England held up by tourists after four-wicket haul

WELSHMAN Lee Selby has vowed to successfully defend his IBF featherweight world title tonight to celebrate his daughters’ birthdays.

The Barry-born world champion’s mother, Frankie, passed away on Tuesday night, just four days before Selby’s bout with Jonathan Victor Barros at Wembley Arena.

Despite the tragic news, Selby vowed to go ahead with his title defence against the 33-year-old Argentinean, a fight that is on the same card as Chris Eubank Jr’s encounter with Arthur Abraham.

And Selby has revealed he is determined to take the belt home to south Wales as a present for his daughters Lexie and Lucia, who celebrate their birthdays on the day of the fight.

“I’m good. I’m here to do a job and a job I’ll do,” Selby told BBC Sport Wales.

“I’ll stay focused and I’ll stay professional. Saturday night I’m going to get a win and I’m going to travel back home to Barry.

“Family’s first in my life, that’s what comes first. Family and boxing, that’s all I am.

“Both of the girls, Lexie, the older girl, and Lucia were born on the same day, July 15, the same day I defend my title, so hopefully I’ll bring them back a nice shiny belt as a present.”

Selby weighed in at 8st, 13lbs and 5oz, just 11 ounces lighter than his opponent – who he was due to face in Las Vegas earlier this year before the fight was called off with just 24 hours’ notice after the Argentinean failed to meet the Nevada Athletic Commission’s licensing terms.

And speaking about the Barry boxer’s decision to fight just days after his mother’s death, Selby’s manager, Jamie Sanigar, said: “Lee and the team have made the decision that they will proceed with the contest on Saturday.

“Lee is a brave young man and he’s here to do a job on Saturday.”

Eubank Jnr makes the first defence of his WBO super middleweight title in the fight with 37-year-old Abraham despite a last-minute scare.

The challenger was 1lbs 13oz over the limit and was given two hours to drop the excess weight. If he had failed the fight will still have gone ahead but not for the belt, with Abraham fined.

Eventually he weighed in at 168lbs dead – the same as Eubank Jr. COLIN Ingram, who scored Glamorgan’s fastest-ever T20 century-from 46 balls against Sussex last Sunday, is looking forward to a busy weekend as his side play Somerset at home this evening (7pm), before making the long trip to Chelmsford where they play Essex tomorrow (2.30pm).

“It’s not the ideal format, but the T20 Blast competition always has a hectic schedule, and we have to adapt to it,” said the South African star.

“Before the competition starts, you ENGLAND hit back to take four wickets in the evening session but could still claim only a share of the spoils on the first day of the second Investec Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge.

Stuart Broad, returning to his home ground for the first time in a Test since his eight for 15 when England clinched the Ashes here two years ago, shifted third-wicket pair Quinton de Kock (68) and Hashim Amla (78) in a spell of 5-2-8-2 after tea.

De Kock fell to the first ball of the session to end a stand of 113 as the tourists, who had to that point been vindicating Faf du Plessis’ gamble to bat first on a teatime 179 for two, faltered to 235 for six.

They closed with 309 on the board for no further loss thanks to a rearguard from bowling all-rounders Vernon Philander (54no) and Chris Morris.

On a pitch offering sideways movement, and after heavy morning cloud cover had given the bowlers an obvious chance to do early damage, the stumps total was arguably close to par.

South Africa put themselves in position to push for better, but England had their own frustrations as they try to consolidate after their opening victory at Lord’s.

In the first two sessions South Africa lost only Dean Elgar before lunch and his fellow opener Heino Kuhn in the early afternoon.

But Amla and De Kock then took over, kicking on in a four-over period against Mark Wood and Liam Dawson which brought 36 runs either side of mid-session drinks.

Elgar’s battle had lasted nine overs, and brought him just six runs when he decided to go after a full delivery at the end of a what proved to be a wicketmaiden from James Anderson.

The left-hander drove too close to point where Dawson pulled off a fine catch, diving two-handed to his right.

A shower took 20 minutes out of an absorbing morning then, as the clouds began to break in the afternoon, the only setback for South Africa was Kuhn’s edge back on to his stumps off Broad without addition to his lunchtime always feel a little edgy, but after that win at Arundel you felt the confidence beginning to kick in and we are all looking forward to the weekend.”

Ingram played for part of the 2014 season with Somerset.

“I rate them a strong club, full of tradition. They have some dangerous players, a good attack which includes the Overton brothers and some useful all-rounders,” he said.

“The game is also on television, which will add a little bit of spice.” score. Amla twice mishooked Broad, and also Ben Stokes just before tea.

But the ball fell safely each time. After reaching his half-century with a shuffle up the pitch to Dawson and a clean strike for six over long-on to add to his six fours, Amla had a more significant moment of fortune on 56 when Alastair Cook dropped him low at slip off Stokes.

De Kock’s 59-ball half-century was a typically fluent and stylish one, but to the first ball after tea he went after Broad - switched to the Radcliffe Road end - and edged to Cook, who was safe if not entirely convincing this time.

Amla also went within 30 minutes, paying at last for his failure to control the hook as he mishit Broad straight to Wood at long-leg.

Du Plessis, back after missing Lord’s because of the birth of his first child, tried to dig in but was the first of two quick victims for Stokes - very well

Last season, Ingram plundered a 55-ball hundred at Chelmsford, but before Glamorgan could defend a useful total of 184, heavy rain during and after the interval meant the game had to be abandoned.

“I really enjoy playing there,” added Ingram. “The pitch is always good and the partisan crowd get me going and I find it a good battle.

“It’s always a good contest and Essex will come hard at us, especially after losing their two opening games.” caught-behind down the leg-side by Jonny Bairstow, after the ball flicked his glove and then his whites.

Temba Bavuma was another who threatened a more substantial contribution before he was then caughtbehind off Stokes too, trying to pull the bat away but getting an involuntary edge.