• Sri Lanka prove too good for Bangladesh
• Narinda snatch important win
• Monipur Chess Club maintain lead
• Badminton team off to India
• IGP named new President of Kabaddi Fed
• Ukraine book World Cup berth
• Costa Rica pound Panama
• Nothing is done yet: Domenech
• 'England must do better'
• From shooting star to Ukraine coaching hero
• Spain warm up for Serbia
• Sri Lanka whitewash Bangladesh
• Paraguay surprise Argentina
• Tunisia move closer to WC
• Blake, Agassi keep going
• Udal pays tribute to Warne
• Fabio saves Italy
• Gamba top in Japan for first time in five years
• Hampshire ride on Ervine
• Zimbabwe cricket faces fresh player backlash
• Russia blank Liechtenstein
• Ervine weighing up Test options
• Special Olympic team accorded reception
• Slovakia sink Germany
• Late rally by Arambagh
• Yuvraj, Dhoni guides India
• Zambia soccer fans destroy mosque, cars
• Nat'l Swimming from Sept 27
• Mehdi lifts unseeded singles title
• Female referee conduct match first time in Bangladesh

Sept 4: Fast bowlers Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof shared six early scalps as Sri Lanka whipped Bangladesh by six wickets in the third and final one-dayer to complete a clean sweep here on Sunday.

Bangladesh were shot out for a meagre 108 after being put in to bat by an under-strength Sri Lanka, with Fernando (3-19) and Maharoof (3-25) doing the maximum damage during their lively opening spells in overcast conditions.

Sri Lanka faced no difficulty in surpassing a rain-revised target of 106 off 46 overs as left-handed opener Avishka Gunawardene smashed a solid 52 in his comeback match.

Gunawardene, who played his last one-dayer in October 2004 against Pakistan at Karachi, hit six fours in his 12th half-century.

The hosts had rested key bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan along with opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya after gaining a unbeatable 2-0 lead, but still proved too strong for Bangladesh.

"We have been playing consistently well in the recent past," said regular Sri Lanka skipper Marvan Atapattu, who was named super sub for the last match. Mahela Jayawardene led the team on Sunday. "Our fast bowlers did the job. Fernando and Maharoof both have been bowling well in recent months. It is good to see youngsters perform at this level."

Sri Lanka owed their comfortable victory to man-of-the-match Fernando and Maharoof, who sliced through the Bangladeshi batting to ensure their team chased a modest target.

Bangladesh were 47 without loss before losing six wickets for seven runs in a sensational collapse triggered by Fernando and Maharoof in a match reduced to 48-overs-a-side in the morning due to rain.

"We started well but then lost a lot of wickets," said Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar Sumon. "We played so many loose shots and it is not acceptable. We need to improve a lot." Opener Shahriar Nafees top-scored with 21 in a spineless Bangladeshi performance. As many as six batsmen failed to reach double figures.

Fernando started the slide when he trapped Javed Omar Belim Gullu leg-before and Maharoof then removed Nafees and pinch-hitter Mohammad Rafique in the space of three balls to reduce the tourists to 51-3.

Bangladesh lost two more wickets a run later, with Fernando trapping Mohammad Ashraful leg-before and Maharoof dismissing Aftab Ahmed.

The tourists were at one time in danger of falling to their lowest-ever total of 76 when they lost their sixth wicket at 54, as Sumon was caught behind to become Fernando's third victim.

There was also no respite for Bangladesh from spin as Tillakaratne Dilshan (2-20) and Upul Chandana (2-15) shared the last four wickets to end the innings in the 39th over.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will now clash in two Tests, the first starting at Colombo on September 12.

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh Innings:

JOB Gullu lbw b Fernando 18

S Nafees c Tharanga b Maharoof 21

M Rafique c Dilhara b Maharoof 1

Aftab Ahmed lbw b Maharoof 1

M Ashraful lbw b Fernando 0

HB Sumon c Sangakkara

b Fernando 1

Tushar Imran c and b Dilshan 13

KM Pilot c Samaraweera

b Chandana 6

MI Rana c Tharanga b Chandana 17

S Rasel c Chandana b Dilshan 2

Tapash Baisya not out 11

Extras (lb2, nb10, w5) 17

Total (all out) 108

Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-51, 3-51, 4-52, 5-52, 6-54, 7-71, 8-77, 9-83, 10-108.

BOWLING O M R W

Maharoof 8 2 25 3

Lokuhettige 6 0 27 0

Fernando 8 1 19 3

Chandana 7.2 1 15 2

Dilshan 9 2 20 2

Sri Lanka innings:

A Gunawardene c Tushar b Sujan 52

U Tharanaga b Tapash 9

D Lokuhettige c Rasel b Tapash 2

T Samaraweera run out 18

K Sangakkara not out 17

F Maharoof not out 0

Extras (lb1, nb2, w5) 8

Total (for four in 21.2 overs) 106

Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-30, 3-86, 4-105.

BOWLING O M R W

Tapash Baisya 7 1 27 2

S Rasel 5 0 29 0

KM Sujan 5.2 0 31 1

M Rafique 4 0 18 0

Sri Lanka's rain-revised target: 106 off 46 overs

Result: Sri Lanka win by six wickets

Series result: Sri Lanka win three-match series 3-0

Man of the match: Dilhara Fernando (Sri)

Man of the series: Upul Tharanga (SRI)

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REUTERS, COLOMBO

Sept 4 : Pace bowlers Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof shared six wickets on Sunday to help Sri Lanka to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh and a 3-0 one-day series whitewash.

Fernando (three for 19) and Maharoof (three for 25), led the attack in the absence of their rested senior bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas. Bangladesh were bowled out for 108 in 38.2 overs.

Sri Lanka, chasing a revised 106-run target in 46 overs after a rain interruption, then cruised to victory with 24.4 overs to spare. Opener Avishka Gunawardene scored 52 from 61 balls.

The visitors started brightly after being asked to bat first under gloomy skies with Javed Omar Belim Gullu and Shariar Nafees adding 47 runs at nearly a run a ball but they then suffered a collapse, losing six wickets for seven runs in the space of 26 balls.

Fernando, Sri Lanka's first-change seamer, triggered the collapse by trapping Omar (18) lbw in his first over and followed up with the wickets of Mohammad Ashraful and Habibul Bashar Sumon to finish with three for 19.

Maharoof, who was recalled after being rested for a minor hamstring strain on Friday, claimed the wickets of in-form opener Shariar Nafees (21), pinch-hitter Mohammad Rafique and Aftab Ahmed.

The seventh-wicket pair of Khaled Mashud Pilot and Tushar Imran tried to rebuild after the visitors had slumped to 54 for six, adding 17 runs in the next eight overs, but Sri Lanka made further inroads after the introduction of their spinners.

Leg spinner Upul Chandana (two for 15) wrapped up the innings off 38.2 overs when all rounder Manjarul Islam Rana (17) skyed a catch. Part-time off spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan chipped in with two for 20.

Sri Lanka's run chase started badly. Upul Tharanga (nine) was bowled by Tapash Baisya and pinch-hitter Dilhara Lokuhettige (two) was caught on the third man boundary.

But Gunawardene and Thilan Samaraweera, who was playing his first one-day international for two-and-a-half years, ensured victory with a 56-run partnership for the third wicket.

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BPA) has accorded a reception to Bangladesh Special Olympic team on Sunday for their triumphant performance in the First Special Olympic Asia Pacific Bocce Tournament held in Brunei capital Dar-es-Salaam last month.

Bangladesh won six gold, six silver and two bronze medals.

BOA acting Secretary General Kutubuddin Ahmed attended the function as chief guest. He presented BOA crest to each of the gold medal-winning player. BOA Treasurer Monirul Haque, BOA Deputy Secretary General Ishtiaq Ahmed Curren, BOA CEO Col (retd) Wali Ullah and Bangladesh Special Olympic Association president Ashraf-ud-dowla were also present at the function held at the National Sports Council conference room.

Shiuli Akhter Sathi and Kazi Razibul Bashar lifted gold medals in individual events. Kishwar Zeeshan & Sultana Mushfiqa, Shiuli Akhter Sathi & Aziz Sammi and Ariful Islam Joy & AKM Saidul Islam won gold medals in three doubles events.

The remaining gold medal came in the team event. Ariful Islam Joy, Kazi Razibur Bashar, AKM Saidul Islam and Mohammed Rubel represented Bangladesh in the team event. Bangladesh defeated Philippines in the final.

BOA acting Secretary General in his speech assured the Special Olympic Association of all possible help to carry out their activities.

Ashraf-ud-dowla said it is unfortunate that his association did not get any fund either from the government or at private level to send the team to Brunei. He lauded the role of a guardian of a player for sending the team to Asia Pacific Bocce Tournament. He introduced Seba Khurshid, mother of Kishwar Zeeshan, who patronised the team to travel to Dar-es-Salaam.

Organisers and parents of the players said that it was unfortunate that athletes under the banner of Bangladesh Special Olympic Association have won a number of laurels at different international meets. But the players are not getting due attention of the concerned authorities.

Students of Dhanmondi and Ramna branches of Society for the Welfare of the Ineffectually Disabled (SWID), Bangladesh, represented the national team. The SWID arranged a two month training before sending the team to Brunei.

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Arambagh KS denied Sheikh Russell KC from a deserving win playing a 2-2 draw with two late goals in the Premier Bank Premier Division Football League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Sunday.

Abu Morshed and Mojibur Rahman Ritu scored one goal each in the second half to snatch one point from runners-up Sheikh Russell's custody.

Russell paid for their last 20 minutes luxury to concede the two goals as they could not defend the advantage provided by Nayan and Moroccan Rachid after dominating the most of the show.

With one round to go Russell secured the fifth position with 24 points ahead of Farashganj SC (22 points) while Arambagh confirmed they are going to finish the league as seventh with 19 points.

As Arambagh were sure of their Premier League stay after Dhaka Wanderers lost points in the previous game to Abahani Limited, the last match of the 17th round just became a formality.

Both the teams began with a relax mood and Nayan broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with a firing left footer capitalising on a good work of Rachid who set the ball inside the box after receiving a left side free kick of Mishu.

After the tiring first half, Tanvir continued his robust run in the left flank floated a series of crosses but the strikers were not in right position to convert those chances before Rachid's left footed grounder found the back of the net hitting the side post in the 61st minute.

Morshed pulled one back for Arambagh but no one guessed that it could be a chance for the side to return in the match. The young striker who stuck a hattrick in the previous match just placed the ball out of the reach of advancing Russell custodian Biplob in 67th minute from a Rintu pass.

It became a common scenario in every match that the Russell players got tired in the last half an hour and Arambagh just cashed the opportunity with a series of attacks. Their effort paid the dividend when Ritu headed home to frustrate Russell from a nice chip of Rasel Ansari from the left flank.

Today's match

Muktijoddha vs Dhaka Wanderers (5pm).

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Sept 4: India overcame a difficult start to their reply before overhauling Zimbabwe's score of 250 with 11 balls to spare in Harare on Sunday.

It was the final round robin match of Zimbabwe's home triangular one-day series - India and New Zealand will contest Tuesday's final.

At one stage India were 36-4 with a mounting required run rate.

But Yuvraj Singh (120) and Mahendra Dhoni (67 not out) righted the ship and Zimbabwe were denied at the end.

India rested left-arm seamers Irfan Pathan and Ashish Nehra.

Zimbabwe are without ex-captain Heath Streak, who is out for up to 10 days after ankle surgery.

And batsman Stuart Carlisle was dropped after his contract was cancelled by Zimbabwe Cricket.

Blessing Mahwire had the wickets of Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid as India lost wickets regularly at the top of the order.

With skipper Saurav Ganguly and Mohammad Kaif also failing India were in trouble but Yuvraj held his nerve and Dhoni proved the perfect partner to see India home.

Zimbabwe put on a good batting display when they set India 251 runs to win in the last of a series of ODI matches played at Harare Sports Club here Sunday.

It was widely expected that the Zimbabweans, who are in the middle of a dispute with their management, might succumb easily to the

Indian bowlers because of the distraction.

India captain Saurav Ganguly probably thought that when he sent in the home side to bat after winning the toss.

But it turned out to be an African spectacular with skipper Tatenda Taibu engineering a recovery from early losses with 72, Charles Coventry slamming bowlers all around the ground for 74 and Andy Blignaut making 41.

At one point, Zimbabwe had lost two wickets for just four runs but Taibu, Coventry and Blignaut brushed aside the early setbacks and produced a rush of boundaries.

Taibu hit 71 in 97 balls and with Coventry put on 116 for the fourth wicket.

Then Coventry, who made his highest score in one-day internationals and his first half century, and Blignaut excelled in a partnership worth 66 runs in 47 balls.

It was the highest Zimbabwe score of the tournament with their previous best being 205 against New Zealand.

Meanwhile a row over contracts between Zimbabwe Cricket and their players was threatening to develop into the kind of ugly strike that brought cricket to its knees here 18 months ago.

SCOREBOARD

Zimbabwe innings

V Sibanda lbw b Singh 1

B Taylor run out (Yuvraj) 26

H Masakadza c and b Singh 0

T Taibu b Yadav 71

C Coventry c Kartik b Agarkar 74

A Blignaut st Dhoni b Harbhajan 41

S Williams run out (Agarkar/Dhoni) 8

G Ewing lbw b Kartik 7

N Mahwire b Agarkar 2

P Utseya b Agarkar 0

A Ireland not out 1

Extras (lb13, w4, nb2) 19

Total (all out, 50 overs) 250

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-4, 3-50, 4-166, 5-227, 6-232, 7-246, 8-248, 9-249,

10-250

BOWLING O M R W

R Singh 8 1 44 2

Agarkar 10 3 34 3

Yadav 9 1 44 1

Harbhajan 10 0 41 1

M Kartik 9 1 52 1S

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Sept 4: Zambian soccer fans destroyed a mosque and burned cars in violent riots late on Saturday following Zambia's loss in a world cup qualifier to Senegal, officials said on Sunday.

The soccer fans in the Copperbelt town of Kitwe, 400 km (249 miles) north of the capital Lusaka, burnt four vehicles and destroyed four houses in the aftermath of Saturday's 1-0 loss to Senegal in the nearby town of Chililabombwe. Police inspector general Ephraim Mateyo confirmed the riots and said police would give details later. "My commissioner of police is in the area and once I get a briefing, I will release the details," Mateyo told Reuters.

A police officer from Kitwe told Reuters that the fans rioted from Saturday evening until the early hours of Sunday. Their targets included a residential area where several Senegalese live.

"I saw four cars which were burnt and also four houses which were extensively damaged. The soccer fans were targeting property belonging to Senegalese nationals resident in Zambia," the policeman told Reuters by telephone.

"The fans also destroyed a mosque where the Senegalese go for their prayers ... it was an orgy of destruction, which police failed to contain," he said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. The loss diminished Zambia's prospects to qualify for the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006. The southern African country has never qualified for the finals before.

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The 21st National Swimming Championship will begin on September 27 at the Mirpur National Swimming Complex.

All the affiliated districts, divisions and institutions of Bangladesh Swimming Federation are requested to send their entries for the meet sponsored by Keya Cosmetics Ltd.

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Mehdi of North South University clinched the men's single unseeded title in the Metro Group Open Table Tennis Tournament outplaying Arif of BRAC University by 4-0 sets in the final at the NSC Woodenfloor Gymnasium on Sunday.

Mehdi did not give any chance to Arif in the final winning the sets by 11-6, 11-9, 11-4 and 12-10. He defeated Faisal of NSU after a tough battle by 4-3 in the first semifinal, while Arif outplayed Sharif of Lalbagh by 5-1 in the other semifinal.

In the boys team event, Narail thrashed New Colony by 3-0, Dinajpur defeated Gaibandha by 3-0 and Jagarani outclassed Patuakhali by 3-0.

In the Group-B of the boys team event, Biman gave no chance to Magura winning by 3-0, Habiganj beat Khulna 3-2 and Barna TT Club outplayed Rajshahi 3-0 in the boys group event of group-2.

In the women's team event, Abahani Limited were too good for Eleven Star Club with a straight 3-0 win, Narail beat Rajshahi by 3-0 and Patuakhali defeated by Jessore 3-1.

Earlier, President of the Women Entrepreneurs Association Rokia Afzal Rahman inaugurated the tournament as chief guest organised by Bangladesh TT Players Association (BTPA).

Managing Director of Metro Group Monir Ahmed, general secretary of Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation Rafiqul Islam Tipu and former national TT player and president of BPTA Jobera Rahman Linu were present.

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Ayesha Akhter set up the example as the first women in the country after officiating a match of the Pran-Cola School Tournament between Govt Laboratory School and Post Office High School at Dhanmondi Club Ground on Sunday.

She made her debut as the first woman referee who conducted the first match at any level in the country.

Laboratory School edged Post Office by 3-1 in the match to move into the semifinal of Zone-3 thanks to a double strike from Atif and a single from Arif.

In the Zone-4, Residential Model College advanced to the semifinal with a massive 7-0 win over Dr Muhammad Shaheedullah Bidyapith while Reefat Chowdhury slammed a hattrick as Motijheel Govt High School booked their semifinal birth blanking Nawabpur Govt High School by 6-0 in the Zone-2.

Shaheed Nabi High School also moved into the semifinal with 5-1 victory over Sunshine Pre-Cadet thanks to a hattrick off Manik in the Zone-1.

In the other matches of the day, Dharmarajik Buddha Mandir High School defeated Haidar Ali School, College by 2-0 and Kurmitola High School outplayed B I T by 3-0 and Badda Alatunnesa High School thrashed BG Press High School 5-0.

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Runners- up Narinda Progoti Boys Club had to face a tough resistance from Bangladesh Police to record a 22-20 victory in the Cute Premier Division Handball League at Outer Stadium's Handball Ground on Sunday.

The winners fought back in the second half to snatch the victory after trailing by 11-12 goals in the first half.

Mizan netted eight followed by Indian recruit Gourab five and Akram three to keep Narinda in the winnings spree.

Noor-e Alam and Abdur scored five goals each for the losers.

Amzad of the winning team was adjudged as the man of the match.

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Monipur Chess Club maintained their lead in the points table with 18.5 points after the sixth round of the Second Division Chess League at the Chess Federation Hall Room in Sunday.

Rajshahi Daba Unnayan Sangstha and Uttara Central Chess Club were in the second position with 15.5 points each.

Sharulia Union Chess Club was in the third position with 15 points.

Chittagong Mohammedan SC, Fire Service & Civil Defense Sports Club, Rajshahi District Chess Players Association and Matuail Protibadi Tarun Samaj were in the fourth position with 14.5 points each.

In the sixth round games, Monipur beat Sarulia Union, Mohammedan beat Rajshahi Daba Unnayan, Rajshahi Players Association beat Friends Chess Club, Matuail Protibadi beat Blues Chess Academy, Uttara Central beat Dolphin Chess Club, Fire Service beat Abdul Hadi Chess Club, Proshikonarthi Daba Dal beat Dhaka University Green, BUET Chess Club beat Titas Club, Dhaka University Chess Club beat Blues Chess Academy, Talla Shadaran Pathagar beat Dhanmondi Progati Sangah, Ekata Chess Club beat Notre Dam Collage Chess Club and Bangladesh Braille Chess Association drew with Keranigonj Chess Club.

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Bangladesh will participate in the Asian Badminton Championship to be held in Hyderabad, India, from September 6-11.

A five-member Bangladesh badminton team left for Kolkata enroute to Hyderabad on Sunday morning to take part in the six day meet.

Bangladesh will participate in four events- men's singles & doubles and women's singles & doubles.

Team: Enayet Ullah Khan, Ahsan Habib Parash, Kanika Rani Adhikari and Dulali Halder.

Syed Marium Tarek, joint secretary of Bangladesh Badminton Federation, is accompanying the players as manager.

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Inspector General of Police M Abdul Quaiyum has been nominated as the President of Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation.

He would replace Brig General Rezaqul Haider, an official handout said on Sunday.

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Sept 4: Ukraine qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time on Saturday while the United States booked their place for the fifth time in a row.

Ukraine appeared to have been denied a place early in the evening after conceding a goal a minute from time to draw 1-1 in behind closed doors in Georgia.

An 89th minute goal from Georgi Gakhokidze cancelled out Ruslan Rotan's 44th minute strike for Ukraine and it seemed they would have to wait for Wednesday's match with Turkey to go through.

Their dream came back to life later however when Denmark scored early in Turkey, flickered out again as the Turks fought back to lead 2-1 only to burst into actuality as the Danes scored an injury time equaliser.

That result meant that neither Turkey or Denmark can match Ukraine's total of 24 points, and although European champions Greece, who did not play on Saturday, can still do so, they have an inferior head to head record.

So Ukraine, who have missed out on three previous tournaments via the playoffs, join the hosts and Asian qualifiers Japan, Iran, South Korea and Saudi Arabia and the US in the mix for Germany.

The Netherlands guaranteed themselves a place in the playoffs at worse with a 1-0 Group One win in Armenia thanks to a 63rd minute goal from Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Romania beat the Czech Republic 2-0 in Bucharest in the same group with two goals from Adrian Mutu to move above the Czechs, who have two matches in hand.

Poland, England, Croatia and Sweden also all won to maintain their close battles in their two groups.

Poland won a five-goal thriller 3-2 against Austria in Chorzow to move on to 21 points in Group Six and stay two ahead of England who beat Wales 1-0 in Cardiff with a Joe Cole goal.

England have a match in hand over the Poles who lived dangerously against the Austrians, the visitors hitting the bar and having an effort cleared off the line in the dying minutes.

Croatia and Sweden kept up their neck-and-neck race in Group Eight with Croatia winning 2-1 in Iceland and Sweden beating Bulgaria 3-0 in Stockholm.

Croatia have one more point than Sweden and the issue could well be decided on October 8 when Croatia play Sweden in Zagreb.

Russia kept the pressure on Portugal and Slovakia in Group Three with a 2-0 win over Liechtenstein with Alexander Kerzhakov scoring once in each half.

Portugal were on their way to picking up three more points with a 6-0 win against Luxembourg in Saturday's late kickoff to move five points clear at the top, but Latvia's hopes ended after they lost 2-1 to Baltic neighbours Estonia in Tallinn.

Group Four remains as tight as ever after France defeated the Faroe Islands 3-0 in Lens with Djibril Cisse finding the net twice to leave three teams on 13 points and one on 12.

Ireland, France and Switzerland are all on 13 points with Israel, having played one more match than the leading trio, on 12 after their 1-1 draw with the Swiss in Basel.

All four of them remain unbeaten. Ireland meet France in Dublin on Wednesday while Israel should pick up three more points when they play the Faroes on the same night, as should the Swiss in Cyprus.

Alexander Frei put Switzerland ahead after five minutes with Adoram Keise equalised for the visitors 15 minutes later -- the sixth time in the campaign that they have come from behind to win or draw.

Italy remain in control of Group Five but had to work hard to earn a 1-1 comeback draw in Scotland. Their lead was cut by the end of the day after Norway grabbed an injury-time 3-2 win in Slovenia, who are now all but out of the running.

The Scots led through a Kenny Miller header in the 13th minute but Italy levelled through substitute Fabio Grosso 14 minutes from time.

Italy have 14 points with Norway on 12 and Slovenia on nine. Scotland have seven points, along with Belarus, who surprisingly lost 2-0 in Moldova.

In Group Seven Serbia & Montenegro set a record by going seven qualifying matches without conceding a goal to beat Lithuania 2-0 and move two points clear of Spain -- who they visit on Wednesday.

In Africa, Tunisia beat Kenya 2-0 behind closed doors in Nairobi to move within a point of qualifying for the finals. Morocco, who meet Tunisia in the decisive Group Five qualifier on October 7, beat Botswana 1-0 to keep their chances alive. Tunisia have 20 points, Morocco 19 and if Tunisia avoid defeat they are through.

But South Africa, the hosts of the 2010 World Cup look like they will miss out on next year's tournament after losing 3-1 to Burkina Faso in their group.

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Sept 4: The United States qualified for their fifth successive World Cup with a 2-0 win over arch-rivals Mexico on Saturday.

Trinidad & Tobago striker Stern John scored twice in the last five minutes as the Soca Warriors came from behind to beat Guatemala 3-2 to revive their hopes of a debut at the finals while Costa Rica won 3-1 in Panama.

The United States lead with 18 points and are guaranteed one of the three direct places in Germany next year after seven rounds of the final stage in the CONCACAF tournament.

The United States beat Mexico in the second round of the 2002 World Cup. Mexico, who need one more point, are second with 16 while Costa Rica follow with 10.

Trinidad's win over Guatemala left the two sides level on seven while Panama prop up the table with two.

The team which finishes fourth have another chance to qualify when they play off against the fifth-placed Asian team -- either Bahrain or Uzbekistan.

US striker Landon Donovan, who said before the game that the Mexican players were jealous of their US counterparts, stoked the rivalry again afterwards.

Despite the often bitter rivalry, neither side threatened in a listless first half before the United States settled the match within 13 minutes of the restart.

Midfielder Eddie Lewis curled a free kick into the area in the 53rd minute and it was headed against the woodwork by Oguchi Onyewu before Steve Ralston nodded home. Claudio Reyna found DaMarcus Beasley with a corner kick five minutes later and the PSV Eindhoven midfielder slammed a shot past goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.

At the other end, US goalkeeper Kasey Keller extended his run in the qualifiers to 507 minutes without conceding a goal.

Mexico, whose last away win against the United States in a World Cup qualifier was back in 1972, have another chance when they host Panama on Wednesday and still appear likely to qualify. Costa Rica's win made them favourites to take the third direct spot and reach their second successive finals.

The Ticos, backed by 5,000 fans who crossed the border, suffered an early fright in Panama City when Jorge Dely Valdes hit the woodwork for Panama before Alvaro Saborio gave them the lead two minutes before half-time.

Walter Centeno and Ronald Gomez punished slack defending with further goals after the break before Dely Valdes grabbed a consolation for the hosts.

But the real drama was in Port of Spain.

Guillermo Ramirez gave Guatemala the lead in the third minute from a free kick, but Trinidad levelled two minutes into the second half with an individual goal from 37-year-old midfielder Russell Latapy, who came out of international retirement to play.

Gonzalo Romero put Guatemala back ahead in the 61st minute before John struck in the 86th and 87th minutes to leave the Central Americans stunned.

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Sept 4: France coach Raymond Domenech told his players not to get carried away with the 3-0 victory over the Faroe Islands in their World Cup Group Four qualifier on Saturday.

"It was the win we needed before taking on Ireland in Dublin (on Wednesday)," Domenech told a news conference.

"It's only the first stage on the road to qualification. Nothing is done yet and we are still in the same situation as before the tie, we need to win all our matches to finish top of the group."

Former world and European champions France are level on 13 points with Ireland and Switzerland at the top of the table with three matches to go.

"The only thing we can be certain of is that we are in the race. Still, from now on we can't afford a single mishap," said Domenech.

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Sept 4: Sven-Goran Eriksson called on England to move up a gear against Northern Ireland next week after they toiled to beat Wales 1-0 in their World Cup Group Six qualifier on Saturday.

England's unfamiliar 4-5-1 line-up in the absence of suspended striker Michael Owen gave them little fluidity in attack and, in the closing stages after Joe Cole had scored in the 54th minute, a torrid time at the back.

Though satisfied with the first-half display, Eriksson said: "I think we should have scored - we had good chances.

"The second half was okay until the last 20 minutes when we lost the ball a little too easily and gave Wales the opportunity to knock long high balls in for (John) Hartson. That's not good.

"But we defended extremely well - and that's very positive.

"In qualification games you want to play good football but the most important thing is to win."

Looking ahead to the game in Belfast, he said: "I hope we can play better on Wednesday for all 90 minutes...but three points are absolutely vital for us."

Eriksson had reservations about his wingers, whose tendency to drift inside during the opening 45 minutes caused further congestion in an already busy midfield at the Millennium Stadium.

"I think Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole did very well," Eriksson said, before adding: "I wish they'd stayed a bit more wide in the first half...because we ended up with Rooney, Wright-Phillips, Cole and Steven Gerrard all central - and we couldn't find any space."

Defending his 4-5-1 formation, he said: "I think it worked very well for more than an hour but when you can't keep the ball you're always in trouble, whatever system you use."

Wales manager John Toshack, whose side were already out of contention before Saturday's game, said: "I'm disappointed at the result. A defeat is a defeat whether it's 1-0 or 3-0 or 4-0.

"England had a lot of the ball and apart from one opportunity for (Wayne) Rooney, when Danny Coyne came out and made a good save, I don't think they had other chances. "And Paul Robinson probably made the save of the match from John Hartson's header.

"We thought the last 20 minutes would be the time to have a go at them but we just couldn't seem to get on the end of anything. There were enough balls going in there in the last 10-15 minutes."

Another regret for Toshack - and England - was that, after picking up a yellow card, Hartson will miss Wednesday's game against Poland.

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Sept 4: He was a star striker in the Soviet era. Now Oleg Blokhin's star is rising again after becoming the first coach to lead an independent Ukraine into the next year's World Cup finals.

"We did it!" Blokhin screamed after hearing that his squad had qualified for the finals. "A lot of people called me an adventurer when I promised to lead Ukraine into the finals."

"I know that they will call me crazy but I believe that now we are capable of winning the World Cup!"

Though Ukraine failed to book their pass to Germany in a head-to-head clash with Georgia, where they recorded a 1-1 draw, they still clinched a World Cup finals berth after Turkey drew 2-2 with Denmark at home.

Saturday's results left Ukraine with an unassailable seven-point lead over the Turks with two qualifiers remaining. Ukraine became the first European team to qualify for the 2006 World Cup apart from hosts Germany.

"The dream comes true!" said the team's skipper Andriy Shevchenko. "I've got a lot of personal prizes during my career but I always have been dreaming to achieve something with my country's team."

"I'm happy! One should experience that feeling at least once in his life."

The 53-year-old former striker Blokhin, who won 112 caps and scored 42 goals for the Soviet national side and was the 1975 European Footballer of the Year, has scored another goal: making good on a promise many thought a tad bold at the time to get Ukraine into the 2006 World Cup finals.

"Blokhin is a man and a coach, who is full of ambitions," the head of Ukraine's Football Federation, Grigory Surkis, said after Blokhin was appointed in September 2003.

"He really cares about our football and the country's national squad. And he himself is a symbol of winning spirit." The confidence of Ukraine's football supremo payed off as Blokhin called back to his team experienced veterans Vladislav Vashchuk and Sergei Rebrov, bolstering his side with a set of new and talented players.

His squadron managed to collect four points in a two-match opposition with Denmark and the European champions Greece, thrashing 3-0 the 2002 World Cup bronze medalists Turkey at their home turf.

Ukraine have also maintained a 100-percent record in matches with the group's underdogs Albania and Kazakhstan.

However, the country's first success was recently under serious threat when Blokhin was forced to announce his resignation earlier this year after a row over his position as a member of Ukrainian parliament. Blokhin, who won two European Cup Winners' Cups with Dynamo Kiev in 1975 and 1986, is a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The SDP supported Viktor Yanukovich, who lost the race for president to Viktor Yushchenko, whose supporters, Blokhin claimed, had driven him out as national coach.

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Sept 4: Neatly taken strikes from Raul Tamudo and Fernando Morientes earned unimpressive Spain a 2-1 win at home to Canada in a friendly international on Saturday.

Espanyol centre-forward Tamudo put Spain ahead with a fine header early on in the first half and Liverpool striker Morientes scored his 25th goal for the national side with an opportunist effort 20 minutes from time.

Canada replied with the best goal of the night when substitute Sandro Grande netted with a stunning 20-metre first-time shot three minutes later.

"We didn't give a good image of ourselves and played pretty poorly. It showed we were at the start of the season," said Spain coach Luis Aragones.

With one eye on next week's World Cup qualifier against Group Seven leaders Serbia & Montenegro, Aragones fielded his second-string line-up to start the game.

The home side still made a promising start when Albert Luque created Spain's opener in the seventh minute.

The Newcastle United forward picked out the unmarked Tamudo with a ballooning cross from the left and the little striker finished off by sending a perfectly placed header back across the goal and inside the near post.

Canada, who are already out of running for World Cup qualification, were slow to warm to the task but pressed hard towards the end of the first half and put together some neat passing play in midfield.

Dwayne de Rosario tested keeper Pepe Reina with a snap shot in the 36th minute and the Liverpool player made an excellent reflex save to beat away a fierce drive from fellow striker Tomasz Radzinski after slack marking by the Spanish defence.

Tamudo almost got a second for Spain at the start of the second half when he cut into the area from the left, but keeper Kenny Stamatopoluos reacted quickly to block his drilled shot.

Aragones then decided to send on his first-choice strike partnership of Raul and Morientes as well as winger Joaquin earlier in the second half.

It was Morientes who extended the Spanish lead 20 minutes from time when he steered in from a tight angle after Stamatopoulos spilled a back heel from Raul following a neat through ball from De la Pena.

Canada replied almost immediately when midfielder Grande scored with a stunning 20-metre curler a minute after stepping on to the pitch.

Raul could have added a third for Spain in the dying minutes, but the Real Madrid striker was denied first by Stamatopoulos and a minute later by the woodwork.

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Sept 4: Ecuador and Paraguay put themselves on the brink of qualifying for next year's World Cup after winning key matches on Saturday.

Former Southampton striker Agustin Delgado scored twice as Ecuador, who played in the finals for the first time in 2002, beat Bolivia 2-1 in La Paz.

Bayern Munich striker Roque Santa Cruz gave Paraguay a 1-0 win over Argentina in Asuncion, the first time they have beaten their big neighbours in a World Cup qualifier.

Venezuela hammered a demoralised Peru 4-1 in steamy Maracaibo to keep alive a faint hope of qualifying for the first time.

Argentina, who have already qualified, stayed top of the 10-nation South American group on 31 points, four ahead of world champions Brazil.

Brazil host Chile on Sunday and need to win to make sure of their place with two games to spare.

Ecuador moved up to 26 points, with Paraguay one behind.

The top four teams qualify for the World Cup in Germany and the fifth play off against the Oceania winners for another place.

Colombia and Chile have 20 points, followed by Venezuela and Uruguay on 18, Peru on 15 and Bolivia 13.

Uruguay host Colombia in a crucial tie on Sunday.

In La Paz, high above sea level, Ecuador went ahead in the ninth minute when Delgado's long-range shot took a deflection off a defender and flew past Carlos Arias.

Doyle Vaca levelled in the 41st minute but Delgado put Ecuador back in front when he met Edison Mendez's cross with a majestic header five minutes after the break to take his tally in the qualifiers to five.

Paraguay, backed by a rowdy crowd of 38,000 at the Defenders of the Chaco stadium, made an aggressive start against Argentina.

Santa Cruz burst into the centre of the defence and Gabriel Heinze attempted to clear but the ball hit the Paraguayan, who then slipped it past Roberto Abbondanzieri.

Argentina fought back after half-time but Heinze was sent off in the 56th minute for a second bookable offence and the hosts regained the initiative.

"There's no way that Argentina relaxed," said coach Jose Pekerman, whose team were missing striker Hernan Crespo and midfielder Javier Mascherano through injury.

"Paraguay deserved the goal," he said. "They knew how to take their chances and they knew how to defend."

South Africa-based striker Jose Torrealba scored twice as Venezuela over-ran Peru, whose new coach Freddy Ternero has left experienced midfielders Roberto Palacios and Nolberto Solano out of the team.

Giancarlo Maldonado gave Venezuela a half-time lead and although PSV Eindhoven striker Jefferson Farfan equalised in the 62nd minute, Juan Arango put the home team back in front five minutes later.

Torrealba scored twice more in the 72nd and 79th minutes.

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Sept 4: A fifth successive World Cup win on Saturday left Tunisia needing only a draw from their last match to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals.

The African champions beat Kenya 2-0 behind closed doors in Nairobi and will clinch a place in the finals in Germany if they avoid defeat against Morocco on October 8.

If leaders Tunisia progress from Group E it will be their third successive appearance in the finals.

Morocco remained one point behind Tunisia after overcoming Botswana 1-0 in Rabat. Senegal went back to the top of Group A after a goal from El Hadji Diouf earned a 1-0 win in Zambia.

Ghana's hopes of a first appearance in the finals were boosted when Group B rivals South Africa lost 3-1 to Burkina Faso in the heat of Ouagadougou.

Abou Cisse scored twice to virtually end the chances of the 2010 World Cup hosts going to the 2006 finals.

Ghana will move within one point of qualifying if they win at home to Uganda on Sunday.

Tunisia made the perfect start in Nairobi when Haykel Guemamdia struck after a second-minute counter attack. Substitute Issam Jemaa then squeezed the ball past Kenya goalkeeper Arnold Origi to clinch victory five minutes from time.

Kenya defender Edwin Mkenya was sent off early in the second half.

FIFA ordered the match to be played behind closed doors after the death of a 15-year-old spectator in a rush for tickets ahead of Kenya's last World Cup qualifier in Nairobi against Morocco in June. Fifteen other fans were also injured in the stampede.

Kenya gave a lacklustre performance and rarely troubled Tunisia's 39-year-old goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel.

Morocco's victory over Botswana was secured by a header from Charlton Athletic defender Talal El-Karkouri 10 minutes into the second half.

Senegal defeated Zambia in their first competitive international since the sacking of French coach Guy Stephan in June.

Diouf's goal came in the 58th minute from a pass by Issa Ba. Zambia hit the crossbar twice.

Senegal's lead in the group could be short-lived, with Togo expected to regain top place against Liberia in Lome on Sunday.

Liverpool's Mohamed Lamine Sissoko was among the scorers in a 2-0 win for Mali over Congo in a Group A match that had no bearing on the qualification race.

Montpellier striker Cisse hit two goals and Kebe Yahia notched another as Burkina Faso handed South Africa their second successive defeat.

Cisse tapped in the first goal from close range after 32 minutes. Yahia added a second seven minutes later with an expert chip over goalkeeper Hans Vonk.

Burkina Faso increased their lead three minutes after halftime when defender Mbubelo Mabizela brought down Cisse, who converted the resulting penalty.

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Sept 4: Wildcard James Blake and two-time champion Andre Agassi kept the American flag flying high at the US Open on Saturday, Blake with a stunning upset of French Open champion Rafael Nadal.

Blake, on the ascendant again after a cascade of personal crises in 2004, exposed the world No. 2 Nadal's hardcourt weaknesses in a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory.

Blake was delighted to overcome the defensive challenge of Nadal, the 19-year-old Spanish sensation who has won nine titles this year and been one of only three men to beat all-conquering Roger Federer in 2005.

"I felt like I had to hit two winners at least to win each point," said Blake, who was buoyed by the support of a crowd touched by his gutsy fight back from a terrible 2004 that included a broken neck, a scary bout of shingles and his father's death from cancer.

Blake needed just one break of serve to take the opening set and was on the brink of a break in the opening game of the second before Nadal reeled off six straight points en route to a 2-0 lead.

Nadal, his confidence high after the second set, couldn't keep the momentum in the face of Blake's attack.

"He was playing with confidence," Nadal said. "He has a very good forehand.

He's serving well. He didn't have a lot of mistakes. He beat me."

If he makes it to the quarter-finals, Blake could meet American tennis icon Agassi, who kept his 20th US Open campaign alive with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) victory against 19-year-old Czech Tomas Berdych.

Berdych, who was not yet a year old when Agassi played his first US Open in 1986 - started strong, showing no sign that the eight-time Grand Slam champion intimidated him.

But as Agassi upped the pressure on Berdych's serve in the second set, the youngster began to falter, and Agassi took the next two sets with ease. The fourth set was another story, as Berdych rediscovered his touch and made Agassi work for everything he got.

"Each set my quality picked up, and in the fourth set we were both playing well," Agassi said.

Berdych mustered three break points with winners against Agassi's serve in the sixth game, Agassi saving each and finally holding with an ace.

Berdych, perhaps a trifle deflated, immediately fell behind on his serve but saved two break points to hold for 4-3 and broke Agassi to serve for the set.

The eight-time Grand Slam champion responded with a break of his own, giving himself the opportunity with a delicate drop shot and following up with a fierce forehand winner.

Agassi caught Berdych with the drop shot several times in the match, and also saw it backfire. It came good for him, barely, on the final point of the 12th game, forcing the decisive tiebreaker.

With a possible quarter-final clash with Blake looming, Agassi next faces Belgian Xavier Malisse, who posted a wild 5-7, 1-6, 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (7/1) victory over Mikhail Youzhny.

Blake will play Spain's Tommy Robredo, who edged France's Sebastien Grosjean 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/3).

American Robby Ginepri jumped on the bandwagon with a 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win over Tommy Haas of Germany. He'll play another five-set winner, Richard Gasquet of France, who beat Croatian Ivan Ljubicic 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 6-2.

Women's world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport joined her male compatriots in the round of 16 with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain.

Davenport dropped her opening serve and was deadlocked at 3-3 in opening set when she took charge with seven straight games.

Davenport will try to reach her ninth straight US Open quarter-final against Nathalie Dechy, who beat fellow Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin.

Another Frenchwoman, third seed Amelie Mauresmo, made it safely into the round of 16 with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany.

Mauresmo next faces Russian Elena Likhovtseva, who rallied to beat compatriot Anastasia Myskina 0-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6).

French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne and sixth-seeded Elena Dementieva got through the hard way, each surviving second-set lapses to advance.

Henin-Hardenne, seeded seventh, cruised through the first set against Yoon Jeong Cho but found herself in a dogfight with the 75th-ranked South Korean in the second before emerging with a 6-0, 7-6 (7/4) victory. Her straight-set win was more than Dementieva could produce, as she coughed up 19 double faults en route to a 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) victory over compatriot Anna Chakvetadze.

Henin-Hardenne booked a re-match with 12th-seeded Mary Pierce of France, the woman she beat in the Roland Garros final. Pierce led 6-3, 3-0 in her third round match when Serbian Jelena Jankovic retired.

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Sept 4: Hampshire stand-in skipper Shaun Udal paid tribute to the influence of Australia leg-spin great Shane Warne after the southern county beat Warwickshire by 18 runs to win the C and G Trophy one-day final at Lord's.

Warne has inspired a remarkable transformation in Hampshire's fortunes since becoming captain two years ago but missed out on the final as he was with the Australia touring party ahead of next week's final Ashes Test at The Oval.

"He's been on the phone already," said Udal, the sole survivor from Hampshire's last Lord's final win 13 years ago, of Warne.

"He set the foundations for the club. Two years ago we were second bottom of the second division (of the first-class county championship) and now we've risen to second in the first division and C and G winners.

"So much of it is down to him. The whole attitude has been brought up by Shane. He's an astonishing man," added Udal after Saturday's victory.

Hampshire, after losing the toss, were bowled out for 290 with Zimbabwe Test exile Sean Ervine top-scoring with a man-of-the-match winning 104.

But at one stage Udal's side had looked on a course for a score in excess of 300. They were though made to fret by a second-wicket stand of 122 between Warwickshire skipper Nick Knight (118) and Ian Bell (54).

However, current England batsman Bell suffered from cramp late on in his innings and was clearly in pain when he holed out - a worrying sign for England, 2-1 up in the Ashes, who need only to avoid defeat to win their first Test series against Australia in 18 years.

"We were very concerned at one point. Then the rate started to increase even though they (Knight and Bell) were still in and the cramp Ian Bell got helped us," former England off-spinner Udal admitted.

"We knew if we got one wicket we could squeeze the guy at the other end and just give Nick singles, then the rate would still keep climbing. That was the plan and it worked."

Reflecting on the match as a whole, Udal said: "It still passes you by in a blur even at the ripe old age of 36.

"It's still a great experience and a fantastic place to play a final. To win, when at the half-way stage we were second favourites, well we've got a bit of spirit in the side, a bit of determination."

Hampshire's Australian connection doesn't just extend to Warne.

Pacemen Andrew Bichel (three for 57), a former international and all-rounder Shane Watson (three for 34), who has been tipped as a possible late call-up for The Oval, both made important contributions.

"He (Bichel) is a winner. He's out of the Warney mould, no game is ever lost," Udal explained.

"Even though they were cruising at one point he was still encouraging, cajoling and helping not just himself but the other bowlers and me. He's a seriously good cricketer."

Ervine's century was his second in as many games in the tournament after his score of 100 helped Hampshire to a semi-final win against Yorkshire.

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Sept 4: Substitute defender Fabio Grosso scored a late equaliser to give Italy a 1-1 draw with Scotland in their World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park on Saturday. Italy lead European zone Group Five with 14 points from seven games, while Scotland are one from bottom with seven points.

Norway and Slovenia, equal second on nine points from six games, were playing later in Celje.

Scotland snatched the lead with a wonderful header by Kenny Miller, who steered the ball away from keeper Angelo Peruzzi in the 13th minute from Paul Hartley's cross.

Grosso, on after the break for Cristian Zaccardo, crashed home a spectacular equaliser high into the net from about eight metres when Scotland failed to clear a corner in the 76th. Italy coach Marcello Lippi said: "We tried many ways to attack and we were very surprised by Kenny Miller who played very well.

"Our defence tried to stop him in any way possible, but the decision to take off Zaccardo was not because of the goal. I needed someone to push, especially on the left. "I am very happy about the result, but not the performance.

"But we have to look at the overall performance and I believe Italy, today, did well. I am happy with the spirit (of the team)."

The Italians signalled their intent as early as the second minute when Zaccardo raced in at the back post only to have his point-blank shot brilliantly blocked by Scotland keeper Craig Gordon. Italy dominated the second period and Christian Vieri missed an incredible chance on 64 minutes when Graham Alexander blundered by giving the ball away to Francesco Totti on the left with a poor flick. Totti whipped the ball low towards the far post where Vieri blazed over from six metres.

Scotland coach Ally McCoist said: "By any means it is not a bad result, it's a good result.

"I thought it was an absolutely outstanding performance from Kenny (Miller). Playing up front is hard enough against one of the best defences in the world," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

"I thought he was magnificent and what a goal."

Scotland manager Walter Smith said: "Italy are a very good side...They made us work extremely hard.

"I have to give credit to every one of our players, they dug in and showed real commitment to the cause."

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Sept 4: Gamba Osaka won 1-0 at Tokyo Verdy on Saturday to go top of the J-League for the first time in five years.

Brazilian striker Araujo fired home a left-footed shot 13 minutes from time to take Gamba above Kashima Antlers in the Japanese first division.

Gamba have 44 points from 22 matches with four-times champions Kashima on 43 after they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by 10-man Urawa Reds. Urawa are third with 37 points.

Fourth-placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima were held to a 1-1 draw at home by JEF United Chiba, while Jubilo Iwata won 2-1 at struggling Oita Trinita.

Bottom club Vissel Kobe lost 2-1 at Cerezo Osaka and remain favourites to be relegated along with Oita this season.

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Sept 4: Exiled Zimbabwe all-rounder Sean Ervine's century was the cornerstone of Hampshire's 18-run C and G Trophy one-day final win against Warwickshire at Lord's here Saturday.

Warwickshire, set 291 to win, finished on 272 all out with four balls remaining as Hampshire, appearing in their first Lord's final in 13 years, made it four wins out of four in showpiece matches at the 'home of cricket'.

Nick Knight, in his last season as Warwickshire captain, made 118 but saw wickets fall at the other end.

With 10 overs to go Warwickshire needed 84 more to win with six wickets standing after former Australia all-rounder Andrew Bichel had slowed their progress by taking two wickets for six runs in 12 balls.

And the equation then became 40 runs off three overs with four wickets left. Former England batsman Knight, a veteran of 100 one-day internationals, then holed out to Kevin Latouf off Bichel, who finished with three for 57.

Current Australia all-rounder Shane Watson chipped in with three for 34 before the match ended when South Africa paceman Makhaya Ntini was bowled by Chris Tremlett.

Former England opener Knight, a veteran of 100 one-day internationals, and Ian Bell (54) put on 122 for the second wicket on a belting pitch.

But current Test batsman Bell gave England a scare ahead of next week's final Ashes clash at The Oval by suffering an attack of cramp.

Afterwards both Knight and Hampshire skipper Shaun Udal said Bell's injury had been a key factor in the match.

Ex-England off-spinner Udal, 36, a member of the last Hampshire side to win a Lord's final in 1992, added:

Ervine, who effectively quit Zimbabwe following last year's row over racial bias in selection made a 91-ball hundred with 11 fours, said the game had been "the best day of my life".

He had looked to be taking Hampshire to a total in excess of 300 but from 206 for two, his team lost their eight wickets for 84 runs.

Warwickshire left-arm quick Neil Carter took five for 66.

Carter, a 'pinch-hitter', struck Bichel for 10 runs off the first over of the Bears' reply.

At the other end the 6ft 7" Tremlett, a member of all four of England's Ashes squads this season and touted for a possible Oval call-up if Simon Jones fails to recover from an ankle injury, did not have the best of starts.

His first over cost 13 runs and lasted nine balls as he bowled three wides.

Carter's dynamic innings ended when he was run out by Ervine's direct hit from mid-on for a 23-ball 32.

But with Knight, carving away through the offside and the in-form Bell at the other end runs continued to flow freely as the duo shared a 100-stand in 128 balls.

But Bell, on 49, hobbled while completing a second run and fell over.

However, after several minutes of treatment Bell resumed and made a 77-ball fifty with three fours before Carter came out as a runner.

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Sept 4: A row over contracts between Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) and its players is threatening to develop into the kind of ugly strike that brought cricket to its knees here 18 months ago.

The ZC had offered captain Tatenda Taibu, vice-captain Heath Streak and all-rounder Andy Blignaut renewed contracts, but withdrew offers made to Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart, Barney Rogers and Neil Ferreira after the first two refused to take part in Sunday's one day international against India. Other players have been told that their contracts would be considered at the end of this month, depending on how they perform in the next few weeks. This has upset the players.

Carlisle told AFP: "This could be even just as serious for cricket here than the last dispute 18 months ago because this time the black players are with us."

Carlisle was at the forefront of the 2004 strike sparked by Streak's sacking for complaining about alleged racism by the selectors.

He was one of 15 contracted players, all white, who backed Streak and were fired in turn.

This set off months of negotiations characterised by hostilities and legal confrontations.

Carlisle said at his Harare home Saturday that he told coach Kevin Curran he did not want to play against India, nor did Wishart. They preferred, he said, for lower level players to be given the experience.

Carlisle said this was reported by Curran to ZC general manager Osias Bvute, who "immediately withdrew my contract and those of the others".

The experienced Zimbabwe top order batsman, who has played in 37 Tests and 112 internationals for his country, now faces the end of his international cricket career, together with Wishart, Rogers and Ferreira, the latter playing in just one match against New Zealand last month.

Carlisle said: "I have plans in hand, but I cannot say what they are."

Carlisle and Grant Flower, who is now with Essex, were the most outspoken of the players during their 2004 dispute with ZC (at that time the Zimbabwe Cricket Union).

All the affected contract players have held several meetings during the last two days and will have another one on Monday concerning the issue.

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Sept 4: Alexander Kerzhakov's double helped Russia overcome spirited Liechtenstein 2-0 in a World Cup Group Three qualifier on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of reaching next year's finals.

Kerzhakov fired the hosts ahead in the 27th minute, blasting a rebound into the roof of the net following an initial shot by Zenit St Petersburg team mate Andrei Arshavin.

Striker Kerzhakov, last year's top scorer in Russia, doubled the lead midway through the second half after a low cross by another Zenit team mate Alexander Anyukov.

The win put Russia level with second-placed Slovakia on 18 points from nine matches, two points behind leaders Portugal, who face Luxembourg later on Saturday. The home team took control from the start, putting the tiny principality under siege. Russia had an excellent chance to go ahead after three minutes when Roman Pavlyuchenko was brought down by Peter Jehle inside the box after going one-on-one with the Liechtenstein keeper.

But Jehle made amends by saving Sergei Ignashevich's penalty.

Jehle then kept the Russians at bay with several good saves until Kerzhakov scored from close range.

Liechtenstein rarely ventured past the halfway line in the first half and did not have a single shot on goal until the 62nd minute when Franz Burgmeier tested Igor Akinfeyev with a close-range header. Burgmeier later had the second shot on goal but Akinfeyev made an easy stop. Liechtenstein coach Martin Andermatt was satisfied with his team's efforts. His Russian counterpart Yuri Syomin was pleased with his own team and also praised Liechtenstein.

The Russians play hosts to Portugal on Wednesday while the Slovaks travel to Riga to take on Latvia.

Saturday's game marked Russia playmaker Yegor Titov's return to international soccer after an absence of nearly two years. The Spartak Moscow captain, who came on for Arshavin late in the second half, received a one-year doping ban in January 2004 after testing positive for the stimulant bromanthan in a European Championship playoff against Wales in November 2003.

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Sept 4: Zimbabwe Test exile Sean Ervine said he was uncertain whether to try to qualify for Australia or England after his man-of-the-match winning 104 set up Hampshire's 18-run win against Warwickshire in the final of English cricket's C and Trophy one-day competition here at Lord's.

Ervine, 22, played five Tests, the last against Bangladesh in Bulawayo in 2003-04, before becoming involved in the racial selection row which engulfed Zimbabwe last year and cost Heath Streak the captaincy.

Streak has since returned to the fold but 22-year-old pace bowling all-rounder Ervine, like former Zimbabwe stars Andy Flower and Murray Goodwin, is now dividing his time between England and Australia where he plays for Western Australia.

Although his Test figures of 261 runs at 32.63 with a top score of 86 against Bangladesh and nine wickets at 43.11, including a best of four for 146 in Perth in 2003, where Australia's Matthew Hayden set a then new world record individual Test score of 380, are modest, Ervine was launching his international career in a weak side.

Now though he has the opportunity to qualify on residency grounds for either of the world's two leading Test teams.

But after his century at Lord's, which followed his 100 in the semi-finals against Yorkshire, Ervine admitted he'd had little time to think about his future plans.

"This has been the best day of my life. To win a final and to do so well, you couldn't ask for anything better.

"At the moment I'm just playing cricket, I'm just taking every opportunity I can," said Ervine, who bats left-handed and bowls right. "Obviously, I am going to have to make a decision soon - I think it's a year or two round the corner, Ervine said on a day when a fresh contract row broke out in his native Zimbabwe.

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Sept 4: Slovakia took advantage of Germany's ongoing defensive problems to beat the World Cup hosts 2-0 in a friendly international on Saturday.

Miroslav Karhan, who plays in the Bundesliga with VfL Wolfsburg, scored both goals, converting a penalty in the 20th minute and chipping over keeper Jens Lehmann for the second seven minutes before the break.

Germany, who came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Netherlands in their last match, found no second wind this time, although Michael Ballack had a seemingly legal goal ruled out in the 63rd minute.

Victory for Slovakia provided a welcome boost ahead of their trip to face Latvia on Wednesday, a match they must win to stay in the hunt for a World Cup place. Slovakia are in second place in Group Three behind Portugal and ahead of Russia.

For Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, the match will have raised further concerns over a defence that has been leaking goals since the Confederations Cup.

Germany have conceded 10 goals in their last four games, 15 in their last seven, and have kept clean sheets in just two matches in 2005, against Tunisia and Slovenia.

Klinsmann has only a diet of friendlies to prepare for next year's World Cup -- as hosts they are assured of a place without going through qualifying -- and the coach will seek a more assured display against South Africa in Bremen on Wednesday. Slovakia dominated the first half and came close to taking the lead when Marek Mintal flashed a shot just wide in the 13th minute after the ball had fallen to him at a corner.

Robert Vittek gave the Germans another warning when he held off Per Mertesacker to get a clear sight of goal, only to blast his shot well over.

Mertesacker was less fortunate a minute later when he needlessly held on to Vittek to give away the penalty.

Miroslav Klose's header forced Kamil Contofalsky into a fine save in the 37th minute but within 60 seconds Slovakia had doubled their lead following a swift break forward. Mintal hooked over a cross from wide on the left and Karhan calmly lifted the ball over Lehmann, who did little to back up his claim this week that he deserved to play in the World Cup ahead of Oliver Kahn.

Germany improved greatly with the introduction of Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger for the second half but their hopes of a comeback faded when Ballack's header was ruled out, presumably for a push.

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