Sports

MANCHESTER, England,  (Reuters) –  A dramatic batting  collapse turned the second and final Test England’s way at Old  Trafford after Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal crashed his second  exhilarating century in as many matches yesterday.   

The semi-finals of the Berbice Football Association (BFA) Coca Cola knockout tournament kicks off today at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground  with the four remaining teams battling for spots in the final.

The only bit of drama at last night’s weigh-in at the Princess Hotel was the pawing between Gwendolyn `Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil and Veronica Blackman.

Guyana-born boxer Troy Ross will tonight take on Steve Cunningham for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) cruiserweight title in Mecklenburg, Germany.

-Annual Independence TT tourney serves off The National Sports Commission (NSC) commenced its Annual Independence Table Tennis Tournament yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with preliminary round matches in the 10 years and under boys’ categories.

Both Courts Guyana Inc. and Ansa McAl have jumped on board the upcoming ‘Deadly Encounters’ championship boxing event as co-sponsors.

The Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) second annual Topco Juice Chess Tournament, organized by the Guyana Chess Federation, gets underway today at Kei-shar’s Sports Club from 2pm.

The much-anticipated 2010 Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Open Tennis Tournament is set for June 11 – 25 at the GBTI courts, Kaieteur Road, Bel Air Park.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC – West Indies selectors are expected to name a replacement this weekend to join the A team in England after fast bowler Nelon Pascal was called up for the first Test against South Africa.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – The connections of the horse  that wins today’s $1 million Belmont Stakes may not be the  only ones struggling to contain their emotions when the final  leg of the Triple Crown is over.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Fast bowler Nelon Pascal and off-spinner Shane Shillingford are poised to make their West Indies debuts after being named yesterday in a 14-man squad for next week’s first Test against South Africa.

CARDIFF, Wales, CMC – Following a successful campaign in Bangladesh last month, West Indies A will launch their tour of England and Ireland today when they clash with English county Glamorgan in a three-day first class match.

By Orin Davidson Frustration in West Indies cricket is at an all-time high.

OSLO, Norway, CMC – Jamaican sprint icon Asafa Powell clocked a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds yesterday to sweep the 100 metres at the Bislett Games, the third meet of the lucrative IAAF Diamond League.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers produced a sizzling, physical display at both ends of the court to overpower the Boston Celtics 102-89 in  Game One of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

PARIS,  (Reuters) – Rafael Nadal powered into the  French Open final with a commanding straight sets victory over  surprise semi-finalist Jurgen Melzer  yesterday.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Left-arm spinner Kavesh Kantasingh is poised to make his Trinidad and Tobago debut while batsman Lendl Simmons will get another chance to impress West Indies selectors, after both were named in a 13-man squad to face South Africa in a two-day match starting tomorrow.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Sweden’s Robin Soderling wore down  Czech Tomas Berdych 6-3 3-6 5-7 6-3 6-3 yesterday to reach the  final of the French Open for the second year in a row. 

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – West Indies failed to hold their nerve, and were unsuccessful in their bid to prevent South Africa from making a clean sweep of their One-day International series, when they lost the fifth and final match by one wicket in a tight finish yesterday.

President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Julian Hunte has said the decision taken by Minister of Sport, Frank Anthony to have the finances of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) audited should help “in clearing all the issues in contention”.