Railway welcome back key pairing
CRICKET:Railway Union welcome back Ireland stars Trent Johnston and Kevin O'Brien from World Twenty20 action today as they look to continue their fine start in Division One of the Leinster Senior League, writes Emmet Riordan.
Leinster are the visitors to Park Avenue and after wins away to Clontarf and YMCA, Railway will be looking to make it three straight victories on the trot.
Despite missing their two Ireland players they have had no shortage of match-winners with Kenny Carroll and Tom Fisher again looking a potent opening pairing, while Graham McDonnell has hit the ground running since his move from neighbours Pembroke.
Leinster open their campaign hoping to continue the form that helped them win the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup last summer.
Carlos Brathwaite was outstanding for the Rathmines club last summer and his return could see them right up their challenging for league honours this time around.
