Liverpool ‘gun down’ Arsenal as ‘white-washed’ India go up the ‘Swanny!’

CRICKET – 20/20 finals day at Edgbaston on Saturday will feature Hampshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire and Somerset.

By winning the final Test by an innings and 8 runs, with Graeme Swann taking 6-106 second time round, England ‘white washed’ India 4-0. Sachin Tendulkar (91) cruelly missed out on his 100^th century. 

Alastair Cook’s 294 in the third Test was the sixth highest-ever score by an Englishman, following Len Hutton’s 364 (v Australia, 1938), Wally Hammond’s 336 (v New Zealand, 1933), Graham Gooch’s 333 (v India, 1990), Andy Sandham’s 325 (West Indies, 1930) and John Edrich’s 310 (v New Zealand, 1965).

The third Test score of 710-7 was England’s third highest of all-time, behind 903-7 v Australia in 1938 and 849 v West Indies in 1930. Ian Bell recorded his best-ever England score, 235 and took a superb catch, in the final Test, when he was voted ‘Man of the Match.’

MOTOR SPORT – The F1 season continues this weekend with the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps while in MotoGP, Casey Stoner hopes to increase his lead in the rider’s championship in Indianapolis. 

TENNIS – Andy Murray is ‘confident’ ahead of the US Open which starts at Flushing Meadow next week. He beat Novak Djokovic (retired) 6-4, 3-0 in the Cincinatti Masters. Meanwhile, ex-British number one Katie O’Brien, 25, has retired. Her best world placing was 84^th in 2010.

FOOTBALL – Last weekend there were ‘first’ PL wins of 2011-12 for Liverpool (2-0 at Arsenal – the Reds’ first victory on Gunners’ soil since 2000), Chelsea (2-1 v WBA), Aston Villa (3-1 v Blackburn – Gabby Agbonlahor scored his 50^th PL goal for Villa), QPR (1-0 at Everton)….Newcastle (1-0 in the Tyne-Wear derby at Sunderland).

Joint leaders, with two wins out of two are Wolves (2-0 winners over Fulham) and Manchester City (3-2 at Bolton). City’s opener by Silva was the 500^th PL goal conceded by Wanderers’ ‘keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Rangers top the SPL after winning 3-0 at Motherwell as St Johnstone stunned Celtic 1-0 at Parkhead.

SPORTS EXTRA – Last weekend there were pre-WC rugby friendly wins for Scotland (v Italy) and Wales (v Argentina) but Ireland lost to France… Jonny Brownlee retained his World Triathlon crown in Lausanne; brother Alastair came third as Team Sky won the overall title…

GB’s Hannah Mills & Saskia Clark won silver in the 470 series final at Weymouth’s International Regatta…. Qatar has bought London’s 2012 Olympic Village for £557m (it will be a ‘private housing’ estate)… GB hope to stage the 2017 European Athletics Championships…

Cyclist Mark Cavendish won the 87-mile London road Olympic test race in a sprint finish… GB’s women beat hosts Germany to reach the semi-finals of the European Championships…. And on Saturday, Wigan Warriors play Leeds Rhinos in Rugby League’s Challenge Cup final.

DID YOU KNOW? – Last Sunday v. England, Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid became the first batsman to face 30,000 balls in Tests. He also became the first Indian to carry his bat through an innings.

Tel: 950 069 220 or e-mail: tony_matthews@live.co.uk