Sport Shorts: 09 December 2012

Unbeaten Blitzboks in quarters

THE Blitzboks will play the US in the quarterfinals of the SA Sevens rugby tournament today after they won all their Pool A matches in Port Elizabeth yesterday. SA easily beat Samoa 29-7 in their first game, thanks to a hat trick from Chris Dry, before edging out France 12-5 in their second game. They defeated Australia 17-7 in their final pool match in front of 14000 excited fans to advance to the quarterfinals. France, Sevens leaders New Zealand, Fiji, Wales, Argentina and Portugal are the other quarterfinalists.

Le Clos sole SA medal prospect

CHAD Le Clos leads a weakened SA swimming team to compete at the world short-course swimming championships in Istanbul starting on Wednesday. Of the original 25-strong squad, six swimmers have pulled out, including Olympic 100m breaststroke champion Cameron van der Burgh, 2004 Games gold medallists Roland Schoeman and Darian Townsend, as well as women's breaststroke star Suzaan van Biljon. That leaves Le Clos as SA's sole medal prospect.

Injured Messi back for Barca

LIONEL Messi should be available for today's La Liga match at Real Betis after recovering from a blow to the knee sustained in Wednesday's Champions League game against Benfica. He initially appeared to have suffered a serious injury after colliding with Benfica goalkeeper Artur, but tests ruled out anything worse than bruising.

Call for NZ cricket resignations

THERE were calls for New Zealand cricket administrators to resign yesterday over the sacking of top batsman Ross Taylor as captain. Former captain Martin Crowe and New Zealand's largest daily newspaper, The New Zealand Herald, asked those responsible for Taylor's dismissal, and the way it was handled, to step aside. Brendon McCullum's promotion on Friday, ahead of the Black Caps' upcoming tour of SA, ended months of speculation about Taylor's future since ex-Kenya coach Mike Hesson took over the reins in July.

Big Bash League lights up

TWENTY20 cricket heralded another illuminating innovation on Friday with the introduction of stumps and bails that light up when dislodged during an Australian Big Bash League match in Melbourne. Powered by hidden low voltage batteries, the bails instantaneously flash bright red thanks to LED lights once the wicket is broken and send a radio signal to the stumps, which also light up.

Charl in charge at Thai tourney

CHARL Schwartzel tightened his grip on the Thailand Golf Championship yesterday, taking a five-shot lead into the final day as he edged closer to ending a wretched 20 months without a win. Schwartzel, who has not tasted victory since the US Masters in 2011, kept the chasing pack at arm's length with a controlled four-under 68 for the day giving him 18-under overall. Sweden's Daniel Chopra is in second at 13-under.

Al-Ahly set Club Cup goal

EGYPT'S Al-Ahly, scarred by the deaths of 72 fans following a stadium riot earlier this year, have targeted a spot in the Club World Cup final to end a traumatic season on a positive note. Captain Hossam Ghaly said a dream run to the final in Yokohama next Sunday would help lift the gloom for the African champions after February's tragedy in Port Said. Al-Ahly need to beat Hiroshima and South American champions Corinthians to get a shot at the title.

Clark, Madsen lead in Durban

SOUTH Africa's Tim Clark and Danish rookie Morten Orum Madsen led the inaugural Nelson Mandela Championship after the delayed first round was eventually completed yesterday. The pair carded five-under-par 60s to sit one shot ahead of Lindani Ndwandwe and Chris Lloyd in the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event at Royal Durban Golf Club. Colin Nel was among a group of 10 players a further stroke back on three-under par.

Bangladesh see off Windies

BANGLADESH, led by all-rounder Mohammad Mahmudullah, edged out the West Indies in the fifth and final one-dayer by two wickets in Dhaka yesterday, taking the series 3-2. Mahmudullah took 2/38 to help the home team bowl out the tourists for 217 in 48 overs and then scored a polished 48 to help chase down the target for the loss of eight wickets with six overs to spare.