| Di Venuto charge tests Somerset nerves Durham 286 & 171-2; Somerset 426For the first time Somerset are starting to feel nervous in the north-east. They have been lucky to have played so much cricket in this match. They have gleaned all the bonus points possible. But the combination of a docile pitch, which was first designed for the ODI between England and Pakistan last Friday, and some spirited Durham batting means that the victory, which would have finished Yorkshire's challenge and severely dented Nottinghamshire's, now seems elusive.At the end of another long day (the last one will be 12 overs shorter than usual so that Somerset can head south in preparation for Saturday's Lord's final) , Durham were 171-2. So the county champions – for another few hours – lead by 31.It all went according to plan in the first half of the day. Peter Trego continued where he left off on Tuesday, striking the ball with gusto while making 69, until he was bowled by Liam Plunkett by the only type of delivery that is giving batsmen problems on this surface: the scuttler.But James Hildreth was still around to ensure that Somerset acquired their maximum batting points with his seventh Championship century of the summer. Hildreth was both aggressive and discreet, which is a handy combination. He must be going somewhere with the Lions this winter. He scored freely square of the wicket with cuts, square drives and pulls. Nowadays Hildreth can score runs beyond Taunton.Jos Buttler, after three consecutive ducks in the Championship, flickered briefly until he was defeated by another ball that kept low from Ben Harmison and was lbw. Ben Phillips went the same way to his first ball whereupon, Harmison at the start of the next over bowled a very disappointing hat-trick delivery. It could easily have been called a wide.So Somerset had a lead of 140. Soon Michael Stoneman was lbw to another grubber – from Phillips. But thereafter batting did not seem too taxing for Michael Di Venuto and Gordon Muchall. Trescothick switched his seamers around; he tried Murali Kartik in the hope that a spinner might eventually take a wicket in this match. Against all of them Di Venuto was typically forthright. This pair had added 113 together when the junior party, Muchall, was finally beaten by another low-bouncing ball – from Trego. But there was no more success for Somerset as the shadows enveloped the ground.Now there is no guarantee that they have time to win this game. That is all they can strive to do, but they will be looking anxiously southwards today and at what might happen down in Manchester and Leeds. They fear contrivance at Headingley. They have to trust that Robert Key of Kent drives a harder bargain than Duncan Bannatyne of the Dragons' Den, who owns the health club that peers out at the square at Chester-le Street. And while it is too much to hope for another day of rain at Old Trafford they would be grateful if Mark Chilton and Peter Moores could ensure that Lancashire are at their most stubborn.DurhamSomersetCounty Championship Division OneCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Britain picks strong line-up for worlds • Katherine Grainger and Greg Searle to compete in NZ• Team should improve on six-medal haul at Beijing GamesWith five Olympic champions and a further nine medallists on board, British Rowing has selected its strongest ever team to compete in this year's world championships on New Zealand's Lake Karapiro.The two most recognisable personalities are both veteran rowers on the 2012 gold medal trail. The 34-year-old Scot, Katherine Grainger, goes in the double scull, while the 38-year-old Greg Searle, who famously won Olympic gold in 1992 with his brother Jonny – will race in the eight.Expectations for the team are high, with the capacity for them to improve on the six medals they won at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.The performance director, David Tanner, underlined this when he said: "The next 11 months are a crucial part of the Olympic cycle. We go to New Zealand with strength in depth."The championships are being held later than usual, with the finals from 4-7 November.RowingMartin Crossguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
U.S. players weather storms, but their rain gear doesn't We always knew the weather would be a story perhaps the story of the 2010 Ryder Cup. What we didn't know was that rain gear could be such a ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Serena Williams delays comeback and will not play in Austria next week • Foot injury continues to sideline Wimbledon champion• American set to lose world No1 spot to Caroline WozniackiSerena Williams has had to postpone her latest comeback after failing to shake off a foot injury.The American has not played since winning Wimbledon in July after cutting her foot in a restaurant but has trained in recent weeks with a view to playing in the Generali Ladies Linz event in Austria next week.But at a final training session in Florida yesterday she felt the injury once again and pulled out.Tournament organisers said in a statement today: "It was discovered that the tendon injury which has affected her after her Wimbledon victory is still not completely healed and Williams must therefore withdraw."How long she will be sidelined is still unclear."Williams will lose her world No1 spot when the latest WTA rankings are published tomorrow, after Caroline Wozniacki, the 20-year-old from Denmark, secured top spot by reaching the quarter-finals at the China Open in Beijing.TennisSerena Williamsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Missouri upsets No. 3 Oklahoma 36-27 By R.B. FALLSTROM 2010-10-24T05:59:02ZCOLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Oklahoma's stay at the top of the BCS will be brief.... hosted.ap.org |