Daily Sports News

Captaining the team for the first time, Sangakara lead the Lankan team to a series victory. This is the first home series win for Sri Lanka against Pakistan. Kumar Sangakkara scored an unbeaten century and closed all doors for a Pakistani victory. The Lankan team made a clean sweep in the series 2-0. Sangakkara was 111 not out and now has 19 test centuries to his name. He had an excellent 122 run fourth wicket stand with teammate Thilan Samaraweera who contributed 73 runs to the Lankan score.  New comer in the team Angelo Mathews was not out at a score of 33 runs.

Lanka were give a world record chase target of 492 runs to chase for a victory but could not beat the record. The best chase in the history of the game has been of 418 runs by the West Indies team in 2003 against the Australian team in Antigua.

This has been a disappointing series for the visiting Pakistani team as they had lost the first test on the fourth day of the test and the second on the third day of the test.

This match was also the last test match for Sri Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas who quit test cricket. He has been an inspiration to many young pace bowlers. Vaas was the first successful pacer in Lanka with has a history of producing excellent spinners. Vaas has to his credit of taking 355 wickets in 111 test matches.

is always said that the last time trial of the tour is a day that the yellow jersey driver should take pride in winning and Alberto Contador came out on flying colors. He not only surprised everyone with a victory, but also increased his lead margin over Andy Schleck. He and Fabian Cancellara were the only two riders to have ridden the time trial with average speed above the 50 Kilometers per hour. He really left Olympic gold medalist clueless today.

The 18th stage of the tour started with mild weather conditions but it gave way to warm and sunny as the temperature climbed to early 30s. The first rider and last in the classification standing to start the time trial was Yauheni Hutarovich of team Francaise Des Jeux. There was one retirement in the form of Kenny van Hummel who had a crash in the stage 17.

The first to setup a quality time was Russian rider Mikhail Ignatiev of team Team Katusha although he started 19th in the time trial. He rode so well that even Fabian Cancellara could not beat this time at the first two intermediate checks. During the last part of the time trial there was a change in weather with 19 riders yet to take the time trial. The showers did not last long and it was quite dry by the time general classification riders started.

There were some impressive performances by Cadel Evans of Team Silence Lotto, Christophe Moreau of Agritubel and Bradley Wiggins of Garmin – Slipstream. There was not change in any of the jersey standings. Lance climbed up in the overall standings to third place with best young driver Andy in second.

Alberto Contador the dark horse of the race and the Astana strong man took the first climb of the Alps in style. He powered ahead on the base of the final climb and took away the yellow jersey. He is now ahead of his Astana teammate and seven times champion Lance Armstrong with a gap of one minute and thirty seven seconds. Andy Schleck of team Saxo Bank finished an impressive second behind Contador.

As the tour returned to the mountains the 15th stage after a rest day was from Pontarlier to Verbier. The 207.5 kilometers stage had 6 climbs and two intermediate sprints. There were four category-3 climbs the cote du Rafour at 8 kilometers, cote des Etroits at 18.5 kilometers, cote de la Carrière at 54 kilometers and the cote de Prévonloup at 74 kilometers, a category-2 climb: col des Mosses at 135.5 kilometers and a category-1 climb to the finish at Verbier. The two sprints were Thierrens at 56.5 kilometer mark and Martigny at 181 kilometer mark.

Although the pace of peloton was dictated by Milram, Liquigas and Saxo Bank but just 6 kilometers from the finish and the final ascent Contador surprised everyone and took the lead. He quickly crossed all the escaped riders and finished the race with a 43 second gap.

Yellow jersey holder Nocentini was dropped at 5 kilometers and could just watch the yellow jersey going away from his hand. Thor Hushovd keeps the green jersey and is ahead of Cavindish by 18 points. In a post match interview Contador said that he was a different rider as compared to team mate Lance Armstrong and was looking for a tour victory this time and was not here to make records like Armstrong’s seven tour victories. Team Astana also had a good outing as it came back to the number one spot in the team standings and taking the place away from AG2R La Mondiale.

Finally the 75 year wait is over; an Ashes test victory at Lords for England over rivals Australia at Lords. England are now 1-0 ahead in the Ashes as the first test at Cardiff resulted in a draw.

England gave the visitors a mammoth target of 552 to win, but Australia was bowled out by England for 406 in the post lunch session on the fifth day. The day belonged to Andrew Flintoff who just before the start of the match announced his retirement from test cricket after the ongoing Ashes series. He took five wickets in 27 over’s giving away just 115 runs with three on the fifth day. This is Flintoff’s third five wicket haul in test career of 77 matches. He was also awarded the Man of the match for his excellent effort.

Michael Clarke’s effort in the form of 136 runs to rescue Australia went in vain as the Aussie batting tumbled against England. There was good support from Off-spinner Graeme Swann who took four wickets for 87 runs.

A generous Ricky Ponting accepted defeat with grace and in a post match interview said that the Aussie team was outplayed by England from the very first delivery of the match. He also added that he looks forward to the next test at Edgbaston and his team would come back strongly in the third test. The biggest concern for the Punter is now his bowling attack, especially Mitchell Johnson.

SCORECARD

The Ashes 2009 – 2nd Test, Australia vs England,Played at Lord’s, 16-20 July 2009

Result – England beat Australia by 115 runs

Rain gods were not in favor of the tour as it poured on the riders for most of the race. But German Heinrich Haussler was determined to fight and he did winning the stage in style. He attacked the peloton at the three kilometer mark and took all the climbs and descents with aggression. As he crossed the line at Colmar, he had tears in his eyes, quite an emotional first stage victory for him at the tour. Other gainers in the race were Hushovd who took the green jersey away from Cavendish and the other gainer was Franco Pellizotti’s who gets to wear the polka-dot jersey on Saturday.

The Friday stage between Vittel and Colmar had a total distance of 200 kilometers. There were in all five climbs in the stage including category 3 at cote de Xertigny, category 2 at col de la Schlucht, category 1 at col du Platzerwasel, category 3 at col du Bannstein and category 3 at col du Firstplan. The stage also had three sprints including Xertigny at 43.5 kilometers, Gerardmer at 88.5 kilometers and Luttenbach at 24 kilometers.

There was one major disappointment especially for team Astana as one of their most experienced climber Levi Leipheimer had to leave the tour due to a fractured wrist. Leipheimer was thought as a great helper to Contador, Armstrong and Kloden as the tour enters the Alps.

Michael Phelps put an end on the five year sway of Tiger Woods in the ESPY awards by garnering five ESPY Awards that included the male athlete of the year award. The winner of 14 Olympic Medals, Phelps booty of awards included those for championship performance, record-breaking performance, male Olympian and the best moment award for the triumphant win in the 400metres freestyle swimming relay during the Beijing Games.

Michael Phelps was the clear winner in the race for the male athlete of the year award leaving behind famed NBA megastars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and NASCAR racer Jimmie Johnson.

The male golfer honors went to Tiger Woods who added the 22nd ESPY trophy award to his ever-expanding collection of trophies for the fifth year in a row.

Best Female Athlete award went to Nastia Liukin in Gymnastics. Dara Torres, the Olympic swimmer, won the Best Comeback award.

President Nelson Mandela was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his commendable efforts. Samuel L. Jackson hosted the 2009 ESPY Awards that was held on 15th July in the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

Special Awards

Arthur Ashe Courage Award: President Nelson Mandela
Jimmy V Award For Perseverance: Don Meyer, Northern State University coach
Best Comeback: Dara Torres, Olympic swimmer.

Best in Sport

Best Female Athlete: Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
Best Male Athlete: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Moment: US Swim team wins thrilling finish in Olympic relay
Best Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Best Coach/Manager: Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Best Game: Steelers vs. Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII
Best Championship Performance: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Play: Roethlisberger to Holmes Super Bowl Winning TD
Best Upset: US Soccer shocks Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals
Best Breakthrough Athlete: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Best Record Breaking Performance: Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Best Sports Movie: The Express: The Ernie Davis Story
Best Male College Athle te: Tim Tebow, Florida Football
Best Female College Athlete: Maya Moore, Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Best Male Athlete with a Disability: Jason Lester, Ironman Triathlete
Best Female Athlete with a Disability: Erin Popovich, Swimming
Best International Male Athlete: Usain Bolt (Jamaica, Sprinter)
Best International Female Athlete: Lorena Ochoa (Mexico, Golf)

Individual Sports
Best Baseball Player: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Best NBA Player: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Best WNBA Player: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
Best NFL Player: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Best NHL Player: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Best MLS Player: Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy
Best Male Action Sports Athlete: Shaun White, Skateboarding/Snowboarding
Best Female Action Sports Athlete: Maya Gabeira, Surfing
Best Bowler: Norm Duke
Best Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Best Fighter: Manny Pacquiao, Boxing
Best Male Golfer: Tiger Woods
Best Female Golfer: Lorena Ochoa
Best Jockey: Calvin Borel

Nicki Sorenson of Team Saxo Bank won the 12th satage of Tour de France with an impressive ride. Danish rider has been a veteran of the tour and showed his skills when he attacked the breakaway and caught then at the 60 kilometers mark. Just 23 kilometers to the finish, Sorensen went into top gear and finished a race much and finished the race on a winning note.

The 12th stage of Tour de France was from Tonnere to the city of miniral water, Vittel. The stage was 211.5 km long and had 169 ridders at the start. Missing was Faria Da Costa after a ligament tear in his shoulder suffered during a crash the previous day. The stage was the second longest stage in this year’s tour. The stage had five category four climbs and one category five climb. On grab were point for polka dot jersey and awarded at cote de Baon at 19 kilometers, cote de Gye-de-Seine at 55 kilometers, cote d’Essoyes at 64.5 kilometers, cote des Grands-Bois at 150 kilometers, cote de Morlaix at 156.5 kilometers and cote de Bourmont at 170.5 kilometers. Also on offer were points for the green jersey with three intermediate sprints Channes at 32 kilometers, Longchamp-su-Aujon at 90 kilometers and St-Thiebault at 169 kilometers.

Cavendish although has been saying thought the tour that he was not interested in the intermediate sprints but he surprised everyone including Hushovd  when he crossed the like in Channes and increased his lead in the green jersey standings.

There was one successful break away which happened at the 64 kilometers mark and the peloton was never able to catch-up. Nick Sorenson crossed the line first giving his tem Saxo Bank a second stage victory. Cavendish led the peloton in the sprint and finished 5 minutes and 58 second behind Sorenson. In the final 3 kilometers there was a crash and Evans was part of it but managed to finish the race along with the peloton. There was no change in the yellow jersey standings and Iralian Nocentini will wear the yellow jersey on Saturday. He is followed by the Astana duo of Contador and Armstrong.

It’s been an amazing tour this year, out of the 11 stages 5 have had excellent sprints and what’s most amazing is that 4 have been won by the phenomena Mark Cavendish. The sprint king took away the green jersey from Norwegian Thor Hushovd and also equaled Barry Hoban’s British record of eight stage wins. There were doubts if this would be an ideal stage for Cavendish to charge, but he timed it to the perfection. Till now Cavendish has been the one who started the sprint but in this stage he waited for the right moment and showed the world his caliber as a class sprinter, not to forget he won four stages in last years tour and also has an Olympic gold to his name. It was a disappointment for the green jersey holder as he could manage only a fifth place finish and also lost the jersey to Cavendish.

The 192 kilometers stage 11 was between Vatan to Saint-Fargeau and had 170 riders with one casualty on stage 10 as Kurt Asle Arvesen was forced out of the tour due to a fractured collarbone. The stage consisted of two category four climbs at cote d’Allogny at 40.5 kilometers and cote de Perreuse at 150 kilometers. There were three intermediate sprints in the race Quincy at 26.5 kilometers, St-Geols at 73.5 kilometers and Suilly-la-Tour at 114.5 kilometers. The stage saw an early accident when at the 14th kilometers mark Vande Velde and Rosseler crashed. At the 15 kilometer mark the race came to a halt due to a road block caused by a collapsed structure. This helped the two accident riders to join the main peloton. There was another crash involving Rojas and Righi at the 24 kilometer mark.

Tour leader Nocentini finished the stage at 34th place and will wear the yellow jersey on Thursday in stage 12. He his followed closely by Astana riders Contador and Armstrong.