SPORTS in brief

Gore Homes junior tennis

JAMAICA'S top-ranked juniors and others from within the region will take part in the Gore Homes Blue Mountain Caribbean Open Junior Tennis Championships, which serves off at 9:00 this morning at Liguanea Club, New Kingston.

The Championships has four competitive categories for boys and three for girls. The boys divisions are 12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under and 18 and under, while the girls will battle in age groups 14 and under, 16 and under and 18 and under.

"This is going to be a competitive and interesting tournament amongst both the local and regional-based players," said Llockett McGregor, director of Tennis Jamaica.

Cuba face elimination

UTAH (CMC):

Caribbean Cup champions Cuba failed to capitalise on an early lead, and suffered a 4-1 defeat to hosts United States in Group C of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday. Cuba opened the scoring in the 35th minute through Jose Ciprian, with an assist from Ariel Martinez, but then conceded a penalty just before the half. The veteran Landon Donovan converted in the 45th minute to level the score. But the Americans scored three unanswered goals through Joe Corona (57th) and Chris Wondolowski (66th, 85th) to leave the Cubans without a point after two games, and also without a chance of advancing to the quarter-final stage.

Cuba will be back in action in their final group game against Belize in Connecticut tomorrow. The United States and Costa Rica will play in the second game of the double-header. Meantime, Costa Rica edged Belize 1-0 in Saturday's other match in Group C.

England beat Australia by 14 runs

NOTTINGHAM, England (AP):

England won a thrilling first Test against Australia by just 14 runs yesterday, after James Anderson claimed 5-73 on a tense fifth day. Chasing 311, Australia struggled at 231-9 before their last-wicket pair of Brad Haddin (71) and James Pattinson (25 not out) took the total to 296 and the brink of a famous victory.

Haddin was given out caught behind after a referral revealed he had got the faintest inside edge to man-of-the-match Anderson in the third over after lunch.

"Australia fought incredibly hard, but we just hung in there," England captain Alastair Cook said. "Jimmy was outstanding. He always wants one more over, 13 was quite a lot. He's a world-class bowler and sometimes you just use him. It happened to be Jimmy's day and Jimmy's game."

England leads the five Test series 1-0. The second Test starts at Lord's on Thursday.

Losing streak

Last year's Business House three-on-three division two basketball champions, The Gleaner, have been experiencing a tough time since being promoted to division one this season, having lost all three matches to date.

The Gleaner's uneasy baptism could continue today when they oppose defending champions Grace Canning in their fourth match at the Stadium Courts, starting at 6 p.m.

Cricket fan banned

PORT OF SPAIN (CMC):

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) has imposed a five-year ban on a spectator who threw a missile on the field during the final of the Celkon Mobile Cup between India and Sri Lanka on Thursday at the Queen's Park Oval. Vijay Outim pleaded guilty to the charge of throwing missiles in a public event and was placed on a TT$1,000 (One TT dollar, US$0.15 cents) bond to keep the peace for one year and in default of which he will serve two weeks in prison with hard labour.