Cricket: India, growing in confidence with every match, thrashed Bangladesh by 109 runs yesterday in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. The defending world champions made light work of their clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, outclassing their Asian neighbours to stretch their unbeaten run at the tournament to seven games. India will now play either Australia or Pakistan in the semi-finals in Sydney next week and on current form, they will be hard to beat.

Rugby Union: Italy captain Sergio Parisse has been ruled out of tomorrow’s RBS Six Nations clash against Wales at the Stadio Olimpico. In a hammer-blow for the Azzurri, Parisse has not recovered from a foot injury suffered during last weekend’s 29-0 home loss to France. He will be replaced in the back row by Samuela Vunisa, who moves from openside flanker, with veteran Mauro Bergamasco handed the number seven shirt. Tomorrow’s encounter will be a third home game for Italy in this season’s tournament, but they have so far scored just three points at home.

Athletics: The Australian Olympic Committee sent out a strong warning to Athletics Australia against ap-pointing Kevin Tyler for Rio 2016 after the controversial coach was short-listed for the position. The former Canadian sprinter previously trained alongside banned drug cheat Ben Johnson and was accused by his own coach Charlie Francis of taking performance-enhancing drugs. Tyler has never failed a drugs test and denied all doping allegations but the AOC made it clear he was not a suitable candidate to replace Eric Hollingsworth.