Page 1137 - Sports

Under pressure Vettel looks to cut Hamilton's championship lead in Singapore

Error-prone Ferrari will have to execute a perfect race in the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend to narrow the widening gap between Sebastian Vettel and championship leader Lewis Hamilton. Lead Mercedes driver Hamilton topped an intense battle with Vettel in the early stages of the Italian Grand Prix on September 2 before passing polesitter Kimi Raikkonen to win on the high-speed Monza track, extending his championship lead to 30 points with seven races remaining. Ferrari have had the faster car than the Mercedes of late but they have failed to come up with the consistency required to win titles. However, it is still far from over for the Italian outfit which is 25 points adrift of leader Mercedes in the team standings. What should give Ferrari additional confidence going into the night race on Sunday is that they have been the faster than Mercedes on the slow and twisty Marina Bay Street Circuit in recent times. Red Bull too have been strong on the high downforce track. Vettel was on

Ponting, Lehmann baffled by 'bizarre' Maxwell Test snub

Batting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell's "bizarre" failure to make the Australia Test squad for their tour against Pakistan left former captain Ricky Ponting and ex-coach Darren Lehmann baffled Wednesday. Selectors named five uncapped players ahead of Maxwell for the two-Test tour in the United Arab Emirates next month, despite the Victorian being one of the fastest scorers in world cricket with a handy off-spin option. Coach Justin Langer said the 29-year-old needed regular big scores to be in contention, but Ponting questioned why he was not given the opportunity to do just that on the ongoing Australia A tour of India. "If I was Maxi I'd be thinking, 'why didn't you give me the chance to actually go there (to India) and push my case to get myself into the team?" he told cricket.com.au. "That's all a bit bizarre to me. If I was Maxi and I hadn't been given the chance to play for Australia A, I'd be ropeable." In contrast, uncapped batsmen Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head were taken to .

Rahul, Pant heroics in vain as England win series 4-1

India went down in the fifth and final Test against England by 118 runs at the Oval on Tuesday.For India, KL Rahul ((149 off 224 balls) and Rishabh Pant's (114 off 146 balls) heroic resistance went in vain as sensational centuries from both the batsmen almost made it certain that India would go to salvage some lost pride and register an improbable win. However, England captain had the last laugh as his team clinched the series 4-1.But, England leg-spinner Adil Rashid dashed India's every hope with his lethal blows. Evoking memories of Shane Warne's 'Ball of the Century', the 30-year-old removed the well-set Rahul in the most exceptional manner, breaking a brilliant 204-run partnership in the process. Rashid also went on to removed Pant in his very next over, ensuring that England registered a thumping victory and also giving opener Alastair Cook a fitting farewell, who retired after the final test.Along with Cook, the series also ended in a memorable fashion for pacer James Anderson ..

Chennaiyin FC conclude pre-season training in Malaysia

Indian Super League (ISL) holders Chennaiyin FC (CFC) concluded their four-week-long pre-season camp in Malaysia on Tuesday.

England beat India by 118 runs, win five-match Test series 4-1

Opener Lokesh Rahul and Rishabh Pant's heroics went in vain as England defeated India by 118 runs in the fifth and final Test to clinch the series 4-1 at the Oval here on Tuesday.

Team has character, lacks experience: Kohli

Observing that the five-match Test series against England was highly competitive, India skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday said India played fearless cricket and the team has a lot of character but lacked in experience.

Cook becomes emotional in final Test

Having enjoyed the memorable end to his Test career, former England captain Alastair Cook was an emotional man at the end of the final match of the series against India here on Tuesday.

4-1 scoreline doesn't mean we were outplayed, says Kohli

India captain Virat Kohli said that the final scoreline of 1-4 is not a true reflection of how his team competed in the five-Test series which concluded Tuesday. "I think the 1-4 scoreline is a fair one as England played better than us but we were not outplayed barring the Lord's Test," Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony. "The kind of cricket we have played might not show on the scorecard. But both the teams know this series has been a competitive one," he added. Kohli said the series has been a great advertisement for Test cricket. "This has been a great advert for Test cricket. The fans will come and watch if both teams play for a win. The basic idea was to go out there and play the cricket we are supposed to do," he said. "England are a professional side and we realised that the game could change with in two-three overs," Kohli said. "England also don't go for draws and they played fearless cricket and so did we. That is why you won't see draws in these kind of ...

Out of form Sushil, injured Divya opt out of World Championship

Struggling for form, double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar has decided to opt out of the World Wrestling Championship while Asian Games bronze medallist Divya Kakran has also pulled out of the prestigious event due to an ankle injury. Sushil had suffered an embarrassing first round exit from the Asian Games and his participation was shrouded in doubt. "Both Sushil and Divya have conveyed that they should not be considered for the Worlds. Jitendra Kumar will now compete in the 74kg. We have decided to field Navjot Kaur in the 68kg in place of injured Divya," a WFI source told PTI today. "Divya's ankle problem had aggravated in Jakarta during the Asian Games. She is undergoing rehabilitation program at a camp in Bahalgarh," the source added. Sushil Kumar could not be reached for a comment. Sakshi Malik, who is also struggling will have to undergo trials. She will have to fight it out with Sarita Mor for a place in the 62kg category. World Championship is scheduled to be held in ...

England comfortably beat India by 118 runs despite tons from Rahul, Pant

India lost the fifth and final Test against England by 118 runs here Tuesday despite heroic resistance from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, bringing the curtains down on a tour which started as a golden opportunity but ended in a saga of disappointments. A mediocre England team with a fragile batting line-up won the series by a comprehensive 4-1 margin after India were bowled out for 345 in pursuit of mammoth target of 464. Making amends for a below-par show in the preceding Tests, Rahul (149 off 224 balls) and Pant (114 off 146 balls) sang the redemption song with attractive centuries to raise visions of an improbable victory before Adil Rashid (2/63 in 15 overs) dashed their hopes with a twin blow. Rashid bowled a prodigious leg-break that pitched on the rough and clipped Rahul's off-bail and in his next over Pant tried to hoick him for his fifth six only to be holed out by Moeen Ali. Once the 204-run sixth wicket stand ended, India tried to hang on for a respectable draw but it was of ..

Fifth Test: England outclass India by 118 runs, clinch series 4-1

Opener Lokesh Rahul and Rishabh Pant's heroics went in vain as England defeated India by 118 runs in the fifth and final Test to clinch the series 4-1 at the Oval here on Tuesday.

Scoreboard on the final day of the fifth Test between India and England here on Tuesday.

Scoreboard on the final day of the fifth Test between India and England here on Tuesday. England 1st innings: 332 and 423 for 8 decl India 1st innings: 292 all out India 2nd Innings: Lokesh Rahul b Rashid 149 Shikhar Dhawan lbw b Anderson 1 Cheteshwar Pujara lbw b Anderson 0 Virat Kohli c Bairstow b Broad 0 Ajinkya Rahane c Jennings b Moeen 37 Hanuma Vihari c Bairstow b Stokes 0 Rishabh Pant c Moeen b Rashid 114 Ravindra Jadeja c Bairstow b Curran 13 Ishant Sharma c Bairstow b Curran 5 Mohammed Shami b Anderson 0 Jasprit Bumrah not out 0 Extras: (B-10 LB-16) 26 Total: (All out in 94.3 overs) 345 Fall of Wickets: 1/1 1/2 2/3 120/4 121/5 325/6 328/7 336/8 345/9 Bowling: James Anderson 22.3-11-45-3, Stuart Broad 12-1-43-1, Moeen Ali 17-2-68-1, Sam Curran 9-2-23-2, Ben Stokes 13-1-60-1, Adil Rashid 15-2-63-2, Joe Root 6-1-17-0.

Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team dominates Stage 1 of PanAfrica Rally

Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team had a successful outing post the Stage 1 of PanAfrica Rally with racers Adrien Metge and Michael Metge finishing at the first and second places respectively.

Spanish football chief hails national team coach, urges patience

Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales praised Spain head coach Luis Enrique on Tuesday but also called for patience, saying the new coach was still developing his squad.

Brown eliminates Independiente, advances to Copa Argentina round of 16

Brown de Adrogue, which moved into the Second Division this season, has defeated Independiente 4-3 on penalties, advancing to the Copa Argentina round of 16.

Late Mohammedan comeback nearly end East Bengal's title hopes

Mohammedan Sporting Club virtually buried defending champions East Bengal's title hopes in the ongoing Calcutta Premier Division 'A' league following a 2-1 win at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Tuesday.

Divya's last-ditch efforts of no avail as Sagarika enters semifinals

Fourth-seed Divya Deshpande bowed out of the National Ranking (South Zone) Table Tennis Championships after going down 3-4 to an enterprising Sagarika Mukherjee of Railways at the DRM Municipal Indoor Hall here on Tuesday.

Fifth Test: Pant, Rahul keep Indian hopes alive (Tea Report)

A brilliant fightback by Lokesh Rahul and Rishabh Pant kept England at bay as India reached 298/5 at Tea on the final day of the fifth and final Test at the Oval here on Tuesday.

Arjun Tendulkar named in U19 team for invitational ODI tourney

Arjun Tendulkar, son of cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, was Tuesday named in the Mumbai Under-19 squad for the 6th All India Under-19 J Y Lele Invitational One Day tournament starting September 16. The Mumbai squad will be led by Suved Parkar, Mumbai Cricket Association Joint Secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar said in a statement here. The tournament is being held in Vadodara. 18-year-old Arjun, a promising left-arm pacer, made his India U-19 debut against Sri Lanka in the first Youth Test against the hosts at Colombo in July. Arjun has also bowled to the Indian team in the nets. Squad: Suved Parkar (Captain), Divyansh Saxena, Karan Shah,Pragnesh Kanpillewar, Hashir Dafedar, Arsalan Shaikh, Yash Salunkhe, Kesar Singh Thapa, Vaibhav Kalamkar, Atharva Ankolekar, Bhushan Jalawadkar, Praful Devkate, Arjun Tendulkar Uzair Khan, Balwant Singh Sodha and Saksham Parashar.

Punjab& Sind bank beats Bengaluru HA

Punjab & Sind Bank registered a thrilling 6-5 win over Bengaluru HA in a Pool 'B' match in the 92nd All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament here Tuesday. In another Pool 'B' fixture, Indian Navy was held to a 1-1 draw by the Indian Oil Corporation. The Navy team looked set to eke out a win before a controversial penalty stroke in the 60th minute stymied their hopes. The Navy players protested the referee's decision, but to no avail. The experienced Jugraj Singh had given the Navymen the lead in the 19th minute when he slotted home from a penalty corner. Gurjinder Singh saved the day for IOC, putting the penalty stroke past the Navy custodian. The match between PSB and Bengaluru HA was a goal fest as the lead changed hands at quick intervals as the two sides dished out fast-paced hockey. Ashish Kumar Sharma was the star for the bankmen as he scored four goals, including two in the 46th and 57th minutes to secure victory. PSB went ahead in the 12th minute ...