Pietersen promises Ashes after winning start August 12, 2008 England captain Kevin Pietersen boasted that his side would beat Australia and reclaim the Ashes after a six-wicket victory at The Oval got his reign off to a winning start. Pietersen looked on as his top order comfortably polished off the 197 runs needed for victory over South Africa, thanks largely to a best-ever stand [...]
Historic gold for Adlington as Britain surpass expectations August 12, 2008 Rebecca Adlington became Britain’s first female Olympic swimming champion for 48 years – and then admitted she even surprised herself. The 19-year-old from Mansfield edged out American Katie Hoff to bag an historic gold in the 400m freestyle, while fellow Brit Jo Jackson followed them home for the bronze. Adlington’s gold was Britain’s first female [...]
Garcia didn’t choke, it was Padraig’s class that won it August 12, 2008 Sergio Garcia’s biggest critics will suggest the Spaniard buckled under the pressure at the USPGA on Sunday night, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Here we have, quite simply, the toughest golf course in the world, and closing rounds of 67 and 68 in conditions like that does not amount to buckling under [...]
Big-spending Villa close on £7.8m Cuellar August 12, 2008 Aston Villa closed in on their third defensive signing in just five days last night after agreeing a £7.8m fee with Rangers for Spanish centre-back Carlos Cuellar. The bid triggered a release clause in the contract of the 26-year-old, who cost £2.37m from Osasuna last summer and won the Scottish Premier League’s Player of the [...]
Drogba: I’ll see out Chelsea contract August 11, 2008 Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has ended speculation over his future by pledging to see out the rest of his contract at Stamford Bridge. The Ivory Coast international has previously said he wanted to leave the club, and AC Milan have been strongly linked with the 30-year-old. But Drogba insists he has no desire to leave [...]
Sir Alex eyes boost to blunt United front August 11, 2008 Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson refused to rule out a move for former Arsenal idol Thierry Henry after seeing his side claim their first silverware of the season at Wembley. United started the new season as they ended the last: with a penalty shoot-out victory against a team in blue and a trophy held [...]
Superb Harrington beats Garcia again to claim USPGA August 11, 2008 Open Champion Padraig Harrington clinched his second Major title in three weeks at the USPGA Championship last night after winning another nail biting duel with Spain’s Sergio Garcia. The Irishman continued his phenomenal year at Oakland Hills, carding a closing round of 66 to finish three under par and beat Garcia and America’s Ben Curtis [...]
Olympics mean it’s time for a punt August 11, 2008 Innovative bets can add interest to the Olympic Games and the football season, says Chris Shillington So, the Olympics have finally begun, and there’s plenty to keep spread betters interested. If there’s one thing that everybody is sure of at the Games, it’s that China ought to improve on the 32 medals that it won [...]
Cooke serves up first gold of the Games for Britain August 11, 2008 Gritty Nicole Cooke admitted she had achieved a lifetime ambition after claiming Great Britain’s first gold medal of the Beijing Games in the women’s road race. The 25-year-old, who finished a disappointing fifth in Athens four years ago, won the 126km contest with a fiercely contested sprint finish in torrential conditions. “We did it, it [...]
Broad: ‘We’ll do it for you, KP’ August 11, 2008 Fast bowler Stuart Broad insists England will be going all out to win for captain Kevin Pietersen in today’s final day of the fourth Test at The Oval. The hosts require 197 runs to record a morale-boosting win and hand Pietersen victory in his first match as skipper. And Broad, who took a crucial 3-44 [...]