Sports Briefs/Cricket World Cup 2011

Sports Briefs

Marais in charge

SOUTH Africa's Marais Erasmus was yesterday confirmed as one of 18 umpires who will officiate at the 2011 Cricket World Cup in the Asian sub-continent. The others are: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Billy Doctrove, Ian Gould, Daryl Harper, Tony Hill, Asad Rauf, Asoka de Silva, Simon Taufel, Rod Tucker, Kumar Dharmasena, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Amish Saheba and Shahvir Tarapore. - Sapa

Khan retains title

BRITISH boxer Amir Khan successfully defended his WBA light-welterweight title with a narrow unanimous decision over Marcos Maidana on Saturday in Las Vegas. Khan knocked down Maidana with 10 seconds left in the first round and the fight never slowed down from there. Judges Jerry Roth and CJRoss scored the bout 114-111 for Khan, and Glenn Trowbridge favoured the British fighter 113-112. - Sapa-AP

Rain stops PGA

THE final round of the Australian PGA Championship was postponed until today because of heavy rain, with Peter Senior holding a one-stroke lead after nine holes. The round was called off yesterday about three hours after play was suspended in Coolum. - Sapa-AP

'System under review'

HAROON Lorgat, chief executive of the International Cricket Council, said yesterday the referral system for all Test series could undergo further review and that changes could be made. Lorgat said the system was gaining the confidence of players as more learned how to use it, citing the referral by England's Alastair Cook to correct a wrongful dismissal during the Adelaide Ashes Test as an example of its ideal use. - Sapa-AP

Giants postponed

A HUGE snowstorm caused the Minneapolis Metrodome's inflated roof to collapse yesterday, creating more scheduling chaos for American football. The NFL said it was seeking alternative venues for the New York Giants-Minnesota Vikings clash that had already been rescheduled from yesterday to today because of the storm. - Sapa-AP

Tamim boosts Tigers

OPENING batsman Tamim Iqbal hit a brilliant 95 to power Bangladesh to a six-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the fifth one-day international yesterday in Chittagong and a 3-1 victory in their five-match series. Tamim entertained his home crowd with seven sixes and five fours to score 95 off 96 balls as Bangladesh eased past Zimbabwe's modest 188 for six with seven overs to play. - Reuters

Tukkies fail in CT

DEFENDING champions Nelson Mandela University retained their title with a 69-run win over Pretoria University in the final of the varsities cricket tournament in Cape Town on Saturday. The team won four of its five matches during the week-long competition. - Sapa