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Results Based News

Soderling eases into last four

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 03/06/2009

Robin Soderling's fine form at the French Open continued as he progressed to the semi-finals by thrashing Nikolay Davydenko in straight sets.

Just 48 hours after beating defending champion and sports betting favourite Rafael Nadal, who was looking to clinch a fifth successive title, the Swede eased to a 6-1 6-3 6-1 success against Davydenko.

In the last four, Soderling faces Fernando Gonzalez after the Chilean saw off Andy Murray in four sets.

The 12th seed was particularly impressive in the third set as he completed a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 victory against last year's beaten US Open finalist.

In the women's event, top seed Dinara Safina had to battle back from a first-set embarrassment to beat Belarus teenager Victoria Azarenka.

The Russian struggled to find her form as Azarenka won the first set 6-1 but responded well to clinch the next two sets 6-4, 6-2.

Safina will play Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova in the semi-finals after the 20th seed crushed Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-2.

In cricket, an unbeaten half-century from Kevin Pietersen helped England to an unconvincing six-wicket victory over Scotland in a World Twenty20 warm-up.

Having restricted Scotland to 136-5 in their 20 overs at Trent Bridge, England reached the target with just six balls remaining.

Captain Paul Collingwood was the pick of the bowlers after taking two wickets for 18 runs.

In reply, England got off to a promising start with openers Ravi Bopara (32) and Luke Wright (19) putting on 43 for the first wicket.

However, when Owais Shah was out first ball and Collingwood (9) followed him, there were genuine hopes that Scotland could pull off an upset.

However, Pietersen (53 not out) showed no signs of his recent Achilles injury as he steadied the ship alongside Eoin Morgan, unbeaten on 23, before smashing a huge six to take England past the winning post.

In other warm-up games, Australia beat New Zealand, Sri Lanka edged past Bangladesh and West Indies thrashed Ireland by nine wickets.

Lancashire made it five wins out of five Twenty20 Cup North Division games as they beat Derbyshire by 38 runs at Old Trafford, while Yorkshire improved their chances of progressing to the knockout stages thanks to a dramatic two-wicket win over Durham at Headingley.

The visitors were restricted to 116-8 but Yorkshire struggled when they replied and needed Tim Bresnan to hit a single off the last ball to seal victory.

In the South Division, Sean Ervine hit a half-century before taking four wickets as Hampshire beat Middlesex by 56 runs.

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