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General Sports News

Button surprise at Spain pole

Author: Rose Young
Date: 09/05/2009

Jenson Button admitted he was surprised after producing a stunning final lap to snatch pole position for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix away from Sebastian Vettel.

The Brawn GP driver is being tipped for the title by betting experts after winning three of the opening four races this season, but underlined his championship credentials with a dramatic end to qualifying at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Vettel had grabbed pole from Button's team-mate Rubens Barrichello with his own scorching last lap in the Red Bull.

However, Button then pipped Vettel by 0.133 seconds with a storming piece of driving to ensure he will lead off the field on Sunday.

Felipe Massa was fourth for Ferrari with a drive which was a marked improvement on the 16th place his troubled team-mate Kimi Raikkonen could manage.

Mark Webber will start in fifth place in the second Red Bull, ahead of the two Toyotas of Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli.

The Renault of Fernando Alonso, Nico Rosberg's Williams and BMW Sauber of Robert Kubica complete the top ten.

In cricket, England captain Andrew Strauss has set his sights on a 2-0 series win following a comfortable 10-wicket victory in the first Test against West Indies.

England swept the tourists aside within three days at Lord's and Strauss wants a repeat performance at Chester-le-Street next week.

Meanwhile, captain Chris Gayle admitted West Indies only had themselves to blame for a 'disastrous' defeat.

Having been bowled out for just 152 in their first innings, the tourists could then only establish a 31-run lead after reaching 256 all-out when asked to follow on.

England rattled off the meagre total without losing a wicket and Gayle was left to lament some poor batting a number of mistakes in the field.

In football, Sir Alex Ferguson is predicting a quiet summer in the transfer market for Manchester United.

The Red Devils remain on course for another Premier League and Champions League double this season and the veteran boss does not believe he needs to significantly add to the squad he already has at his disposal.

Guus Hiddink has conceded he will find it tough to walk away from Chelsea at the end of the season.

The experienced Dutchman remains adamant that he will leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign when his short-term contract - agreed when Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked in February - expires.

Hiddink will return to his full-time role as coach of the Russia national side and has admitted it will be a wrench to leave the Blues.

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough captain Emanuel Pogatetz has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after failing to recover from a knee injury.

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