Australia beat Qatar

MELBOURNE: Everton midfielder Tim Cahill scored one goal and came close four other times as Australia downed Qatar 3-0 to make an emphatic start to its World Cup qualifying campaign on Wednesday. Josh Kennedy opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he headed in a long cross from Brett Emerton. Cahill made it 2-0 before Palermo’s Mark Bresciano added third in the 33rd minute. Australia and Qatar share qualifying Group A with China and Asian champion Iraq. The top two teams in the group progress to the fourth round of qualifying. — AP

Gilchrist eyes IPL

Sydney: Record-breaking Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist said on Wednesday he was upbeat about his chances of taking part in the lucrative inaugural Twenty20 Indian Premier League (IPL). The six-week competition kicks off in April and the 36-year-old wicket-keeper batsman would be a huge draw, commanding a hefty pay packet. Tournament organisers and international boards have an agreement that bans players from participating in the IPL until two years after retirement but Gilchrist said he expected to receive an exemption from Cricket Australia. — AFP

Petrova upset

Paris: Defending champion Nadia Petrova was ousted in the first round of the Open Gaz de France by Kateryna Bondarenko 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 on Tuesday. Amelie Mauresmo, a five-time finalist and two-time winner, and seventh-seeded Agnes Szavay of Hungary also advanced to the last 16 of the French tournament. Former No 1 Mauresmo didn’t lose her serve in cruising past American qualifier Julie Ditty 6-1, 6-2. Szavay crushed Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-1, 6-1 to set up a second-round match with Tathiana Garbin, who beat Meilen Tu of the United States 6-3, 6-4. — AP

Oram injured

CHRISTCHURCH: The New Zealand cricket team, humbled in its first Twenty20 encounter with England, was struck a further blow on the eve of the second match with allrounder Jacob Oram out injured. Oram confirmed he had tweaked a hamstring during their first match and would not be taking part in Thursday’s second fixture in Christchurch. — AFP