Sport in brief: Australia set sights on unbeaten summer after routing West Indies
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Your support makes all the difference.Cricket: Australia captain Ricky Ponting hailed his side after they edged a step closer to going through the summer unbeaten by completing a 4-0 series demolition of West Indies with another convincing win in Melbourne yesterday.
Ponting's side were in cruise control for much of the game, racking up 324 for 5 from their 50 overs before dismissing the tourists for 199. Australia beat the Windies 2-0 in the earlier Test series to go with a 3-0 Test win over Pakistan and a 5-0 thrashing of Pakistan in the one-dayers. It all means that as long as Australia do not lose either of their upcoming two Twenty20 internationals against Chris Gayle's men they will have gone through the summer unbeaten for the first time since 2000/01. The only downside for the Aussies was that just 1,500 people turned up at the 100,000-seater MCG to watch the match.
Boasson Hagen ends race with time-trial win
Cycling: Two days after losing the lead of the Tour of Oman in controversial circumstances, Edvald Boasson Hagen bounced back strongly to secure Team Sky's fifth win of the season in the race's final time-trial. Boasson Hagen was unable to capture the overall victory, which went to Olympic and World Time-Trial Champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland. Nonetheless, the Norwegian's blistering ride on a taxingly hilly course and in scorching heat provided ample proof Boasson Hagen had been the strongest man of the race. Alasdair Fotheringham in Muscat, Oman
Van Zyl to take South Africa to World Cup
Cricket: Corrie van Zyl will remain interim South Africa coach until after the 2011 World Cup, Cricket South Africa announced yesterday. CSA also said Jacques Kallis will be vice-captain, under regular captain Graeme Smith, until the end of the tournament. Van Zyl was appointed after Mickey Arthur's resignation last month. When Arthur left, the country's selectors were replaced by an interim panel of CSA chief executive Gerald Majola, Van Zyl and batting consultant Kepler Wessels.
Davenport faces man who conquered Phelps
Swimming: Commonwealth champion Ross Davenport faces Paul Biedermann – the conqueror of American legend Michael Phelps – this weekend at the British Gas Great Britain v Germany meet in Swansea. Davenport, 25, won the 200m freestyle and was part of the victorious 4x200m relay team in Melbourne in 2006. The Wales National Pool will host the event that will see straight finals contested, with the first three in each race awarded points.
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