CRICKET
England defeat PM’s XI
England defeated the Australian Prime Minister’s XI by seven wickets on the Duckworth-Lewis method in their one-day cricket match at Manuka Oval in Canberra yesterday. In a rain-affected match, the PM’s XI won the toss and batted first, scoring 254-9 from their 44 overs. Daniel Christian led the scoring with 53, while captain Tim Paine made 50. Michael Yardy was the pick of the bowlers with 3-33 from nine overs. England were well on target until another rain delay meant they only had 35 overs to face, with the target reduced to 223. Led by Ian Bell with a sparkling 124 not out and Jonathan Trott’s 48, the tourists made the runs with nine balls to spare.
NORDIC SKIING
Swiss, Pole win titles
Switzerland’s Dario Cologna and Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk each won their second Tour de Ski titles in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on Sunday. Cologna held off a stiff challenge from Petter Northug in the eighth and final stage, a climb up Mount Cermis — which is usually used for downhill skiing — finishing 27.3 seconds in front of his Norwegian rival. Defending champion Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic won the final stage and moved up from 10th to finish third overall, 1 minute, 44.1 seconds behind. Kowalczyk had an easier time in the last leg, finishing fourth to win, 1 minute, 21.5 seconds ahead of Norway’s Therese Johaug, who claimed the final stage. Cologna also won in 2009, while Kowalczyk took her first title last year.
BASKETBALL
Varejao to miss season
Cleveland Cavaliers big man Anderson Varejao will likely miss the rest of the season with a torn tendon in his right ankle, the team said on Sunday. Varejao was injured during practice on Thursday and underwent two MRI procedures to reveal the extent of the damage, the Cavs said. Known for his hustle, Varejao is averaging 9.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game for the Cavaliers. Cleveland (8-29) have the worst record in the NBA after franchise pillar LeBron James left the team to sign with the Miami Heat in the off-season.
RUGBY LEAGUE
Orford to join Raiders
Scrumhalf Matt Orford has agreed to join the Canberra Raiders for the next Australian NRL season, pending a release from English Super League Club Bradford, officials said in Sydney yesterday. The former Dally M Medal winning scrumhalf will begin training with the club this week and is hopeful of officially becoming a Raider after his management finalizes his terms of release from Bradford, the club said. Orford, 32, who has played with Melbourne Storm and Manly Sea Eagles in the past, said he was looking forward to the challenge of returning to the NRL and the Raiders. “The Raiders are a team on the rise and the way they finished the season last year shows they will be in the running again in 2011,” Orford said.
ICE HOCKEY
Frolov’s season over
New York Rangers forward Alex Frolov will undergo season-ending surgery after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, the team said on Sunday. Frolov, who suffered the injury during a 2-1 victory at St Louis on Saturday, was playing his first season with the Rangers after signing with New York in the offseason. Frolov, who spent his first seven seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, has seven goals and nine assists for the Rangers.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and