In Brief: Agitated Murray blasts slow play
Friday November 27 2009
Andy Murray last night called on umpires to get tough on players taking too long between points after being made to work hard for victory against a determined Fernando Verdasco at the ATP World Tour Finals.
The 22-year-old Scot seemed in a sullen mood at London's O2 Arena as he berated himself, his racket, the surface and even his chair during the course of a 6-4 6-7 7-6 victory over the Spaniard.
At times during the three-hour contest in front of a slightly muted crowd evenly split in support of both players, Murray seemed a little agitated at having to wait for Verdasco after changeovers.
"For me, if it's 25 seconds that you get between the points, I think some of the tournaments it's 20 seconds, and if you're over a couple of times, there has to be a warning," said Murray, who had looked comfortable for almost two thirds of the match before Verdasco dragged him into a second-set tie-break and levelled the contest.
Sreesanth sparkles on India comeback
Indian fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth grabbed six wickets on his comeback to leave Sri Lanka facing an innings defeat in the second Test yesterday.
The 26-year-old captured five for 75 to dismiss Sri Lanka for 229 in the first innings and help India clinch a 413-run lead, the hosts having amassed 642 on electing to bat first.
Forced to follow on, Sri Lanka were 57 for four at stumps after Sreesanth provided the early breakthrough by removing attacking opener Tillakaratne Dilshan for 11.
Any Sri Lankan hopes of salvaging a draw were dashed when the other opener Tharanga Paranavitana (20), Mahela Jayawardene (10), who was run out, and skipper Kumar Sangakkara (11) fell cheaply.
Drennan hits a hat-trick for U-16s
Mickey Drennan bagged a hat-trick as Ireland's U-16s drew 3-3 with their Czech Republic counterparts in Monaghan last night.
The Irish led three times only to be pegged back on each occasion, with the visitors equalising for the third time in the last minute.
Full-back John Kavanagh set up Drennan for his first goal on six minutes, he added the second on the hour with a sweetly struck free-kick after Kieran Sadlier had been wrestled down on the edge of the box and the Kilkenny hotshot completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot with seven minutes left after a defender was adjudged to have handled a cross by Kealan Dillon.
Irish Independent
