Katich century has NZ struggling

Himilton: Opener Simon Katich notched his 10th test century as he and fellow 50-test veteran Michael Hussey batted Australia into a strong position on day three of the second cricket test against New Zealand in Hamilton today.

Katich reached his century just before tea with a cover driven four off Chris Martin as Australia moved to 242 for two in their second innings at the break, an overall lead of 209.

Katich, 103 not out, and Hussey, 66 not out, added an unbroken 151 for the third wicket as New Zealand toiled without success in the middle session, their chances of a first test victory over Australia since 1993 gradually slipping away.

The second new ball couldn't budge the Australian pair before the break, via eight overs from Martin and Brent Arnel.

After five scores of between 80 and 99 in his past 12 test innings, Katich's century came up in 323 minutes off 262 balls, including 12 fours.

Hussey had batted 202 minutes and faced 105 balls at tea.

Captain Daniel Vettori used six bowlers in the session, with Mathew Sinclair given his first bowl in a test for nine years, but there were few anxious moments for the batsmen on a slow pitch offering few terrors.

Tim Southee, who removed Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting earlier in the day, was only used sparingly and had figures of two for 57 off 14 overs.

Vettori bowled 24 wicketless overs for 57 and left the field for 25 minutes before tea, while fellow spinner Jeetan Patel was a generally accurate foil, conceding 54 off 23.

Thailand's Pongsaklek regains WBC flyweight title

TOKYO (AFP) – Former Thai champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam successfully regained the World Boxing Council flyweight title when he outpointed holder Koki Kameda of Japan on Saturday.

Two judges counted it 116-112 and 115-112, while the other judge had it 114-114.

Pongsaklek became the champion in March 2001 and defended the title 17 straight times, a record in the WBC flyweight class, stretching his winning streak to 56.

But he lost to Japan's Daisuke Naito by a unanimous decision in July 2007 before becoming the interim champion in April last year.

Pongsaklek bettered his record to 75 wins, including 39 KOs, against three defeats and a draw.

Pongsaklek overcame Kameda with a superior technique and calm fighting, connecting a right hook in the second round to lead 39-37, 40-36, 38-38 after the fourth round.

Although Pongsaklek lost a penalty point with an accidental batting in the fifth round, which cut Kameda's right eyelid, the Thai boxer unleashed a right hook and straight right to lead 77-75, 77-74 and 75-76 after eight rounds.

Pongsaklek hit a couple of lightning right upper cuts in the 11th round, which drew blood from Kameda's nose, forcing the Japanese to fight desperately in the final round.

For notorious "bad boy" Kameda, it was his first defence of the title he took from Naito in November last year, and it was his first tast of severe defeat after winning 22 straight bouts, including 14 KOs.

In October 2007, Kameda's younger brother Daiki challenged Naito with dirty tactics, wrestling the champion to the canvas in his failed title bid.

Daiki was suspended for a year and Koki was reprimanded by the Japan Boxing Commission for urging his brother to fight dirty. His father Shiro Kameda, then trainer, was also banned from being a cornerman.

Nadal nails down fourth-round berth

MIAMI, Florida: Rafael Nadal joined Roger Federer as a seeded survivor at the upset-plagued Miami Masters as the Spaniard defeated David Nalbandian 6-7 (8/10), 6-2, 6-2 Sunday for a fourth-round berth.

Top seed Federer and number four Nadal are all that are left of the top four seeds after exits by number two Novak Djokovic and number three Andy Murray in the second round.

American sixth seed Andy Roddick kept the home crowd happy with his 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Sergiy Stakhovsky of the Ukraine, while resurgent Spanish veteran Juan Carlos Ferrero eliminated John Isner of the United States 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Nadal's next opponent will be 15th seeded compatriot David Ferrer, who tamed the huge serve of Ivo Karlovic - only ten aces for the Croatian - 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.

Fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro beat Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-7 (9/11), 6-3 to set up a match with Brazil's Tomaz Bellicci, who ended the run of Djokivic's conqueror Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-3, 6-4.

Nadal, who won his last title last May in Rome, is not fussed about his lack of recent trophy success. Instead, he's looking for small improvements as he gets back in the groove in the wake of the knee injury suffered at the Australian Open.

"I'm in the fourth round for me," he said, refusing to consider the potential organiser's dream Federer-Nadal title match. "It's far away from that moment.

"It's an important win for me today and I'm very happy for that. I'm pleased with how I'm doing in this American hardcourt season. Every match right is really important for me, and every victory gives me confidence."

Argentina's Nalbandian is finding his way again after last year's hip operation and a recovery setback in the form of an abdominal strain in January.

He had won two of the pair's three previous matches, but Nadal prevailed in their last encounter in the fourth round of Indian Wells in 2009 - saving five match points along the way.

"I'm very happy to see him back after an important surgery," said Nadal. "He's a close friend of mine and he's a talent.

"He can make very difficult things very easy. When he's playing at his best level he makes you feel like you are nothing in the middle of the court."

In women's WTA play, second seeded US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki battled through illness to defeat Maria Kirilenko 1-6, 6-1, 6-4.

"I felt dizzy from the middle of the first set already," said the Dane. "Even though I didn't feel 100 percent, I still went out there and fought. The third set I started to feel better. I think everything started to get to normal almost, and I felt much better.

Victoria Azarenka, the defending champion, continued her quest for a second title with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Lucie Safarova.

Indian Wells winner Jelena Jankovic, seeded seventh, moved past Russian Elena Vesnina 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

Ninth-seeded French Open semi-finalist Samantha Stosur of Australia produced a second consecutive comeback from a set down as she defeated Virginie Razzanoof France 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Russian 11th seed Vera Zvonareva eliminated Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3 and another Russian, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, beat Errani's Italian compatriot Francesca Schiavone 7-5, 6-3.

US Open winner Kim Clijsters, seeded 14th, re-established normal service in a hammering of Israeli Shahar Peer 6-0, 6-1. The Belgian won nine games in a row and needed just 50 minutes.

Clijsters was upset in the third round of Indian Wells but said she's back on her game after two wins this week in Florida.

"It's nice to have a feeling where your brain and your arm is kind of connecting," joked the mother of one. "In Indian Wells it was a completely different story."

Milan miss chance to close gap, Juve attacked by fans

ROME: AC Milan missed out on the chance to close the gap on leaders Inter Milan to a single point when they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Lazio at the San Siro on Sunday.

Earlier in the day Juventus brushed off an attack on their team bus by their own fans to beat Atalanta 2-1 at Turin's Stadio Olimpico and keep alive their hopes of a top-four finish.

Following AS Roma's 2-1 win over Inter on Saturday, Milan knew they could join the capital based team a point behind their city rivals if they won but the draw leaves them third and three points off top.

It was also their third straight league game without a win and was met with boos at the final whistle while, for Lazio, the point was a great boost in their fight against relegation.

Milan coach Leonardo insisted, though, that the title race is still wide open.

"It's a strange championship with many surprises in terms of form and results and it's very difficult to predict results," he said.

"In the seven matches remaining incredible things could still happen."

Despite missing the likes of Ronaldinho, Pato, David Beckham, Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Nesta, Milan took the lead on 18 minutes.

French midfielder Mathieu Flamini broke into the Lazio area and collided with Aleksandar Kolarov.

The referee pointed to the spot with Marco Borriello converting high to Fernando Muslera's left.

Until that point Milan had been the better side with veteran Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf stinging Muslera's hands with a piledriver.

But thereafter it was the visitors who took charge and threatened the most.

They were deservedly level on 32 minutes when Luca Antonini failed to deal with Cristian Ledesma's chip into the box, prodding his weak clearance against Stefano Mauri with the ball falling invitingly to Stephan Lichtsteiner to shoot home.

Antonini almost made amends in the second half but his rasping shot came crashing back off the bar.

Borriello then missed a great chance to hand Milan the lead again halfway through the second period as he volleyed Filippo Inzaghi's cross over.

But Andre Dias missed an even better chance for Lazio, volleying over from inside the six yard box.

Ignazio Abate had a great chance for the hosts eight minutes from time when Kolarov's back header fell short of Muslera but having toe-poked the ball off the goalkeeper's fingertips, Abate fired over as he fell backwards.

Juve's win was a rare bright moment for the players in a trying season and on a troubling day that began with them coming under attack from their own frustrated fans.

The team were boarding the bus at their hotel when they were attacked with bottles and eggs.

Fans, disgruntled at the team's dire form this season, also tried to prevent the bus from leaving and the police had to intervene.

Supporters also hurled abuse at the team, singling out in particular three players: Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, French full-back Jonathan Zebina and Melo.

Sky TV images showed Zebina was slapped on the neck by a man as he went to board the bus.

But the day ended well as Juve closed to within three points of fourth-placed Palermo with a crucial victory, a fact not lost on coach Alberto Zaccheroni, particularly after two defeats in a row.

"I expected a reaction and I got one. We really wanted this win and now we have a week off to recharge our batteries ahead of our game against Udinese," he said.

"We gave everything we had, maybe even more, and we've earned three vital points."

Evergreen forward Alessandro Del Piero opened the scoring on the half hour with a brilliant trademark 25-yard free-kick into the top corner but former Juve forward Nicola Amoruso equalised on the stroke of half-time when the hosts were caught napping at the back by a ball over the top.

Felipe Melo scored the winner eight minutes from time with a looping back post header.