■ CRICKETB
Delhi charge to top of IPL
Deccan Chargers skipper Adam Gilchrist smashed a rapid-fire half-century, but failed to stop Delhi Daredevils from posting a 12-run win in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday. Delhi scored 173-7 before restricting Deccan to 161, despite Gilchrist’s 33-ball 64, to boost their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals. Delhi lead the eight-team competition with 16 points from 10 matches. Gilchrist went for his shots from the beginning, hitting seamer Ashish Nehra for four boundaries in the opening over. He cracked five sixes and as many fours before inside-edging seamer Pradeep Sangwan’s delivery on to his stumps. Andrew Symonds kept the momentum with a 22-ball 41, before seamer Rajat Bhatia (4-15) triggered a dramatic collapse that saw Deccan lose their last seven wickets for just 12 runs. Dinesh Karthik earlier helped Delhi set a stiff target with a 23-ball 44 not out, including 18 runs off the last five deliveries from Sri Lanka pace man Chaminda Vaas. Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan set the pace, plundering 24 runs in an over from pace man Shoaib Ahmed. He cracked one six and seven fours in his 18-ball 37, before being caught by Ravi Teja in the deep off Symonds. South Africa’s A.B. de Villiers scored a 36-ball 44.
■CYCLING
Menchov wins fifth stage
Russia’s Denis Menchov won the 125km fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia on Wednesday, while Lance Armstrong slipped back after a punishing mountain climb. Rabobank rider Menchov pulled away on the final straight and although LPR’s Danilo Di Luca had no energy to respond, the Italian clung on to take second spot and seize the race lead. Sweden’s Thomas Lovkvist, who held the pink jersey, finished third. Seven-times Tour de France winner Armstrong found the stage tough and is 3 minutes, 34 seconds back in 22nd place overall.
■SOCCER
Van Gaal gets Bayern job
German giants Bayern Munich confirmed on Wednesday that Dutch coach Louis van Gaal will take over as head coach on July 1 having signed a two-year contract to replace Jurgen Klinsmann. Having led AZ Alkmaar to the Dutch title this season, the 57-year-old has signed a deal with the Bundesliga champions, ending weeks of speculation over whether or not he would succeed Klinsmann, who was fired on April 27.
■SOCCER
Gremio into quarter-finals
Strikers Jonas and Herrera scored either side of halftime to lead Gremio to a 2-0 win over Peru’s San Martin and into the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals on Wednesday. Jonas opened the scoring in the 17th minute when he headed in a corner by midfielder Tcheco. Herrera, who replaced Jonas in the second half, sealed the win in the 74th minute after gathering a perfectly placed pass from fellow forward Maxi Lopez.
■BASKETBALL
King James heads All-NBA
LeBron James was a unanimous selection to the All-NBA first team on Wednesday, after leading Cleveland to a team-best regular-season record and a pair of playoff sweeps of the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks. James was put on the first team on every ballot of 122 sportswriters and broadcasters who regularly cover the league. Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant finished second in voting, making the first team on 119 ballots, while Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks rounded out the first team.
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