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England cling on for draw

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 14/07/2009

England held on to secure a dramatic draw in the first Ashes Test against Australia at Cardiff.

England appeared to be teetering on the edge of defeat when they were struggling on 169-7 at tea.

But an inspired final-wicket partnership between James Anderson and Monty Panesar denied the tourists what had appeared a certain series-opening victory.

They fended off 69 balls as Australia, who remain the online favourites to win the series, grew increasingly frustrated.

England ended their second innings on 252-9 thanks in no small part to Paul Collingwood.

The Durham star scored 74 while Graeme Swann provided able support with 31, before Anderson made an unbeaten 21 and Panesar ended the day with a priceless seven runs and his wicket intact.

Earlier, England's resistance looked to have been broken when Andrew Flintoff (26) and Stuart Broad (14) were removed before tea.

However, the series remains all-square going into the second Test that is scheduled to start at Lord's on Thursday.

In golf, Martin Kaymer is heading into the Open Championship in a rich vein of form following his second successive victory on the European Tour.

The 24-year-old German followed up his success at last week's French Open with a two-shot victory in the lucrative Barclays Scottish Open.

Can Martin Kaymer make it three in a row by winning at Turnberry this week? - Latest Golf Betting

Kaymer's two-under-par final round 69 at Loch Lomond left him comfortably ahead of the chasing pack on the 15-under mark.

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin was joint second alongside Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

Lee Westwood was the leading Briton on ten-under-par, just one shot ahead of fellow Englishman Ross Fisher.

The win is Kaymer's fourth on the European Tour and moves him to second behind Paul Casey in the Race to Dubai standings.

Hull KR remain in touch with the Super League leaders following a come from behind victory over Bradford Bulls.

The Robins trailed 12-6 to a side who are in the midst of a season to forget at the wrong end of the table.

But try braces from Liam Colbon and Kris Welham helped settle the home side's nerves and they eventually ran out comfortable 32-12 winners to remain fourth in the table.

Castleford Tigers continued their upward momentum with a 40-18 win over Hull FC at The Jungle.

First-half tries by Rangi Chase, Craig Huby, Michael Wainwright and Ryan Hudson put the Tigers into a lead they would not relinquish despite a late fightback from the visitors.

In cycling, Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo edged out Italy's Franco Pellizotti on stage nine of the Tour de France while in the ninth race of the Formula One season, Mark Webber produced a superb drive to win his maiden grand prix as Red Bull dominated at the Nurburgring.

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