World Sport Briefs Tennis

World number four Andy Murray cruised to his second successive Masters Series title by blasting France’s Gilles Simon out of the Madrid Masters 6-4 7-6 on Sunday.

Neither player matched the heroics of Saturday’s semi-finals when the Scot beat Roger Federer and Simon defeated Rafael Nadal, and in an attritional baseline battle, Murray’s rock-solid serve gave the tired Frenchman few chances. “The serve is the reason I won the tournament because today Gilles was hitting the ball better than me from the back of the court,” Murray said.Cricket * Bangladesh staged a late fightback against New Zealand to set up an intriguing finish to the first Test after the tourists batted sensibly in the second innings yesterday.Opener Aaron Redmond (62 not out) and Jesse Ryder (38) had put New Zealand in a commanding position through their 90-run second-wicket stand before the home team ran Ryder out as the tourists finished the fourth day at 145-2.New Zealand, chasing 317 to win, put up a remarkable batting display to change the complexion of the game before the last minute dismissal left the match in balance.New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori was the other unbeaten batsman with nought.The tourists need another 172 runs to win or bat out the 90 overs to draw the match today.Rugby * South African second-row forward Martin Engelbrecht, who plays for Italian first division club Gran Parma Rugby, has tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, the Italian National Olympic Committee said.The 25-year-old tested positive after an Italian league game between Rome and Parme on September 20.- Nampa-Reuters and AFP Football Fixtures Uefa Champions League Today, Oct 21 Zenit St Petersburg vs BATE Juventus vs Real Madrid Man Utd vs Celtic Villarreal vs AaB Steaua Bucuresti vs Lyon Bayern Munich vs Fiorentina FC Porto vs Dynamo Kiev Fenerbahce vs Arsenal Wednesday, Oct 22 Chelsea vs Roma Bordeaux vs CFR Cluj-Napoca Panathinaikos vs Werder Bremen Inter Milan vs Anorthosis Famagusta Basle vs Barcelona Shakhtar Donetsk vs Sporting RSK PSV vs Marseille Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool”The serve is the reason I won the tournament because today Gilles was hitting the ball better than me from the back of the court,” Murray said.Cricket * Bangladesh staged a late fightback against New Zealand to set up an intriguing finish to the first Test after the tourists batted sensibly in the second innings yesterday.Opener Aaron Redmond (62 not out) and Jesse Ryder (38) had put New Zealand in a commanding position through their 90-run second-wicket stand before the home team ran Ryder out as the tourists finished the fourth day at 145-2.New Zealand, chasing 317 to win, put up a remarkable batting display to change the complexion of the game before the last minute dismissal left the match in balance.New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori was the other unbeaten batsman with nought.The tourists need another 172 runs to win or bat out the 90 overs to draw the match today.Rugby * South African second-row forward Martin Engelbrecht, who plays for Italian first division club Gran Parma Rugby, has tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, the Italian National Olympic Committee said.The 25-year-old tested positive after an Italian league game between Rome and Parme on September 20.- Nampa-Reuters and AFP Football Fixtures Uefa Champions League Today, Oct 21 Zenit St Petersburg vs BATE Juventus vs Real Madrid Man Utd vs Celtic Villarreal vs AaB Steaua Bucuresti vs Lyon Bayern Munich vs Fiorentina FC Porto vs Dynamo Kiev Fenerbahce vs Arsenal Wednesday, Oct 22 Chelsea vs Roma Bordeaux vs CFR Cluj-Napoca Panathinaikos vs Werder Bremen Inter Milan vs Anorthosis Famagusta Basle vs Barcelona Shakhtar Donetsk vs Sporting RSK PSV vs Marseille Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool