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Pakistan beat Aussies:

PAKISTAN beat Australia by four wickets in their Group A World Cup match in Colombo yesterday. Pakistan go top of the group and will probably face the West Indies in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Australia will most likely play India on Friday.

Stoner goes quick

AUSTRALIAN Casey Stoner dominated practice on Friday for today's MotoGP's floodlit Qatar season-opener. Stoner's lap of 1.55.035 was 0.158 faster than teammate Dani Pedrosa and Honda's Andrea Dovizioso.

Novak eyes No2

WORLD No2 Roger Federer faced Australia Open champion Novak Djokovic in the Indian Wells semifinals yesterday with his ranking on the line. The first semifinal pitted world No1 Rafa Nadal against Argentine Juan Martin del Potro.

Woz reaches final

TOP seed Caroline Wozniacki clashed with France's Marion Bartoli in the final of Indian Wells yesterday. Wozniaki demolished three-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-2 in the semifinal, while Bartoli put paid to Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 6-1 6-3.

Messi ready to go

ARGENTINA coach Sergio Batista says Barcelona star Lionel Messi has recovered from a knee injury picked up in the Spanish league last weekend and will be ready for friendlies against the US on Saturday and Costa Rica on March 29.

Doping 'flip-flop'

THE US's anti-doping chief has described the Spanish cycling federation's decision to clear Alberto Contador of doping as a "flip-flop", saying the backtracking on a proposed one-year ban could send out the wrong message. The International Cycling Union must decide by Thursday whether to appeal against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Dam busters

LEBURU Kgosimang won the Old Mutual Om Die Dam 50km ultra yesterday in two hours 54.04 minutes. Lizih Chokore beat her sister, defending champion Chiyedza, to win the women's race in 3.23.52. Farwa Mentoor was third.

Izak back for more

LAST year's beaten finalist Izak van der Merwe heads a strong SA challenge in the third Soweto Open tennis tournament at the Arthur Ashe Tennis Centre in Jabavu from April 11 to 16. But Kevin Anderson and Wesley Moodie will not take part as they are competing in Europe. Prize money of R700000 and valuable world ranking points will be on offer for both the men and women.

Basson holds lead

CHRISTIAAN Basson was leading the R1.2-million MTC Namibia PGA Championship by two strokes after the third round yesterday. Sunshine Tour rookie JG Claassen was second, ahead of Josh Cunliffe, Albert Pistorius and Ryan Tipping.