Mirza in quarters

MASON: Third-seeded Sania Mirza of India became the first quarter-finalist at the Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open on Wednesday with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Varvara Lepchenko of Uzbekistan. Top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze of Russia also moved into the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Anda Perianu of Romania in the only evening singles match. Also reaching the quarter-finals were Morigami of Japan and Lilia Osterloh of the United States. — AP

Twenty20 squad

JOHANNESBURG: Hosts South Africa named eight spinners in a provisional 30-man squad for September’s Twenty20 world championships, which also included a surprise call-up for veteran batsman Neil McKenzie. The pool of 30, which must be whittled down to 15 by August 11, marks the start of a drive to develop slow bowlers for the international stage. Spinners Gulam Bodi, Johan Botha, JP Duminy, Justin Ontong, Paul Harris and Thandi Tshabalala have all been included after missing out at the World Cup in the Caribbean.— AFP