The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Kallis, Amla boost South Africa
- Golf: South Korea's Park takes Ochoa LPGA lead
- Klitschko sees off Wach to retain world titles
| Kallis, Amla boost South Africa Posted: 10 Nov 2012 06:57 PM PST BRISBANE, Australia: South Africa tightened their grip on the first Test against Australia Sunday, reaching 357-3 on the third day with century-maker Hashim Amla the only man dismissed in an extended morning session. The home side were looking for quick wickets with the second new ball after Saturday's washout but instead the Proteas strengthened their position, adding 102 runs to their overnight score. At lunch Jacques Kallis was unbeaten on 137 and AB de Villiers was not out 32. Australia's bowlers were largely unthreatening under sunny skies and the home team is facing an uphill task at a ground where they have not been defeated in 24 years. Amla reached his third century in four innings against Australia and his 17th overall with a slashed cut over the slips for four. The top-ranked batsman in Test cricket was given out lbw to Peter Siddle for 104 but was struck high and TV replays suggested the ball was going over the stumps. Surprisingly, he did not refer Asad Rauf's decision to the third umpire. Amla, who became South Africa's first triple centurion with an unbeaten 311 against England at The Oval in July, put on 165 runs for the third wicket with Kallis. Kallis reached his 44th Test century just minutes after Amla's departure. It was his fifth against Australia. The all-rounder is second on the list of all-time century makers, behind only India's Sachin Tendulkar. His unconquered 137 is the highest score by a South African in a Brisbane Test since Eddie Barlow's 114 in 1963.- AFP |
| Golf: South Korea's Park takes Ochoa LPGA lead Posted: 10 Nov 2012 06:57 PM PST GUADALAJARA, Mexico: Inbee Park, seeking a third victory of the year and trying to catch Stacy Lewis in the LPGA Player of the Year race, seized a two-shot lead at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Saturday. South Korea's Park had six birdies - three on the front nine and three on the back - in her six-under 66 for a 54-hole total of 15-under par 201 at the Guadalajara Country Club. "I had a really solid day today," Park said, adding that back-to-back birdies to open the round "makes the day really easy". She was two shots in front of American Cristie Kerr, who carded a 67 for 203. South Korea's So Yeon Ryu also posted a 67 for 204 and American Angela Stanford, who held a one-shot lead over Park going into the third round, posted a 72 for 205. Next came France's Karine Icher after a 69 for 207. Lewis, ranked second in the world and coming off an LPGA-leading fourth title of the year in Japan last week, was tied for sixth on eight-under 208, alongside American Michelle Wie, Taiwan's Candie Kung and South Korean Hee Kyung Seo. Lewis, who is trying to become the first US golfer to win the points-based Player of the Year award since Beth Daniel in 1994, carded a 71. Park, who won the Evian Masters in France in July and the LPGA Malaysia last month would have to win this week and at next week's season finale even to have a chance to pass Lewis for Player of the Year honors. Park said she was trying to focus only on her game, and not on her chances of overtaking Lewis in the race for Player of the Year, which remain slim even if she wins. "I mean, I can't expect Stacy to play bad two events in a row," she said. "So I mean, even if I don't win Player of the Year, I've had a really great season and I'm really satisfied with myself." Park currently leads the money list, as well as the race for the Vare Trophy for the player with the lowest scoring average. "That would be two big achievements this season," she said. "If I win three (awards), I don't have anything else to do next season so it's kind of good to have one, maybe, or two and take it one step at a time. "I'm not going to play golf this year, then quit," she added. "I have a lot of years in front of me." - AFP |
| Klitschko sees off Wach to retain world titles Posted: 10 Nov 2012 03:54 PM PST HAMBURG: World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko successfully defended his IBF, WBA and WBO titles on Saturday with a unanimous points victory over Polish challenger Mariusz Wach. The 36-year-old Klitschko was awarded the fight 120-107, 120-107, 119-109 to win his 22nd world title bout and boost his record to 50 knock-outs and 58 wins in 61 bouts. "It was great to have Rocky here, thank you for your support," said Klitschko with Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone ringside in Hamburg to see the fight against Wach, dubbed 'The Viking'. "He really is 'The Viking' he took a few shots, but kept fighting on, so respect to him." For the first time in his career, Klitschko faced a taller opponent, giving away four centimetres to the 2.02m tall Wach, who tipped the scales at 113.8 kilos (251 pounds), compared to Klitschko's 112kgs (247). This was Klitschko's first fight since the death of his coach Emanuel Steward, who passed away at the end of October in his home town of Detriot after surgery for cancer. "After my last fight in July, we all sang 'Happy Birthday' to Emanuel, but now he is gone and I want to pay tribute to him," added Klitschko. "He was a great man and we will never forget him." After a quiet start, the fight burst into life with a sharp right from the Polish fighter at the end of the fifth as Wach pinned the champion on the ropes and unleashed a fierce volley of punches which rattled Klitschko. Klitschko followed his corner's advice to keep moving in the sixth and used his superior fitness to start landing some telling right-hand shots. The champion finished the seventh round with a good combination and kept up the punishment with several crashing rights to pin Wach to the ropes with the challenger barely defending himself. Having taken so many shots, it seemed a matter of time before referee Eddie Cotton ended the fight, but Wach soaked up the punishment and Klitschko slowed his pace in the ninth and tenth round, landing only the occasional hard right. Klitschko started the 11th with a flurry of punches and a good combination, but Wach held on to take the fight into the 12th and final round, when a crashing right rocked him back, but the Polish giant would not fall. "That was the hardest fight of my life, he's a tough fighter," said an emotional Wach, who suffered the first defeat of his career having previously had 15 knock-outs in 27 wins. "This was the biggest fight of my life and I am just so sorry that I couldn't win it."- AFP |
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