Croat Ivica Kostelic won a men's World Cup slalom in Alta Badia, Italy, yesterday, almost five years since his last victory. Boosted by his second place in the previous day's giant slalom, his first ever podium in the specialty, the Croat kept up the momentum to bag his ninth World Cup victory. In a combined time of 1: 39.83, the 29-year-old beat two of the best slalom specialists, Jean-Baptiste Grange and Benjamin Raich.

Cricket

England's bowlers pegged back a defensive India by reducing the hosts to 134 for four in the second innings on the fourth day of the second and final test yesterday. India held a run overall 285-run lead at the close, batting cautiously after early setbacks. Opener Gautam Gambhir was 44 not out, after scoring a measly 18 runs in the final session of 25 overs, with Yuvraj Singh on a breezy 39. Spinner Harbhajan Singh took four wickets to help dismiss England for 302 in the morning and hand India a 151-run lead. India scored 453 in their first innings, having won the first test in Chennai by six wickets.

Basket, NBA

Pau and Marc Gasol will not do each other any favours when their respective teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies, meet today, the Spanish brothers said. The pair have gone up against each other before in friendlies and in training for the Spanish national team but this will be their first meeting in a competitive match. "It's not going to be like when we were kids playing at our grandparents' place," Pau Gasol said. "It's the NBA basket that's fixed to the wall this time." Marc Gasol added: "It will be strange but when it starts, the only thing on your mind is beating your opponent."

Golf

Johan Edfors has been picked to represent twice-winners Europe at the Royal Trophy against Asia early next year, organisers said. The big-hitting Swede, the only player with a perfect record at the matchplay event, is the sixth player named on captain Jose Maria Olazabal's team for the Jan. 9-11 contest in Thailand. "Johan won all three matches he played at the Royal Trophy... this speaks for itself," Olazabal said.

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