RETIEF GOOSEN is on track for his first European Tour success in more than two and a half years after firing an eight-under 64 in the third round of the Portugal Masters.

The South African carded an eagle-two and seven birdies to finish on 20-under-par 196, one ahead of Francesco Molinari (68) of Italy, who led after rounds one and two.

Lee Westwood (66), looking to overhaul fellow Briton Rory McIlroy at the top of the money list, was three behind Goosen. Another bad day with the putter left order of merit leader McIlroy stranded 14 shots off the pace after a 71. Padraig Harrington(71) fell back to ninth with a clutch of players. Goosen, seeking a 15th European Tour title, was delighted with the turnaround after a poor Presidents Cup last week when he did not win a match.

‘I had Saturday afternoon off last week and spent three hours on the range improving the swing, and the putting has come right this week, too.’

NORWAY’S Marianne Skarpnord rolled in a six-foot birdie putt at the third extra hole to clinch her second Ladies European Tour victory at the Italian Open in Milan. She defeated England’s Laura Davies, having holed a 35ft eagle putt at the 18th hole in regulation to force the playoff.

MOTO GP CASEY STONER secured pole position at his home circuit in Australia after edging world champion Valentino Rossi in qualifying.

Stoner, looking for a third consecutive win at Phillip Island, clocked 1min 30.341sec, with Rossi five-hundredths of a second slower. Dani Pedrosa came in third with Jorge Lorenzo fourth. Britain’s James Toseland starts from 12th.

‘The past two years here our bike has been perfect due to the fact that we normally have very good traction here,’ Stoner said. ‘We'll just see what we can do tomorrow.’

Rossi, who leads Lorenzo by 18 points with three rounds remaining, said: ‘From the championship point of view it is okay because I'm faster than Jorge. We have a good advantage, so I hope tomorrow to fight for the victory with Casey.’

TENNIS TOP SEED Caroline Wozniacki failed to reach the final of the Japan Women’s Open in Osaka despite a comeback against Samantha Stosur. The Australian third seed won the first eight games to lead 6-0 2-0 before Denmark’s Wozniacki broke twice to take the second set 6-4. But she could not keep her rally going as Stosur held her nerve to progress 6-0 4-6 6-4. Stosur, who will attempt to win her first tour singles title, will play fourth seed Francesca Schiavone, of Italy, who beat Sania Mirza, of India, 6-2 6-1.

CZECH Petra Kvitova produced a surprise win over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska to secure a place in the Generali Ladies final in Linz, Austria. Kvitova, ranked 55th in the world, triumphed 6-3 6-2 to give herself a chance of a second title this year. She will play No 3 seed Yanina Wickmayer, of Belgium, who defeated top seed Flavia Pennetta, of Italy, 7-6 6-3.

CRICKET HENRY DAVIDS hit an unbeaten half-century as the Cape Cobras secured an eight-wicket victory over the Victoria Bushrangers in the Champions League Twenty20 in Bangalore.

The start of the match was delayed by nearly two hours because of a security alert when police found evidence of explosive materials at the stadium. Play eventually got under way with the match reduced to 17 overs. Useful contributions from Andrew McDonald (29), Cameron White (24) and Aiden Blizzard (22) helped Victoria reach 125 for five, but the Cobras’ reply was emphatic. Opening batsman Derek Brand (29 off 15) got his side off to a flying start and Davids hit seven fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 69. The result ended the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s hopes of a semi-final place. The Challengers then took the Delhi Daredevils out of the tournament with them with an emphatic eight-wicket victory. Delhi scored 138 for six off their 20 overs but a brilliant 63 off 38 balls by New Zealander Ross Taylor turned the match.

ZIMBABWE took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match ODI series against Kenya.

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