Cricket: Ricky Ponting’s return to the Australia captaincy ended in a crushing eight-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka following a rain-affected one-day international in Sydney, yesterday. Sri Lanka secured their first win of the series in emphatic style as they first bowled Australia out for 158 before making light work of a revised chase. Ponting was captaining the side for the first time since standing down after last year’s World Cup.
Boxing: British challenger Dereck Chisora slapped champion Vitali Klitschko during weigh-in yester-day ahead of their WBC heavy-weight title fight in Munich to-night. During the customary face-off, Chisora slapped Klits-chko’s left cheek and unleashed a barrage of insults at the Ukrainian, sparking a brawl involving security personnel. “I’ll sort that out in the ring,” said Klitschko, who kept his cool while his opponent hastily left the scene.
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Golf: Annika Sorenstam (picture) has turned down the chance to captain Europe at the Solheim Cup next year. Sweden’s former no.1 and 10-time major champion has revealed she was asked to lead the team in Colorado, as they attempt to defend the trophy they won in Ireland last year. However, having been assistant captain at Killeen Castle, Sorenstam decided it would be too consuming a role. She has had two young children since retiring in 2008.
Rugby Union: Wallaby lock Dan Vickerman is expected to play again in April following shoulder and leg sur-gery, the New South Wales Wara-tahs said. Waratahs officials said the former South African forward was making good progress from shoulder reconstruction. Vickerman is also receiving treatment for bone stress to his right tibia after surgery to have a rod inserted to play in last year’s World Cup.
Motorboat Racing: South Korean prosecutors said they had arrested a driver suspected of fixing results in motorboat racing, the latest sport to be tarnished by betting scandals. The 36-year-old racer, surnamed Park, is suspected of taking cash from a gambling broker in exchange for giving him the predicted orders of finishes in races. Prosecutors said the racer received a total of $240,260 in seven separate payments last year.