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Cavendish claims victory

Author: Rose Young
Date: 08/07/2009

Mark Cavendish became the first British cyclist to hold the green jersey for two days in a row after winning the third stage of the Tour de France from Marseille to La Grande Motte.

The 24-year-old narrowly beat Thor Hushovd on the line to lead home a group of 27 riders as he clinched his sixth stage victory in total.

Also in the leading group were seven-time champion Lance Armstrong, who is now third in the overall standings, and Fabian Cancellara, who keeps the yellow jersey.

However, when Cavendish's Team Columbia made their move and split the field at the 30km mark, Cadel Evans and online betting favourite to be the outright champion, Alberto Contador, were dropped.

After three stages Cancellara leads Germany's Tony Martin by 33 seconds in the general classification, with Armstrong another seven seconds back in third.

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Contador is now 19 seconds behind the American and drops to fourth. Bradley Wiggins slips to fifth place, a minute behind Cancellara.

Belgium's Jurgen van de Walle became the first man to drop out of this year's race after breaking his collarbone in a fall during Sunday's second stage.

In cricket, Sri Lanka defied the odds to beat Pakistan by 50 runs in a thrilling finale to the first Test in Galle.

Pakistan started the fourth day needing just 97 runs to reach their victory target of 168 with eight wickets to spare but Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath took four wickets as the tourists slumped to a dispiriting 117 all out.

Meanwhile, Dimitri Mascarenhas was the star of the show as Rajasthan Royals beat Middlesex by 46 runs in the British Asian Cup.

He smashed an unbeaten 32 off only 16 balls as Rajasthan made 162-5 from their 20 overs at Lord's after Middlesex had won the toss and chosen to field.

He then took two wickets, including the key one of Owais Shah, as Middlesex limped to 116-7 in their reply.

Dawid Malan top-scored with 34 before being dismissed by Shane Warne but Middlesex never looked like reaching their target.

In golf, Jose Maria Olazabal could miss next week's Open at Turnberry after struggling in the second and final round of qualifying.

The Spaniard fired a 70 on Monday which left him three behind the leader, Scotland's Elliot Saltman, at Glasgow Gailes.

At Kilmarnock Barassie, Austria's Markus Brier leads after shooting a 65 while Scottish amateur James Byrne leads the third local final-qualifying tournament after a 68 at Western Gailes.

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