The other sports news of the day in short...
Cook celebrates with unbeaten 158
CRICKET: Alastair Cook made a patient unbeaten century in his first Test as England captain to lift his team to a commanding 374 for three on the opening day of the series against Bangladesh yesterday.
Cook’s 11th Test century made the hosts regret their decision to bowl first and he had reached 158 not out at the close, with Paul Collingwood unbeaten on 32.
Former skipper Kevin Pietersen was out for 99 after adding 170 runs with Cook for the third wicket.
Cook, quiet initially, grew in confidence to hit 14 boundaries and smash off-spinner Mahmudullah over long on for the second of his two sixes to reach three figures.
His opening partner, Michael Carberry, was first out for 30.
Sergas takes control in Melbourne
GOLF: Italy’s Giulia Sergas took control of the women’s Australian Open with a second round 69 in Melbourne yesterday, moving three shots clear of Korean duo He-Yong Choi and Soo-Jin Yang. Rebecca Flood, Stefanie Michi and Karrie Webb were all a shot further back on three under par.
Ireland’s Hazel Kavanagh and Rebecca Coakley both failed to make the cut after rounds of 77.
Russia’s Ochigava ends Katie Taylor’s unbeaten run
BOXING: Katie Taylor’s unbeaten run stretching back 42 bouts was sensationally ended when she lost to former World champion Sofya Ochigava of Russia in her lightweight (60kg) semi-final at the Usti na Labem Gran Prix in the Czech Republic yesterday.
Ochigava claimed featherweight (57kg) gold at last year’s European Championships in the Ukraine, but has since moved up to lightweight, and she beat the Bray woman 8-1 over four, two-minute rounds.
The last time Taylor, the reigning World, European and EU champion, lost was to Turkey’s Gulsum Tatar in Istanbul on May 13th, 2007.
Speaking from Dublin after yesterday’s shock defeat, IABA head coach Billy Walsh said if there was a time for the 2008 AIBA World female boxer of the year to be beaten, this was it.
“It is virtually impossible to remain undefeated in amateur boxing and Katie has had an amazing run over the last few years,” he said. “If there was a time to be beaten then this is it, two years out from the Olympic Games in London.”
Donovan beats World champion
BOXING: Irish champion Eric Donovan outclassed World lightweight champion and AIBA world boxer of the year Domenico Valentino in last night’s Ireland versus Italy clash at the National Stadium in Dublin.
Donovan, who retained his lightweight title at the Stadium last weekend, produced a career best performance to beat the Italian 11-8 at the home of Irish boxing.
“I’m absolutely delighted with the win,” said the St Michael’s Athy club-man. “He’s obviously a quality opponent, but I’ve been boxing very well this year and I was always confident going into this one.”
Ireland’s World Youth champion Ray Moylette was also in top form, recording a 10-0 victory over Vincenzo Manggiacapre.
Benildus book place in Dublin final
GAELIC GAMES: St Benildus made up for some of the heartbreak suffered by their junior team in Tuesday’s final by booking their place in the Dublin Schools Senior A football final with a comprehensive 2-16 to 1-4 dismissal of St Declan’s at Belfield.
An injury forced influential midfielder Peter O’Curry to play much of the game at full forward and the enforced move worked a treat as he struck for two first-half goals in a two-minute spell.
Both were clinical finishes from O’Curry and both were set up by Fearghal Duffy, who himself finished with 0-7 after a fine display of finishing.
ST BENILDUS: M O’Connor; D Quinn, A Clabby, K McGrath; A Carroll, S Fitzsimons (0-1), A Dolan; P O’Curry (2-1), C Egan (0-1); C Butler, F Duffy (0-7, 4f) A McMahon (0-1); G Whelan (0-4, 1f), P Mannion (0-1), S Butler. Subs: Darragh Byrne for Mannion (37), David Byrne for O’Curry (43), E Barber for Egan (45), B O’Rian for Duffy (51), C Naughton for Carroll (56)
ST DECLAN’S: L Geelan; D Shiels, S Burke, A Kavanagh; A Kelly, S Bonfil, S Murray; R Mulvenney, J Bray (0-1); S O’Connor, A Caffrey (1-2, 1pen, 2f), E Dillon; G Rooney, S Donnaghy, S Donnelly (0-1). Subs: D Mulligan for Shiels (39), C McHale for Murray (50).
Referee: D Deasy (Ballymun Kickhams).
Sagan holds on
CYCLING: Nicolas Roche was eighth in the bunch sprint behind Slovakia’s Peter Sagan in yesterday’s fifth stage of the Paris-Nice Race to Aix-en-Provence. Sagan attacked the peloton with France’s Christophe Le Mevel less than two kilometres from the finish and held on to beat Italian Mirco Lorenzetto. Alberto Contador retains the overall lead with Roche in 13th place, one minute and 22 seconds behind.
