Cricket

 
Australia tied with SA (30/01/02)

Australia beat New Zealand by two wickets in their VB Series encounter at Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday. New Zealand set the pace by scoring 245 for eight in the allotted fifty overs, which Australia surpassed with three balls remaining in the final over, after an earlier collapse in the Australian middle order. Australia is level with South Africa on 13 points after three wins.
New Zealand is still at the top with 17 points, but is not guaranteed of a place in the final.
The remaining matches are in Perth, with New Zealand playing South Africa on Friday and Australia and South Africa playing on Sunday. New Zealand would fail to make the final if they lose to South Africa and Australia beat South Africa.

Proteas secure bonus point (28/01/02)

South Africa secured victory over VB series log leaders New Zealand in Adelaide, Australia on Sunday. South Africa batted first scoring 253 for the loss of five in the allowed fifty overs. South Africa then dismissed New Zealand for 160 after 45.2 overs, losing by 93 runs.
The bonus point secured by the 93-run win takes Shaun Pollock's side four points ahead of Steve Waugh's men.

Source: Sportsdesk

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Tennis

 
Johansson Australian Champion (28/01/02)

Thomas Johansson claimed his first Grand Slam title by beating favourite Marat Safin in the men's singles final at the Australian Open in Melbourne Australia on Sunday.
The Swede beat his Russian counterpart 3-6 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-4) and become the first Swede since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win the title.

Source: Sportsdesk

Golf

 
Golden Goose strikes again (28/01/02)

South Africa's Golden Goose strikes again, after Retief Goosen eased his way to a comfortable eight-shot win in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth on Sunday.
The victory moves the US Open champion back to the top of the European Order of Merit, that he won last year.

Here follows the leader board after the final round of the Johnnie Walker
Classic:
274 Retief Goosen (SA) 70-68-63-73
282 Pierre Fulke (Swe) 72-70-74-66
283 Sergio Garcia (Sp) 69-73-72-69
286 Ernie Els (SA) 72-71-71-72

Source: Sportsdesk

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Soccer

 
Bafana in another goalless draw (25/01/02)

Bafana Bafana drew 0-0 with the Black Stars of Ghana in an African Nations Cup Group B encounter at Segou on Thursday.
Group B, which has now been termed the most boring group of the 2002 Nations Cup, is still without goals and it is now up to Morocco and Burkina Faso on Friday.
Ghana and South Africa have two points each and Burkina Faso and Morocco one.
It was the third Nations Cup clash between the countries after South Africa won 3-0 in Johannesburg six years ago and 1-0 in Ghana two years ago. Ghana has won the African title four times and South Africa once..

Source: Sportsdesk

Tennis

 
Capriati vs. Hingis in Australian Open (24/01/02)

Defending champion Jennifer Capriati secured her place in the Australian Open final with a 7-5 3-6 6-1 victory over Kim Clijsters on Thursday.
Martina Hingis marched into her sixth consecutive Australian Open final on Thursday, beating Monica Seles 4-6 6-1 6-4. Three-times champion Hingis has not won a grand slam since the third of her successive Australian crowns in 1999. Saturday's match will be a repeat of last year's final and will give Capriati the chance to win her third title in the last five Grand Slam events.

Ferreira retires due to injury (23/01/02)

Russia's Marat Safin reached the last four of the Australian Open after South African tennis veteran, Wayne Ferreira, retired due to injury in the first set of their quarter-final in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday Ferreira trailed 5-2 when he pulled up with a stomach muscle injury.
The 30-year-old Ferreira had made the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time since 1992 after two titanic five set battles and after dropping serve in the third game he called the trainer to examine a stomach muscle strain.
Ninth seed Safin will meet the winner of the match between Chile's Marcelo Rios and German seventh seed Tommy Haas in the semi-final.

Wayne Ferreira in his five-set win over Albert Costa (22/01/02)

South African tennis veteran Wayne Ferreira beat Albert Costa in a five-set contest to reach the last eight of the Australian Open. Ferreira took four hours, 10 minutes to defeat his Spanish opponent 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-7 9-7.
Ferreira now faces Marat Safin, who beat Pete Sampras 6-2 6-4 6-7 7-6, in his first Grand Slam quarter-final since 1994.

Source: Sportsdesk

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Cricket

 
Australia returns to form (22/01/02)

Pace bowler Andy Bichel took five for 19 as Australia underlined their return to form with an emphatic victory over the Proteas in Sydney, Australia on Tuesday.
Australia is now above South Africa in the three-nation tournament, which is led by New Zealand.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Shaun Pollock's team never recovered from the early loss of Hershelle Gibbs and Boeta Dippenaar, who both fell for ducks to Glenn McGrath, and could only bat 38.3 of their 50 overs.
The South African total was their third-lowest one-day score and featured a world record-equalling six ducks.

Proteas lose weekend´s double-header (21/01/02)

Damien Martyn made an unbeaten 104 and Glenn McGrath took four wickets in a 27-run defeat of South Africa in the tri-series tournament at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia on Sunday.
Chasing 242 for victory, South Africa stuggled to score runs against a tight close field.
Jacques Kallis and Neil McKenzie put on 77 for the third wicket after McGrath dismissed opening pair Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten early. Sunday´s defeat comes after Chris Cairns scored 102 not out to lead New Zealand to a four-wicket victory over South Africa at the Gabba on Saturday.
New Zealand, now with three wins in four matches in the tournament that includes Australia, held South Africa to 241 all out in 48.3 overs before scoring 244-6 in 49.1 overs.

Here follows the table for the tri-nations series:

Source: Sportsdesk

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Tennis

 
Coetzer will face Hingis (18/01/02)

South African tennis sensation Amanda Coetzer went through to the fourth round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Friday. Coetzer beat Barbara Schett 6-3, 6-3. The fifteenth seeded Coetzer will face the third seed Martina Hingis in the fourth round of the Open.

Here follows some of Fridays results:

Men's singles 3rd rd:
(26) J Novak (Cze) bt F Clavet (Spa) 6-3 6-4 6-1
S Koubek (Aut) bt K Pless (Den) 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 6-3
F Gonzalez (Chi) bt A Kim (USA) 6-2 6-2 6-3
J Bjorkman (Swe) bt (12) G Canas (Arg) 6-3 6-2 6-4
A Voinea (Rom) bt T Dent (USA) 3-6 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3
(16) T Johansson (Swe) bt (21) Y El Aynaoui (Mor) 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-4
D Hrbaty (Svk) v J Golmard (Fra) 6-3 6-1 6-7 (6-8) 7-5

Women's singles 3rd rd:
(8) M Seles (USA) bt (31) F Schiavone (Ita) 6-4 6-4
Adriana Serra Zanetti (Ita) bt (11) S Farina Elia (Ita) 6-2 4-6 6-4
M Sucha (Svk) bt A Svensson (Swe) 6-0 6-4
(2) V Williams (USA) bt (32) D Hantuchova (Svk) 3-6 6-0 6-4
(13) M Maleeva (Bul) bt (18) L Raymond (USA) 7-5 6-1
(15) A Coetzer (Rsa) bt (17) B Schett (Aut) 6-3 6-3
AI Medina Garrigues (Spa) bt N Dechy (Fra) 6-3 6-2
(3) M Hingis (Swi) bt B Rittner (Ger) 6-1 6-0

Australian open (16/01/02)

South Africa's Wayne Ferreira beat Argentinian David Nalbandian 6-7 7-6 7-5 6-3 to advance to the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Thursday.
Meanwhile Andy Roddick and Arnaud Clemen joined a long list of high-profile casualties at the event, including Lleyton Hewitt, Gustavo Kuerten and Andre Agassi.

Here follows Thursdays results:

Men's singles 2nd rd:
(23) N Lapentti (Ecu) bt J Acasuso (Arg) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 6-3
(25) A Pavel (Rom) bt A Simoni (Bra) 6-1 4-0 ret
(7) T Haas (Ger) bt J-F Bachelot (Fra) 6-1 6-2 6-3
(9) M Safin (Rus) bt C Rochus (Bel) 6-2 7-6 (8-6) 6-1
G Gaudio (Arg) bt (15) A Clement (Fra) 6-4 4-6 6-2 7-6 (7-3)
W Ferreira (Rsa) bt D Nalbandian (Arg) 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 6-3
M Rios (Chi) bt K Kucera (Svk) 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 6-2
M Youzhny (Rus) bt M Fish (USA) 6-4 6-3 6-2
I Ljubicic (Cro) bt (13) A Roddick (USA) 7-6 (13-11) 3-2 ret
A Costa (Spa) bt B Black (Zim) 6-1 6-4 6-4
(8) P Sampras (USA) bt JI Chela (Arg) 6-3 7-5 3-6 6-4
T Martin (USA) bt (29) X Malisse (Bel) 6-3 6-2 6-2
(30) N Escude (Fra) bt A Calatrava (Spa) 2-6 2-6 6-4 7-5 6-4
A Martin (Spa) bt M Kratochvil (Swi) 3-6 6-3 6-3 6-3

Women's singles 2nd rd:
(12) E Dementieva (Rus) bt A Myskina (Rus) 6-4 6-2
E Daniilidou (Gre) bt (29) T Panova (Rus) 6-2 4-6 6-0
(20) R Grande (Ita) bt K Boogert (Ned) 7-6 (7-4) 7-5
(16) I Tulyaganova (Uzb) bt S Kuznetsova (Rus) 6-4 6-1
(24) A Sugiyama (Jpn) bt T Pisnik (Slo) 7-6 (7-4) 7-5
(23) M Serna (Spa) bt ME Camerin (Ita) 6-3 6-3
C Watson (Aus) bt E Gagliardi (Swi) 3-6 7-5 6-2
(7) A Mauresmo (Fra) bt K Srebotnik (Slo) 7-5 6-3
N Pratt (Aus) bt M Muller (Ger) 6-1 6-2
(6) J Henin (Bel) bt M Marrero (Spa) 6-3 3-6 6-1
M Weingartner (Ger) bt A Serra Zanetti (Ita) 6-4 6-2
(4) K Clijsters (Bel) bt B Schwartz (Aut) 6-1 6-1
J Husarova (Svk) bt I Majoli (Cro) 6-4 6-3
(25) T Tanasugarn (Tha) bt P Mandula (Hun) 2-6 6-2 6-2
(10) M Shaughnessy (USA) bt B Stewart (Aus) 6-2 6-0

Source: Sportsdesk

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Boxing

 
Lewis vs. Tyson (25/12/01)

Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson have just two weeks to agree terms for their proposed world heavyweight title fight.
The Press Association (PA) said that the two camps must reach agreement on the fight, tentatively scheduled for April 6, by January 8 or face the bout's promotion being thrown open to the highest bidder.
Promoter Don King has already tried to entice Tyson away from a showdown with Lewis by offering him over $17m to take on WBA champion John Ruiz.

Source: Sportsdesk

Cricket

 
Fitness doubts for Donald (25/12/01)

There are still doubts over the fitness of Allan Donald before the second cricket Test against Australia on Wednesday.
The Proteas must win the Melbourne Cricket Ground Test to keep the series alive to the third Sydney Test on January 2. Here follows the possible teams for the second Test:

Australia: Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh (captain), Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel, Brad Williams.

South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Rudolph, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock (captain), Claude Henderson, Allan Donald, Mornantau Hayward, Lance Klusener, Makhaya Ntini.

Source: Sportsdesk

Soccer

 
Arsenal win at Anfield (24/12/01)

Arsenal beat Liverpool in a Premiership clash after being reduced to 10 men at Anfield on Sunday.
The man at the centre of attention was referee Paul Durkin who controversially dismissed Arsenal's midfielder Giovanni Van Bronckhorst. Despite being reduced to 10 men after 35 minutes, Arsene Wenger's team produced a gutsy performance to forge themselves a two-goal lead and then hold off a second-half surge by Liverpool.

Source: Sportsdesk

Tennis

 
Pierce gets wildcard (20/12/01)

Former champion Mary Pierce(26) was given a wildcard by the organisers for next month's Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Pierce has not played a major event for a year but will make her long-awaited return to Grand Slam tennis at the tournament which starts on January 14.
She won the event in 1995 and reached the final in 1997.

Source: Sportsdesk

Formula 1

 
Villeneuve steadfast with BAR (19/12/01)

Jacques Villeneuve is staying steadfast with BAR despite his team boss, and previous manager, Craig Pollock's departure.
Pollock was the Canadian driver's schoolteacher in Switzerland, before becoming his manager and then team principal when British American Racing started racing in 1999.
The 1997 world champion has suffered three disappointing seasons with BAR, and he admitted that his patience is running out. Pollock remains a BAR shareholder and board member and will also go back to being Villeneuve's manager, Richards told the media.

Source: Sportsdesk

Rugby

 
Springbok Fixtures for 2002: (18/12/01)

SATURDAY 8 JUNE
Test match: South Africa v Wales, Free State Stadium, 5.05pm

SATURDAY 15 JUNE
Test match: South Africa v Wales, Newlands Stadium, 5.05pm

SATURDAY 22 JUNE
Test match: South Africa v Argentina, 5.05pm

SATURDAY 6 JULY
Test match: Samoa v Springboks, Samoa

SATURDAY 13 JULY
Tri-Nations: New Zealand v Australia, Jade Stadium, 9.35am

SATURDAY 20 JULY
Tri-Nations: New Zealand v South Africa, Westpac Trust Stadium, 9.35am

SATURDAY 27 JULY
Tri-Nations: Australia v South Africa, Melbourne, 11.05am

SATURDAY 3 AUGUST
Tri-Nations: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 11.05am

SATURDAY 10 AUGUST
Tri-Nations: South Africa v New Zealand, King's Park, 5.05pm

SATURDAY 17 AUGUST
Tri-Nations: South Africa v Australia, Ellis Park, 5.05pm

SATURDAY 9 NOVEMBER
Test match: France v Springboks, Stade de France

SATURDAY 16 NOVEMBER
Test match: Scotland v Springboks, Murrayfield

SATURDAY 23 NOVEMBER
Test match: England v Springboks, Twickenham

Source: Sportsdesk

Cricket

 
Australia demolish South Africa (18/12/01)

South Africa was demolished by the Australian bowling attack in a 246-run victory in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.
South Africa's batting line-up were dismissed for 128 in the final day of the Test. Glenn McGrath claimed three for 13, Jason Gillespie two for 23, Shane Warne three for 57 and Brett Lee finished off the tail with two for 29.
Australia had set the tourists 375 to win the opening Test of a series which will decide who is the best side in Test cricket. South Africa now face an uphill struggle to save the series. The second test starts in Melbourne on Boxing Day.

Australia moves into imposing position (17/12/01)

Matthew Hayden hit his fifth Test century as Australia moved into an imposing position against South Africa on the fourth day of the first Test in Adelaide on Monday.
Hayden hit 10 fours and three sixes as Australia steadily took the Test out of South Africa's reach.
Hayden and Mark Waugh strolled through the afternoon session in an unbroken 161-run third wicket partnership to stretch Australia's lead to almost 300 runs with four sessions left in the Test and a declaration in the offing.

Source: Sportsdesk

Soccer

 
Man United return (13/12/01)

Manchester United returned to its winning form after demolishing a struggling Derby 5-0 in a league match at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored twice, with Roy Keane, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes netting the others as United recorded their best win of the season.

Here follows the Premiership Table:

     Source: Sportsdesk

Cricket

 
England's second Test in India (12/12/01)

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble took five wickets as England collapsed from 120 without loss to 180 for five on the opening day of the second Test in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Kumble's haul followed the six for 81 that condemned England to a 10-wicket defeat in last week's first Test. The introduction of Kumble and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh bowling in tandem brought the wickets of Butcher, captain Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan.
England, though, recovered from 180 for five to 277 for six wickets at the close of play.

South Africa avoided a defeat in their warm-up game on the WACA ground in Perth on Monday.
It's only four days before the first clash of a three-match series against Australia begins that will decide who's the unofficial Test world championship. The Proteas enjoyed an excellent day with all their batsmen playing themselves into form apart from youngster Jacques Rudolph, who could win his first Test cap on Friday if Herschelle Gibbs fails to recover from a groin problem.
South Africa scored 367 & 390-5 to draw with Western Australia declared at 600-8.

Proteas demolished on WACA (10/12/01)

Western Australia demolished the South African attack at the WACA Ground in Perth on Sunday.
With the first Test just five days away, South Africa's hardly preparing in ideal fashion as they watched the provincial side declaring at 600 for the loss of eight wickets.
This is the biggest score any team has made against South Africa since Australia thrashed 628 for eight wickets in the first Test at The Wanderers in 1997.

Source: Sportsdesk

Soccer

 
Bafana squad for Swaziland (07/12/01)

The Bafana Bafana for the tour to Swaziland was announced on Thursday.

Here follows the SA team:
Goalkeepers: Calvin Marlin (Ajax Cape Town), Wendell Robinson (Moroka Swallows)
Defenders: Matthew Booth (Sundowns), Peter Matshitse (Moroka Swallows), Gary McNab (Moroka Swallows), Nhlanhla Kubheka (Kaizer Chiefs)
Midfielders: Jabu Pule (Kaizer Chiefs), Arthur Zwane (Kaizer Chiefs), Thabo Mngomeni (Orlando Pirates), Bennett Mnguni (Sundowns), McBeth Sibaya (Jomo Cosmos), Japhet Zwane (Manning Rangers), Dillon Sheppard (Ajax Cape Town), Goodman Mazibuko (Free State Stars)
Strikers: Patrick Mayo (Supersport United), Clement Mazibuko (Bush Bucks), Ishmael Maluleke (Manning Rangers)

Source: Sportsdesk

Cricket

 
South Africa start Aus-tour with victory (06/12/01)

Fast bowler Steve Elworthy took four for 26 as South Africa eased themselves into their Australian tour with a convincing victory in their opening tour match against an Australian Cricket Board Chairman's XI at Lilac Hill Park on Wednesday.
South Africa won by 47 runs, scoring 256 for nine wickets in their allowed 50 overs before sending the Chairman's XI back to the changing room for just 209. Allan Donald, Lance Klusener and spinner Claude Henderson got two wickets each.
Klusener had earlier made 64, but the best innings was played by Neil McKenzie, who struck a six and 12 fours in scoring 76 off 84 balls. The game was played under special rules enabling each side to include 13 players, but only 11 were allowed to bat and only 11 were allowed to field at any one time.

Tendulakar hits half century (05/12/01)

Sachin Tendulkar completed a half century on the third morning of the first Test match between India and England in Mohali on Tuesday.
India(293-4 from 108 overs) lead England(238 all out) by 55 runs after. The England bowling attack was brought to life by the wicket of Rahul Dravid, lbw to James Ormond for 86.
Immediate results followed after England captain Nasser Hussain asked for a replacement ball. Dravid edged Ormond's first delivery just in front of the slips, and then being hit low on the pad in front of middle and leg.

Fixtures for Australian tour (04/12/01)

Here follows the dates for the upcoming cricket tour to Australia including the Triangular ODI series featuring New Zealand.

First-Class schedule:
Dec 5: Chairman's XI v South Africa in Perth
Dec 7-10: Western Australia v South Africa in Perth
Dec 14-18: Australia v South Africa 1st Test in Adelaide
Dec 20-23: New South Wales v South Africa in Sydney
Dec 26-30: Australia v South Africa 2nd Test in Melbourne
Jan 2-6: Australia v South Africa 3rd Test in Sydney

The Triangular schedule: (all are day-nighters unless noted):
Jan. 11: Australia v New Zealand, Melbourne
Jan. 13: Australia v South Africa, Melbourne
Jan. 15: South Africa v New Zealand, day, Hobart
Jan. 17: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney
Jan. 19: South Africa v New Zealand, Brisbane
Jan. 20: Australia v South Africa, Brisbane
Jan. 22: Australia v South Africa, Sydney
Jan. 26: Australia v New Zealand, Adelaide
Jan. 27: South Africa v New Zealand, Adelaide
Jan. 29: Australia v New Zealand, Melbourne
Feb. 1: South Africa v New Zealand, Perth
Feb. 3: Australia v South Africa, day, Perth
Feb. 6: 1st final, Melbourne
Feb. 8: 2nd final, Sydney
Feb. 10: 3rd final, if required, Sydney 

Dawson open account (04/12/01)

Newcomer Richard Dawson claimed his first Test wicket as England made a long awaited breakthrough in the second day of the first Test against India in Mohali on Monday India is on 76 for the loss of two after 38 over. Indian nightwatchman Anil Kumble was caught behind by wicketkeeper James Foster after Kumble chased a wide delivery from Dawson.
Kumble had batted well, hitting six fours in his 37 and sharing in a second wicket partnership of 53 with Deep Dasgupta.
England scored a first innings of 238 all out.

Source: Sportsdesk

Rugby

 
Springboks beat the Eagles (03/12/01)

South Africa beat the United States 43-20 in the first meeting between the two countries in 20 years at Houston on Saturday.
South Africa were made to work hard for victory against a fired-up Eagles side. The Springboks should have won easily, but they were made to look abject at times by the Eagles. A late try by Conrad Jantjes padded the Springboks score shortly before the final whistle and left Eagles number 12 Juan Grobler to rue losing possession on the Springbok tryline.

Source: Sportsdesk

Golf

 
Els make strong claim (30/11/01)

Ernie Els made a strong claim for a record third successive title by taking a one-shot lead in the opening round of the Sun City Golf Challenge on Thursday.
Else fired a 5-under par 67 in wet conditions and heads the leader board. Among those one shot behind Els are three-time winner Nick Price and two-time champion Bernhard Langer.
Also in the group on four-under-par are Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia and Canadian Mike Weir.

Source: Sportsdesk

Tennis

 
Rafter keeps Oz in contention (30/11/01)

Pat Rafter beat Sebastien Grosjean 6-3, 7-6 (6), 7-5 to keep Australia in contention against France at the Davis Cup final in Melbourne on Friday.
Earlier, Nicolas Escude pulled off a remarkable recovery to beat world number one Lleyton Hewitt and give France a 1-0 lead over Australia.
Twice Escude went a set down but he finally overcame Hewitt 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 on the portable grass at Melbourne. On Sunday in the reverse singles, Hewitt will play Grosjean and Rafter is scheduled to play Escude.

Source: Sportsdesk

 
Paulse regained lost pride (29/11/01)

Springbok Breyton Paulse regained some of South Africa's recent lost pride by grabbing a hat-trick for the Barbarians, even though Australia beat the Barbarians 49-35 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Wednesday.
Seven tries from the Wallabies, including a hat-trick from Scott Staniforth, proved too much for the Baa-Baas.
Paulse open the Barbarians' account when he picked up a loose ball to sprint 40 metres for the game's opening try.

Source: Sportsdesk

Soccer

 
Bayern lift the World Club Cup (28/11/01)

Samuel Kuffour scrambled home an extra-time winner as European champions Bayern Munich beat Argentina's Boca Juniors to lift the World Club Cup at Tokyo's National Stadium on Tuesday.
Ghanaian defender Samuel Kuffour scored the only goal in the 109th minute following a corner kick from Swiss international Ciriaco Sforza.
Bayern won the trophy for the first time since 1976 and denied Boca a third world club title. The Argentineans lifted the trophy in 1977 and last year.

Source: Sportsdesk

Cricket

 
Saved by rain (27/11/01)

Rain saved India, after they reached 118 for two, when play was stopped on the fourth day of the unofficial test played in Centurion on Monday. The visitors required a further 216 to make their hosts bat again after South Africa scored a first innings total of 566.
After Pollock declared overnight, Das and Connor Williams put on 92 for the first wicket. The total is a record for India against South Africa at Centurion Park, but will not count as a test record due to the unofficial nature of this match.

Unofficial test score (26/11/01)

Shaun Pollock hit an unbeaten 113 as South Africa batted throughout day three of the unofficial Test against India at Supersport Park on Sunday. When a thunderstorm ended play South Africa had scored 566 for eight in reply to India's first innings total of 232.
Jacques Kallis hit a fluent 110 as the India bowlers' weekend suffering went on. 

Test seems to lose status (23/11/01)

Another blow has come to the status of the third cricket Test between South Africa and India, when George Sharp, the English umpire who was meant to officiate the Test, seems likely to stand down.
Sharp will not stand because, according to the International Cricket Council(ICC), the match is not being recognised as a Test.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister John Howard has backed the ICC's decision to downgrade the third Test between India and South Africa. Howard called the Indian and South African cricket boards' joint decision to sack match official Mike Denness a "terrible development". And he warned that this action set a bad precedent for all sports.
South African Sport Minister Ngconde Balfour issued a plea to the ICC, asking the world governing body to reconsider its position regarding the appointment of match referee Mike Denness for the third test.

Source: Sportsdesk

Rugby

 
Springbok test (23/11/01)

It could mean the beginning to a new era for South African rugby if the Springboks win at Twickenham when they play against England on Saturday. The Springboks lost 20-10 to an under-strength France side in Paris, but recorded a 56-24 win over Italy last Saturday on their three-match European tour.
They are seen as the underdogs and the Zurich World Rankings Predict that England will win by 10 points. Springboks coach Harry Viljoen must realise that his job is on the line. If there is no success on Saturday, it will most definitely signal an end to his national coaching days.
South Africa has lost both of the last two encounters against England.

The teams:

South Africa: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Breyton Paulse, 13 Trevor Halstead, 12 Braam van Straaten, 11 Dean Hall, 10 Louis Koen, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen, 8 Bob Skinstad (captain), 7 AJ Venter, 6 Andre Vos, 5 Mark Andrews, 4 Victor Matfield, 3 Willie Meyer, 2 John Smit, 1 Ollie le Roux.
Replacements: 16 Lukas van Biljon, 17 Cobus Visagie, 18 Corne Krige, 19 Andre Venter, 20 Deon de Kock, 21 Andre Snyman, 22 Percy Montgomery.

England: 15 Jason Robinson, 14 Austin Healey, 13 Will Greenwood, 12 Mike Catt, 11 Dan Luger, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Kyran Bracken, 8 Joe Worsley, 7 Neil Back, 6 Richard Hill, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Martin Johnson (captain), 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Dorian West, 1 Graham Rowntree.
Replacements: 16 Mark Regan, Jason Leonard, 18 Ben Kay, 19 Lewis Moody, Charlie Hodgson, 21 Mike Tindall, 22 Ben Cohen.

Source: Sportsdesk

Golf

 
Tiger takes Grand Slam (22/11/01)

Tiger Woods took the Grand Slam of Golf for the fourth straight year by setting a record 12-under score at the Poipu Bay Golf Club on Wednesday.
Woods' total for the two-round event was 132, three shots ahead of USPGA winner David Toms. South African Retief Goosen, the overnight leader, could only manage a round of 71 to finish two shots further back. Woods matched the tournament record with a 7-under round, and also broke the tournament record of 11 under set by Ernie Els in 1997.

Goosen leads Grand Slam (21/11/01)

Retief Goosen is Tiger Woods' forerunner by one shot at the halfway stage of the Grand Slam of Golf.
The 36-hole event features the four winners of this season's Grand Slam tournaments. Goosen's six-under-par 66 put him two ahead of US PGA winner David Toms, with David Duval apparently out of the running after a four-over 76.
Goosen had a mammoth year so far lifting the World Cup trophy with fellow South African Ernie Els just last Sunday.

Source: Sportsdesk

Cricket

 
Draw in second test (21/11/01)

The second test between South Africa and India has ended in a draw in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday.
Rahul Dravid hit a superb 87 for India as he and makeshift opener Deep Dasgupta, 63, ensured towards safety at 206 for three when bad light ended play with 10.4 overs still to be bowled.
South Africa were 362 and 233-5 declared, with India 201 and 206-3.

Tendulkar accused of ball-tampering (20/11/01)

India's Sachin Tendulkar has been handed a suspended one-match ban and fined after being accused of ball-tampering during the second Test in South Africa.
The batsman was called to a hearing by match referee Mike Denness on Monday after television pictures captured images of him allegedly using his fingernails to interfere with the seam of the ball.
Tendulkar is said to be have been fined 75% of his match fee.

Source: Sportsdesk

Rugby

 
Springboks and A team win this weekend (19/11/01)

South Africa bounced back from last week's defeat at the hands of France to outplay Italy in Genoa on Saturday.
South Africa beat Italy 54-26. Tries were scored by Joost van der Westhuizen, Dean Hall, Trevor Halstead (2), John Smit, Victor Matfield, Willie Meyer and Bob Skinstad, while Braam van Straaten kicked five conversions and Louis Koen kicked two.
In another match South Africa A overcome Georgia 31-17 in Tblisi on Sunday.

Source: Sportsdesk

Golf

 
South African take the golf World Cup (19/11/01)

South Africans Retief Goosen and Ernie Els won a four-way play-off to take the golf World Cup in Japan on Sunday.
A par four at the second extra hole was enough to edge out Denmark's Thomas Bjorn and Soren Hansen and give the South Africans the title for the fourth time.
It was Els first victory of what has been a frustrating year for the 1994 and 1997 US Open champion. For Goosen, his share of the $1m first prize capped a sensational season which has seen him win his first major at the US Open in June, as well as pick up the Scottish Open and Madrid Open titles.

Source: Sportsdesk

Soccer

 
SA take on Angola (16/11/01)

Chief and Sundowns are both in Angola to take on the locals in two different competitions.
Kaizer Chiefs play Inter Luanda in Angola on Saturday in the first leg of the competition named after former president Nelson Mandela.
Also in Angola, Sundowns and Petro Athletico will meet in the second leg semifinal of the African Champions League on Sunday.

Source: Sportsdesk

Rugby

 
Test team against Italy (16/11/01)

South Africa coach Harry Viljoen has made five changes to the side that lost to France last weekend. South Africa play Italy at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa on Saturday.
South Africa: Conrad Jantjes (Lions); Breyton Paulse (Western Province), Trevor Halstead (Natal Sharks), Braam van Straaten (Western Province), Dean Hall (Lions); Louis Koen (Lions), Joost van der Westhuizen (Blue Bulls); Bobby Skinstad (Western Province, capt), Johann van Niekerk (Lions), Andre Vos (Lions); AJ Venter (Natal Sharks), Victor Matfield (Bulls); Willie Meyer (Lions), John Smit (Natal Sharks), Ollie le Roux (Natal Sharks).
Replacements: Lukas van Biljon (Natal Sharks), Cobus Visagie (Western Province), Andre Venter (Free State), Corne Krige (Western Province), Deon De Kock (Blue Bulls), Adrian Jacobs (Falcons), Percy Montgomery (Western Province).

French A beat young boks (15/11/01)

The French A rugby team defeated South Africa A 36-23 in an international played in Tarbes on Wednesday night.
The South Africans trailed 20-24 at the break. The South Africans were punished for committing too many penalties and the French flyhalf Jean-Baptist Elisalde had success with seven penalties, one conversion and a drop goal.
SA A's next game is against Georgia in Tblisi on Sunday.

Source: Sportsdesk

Soccer

 
Germany and Brazil (15/11/01)

Germany qualified for the World Cup final as they beat Ukraine 4-1 at Dortmund on Wednesday.
Brazil is through to the finals after a comfortable 3-0 win over Venezuela in Sao Luis. This came after a troubled and unconvincing qualifying campaign.

Source: Sportsdesk

Tennis

 
Ivani "sign" evic beats number one (14/11/01)

By defeating Gustavo Kuerten, Goran Ivanisevic did not just get the chance to force his signature "serve and volley" game on Kuerten, but also used the opportunity after the game to sign one of the television camera's lenses while broadcasting The Tennis Masters Cup in Sydney on Tuesday.
Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic, who had been a doubt for the tournament after suffering a toe injury last week, defeated the world number one Kuerten 6-2 6-7 (7-2) 6-4.
After the match Ivanisevic walked off the court straight to his sports bag, reached for a marker and signed the first television camera he could get his hands on.

Source: Sportsdesk

Rugby

 
First for SA A team (13/11/01)

SAPA reports that for the first time in South African rugby, the SA A team to face their French counterparts in Tarbes on Wednesday night, includes seven players of colour in the starting lineup and a further two on the bench.
The South African Rugby Football Union Communications Officer Anthony MacKaiser said on Monday that this was the most players of colour to represent South Africa in a match of this nature.
The composition of the team says much for Sarfu's transformation policy as all the SA A players of colour are in the mix-up for Springbok honours or have played for the Boks before.
Jannes Labuschagne will be the SA A captain.
SA A team: Ricardo Loubscher, Deon Kayser, Marius Joubert, Wayne Julies, MacNeil Hendriks, Chris Rossouw, Conrad Groenewald, Russell Winter, Jannes Labuschagne (c), Warren Britz, Bakkies Botha, Quinton Davids, Ettiene Fynn, Dale Santon, Daan Human.
Replacements: Andre van Niekerk, Faan Rautenbach, Hendro Scholtz, Shaun Sowerby, Johannes Conradie, Gcobani Bobo, Gaffie du Toit.

Frogs kick up a Harry (12/11/01)

Debutant "Frog" fly-half Francois Gelez, inspired France to a surprise victory over South Africa at the Stade de France on Saturday.
Gelez kicked four penalties, with Raphael Ibanez adding the all-important try.
Despite dominating prolonged passages of the match, the Springboks only had Pieter Rossouw's 49th minute try and five points from the boot of Braam van Straaten to show for their efforts.
The defeat also meant Harry Viljoen's side began their four-match tour of Europe and the United States with defeat.
South African play against Italy on Saturday.

Rossouw back on wing (09/11/01)

Dean Hall lost his place in the Springbok team, to the experienced Western Province winger Pieter Rossouw, for the one-off rugby test with France at the Stade de France on Saturday.
Only four players from the line-up from the second Test victory over the French in Durban survived.
Trevor Halstead, the only new cap, will be beside Braam van Straaten at center, and was selected on the back of successful Super 12 and Currie Cup campaigns.

Here follows the team:
Conrad Jantjes (Lions), Breyton Paulse (Western Province), Andre Snyman (Natal), Trevor Halstead (Natal Sharks), Pieter Rossouw (Western Province), Braam van Straaten (Western Province), Joost van der Westhuizen (Blue Bulls), Bob Skinstad (Western Province, capt), AJ Venter (Natal Sharks), Andre Vos (Lions), Mark Andrews (Natal Sharks), Victor Matfield (Bulls), Cobus Visagie (Western Province), Lukas van Biljon (Natal Sharks), Ollie le Roux (Natal Sharks)
Replacements:
John Smit (Natal Sharks), Willie Meyer (Lions), Toks van der Linde (Western Province), Andre Venter (Free State), Joe van Niekerk (Lions), Neil de Kock (Western Province), Percy Montgomery (Western Province)

Source: Sportsdesk

Cricket

 
Brisbane. Day one: (08/11/01)

Australia 294-6 (at close) v New Zealand
Craig McMillan led a New Zealand fightback with three wickets in the final session after Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer had given Australia a magnificent start at The Gabba on Thursday.
The two left-handers both made centuries and shared a stand of 224, but Hayden's dismissal for 136 sparked an unexpected collapse.
Adam Gilchrist reined in his trademark strokeplay over the final 12 overs of the day and was unbeaten on 13 at the close, with Shane Warne on 18.
Australia were 294 for 6 at the close of play.

Victory for South Africa (07/11/01)

South Africa completed victory in the first Test against India with four sessions to spare. This came after skipper Shaun Pollock took 10 wickets in a Test match for the first time in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
Pollock took six for 56 as India slid to 237 all out, losing their last six wickets for 49 runs. South Africa needed only 54 to get off to a winning start in the three-match series.

Klusener puts poor run behind (06/11/01)

Lance Klusener put a poor run behind him when hitting his fourth Test century in the Bloemfontein Test against India on Monday.
Lance Klusener's 108 helped SA carve out a lead of 184 on the third day of the first test against India. India's second innings telly was at 96/1 after 27 overs at the close of play.
India hit 379 in their first innings and South Africa replied with 563 runs all out.

South Africa replies well (05/11/01)

Herschelle Gibbs hit a century as South Africa closed in on India's first innings 379 at Bloemfontein.
Gibbs and Gary Kirsten put on an opening stand of 189 before falling in consecutive overs. That brought Neil McKenzie and Jacques Kallis together, and the pair added a further 130 before McKenzie was out to the final ball of the day.
South Africa are 327 for 3 and trail India by 52 runs after the second day of play.

Source: Sportsdesk

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Rugby

 
Australia celebrates 400 (02/11/01)

Australia celebrated their 400th Test by rewriting their own record books with a 92-10 victory over Spain in the second match of their European tour on Thursday.
The win was a record score for the Wallabies, whose previous highest result was a 76-0 win against England in 1998.
Australia face England at Twickenham on 10 November.

Source: Sportsdesk

Formula 1

 
McLaren on Michelin in 2002 (01/11/01)

Michelin announced that they have entered into an agreement for the supply of tyres to the West McLaren Mercedes Formula One Racing team on Tuesday.
This new relationship, with effect from the 2002 season, represents the re-establishment of a previously successful pairing between the two companies, which claimed 17 race wins and the 1984 Formula One Constructors and Drivers World Championships.

Source: Sportsdesk

Soccer

 
Liverpool into second round (31/10/01)

Liverpool eased into the second phase of the Champions League with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Dortmund at Anfield on Tuesday.
Vladimir Smicer opened the scoring for the home side early in the first half and defender Stephen Wright made sure of victory late on.

Source: Sportsdesk

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Rugby

 
ARU and IRB close to agreement (30/10/01)

The Australian Rugby Union and the International Rugby Board are close in reaching an agreement over the organisation of the 2003 World Cup.
A meeting between the ARU and IRB broke down earlier this month when the two failed to agree on terms over revenue sharing from the tournament.
Dates and venues are likely to be finalised in November.

Source: Sportsdesk

Golf

 
Goosen secures Order of Merit (29/10/01)

Retief Goosen secured the European Order of Merit title in glorious style, with a thrilling play-off victory in the Madrid Open on Sunday.
The South African became the first non-European since Greg Norman in 1982 to finish the Tour in the number one spot.
Goosen won the penultimate event of the season when he beat England's Steve Webster with a birdie two on the third playoff hole on Sunday.

Order of Merit
1. Retief Goosen
2. Darren Clarke
3. Ernie Els
4. Padraig Harrington
5. Colin Montgomerie

Source: Sportsdesk

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Tennis

 
Kournikova's comeback (26/10/01)

Anna Kournikova's comeback from injury stayed on course with a second round win over Daniela Hantuchova in the Seat Open in Luxembourg.
The Russian fifth seed breezed through the first set 6-1 but was taken to a tiebreak by the Slovak teenager before securing the second 7-6.

Source: Sportsdesk

Sailing

 
Sailing (25/10/01)

Germany's Illbruck won the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race on Wednesday, crossing the finish line in Cape Town.
Illbruck, skippered by John Kostecki, covered the 7,350 nautical miles from Southampton to South Africa in 31 days, five hours 19 minutes and 49 seconds.

Source: Sportsdesk

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Soccer

 
Man United go through to next round (24/10/01)

Manchester United secured their way through to the second phase of the Champions League with a comfortable win over Olympiakos at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Late goals from substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ryan Giggs and a relieved Van Nistelrooy kept on track United plans to take the champions League.
Here follow the UEFA Champions League tables

UEFA Champions League Group A Table

Tue Oct 23

UEFA Champions League Group B Table

Tue Oct 23

UEFA Champions League Group C Table

Tue Oct 23

UEFA Champions League Group D Table

Tue Oct 23

UEFA Champions League Group E Table

Tue Oct 23

UEFA Champions League Group F Table

Tue Oct 23

UEFA Champions League Group G Table

Tue Oct 23

UEFA Champions League Group H Table

Tue Oct 23

Source: Sportsdesk

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Tennis

 
Hewitt moves up. (23/10/01)

Lleyton Hewitt has moved up to the second spot on the ATP standings. The top position was his for the taking at Stuttgart, but he failed to make an end to the impressive winning streak of Tommy Haas who ends up at number seven this week.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Capriati stays number one on the WTA. South African Amanda Coetzer(17) remains in the Top 20 after an disappointing year.

ATP Tour Champions Race 2001 points standings

(Through Sunday, October 21)

1. Gustavo Kuerten, Brazil, 756 points
2. Lleyton Hewitt, Australia, 722
3. Andre Agassi, United States, 684
4. Patrick Rafter, Australia, 557
5. Juan Carlos Ferrero, Spain, 553
6. Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Russia, 483
7. Tommy Haas, Germany, 412
8. Pete Sampras, United States, 388
9. Sebastien Grosjean, France, 378
10. Tim Henman, Great Britain, 377
11. Marat Safin, Russia, 332
12. Roger Federer, Switzerland, 325
13. Goran Ivanisevic, Croatia, 311
14. Alex Corretja, Spain, 304
15. Guillermo Canas, Argentina, 296
16. Arnaud Clement, France, 294
17. Andy Roddick, United States, 291
18. Thomas Johansson, Sweden, 250
19. Jan Michael Gambill, United States, 243
20. Carlos Moya, Spain, 242

WTA Tour top 100 ranked singles players:

(Through Sunday, October 21)

Source: Sportsdesk

Haas takes Stuttgart (22/10/01)

Tommy Haas beat Max Mirnyi 6-2 6-2 6-2 to win the Stuttgart Masters in Germany on Sunday.
The 23-year-old thrilled his home fans by stopping the impressive run of Mirnyi.
Mirnyi earlier knocked Gustavo Kuerten, Goran Ivanisevic, Pete Sampras and Yevgeny Kafelnikov out of the tournament.

Ferreira still on track (19/10/01)

South African Wayne Ferreira is still on track to retain his title at Stuttgart. The defending champion beat the 8th seeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 6-3 3-6 7-6 at the Stuttgart Masters Series tennis tournament on Thursday.
Ferreira will now face the winner between Australian Lleyton Hewitt and Guillermo Canas of Argentina. Ferreira beat Hewitt in the final of last year's tournament.

Ferreira beats Federer (17/10/01)

Defending champion Wayne Ferreira swept past 11th seed Roger Federer 7-6 (7/1) 3-6 6-2 to make it into the third round of the Stuttgart Masters Series on Tuesday.
The South African took the first set tie-breaker 7-1 before the Swiss right-hander battled back in the second set.
He took the decisive break in the second game, but Ferreira broke the 20-year-old in the deciding set to seal his progress to the third round.
Source: Sportsdesk

Rugby

 
Aussies players stay at home (16/10/01)

Several key members of the Australian Rugby Union test team may withdraw from a six-week European tour due to security fears.
Vice-captain Daniel Herbert and fullback Matthew Burke are just two of a possible six players considering their options.
Others players that might withdraw from the tour to Europe are Toutai Kefu, Chris Latham, Chris Whitaker and Matt Cockbain.
Source: Sportsdesk

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Formula 1

 
Schumi wins final race of season (15/10/01)

Michael Schumacher brought his Ferrari home in first place at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya (BMW Williams) and David Coulthard (McLaren Mercedes).
4th Place belonged to Mika Hakkinen (McLaren Mercedes), while Rubens Barichello (Ferrari) came home in 5th, with Ralf Schumacher taking the last point in his BMW Williams. The race was one of very different pitstop and team order strategies, and ultimately played into the hands of David Coulthard, who secured second position in the drivers' championship.
Ferrari are undoubtedly the strongest team, McLaren have a lot catching up to do and Williams need to work on reliability before the start of the 2002 season in March next year. With Mika Hakkinen being replaced for a year by the newcomer Kimi Raikonnen; Montoya proving to be a match for both Schumachers; and the consistent results of Coulthard, the top 3 teams and their respective drivers should make for an exciting 2002 F1 season.

See our stats for more detail and the provisional 2002 calendar!

Rugby

 
Six Nations (15/10/01)

Wales 6-36 Ireland
After Scotland had derailed Ireland's Six Nations Championship hopes two weeks ago at Murrayfield, there was genuine hope that Wales could end a home winless streak that stretches back 18 years.
Ireland were still not out of sight as the last quarter began, but then Wales fell apart as the visitors at last turned Welsh errors into tries. Wales now have a month to pick themselves up before facing touring Argentina on 10 November, followed by matches against Tonga and world champions Australia.

Six nations' log

Source: Sportsdesk

Walker goes missing again (12/10/01)

Wallabies winger Andrew Walker is in danger of missing next month's tour to Britain after leaving a training camp without explanation.
Walker has been suspended from the team, and until coach Eddie Jones can speak to him. It is the second time Walker has gone missing.
He disappeared last August as the Wallabies were flying home from New Zealand following their historic Test win in Dunedin.
Source: Sportsdesk

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Cricket

 
England on way to whitewash (11/10/01)

Stand-in skipper Marcus Trescothick set his sights on a series whitewash after leading England to their fourth successive one-day victory over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
England's scored 280-9, where after the Zimbabweans responded all out, 70 runs short after 44.3 overs.
Source: Sportsdesk

Formula 1

 
Alesi to retire (10/10/01)

Jean Alesi will retire from Formula One after Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
This came after Jordan, who will use Japan's Takuma Sato and Italian Giancarlo Fisichella next season, axed him. Alesi will be competing in his 201st grand prix at Suzuka on Sunday.
Jordan owner Eddie Jordan says he has not given up hope of persuading his close friend to stay on with the team in a new capacity.
Source: Sportsdesk

Rugby

 
Wallabies could cancel European tour (09/10/01)

The forthcoming Australian rugby tour to Europe could be cancelled in the wake of military action in Afghanistan.
The Australian Rugby Union is closely monitoring the situation ahead of the Wallabies European tour. The team is scheduled to arrive in London on 21 October but ARU managing director John O'Neill says no-one will be forced to tour.
The Wallabies are scheduled to play seven matches in Europe. They will spend five weeks in Europe, playing seven games. The visitors will play Spain, Oxford University, England, France, Wales and the Barbarians.
Meanwhile, South African Rugby Football Association CEO Rian Oberholzer said that the Springbok end-of-year tour to Europe and the United States was definitely still on despite the American war on terrorism in Afghanistan.
Source: Sportsdesk

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Cricket

 
SA crush Kenya (08/10/01)

South Africa crushed Kenya by seven wickets, reaching the 160 needed to win their triangular series match against the visitors in Benoni on Sunday.
South Africa passed the Kenyans' total of 159/7 with more than 16.2 overs to spare.

Here follows the score sheet:

Kenya

K Otieno c Boucher b Pollock 0
R Shah hit wkt b Ntini 8
D Obuya c Nel b Kallis 17
S Tikolo not out 68
M Odumbe c Gibbs b Klusener 24
T Odoyo c Kallis b Nel 7
M Suji c Gibbs b Ntini 13
T Suji c and b Pollock 9
C Otieno not out 1
Extras (3lb 4nb 5w) 12
Total (for seven wickets, 50 overs) 159
Did not bat: B. Patel, P.Ochieng.
Fall of wickets: 1/1, 2/27, 3/35, 4/90, 5/106, 6/134, 7/155.
Bowling: Pollock 10-1-19-2 (3nb 1w), Nel 10-2-24-1 (3w), Kallis 6-1-25-1 (1w), Ntini 10-3-25-2, Henderson 7-0-37-0, Klusener 7-0-26-1 (1nb).

South Africa

G Kirsten b Odoyo 17
H Gibbs c Shah b Odoyo 20
J Kallis c K Otieno b C Otieno 54
N McKenzie not out 49
J Rhodes not out 6
Extras (2b 7nb 5w) 14
Total (for three wickets, 33.4 overs) 160
Fall of wickets: 1/21, 2/52, 3/140
Did not bat: L Klusener, S Pollock, M Boucher, M Ntini, A Nel, C Henderson.
Bowling: M.Suji 4-0-22-0 (2nb ), Odoyo 7-1-24-2 (2nb 1w), Ochieng 3-0-19-0 (3nb 1w), T.Suji 2-0-17-0, C Otieno 9.4-0-45-1 (2w), Odumbe 4-0-14-0, Patel 4-0-17-0 (1w).

Result:

South Africa won by seven wickets.

Man of the match:

Shaun Pollock (South Africa)

Source: Sportsdesk

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Athletics

 
Britain rejects Athletics in London (05/10/01)

The British government confirmed on Thursday that they have cancelled plans to hold the 2005 World Athletics Championships in London.
Proposals for a new athletics stadium in the north-east of the capital were rejected on grounds of cost and the timescale involved for transport improvements.
The goverment now wants to stage the event in Sheffield, but the IAAF has indicated that London is the only British city acceptable and so the 2005 World Championships are now likely to be taken elsewhere.
This situation will almost certainly end any bid for Britain to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
Source: Sportsdesk

Rugby

 
All Black forward new coach (04/10/01)

Former England assistant coach John Mitchell has taken charge of the All Blacks. New Zealand rejected coach Wayne Smith and handed the position to Mitchell, previously assistant coach to England.
Former All Black forward Mitchell has been given the task of preparing a team for the 2003 World Cup. New Zealand has struggled to impose their authority on the world game since they went out of the last World Cup in 1999 in the semifinals.
Source: Sportsdesk

Cricket

 
Williams returns to international cricket (03/10/01)

Henry Williams will return to international cricket at the Hong Kong Sixes tournament in November this year. The fast bowler was named in the South African squad for the event, which takes place at the Kowloon Cricket Club on 10-11 November.
Williams was banned for six months and fined for accepting an offer from former South African captain Hansie Cronje to under-perform in a one-day international against India last March. The South African squad to play India in Johannesburg on Friday and in Benoni on Sunday was also announced. The matches will be the first of the triangular series that also involves Kenya.
South Africa squad (to play India): Shaun Pollock (captain), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Justin Kemp, Claude Henderson, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel.
South Africa squad (to play in Hong Kong Sixes): Jonty Rhodes (captain), Steve Elworthy, Derek Crookes, Loots Bosman, Alfonso Thomas, Andrew Hall, Henry Williams
Source: Sportsdesk

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Formula 1

 
VW could move into F1 (02/10/01)

German car giant Volkswagen could move into Formula One. Bernd Pischetsrieder, VW's future boss, will take control when chairman Ferdinand Piech retires in April 2002.
Piech has always believed that Volkswagen's money is better spent on developing road car models than in F1. But the arrival of Pischetsrieder could signal a change in the company's attitude. He was the man who took BMW back into the sport in partnership with Williams - they began a five-year link-up in 2000.
If VW decides to compete in F1, it could take more than four years before we see a "beetle" or some sort of a "bug" on the race track.
Source: Sportsdesk

Hakkinen wins Indy GP (01/10/01)

Despite announcing a year's absence from the sport and being dropped from 2nd to 4th position on the grid because of a red light disgretion, Mika Hakkinen managed to bring his McLaren over the finish line in first position. Michael Schumacher took over second place after his teammate Rubens Barichello's Ferrari stopped with an engine failure 6 laps from the end. David Coulthard drove onto the last podium position to secure second place for McLaren in the constructors championship.
Coulthard now has a 7 point advantage over his main rival Barichello for the drivers' second place with only the Japanese Grand Prix remaining.
The rest of the top 6 consisted of an overjoyed Eddie Irvine (Jaguar) in fourth, young Nick Heidfeld in his reliable Sauber and the oldest and most experienced driver in Formula 1, Jean Alesi. Alesi (Jordan) drove his 200th Grand Prix on Sunday, and despite having switched positions with Heinz Harald Frentzen (Prost) mid-season, he is the only driver to have finished every single race this year.
Another amazing statistic belonged to starting genius Jos Verstappen of the Arrows team, who has made up a total of 80 positions at the start, over the last 16 races. That's an average of 5 positions for every race started.
...more F1 stats and calender

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Soccer

 
Champions League (27/09/01)

Stand-in striker Jari Litmanen scored the only goal of the game to give Liverpool their first Champions' League victory of the season on Wednesday by 1-0 over Dynamo Kiev.
Finnish striker Litmanen, drafted in up front after Michael Owen, hurt his hamstring on Saturday, found the net in the 23rd minute to justify coach Gerard Houllier's decision to leave Robbie Fowler on the bench.
Liverpool, who drew 1-1 at home to Boavista and then 0-0 in Dortmund, bounced back to move up a place to third in group B with five points, two points behind leaders Boavista, who beat Dortmund 2-1.
Manchester United lost 2-1 in a pulsating Champions League encounter against Deportivo La Coruna at the Riazor Stadium. Walter Pandiani and Noureddine Naybet delivered a devastating double blow in the final five minutes for Deportivo La Coruna after Paul Scholes had put the English champions ahead.

Here follows the latest UEFA logs:

UEFA Champions League Group A Table

UEFA Champions League Group B Table

UEFA Champions League Group C Table

UEFA Champions League Group D Table

UEFA Champions League Group E Table

UEFA Champions League Group F Table

UEFA Champions League Group G Table

UEFA Champions League Group H Table

Source: Sportsdesk

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Soccer

 
Southampton 1-3 Aston Villa (25/09/01)

Aston Villa have maintained their unbeaten start to the Premiership season with a hard-earned win at Southampton on Monday that moves them into the top five.
Southampton: Jones, Delap, Bridge, Lundekvam, El Khalej, Oakley, Svensson, Pahars, Tessem, Davies, Beattie.
Subs: Moss, Marsden, Le Tissier, Benali, McDonald.
Aston Villa: Schmeichel, Delaney, Wright, Mellberg, Alpay, Boateng, Hadji, Hendrie, Kachloul, Angel, Dublin.
Subs: Enckelman, Staunton, Ginola, Stone, Balaban.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

FA Premiership Table

Source: Sportsdesk

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Cricket

 
SA squad to play Zimbabwe (25/09/01)

The South African cricket squad to play Zimbabwe in the second and third one-day internationals was announced on Monday.
The squad is: Shaun Pollock (captain), Mark Boucher (vice-captain), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Makhaya Ntini, André Nel, Claude Henderson, Boeta Dippenaar, Justin Ontong, Justin Kemp.

One-day international (25/09/01)

Bulawayo: South Africa 363-3 beat Zimbabwe 210-5 by 153 runs
Herschelle Gibbs scored South Africa's fastest one-day century as his side amassed their highest ever limited overs score of 363-3 to beat Zimbabwe by 153 runs.
Gibbs equaled his highest score of 125 after racing to his 100 off just 84 balls, beating Nicky Boje's record 89 ball century against New Zealand last year.

Source: Sportsdesk

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Tennis

 
Hewitt beats Bjorkman for Australia (21/09/01)

Lleyton Hewitt beat Jonas Bjorkman and levelled the score 1-1 in the Davis Cup semi-final between Australia and Sweden in Sydney.
Sweden had earlier taken a shock lead when Thomas Johansson came back from two sets down to beat Pat Rafter in the opening singles rubber.
Hewitt had to fight hard for a final score of 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6.
Source: Sportsdesk

Cricket

 
Draw in Bulawayo (18/09/01)

Solid batting by South Africa could make it possible for the visitors to draw the second test against Zimbabwe with only a couple of hours' play remaining.
Jacques Kallis hit his ninth test century as South Africa reached 390/4 at lunch on the fifth day of the second test against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
South Africa reached 300 for two at the close of play on the fouth day in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings of 419 for nine.
Source: Sportsdesk

Formula 1

 
Montoya gets first victory (17/09/01)

Juan Pablo Montoya won the Italian Grand Prix. The Colombian started three of the last four races from pole position but was not able to convert those performances into a win until Monza.
Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello was second and Montoya's Williams team-mate Ralf Schumacher took the final podium spot. Michael Schumacher finished in fourth place.
After Alex Zanardi's crash in a CART race at Germany, that left doctors to amputate both his legs, all the drivers apart from Jacques Villeneuve agreed before the race not to overtake in the first two chicanes as a mark of respect. Later team bosses insisted they drive as normal.
Zanardi was a Williams driver in 1999 and team boss Frank Williams admitted it had been hard to focus on the race after hearing about the Italian's crash in Germany.
Scotland's David Coulthard was in fifth before retiring with a mechanical failure early on, but he holds on to second place in the championship ahead of Barrichello.
Source: Sportsdesk

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Cricket

 
New Zealand tour cancelled (14/09/01)

The New Zealand cricket tour to Pakistan has been cancelled because of the terrorist attacks in the USA.
The Kiwis were due to arrive in Pakistan today to play three one-day internationals and three Test matches. Pakistan was not in a position to guarantee the security of the New Zealand players.
Source: Sportsdesk

Terror in America

 
Attacks on States bring world sports to a stop (13/09/01)

The New Zealand's cricket team is waiting in Singapore, UEFA cancelled all matches for this week and the Ryder Cup could be cancelled after Tuesday's terrorist attacks on the USA.
New Zealand's cricket authorities will decide on Friday whether the planned tour of Pakistan will go ahead. The New Zealand team, which left for Pakistan on Tuesday, is waiting in Singapore for its national body to decide whether the tour can safely take place after the terrorist attacks in the United States.
Meanwhile the European football governing body has cancelled all European championship matches scheduled this week. UEFA decided Tuesday's eight scheduled games could take place in spite of the terror attacks in the United States earlier in the day. But on Wednesday morning the ruling body announced that Wednesday night's eight remaining games would be postponed out of respect to the victims of the attacks.
U.S team members for the Ryder Cup said they were unsure if their event would go ahead later this month. Colin Montgomerie wants the Ryder Cup to go ahead as planned. The Scot said if the event was cancelled it would be giving in to terrorism. Organizers plan to go ahead with Asian World Cup soccer qualifiers, the Italian Formula One Grand Prix and the American-based CART race in Germany this weekend.
Source: Sportsdesk

Olympic swimmer had to be on WTC (13/09/01)

Both Australia's Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe and The Swedish Ryder Cup golfer Jesper Parnevik were in the thick of things when the worst terrorist attack in history took place in New York on Tuesday.
Australian swimmer Thorpe could have been on the top of the World Trade Center at the time of the attack if he hadn't forgotten his camera. Thorpe was on his way to the trade center's observation deck when he suddenly remembered he had left his camera in his hotel.
Thorpe went back to fetch the camera and was about to return to the trade center when the first hijacked plane crashed into the twin towers. Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik says he feared for his life as the World Trade Center was destroyed close to where he was staying in New York.
The Swedish Ryder Cup golfer was at Manhattan's Plaza Hotel for a meeting with golf clothing designer Johan Lindeberg when the first hijacked plane struck its target a kilometre away.
Source: Sportsdesk

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Cricket

 
South Africa beat Zimbabwe (12/09/01)

South Africa beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets on the fifth and final day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.
Andy Flower was the dominant figure of the match as he played an innings of 142 and 199 not out. Flower's unbeaten innings ended five balls after lunch when Andre Nel got last man Douglas Hondo leg before wickets.
Although the South African chase of 78 runs began in poor fashion with Boeta Dippenaar out first ball lbw to Travis Friend, Kirsten (31) and Kallis (42) brought SA home in the 16th over of the innings. The second and final Test starts in Bulawayo Friday.

Flower hits two centuries (11/09/01)

Andy Flower became the first wicket-keeper to score two centuries in a Test as South Africa were denied an early victory at the Harare Sports Club.
Flower followed up his first innings 142 with an unbeaten 138 as Zimbabwe reached 304 for seven at close of play.
South Africa scored a first innings 600 for the loss of three wickets and then sent in the Zimbabweans that only reached 286 runs. They had to keep on the batting pads for another innings and with Flower's help they're going into the final day with 304 runs for the loss of seven.

Flower hits 142 (10/09/01)

Andy Flower stood between South Africa and victory at the end of the third day as Zimbabwe followed-on in the first Test in Harare.
Flower was unbeaten on 43 at the close as Zimbabwe reached 97 for three batting for a second time. South African debutant Andre Nel grabbed four wickets and Andy Flower smashed 142 as Zimbabwe were dismissed for 286 after lunch in reply to South Africa's first innings total of 600/3 declared.
Flower became the first Zimbabwean to score a test century against South Africa.
Source: Sportsdesk

Tennis

 
Hewitt, Venus takes US (10/09/01)

Aussie Lleyton Hewitt(4) destroyed American Pete Sampras(10) in straight sets 7-6, 6-1, 6-1, to win his first Grand Slam title at the US Open.
On Saturday, Venus Williams took just over an hour to defeat sister Serena 6-2, 6-4, and retain her US Open crown in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Source: Sportsdesk

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Athletics

 
Cloete does it again (07/09/01)

Hestrie Cloete repeated her recent success at Edmonton, to win the women's high jump event at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane on Thursday. She beat the current leader of the IAAF Grand Prix high jump contest, Kajsa Bergqvist of Sweden with a first time clearance at 2 meters. Bergqvist could only reach 1.97 meters.
Vita Palamar of Ukraine and Amy Acuff of America shared third place at 1.93m.

South Africa does well in Brisbane (06/09/01)

South Africa's Frantz Kruger, the Olympic bronze medalist, took gold in the men's discus at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane on Wednesday with a hurl of 67.84m. Kruger beat Lithuania's Virgilijus Alekna, the Olympic champion, who was runner-up at 66.07 meters South Africa's Llewellyn Herbert put his World Championships disappointment behind him by picking up a silver medal in the men's 400m hurdles at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane on Tuesday.
Hestrie Cloete, world champion high jumper, will be in action today at the Goodwill Games.
Here follows the medal table:
 

Source: Sportsdesk

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Tennis

 
Russians make history. (07/09/01)

Australian Lleyton Hewitt beat the US favourite Andy Roddick L Hewitt 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-4 in a dramatic five-setter to seal a semi-final spot in the US Open. Gustavo Kuerten tumbled to a shock US Open quarter-final defeat by Yevgeny Kafelnikov in straight sets 6-4 6-0 6-3 .
For the first time in Grand Slam history, two Russians, Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, have reached the semifinals in the same tournament.
In the women's semi-finals, Martina Hingis (1) meets Serena Williams (10). Williams's sister Venus(4) takes on second seed Jennifer Capriati.

Thursday's results

Note: The third set of a mixed doubles match goes directly to a tiebreaker.

Latest results from the U.S. Open (06/09/01)

With both Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras wearing the same sponsor's clothes, Agassi in black and Sampras in white, the "gentleman" of tennis took on the legendary "bad boy of the courts" in a quarterfinal thriller on Wednesday in the U.S. Open.
Taking another huge step in his remarkable resurgence, Sampras edged longtime rival Agassi 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5) thanks to Sampras's powerful serve.
 

US Open semi-final showdowns (05/09/01)

Serena Williams sets up a semi-final showdown against Martina Hingis with an epic win over Lindsay Davenport. Top seed Hingis demolished Daja Bedanova in straight sets to make it to the semi-finals of the US Open at Flushing Meadows in New York.
Pete Sampras underlined why he has been one of the greatest tennis players of modern times after a comprehensive win over Pat Rafter. The four-time US Open champion will now meet fellow American Andre Agassi who powered to a straight sets victory over Roger Federer on Monday.

Results

Sampras and Agassi meet at US (04/09/01)

Displaying the form that brought him four U.S. Open titles, Pete Sampras played a nearly perfect contest and put down two-time US Open champ Patrick Rafter 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-4 on Monday to earn himself a quarterfinal against Andre Agassi.
Defending champion and No. 3 seed Marat Safin of Russia moved into the quarterfinals Monday night by holding off No. 14 Thomas Johansson on the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows.

Results of Monday's Men's Singles 4th round

Results of Monday's Women's Singles 4th round

Source: Sportsdesk

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Formula 1

 
Schumacher drives into the record books (03/09/01)

Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) drove a near-flawless race to underline his World Champion status and become the all-time record holder for the most Grand Prix wins. He won his 52nd Grand Prix on Sunday, one more than long-time record holder Alain Prost.
The day wasn't without disappointment though. Heinz Harald Frentzen was the reason for the first start being aborted, and BMW Williams was riddled with bad luck when Montoya stalled his engine on the first starting attempt, and Ralf Schumacher was left behind on the second attempt because a jack hadn't been removed.
A horrible crash brought everything to a halt for the second time; Eddie Irvine's Jaguar clipped Luciano Burti's Prost and sent the Brazilian careering headlong into the trackside tyres at close to 280km/h. It has been reported that Burti miraculously only sustained minor injuries and is recovering well in a local hospital.
With the two BMW Williams' out of contention, Schumacher pulled away from the field and built up a solid lead which he never lost. A slight judgement error sent him off the track at turn 15, but he recovered without any damage.
Giancarlo Fisichella drove a stunning race for the Benetton team and held off the likes of Barichello and Coulthard for second position. Barichello (Ferrari) damaged his car at 'the Busstop' and had to get a replacement nosecone, which left Coulthard (McLaren) to chase and eventually pass Fisichella.

Top 6 finishers at Spa:

...more

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Rugby

 
Perfect gift for Eales (03/09/01)

Australia gave captain John Eales a perfect parting gift when they kept their nerve to beat New Zealand 29-26 in front of a packed Stadium Australia Saturday night to retain the Tri Nations title.
Eales retires having won two Tri Nations titles, a series over the British and Irish Lions, the 1991 and 1999 World Cups and six Bledisloe Cups.

Scorers:
For Australia: Tries by Chris Latham and Toutai Kefu. Four penalty goals and one conversion by Matt Burke. One penalty goal and a conversion by Andrew Walker.
For New Zealand: Tries by Doug Howlett and Pita Alatini. Two conversions and four penalty goals by Andrew Mehrtens.

Source: Sportsdesk

Soccer

 
English soccer (30/08/01)

Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy has joined English Premier League side Middlesbrough on loan for one season. McCarthy is on loan to Middlesbrough after playing for Spanish Club Celta Vigo.
This weekend sees a break in the English Premiership soccer. On Monday Bolton Wanderers beat Liverpool 2-1. Liverpool will need to lift their game when they meet Aston Villa next Saturday.
Manchester United will also meet Everton next weekend after an one all draw against Villa last weekend. A confident Everton is second on the log after beating Middlesbrough 2-0.

English Premiership Table

Source: Sportsdesk

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Rugby

 
Winner takes it all (31/08/01)

Christian Cullen will be keeping the bench warm on Saturday, when the All Blacks meet the Wallabies for the winner-takes-all Tri Nations match in Sydney Australia.
Cullen, who returned to the squad this week after a long recovery from knee surgery, will watch Leon MacDonald start in the No.15 black jersey. Cullen replacing Doug Howlett in the reserves is the only change in the All Black squad.

Meanwhile, Australian coach Eddie Jones gave winger Andrew Walker until today to prove his fitness for Saturday's match.Walker is suffering from acute tendinitis in his right kneecap.
Second-rower David Giffin, who has completed a two-match suspension, replaces Justin Harrison in the only certain change to an Australian team that needs to win the match to retain the Tri Nations title it won last year.

The All Blacks currently lead the Tri Nations table on eight points, one ahead of Australia.

New Zealand: Leon MacDonald; Jeff Wilson, Tana Umaga, Pita Alatini, Jonah Lomu; Andrew Mehrtens, Byron Kelleher; Ron Cribb, Taine Randell, Troy Flavell, Chris Jack, Norm Maxwell, Greg Somerville, Anton Oliver (captain), Carl Hoeft.

Replacements: Mark Hammett, Carl Hayman, Mark Cooksley, Marty Holah, Justin Marshall, Tony Brown, Christian Cullen.

Australia: Matthew Burke; Andrew Walker or Chris Latham, Daniel Herbert, Nathan Grey, Joe Roff; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan; Toutai Kefu, George Smith, Owen Finegan, John Eales (captain), David Giffin, Rod Moore, Michael Foley, Nick Stiles.

Reserves: Brendan Cannon, Ben Darwin, Matt Cockbain, Phil Waugh, Chris Whitaker, Elton Flatley.

Source: Sportsdesk

Formula 1

 
Schumacher cleared to race (30/08/01)

Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has been cleared to race this weekend in Belgium after his latest crash in practice left him with a stiff neck.
World Champion Michael Schumacher admits his recent shunt during testing at Mugello came as out of the blue and was a surprise coming just weeks after his earlier crash at Monza. The Belgian Grand Prix circuit was the scene of Schumacher's first race 10 years ago and his first victory in 1992. His next win will make him the sole leader on the all-time list.
The Williams Formula One team are optimistic of battling for victory at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix after making some design changes to their car. Williams believe they can take the fight to Ferrari and McLaren thanks to some aerodynamic developments on the BMW-powered FW23 for the demanding Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

Drivers Championship

Drivers -Pts
M. Schumacher 94
D. Coulthard 51
R. Barrichello 46
R. Schumacher 44
M. Hakkinen 21
J. Montoya 15

Constructors - Sun Aug 19

Pts
Ferrari 140
McLaren 72
Williams 59
Sauber 20
BAR 16
Jordan 15

...more

Source: Sportsdesk

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Tennis

 
US OPEN (29/08/01)

Andy Roddick joins Pete Sampras and Lleyton Hewitt in the second round of the US Open. They are joined by Andre Agassi, who made short work of beating fellow American Mike Bryan 6-4 6-1 6-0 in 75 minutes in the first round of the US Open.
South Africa's Wayne Ferreira lost to Vladimir Voltchkov(Belarus) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 1-6, and 6-4.

Men's singles 1st rd results:

Women's singles 1st rd:

Source: Sportsdesk

U.S Open (28/08/01)

Top seed Martina Hingis of Switzerland launched the 2001 U.S. Open tennis championships on Monday with a lightning-quick 6-1, 6-0 dismissal of U.S. college champion Laura Granville at the National Tennis Center.
World No. 1 Hingis, the 1997 U.S. Open winner, needed just 46 minutes to win the tournament's opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium court. Hingis will next meet the winner of the first-round match between Lina Krasnoroutskaya of Russia against American Jill Craybas.
South Africa's hopes dimmed, when Amanda Coetzer(13) lost against Barbara Schwartz 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Source: Sportsdesk

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Formula 1

 
Truli makes his move (24/08/01)

Italian Formula One driver, Jarno Trulli will be switching to the Benetton team next year. He will change places with Giancarlo Fisichella, who is returning to Jordan.
Benetton's other driver is Briton Jenson Button, who is on loan from Williams until 2003. Button is however expected to stay at Benetton, despite performing poorly compared to Fisichella for much of the season.
Truli joined the Jordan team in 2000, but only finished in 10th in the world drivers championship.
Source: Sportsdesk

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Rubgy

 
New Zealand make changes (23/08/01)

New Zealand has made six changes to their team, that will meet the Springboks at Eden Park on Saturday. These changes came after the New Zealand team's defeat against Australia.
Byron Kelleher will replace Justin Marshall on scrum-half, while Andrew Mehrtens is making his return to the All Blacks by replacing Tony Brown at fly half. Troy Flavell moves to the side of the scrum and Chris Jack will make up a new edition to the All Black in the position of lock. Leon MacDonald comes into the side at fullback, allowing Jeff Wilson to return to his favoured place on the wing.
South Africa's only change seems to be Andre Snyman, who makes his return to Springbok rugby, after Robbie Fleck was injured in last weeks clash against Australia.

Teams

New Zealand - 15-Leon MacDonald; 14-Jeff Wilson, 13-Tana Umaga, 12-Pita Alatini, 11-Jonah Lomu; 10-Andrew Mehrtens, 9-Byron Kelleher; 8-Ron Cribb, 7-Taine Randell, 6-Troy Flavell, 5-Chris Jack, 4-Norm Maxwell, 3-Greg Somerville, 2-Anton Oliver (captain), 1-Carl Hoeft.

Replacements: Mark Hammett, Carl Hayman, Mark Cooksley, Marty Holah, Justin Marshall, Tony Brown, Doug Howlett.

South Africa: South Africa - 15-Conrad Jantjes; 14-Breyton Paulse, 13-Robbie Fleck/Andre Snyman, 12-Braam van Straaten, 11-Dean Hall; 10-Butch James, 9-Joost van der Westhuizen; 8-Bob Skinstad (captain), 7-Andre Venter, 6-Andre Vos, 5-Mark Andrews, 4-Victor Matfield, 3-Cobus Visagie, 2-Lukas van Biljon, 1-Robbie Kempson.

Replacements: John Smit, Ollie le Roux, Albert van den Berg, Joe van Niekerk, Neil de Kock, Deon Kayser, Thinus Delport.
Source: Sportsdesk

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Tennis

 
Kournikova out of US Open (23/08/01)

Anna Kournikova, Mark Philippoussis and Mary Pierce won't be seen in this years US Open, which starts on August 27th.
Despite Anna Kournikova's success in landing lucrative sponsorship deals,the Russian has been out of competitive tennis after sustaining an injury during a practice session in late February. She has only played one match since.
Australian Mark Philippoussis has also withdrawn because after complications with his injured knee. Former 2000 French Open champion Mary Pierce is another casualty - with a recurring back injury.
Source: Sportsdesk

Soccer

 
Next year FA quarters on same day (22/08/01)

The English Football Association has announced plans to play all four FA Cup quarter-finals back-to-back on Sunday 10 March, 2002.
The timing of the matches cannot be confirmed until the quarter-final line-up is known as it is possible that two clubs from the same city could be drawn at home.
This would result in the police advising that one of the matches be played the day before.
Source: Sportsdesk

Tennis

 
Kuerten Agassi final in US (21/08/01)

Gustavo Kuerten and Martina Hingis are the men's and women's top seeded players for next week's US Open at Flushing Meadows.
It is the first time that Kuerten, who won his third French Open title in June, has been top seed at the US Open and he is seeded to meet Andre Agassi in the final. The 24-year-old Brazilian's best performance so far at Flushing Meadows came when he reached the quarter-finals in 1999. Agassi, 31, has won the US Open twice, in 1994 and 1999.
Hingis is the women's top seed for the fourth consecutive year, even though she has only won the title once, when she beat Venus Williams in the 1997 final.
Source: Sportsdesk

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Soccer

 
Everton on top (21/08/01)

Everton is still on top of the English Premier League after they drew 1-1 to Tottenham at Goodison Park. Both sides were upset with referee David Elleray. This cam after Elleray dismissed Tottenham's Gary Doherty and Gustavo Poyet and disallowed a Niclas Alexandersson goal. He later let Mauricio Taricco escape punishment for his challenge on Thomas Gravesen.
Played on Sunday, Manchester United beat Fulhan at Old Trafford 3-2. Louis Saha scored for Fulhan in each half, but it was the goal of as Van Nistelrooy that made an end to Fulhan's attempt to beat Manchester United.

English Premier League

Source: Sportsdesk

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Cricket

 
England Butchers Australia (21/08/01)

Mark Butcher saved the day, as England clinched a six-wicket victory over Australia in the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley, thanks to an unbeaten 173. Nasser Hussain, England captain, also made a half-century before he was caught behind by Adam Gilchrist. Butcher and Hussain built the foundations for an English success with a partnership of 181.
Butcher was also named man of the match. His second innings was the highest by any player in the series.

Scorecard
Australia 1st innings 447
Ponting 144, Martyn 118
Gough 5-103

England 1st innings 309
McGrath 7-76

Australia 2nd innings 176-4 dec

England 2nd innings 315-4
Butcher 173 n.o., Hussain 55

England win by 6 wickets

FoW: 1-8, 2-33, 3-214, 4-289

Source: Sportsdesk

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Rugby

 
A draw for South Africa (20/08/01)

World champions Australia fought back bravely to draw 14-14 with South Africa in the crucial Tri-Nations rugby union clash at Subiaco Oval, Australia on Saturday.
Trailing 3-8 at half-time, the home team fought back to draw the game and thus keeping them on top of the Tri-Nations log. It was a physical game played at a fast pace with each side going over for a try, South Africa in the first half and Australia after the break.
Neither side was happy with the result and both were angry at New Zealand referee Steve Walsh. The Springboks were furious that two of their players, fly-half Butch James and captain and loose forward Bob Skinstad, were sin-binned near the end of the game.
Skinstad said he felt James had become a marked man and was being singled out.
Scorers:
South Africa: Try by Mark Andrews. Braam van Straaten kicked three penalties.
Australia: Try by Nathan Grey. Matt Burke kicked three penalties.
Source: Sportsdesk

Golf

 
Toms out-dueled Mickelson (20/08/01)

In a final round that lived up to the expected fireworks on Sunday, at the Atlanta Athletic Club, David Toms out-dueled Phil Mickelson to win the 83rd PGA Championship.
Two-shot swings were commonplace over an exciting 18 holes that left the championship in doubt up to the very last hole and the final stroke. With a superb par at the long 18th, David Toms took the title.
Ernie Els finished in 13th place after hitting 72 on the final round ending the championship at 4 under, while Retief Goosen ended up in 37th place to end his championship on par.

Here follows the top 5 results:

Source: Sportsdesk

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Motor Racing

 
Schumacher takes it all (20/08/01)

Michael Schumacher has won his consecutive Formula One Grand Prix championship.This is the fourth time that he has won the Formula One championship.
He did this by winning the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring on Sunday. This also meant that he has secured the constructors title for Ferrari and that he has equaled Alain Prost's record of 51 Grand Prix wins. Rubens Barrichello finished 3.363 seconds behind his team-mate Schumacher. Schumacher's only nominal rival in the championship before the race, McLaren's David Coulthard, had to make peace with his third place. ...more
Source: Sportsdesk

Golf

 
Waite in the lead (17/08/01)

Although South Africa's Ernie Else took a temporary lead, Grant Waite ended up leading the PGA Championship after hitting the lowest scoring in six years.
Waite finished the day at the Atlantic Athletic Club 6-under 64 providing him with a two-stroke lead. Els led a group of 12 players at 67 ending the first round three- under. Another South African and US Open champion Retief Goosen, playing with Tiger Woods and Duval, also moved to four-under but a series of disasters including a double bogey saw Goosen finishing one-under 69.
Source: Sportsdesk

Tennis

 
Hewitt out of RCA (17/08/01)

Lleyton Hewitt couldn't join Gustavo Kuerten and Marat Safin, the two top seeds, to advance to the quarterfinals of the RCA Championships.
The defending champion, Kuerten, beat Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 (5), 7-5, while Safin ended 16th-seeded Tommy Robredo's hope of reaching the quarterfinals.
Hewitt lost 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-3 to Younes El Aynaoui. Today's quarterfinals will see Kuerten up against Henman, El Aynaoui facing Ivanisevic, Rafter meeting Mirnyi and Enqvist taking on Safin.

Here follows the rest of the scores for the third round:

Source: Sportsdesk

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Boxing

 
Lewis and Rahman II (17/08/01)

Boxing fans could see a rematch between Hasim Rahman and Lennox Lewis as soon as November.
Lewis was knocked out by Rahman in April to take the WBC and IBF Heavyweight titles. A Lewis victory over Rahman would set the stage for a highly-anticipated and lucrative bout between him and former champion Mike Tyson next year.
It is believed that Lewis could earn as much as $10 million to challenge Rahman, who should receive at least as much. It se rumored that the fight will take place in Las Vegas.
Source: Sportsdesk

Tennis

 
U.S Open (24/08/01)

Patrick Rafter, Gustavo Kuerten, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi will be fighting it out at the US Open. Each of them has something to lose. For Rafter, this could be his opportunity to walk away from tennis, while 31 year old Agassi would like to get his third U.S. Open title.

Rafter's serve and volley has positioned him to make a run at his third U.S. Open crown by making the most impressive results on the ATP Tour over the summer hardcourt season. After a disappointing finish at Wimbledon, Rafter suffered no letdown in the transition from grass.
In rapid succession he reached finals in Montreal, Cincinnati and Indianapolis before pulling out of the Hamlet Cup this week to rest up for the Open.

Rafter will have to fight hard at this years U.S.Open, after landing in the same quarter of the draw with second seed Andre Agassi and four-time champion Pete Sampras.

Agassi goes to New York ready to capture a third U.S. Open, while Sampras is struggling to recapture the quality of performance that made him the men's number one tennis player.

After being plagued by injury and inconsistency, Marat Safin is hoping for a return to the scene where he beat Sampras last year in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. An U.S Open win will provide much-needed confidence after going winless this year.

Triple French Open champion Kuerten has never been past the quarters at the Open, but no one is taking the top seed lightly.

Possible men's quarterfinals:
Agassi against Rafter or Sampras; Kuerten against Kafelnikov; Safin against No. 8 Sebastien Grosjean; and No. 4 Lleyton Hewitt against No. 5 Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Source: Sportsdesk

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Rugby

 
2001 Tri-Nations Series - Log Standings (15/08/01)

World champions Australia have shattered the Carisbrook Curse with a composed 23-15 win over the New Zealand All Blacks in the Tri Nations clash at Dunedin Saturday.
The Wallaby win, their first in 13 attempts in Dunedin dating back to 1905, cam off the back of some composed assured play, while the All Blacks were guilty of more mistakes in the match.

Scorers were:
Australia: Tries - Matthew Burke, penalty try; Conversions, Burke 2; Penalty goals, Burke 3.
New Zealand: Tries - Jonah Lomu, Jeff Wilson; Penalty goal, Tony Brown; Conversion, Andrew Mehrtens.
Source: Sportsdesk

Matfield is back (15/08/01)

Both the Wallabies and Springboks have made just one change to their teams ahead of their Tri-Nations match in Perth on Saturday.
Chris Latham, who played in the dying moments of the Australian Carisbrook victory, comes in for Andrew Walker in the Australia team. Victor Matfield returns from injury to replace the lock Johan Ackermann. Matfield suffered from an eye socket injury in the Newlands game against New Zeeland.

Here follow the teams:

Australian team:
Matt Burke; Joe Roff, Nathan Grey, Daniel Herbert, Chris Latham; George Gregan, Toutai Kefu, George Smith, John Eales (captain), Justin Harrison, Owen Finegan, Rod Moore, Michael Foley, Nick Stiles.
Replacements: Brendan Cannon, Ben Darwin, Matt Cockbain, Phil Waugh, Chris Whitaker, Elton Flatley, Graeme Bond.

South African team:
Conrad Jantjes; Breyton Paulse, Robbie Fleck, Braam Van Straaten, Dean Hall; Butch James, Joost van der Westhuizen; Bobby Skinstad (captain), Andre Venter, Andre Vos, Mark Andrews, Victor Matfield; Cobus Visagie, Lukas van Biljon, Robbie Kempson.
Replacements: John Smit, Ollie Le Roux, Albert van den Berg, Corne Krige, Neil de Kock, Deon Kayser, Thinus Delport.
Source: Sportsdesk

Track & Field

 
Athletics World championships (13/08/01)

Controversial Russian Olga Yegorova was booed on her way to claiming the 5,000m title at the World Championships in Edmonton. Yegorova, who was reinstated to the event after a drug-test technicality, took the title from Romanian athlete Gabi Szabo.
However, her win was tainted by the taunts of the Canadian crowd as she broke clear down the home straight. The athletics' world had been waiting anxiously for the women's 5,000m with controversy surrounding the event.
World indoor 3,000m champion Yegorova was cleared to compete, despite having tested positive for the banned drug EPO.

Medal Table:

Elana Meyer onderweg na Boston, VSA (10/08/01)

Plaaslike atletiekster Elana Meyer sal komende Sondag Suid-Afrika se naam internasionaal hoog hou met haar deelname aan die Falmouth Padwedloop in Boston, VSA. Vierde op die wêreld ranglys sal hierdie ‘n finominale poging wees om haar rang te behou of selfs te verbeter teen haar twee hoofteenstaanders vanuit Kenia, Nomla Kiplagat en Catherine Ndereba. In haar voorbereidingswedloop laasweek, die Beach to Beacon 10 km het sy dan ook derde agter hierdie twee geëindig. Wat die Falmouth Padwedloop betref is Meyer egter rustig en hoopvol om in die topposisies te eindig. " Dit was nog altyd ‘n droom van my om in Falmouth te kompeteer. Dit is ‘n wêreldberoemde wedloop en bevat baie tradisie en geskiedenis, ek is seker dit sal ‘n wonderlike wedloop tussen Loma, Catherine en my wees", het Meyer gesê.
Wat internasionale deelname betref het Meyer hierdie jaar groot welslae in onder andere Japan en Amerika behaal en ook met die louere by die Lilac Bloomsday, Cherry Blossom en Crescent City wedlope weggestap.
Na die Falmouth wedloop beplan Meyer om na Suid-Afrika terug te keer ter voorbereiding vir die Wêreld Halfmaraton kampioenskappe wat in Oktober in Bristol, Engeland gehou word.
Source: MFM

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