Page 1519 - Sports

Scotland stun top-ranked England in huge cricket shock

Scotland enjoyed the greatest victory in their cricket history by holding their nerve to beat world number one-ranked England by six runs in a thrilling one-day international at Edinburgh today. Despite making a mammoth 371 for five, thanks mainly to Calum MacLeod's brilliant 140 not out, Scotland were in danger of defeat as England's Jonny Bairstow took advantage of a good pitch and short boundaries at the Grange to make 105. But a middle order collapse gave non-Test nation Scotland renewed hope. England rallied again, thanks to a 71-run eighth-wicket partnership between Moeen Ali and Liam Plunkett. But paceman Safyaan Sharif sealed Scotland's victory with seven balls to spare when he had No.11 Mark Wood plumb lbw to spark a pitch invasion by jubilant home fans. Scotland's first win in international cricket over England came in their first match since they were cruelly denied a place at next year's World Cup after a poor umpiring decision and rain saw them miss out in their final ...

West Indies crush Sri Lanka by 226-runs in first Test

West Indies completed a crushing 226-run victory over Sri Lanka just after lunch on the final day of the first Test today as the tourists surrendered meekly following the demise of century-maker Kusal Mendis and captain Dinesh Chandimal. Set a daunting target of 453, the Sri Lankans crashed from 189 for three in mid-morning to be dismissed for 226 just after lunch, suffering their first Test match defeat at the hands of the Caribbean side for ten years, when they were also beaten at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad. Off-spinning all-rounder Roston Chase triggered the final capitulation in which five wickets fell for just eight runs. His dismissal of Chandimal in the last over before the lunch interval broke the back of the tourists' resistance and he claimed three of the remaining four wickets to fall to finish with the impressive figures of four for 15 off 8.2 overs. It looked so much better for Sri Lanka when Mendis, 94 not out overnight with Sri Lanka on 176 for three, reached ...

Simran and Ritika outclass Maldivian duo to win

Young Indian women's doubles pair of Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker asserted their supremacy at the global stage as they annexed their second international title as they beat the Maldivian pair of Aminath Nabeeha Abdul Razzaq and Fathimath Nabeeha Abdul Razzaq to win the Mauritius Senior International Tournament played at Rose Hill in Mauritius on Sunday.The Indian pair was seeded second in the tournament and were at their dominating best as they brushed aside the number one seeded pair 21-17, 21-12 with rather ease."We are very happy with the win and it gives us great confidence going ahead in our career. We hope to carry the momentum forward in the upcoming Asian Badminton Championship (U-19) and give our best shot at the elite Asian Continental tournament and return with a medal," an elated Ritika said after the match from Mauritius."I would like to congratulate Simran and Ritika for their performance. They recently had a great run at the Asian Junior Ranking Selection Tournament,

French Open: Nadal wins record 11th title

World No. 1 and Spaniard tennis star Rafael Nadal outclassed Dominic Thiem of Croatia in the men's final match of French Open to lift a record 11th Roland Garros title here on Sunday.Thiem, who was considered the underdog and the only player to beat Nadal twice on clay in the last two years, was no match for the Spaniard's swift serves and aggressive athleticism. He was defeated 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in straight sets in a match that lasted beyond 2.5 hours.It was also Nadal's 17th grand slam title, three short of Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer's all-time men's record.The seventh-seeded Croatian was playing in his first grand slam final of any major tournament and was put under pressure right from the beginning of the game, with Nadal at his destructive best, despite battling a finger injury during the course of the match.Barring the first set, where the two players were going neck to neck, Nadal totally dominated the Roland Garros as he played excellent serves to go on to lift his 11th title,

Lightning strike kills 3 hockey match spectators

Three spectators of a hockey math were killed and two others were injured when lightning struck a tree shortly after the match was abandoned due to rains in Sundargarh district today, police said. The five were among hundreds of people who had gathered to watch the local hockey match at Sagbahal under Talsara police station area. The match was half way through when it started to rain and it was called off. Several people, including the five victims, took shelter under a banyan tree that was struck by lightning, police said. While three persons, including two brothers, were declared brought dead at hospital, two others were admitted there in a serious condition, police said. The hockey match between a local team and another from outside was part of a tournament popular among the local tribal community.

Sakshi, Vinesh to spearhead Indian wrestling challenge at Asiad

Star wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat will spearhead the Indian women's squad at the Asian Games to be held in Jakarta later this year.

India thrash Kenya to lift Intercontinental Cup

Skipper Sunil Chhetri continued his superb form, striking a brace as India thrashed Kenya 2-0 to clinch the Intercontinental Cup at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Sunday.

Sri Lanka reeling despite Mendis ton

Kusal Mendis completed a fifth Test century but it was Sri Lanka's only bright spot on a successful morning for the West Indies on the final day of the first cricket Test at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad here today. The West Indies claimed four wickets to leave the tourists reeling at 222 for seven at lunch, having been set a daunting target of 453. Hopes of the tourists seriously challenging a world record chase effectively evaporated with his demise, caught behind for 102 off fast bowler Shannon Gabriel after just over half-an-hour's play. But even the prospects of saving the match, or at the very least taking the game into the final session, seemed to have disappeared with the loss of three more wickets before the break, including two off the final over bowled by off-spinning all-rounder Roston Chase. Stubborn nightwatchman Lahiru Gamage had fallen lbw to leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo for just three after more than an hour's resistance but the death knell was really sounded for ..

Nadal clinches 11th French Open title

Rafael Nadal of Spain powered past Austrian Dominic Thiem in straight sets to clinch his record-extending 11th men's singles title at the French Open tennis championships here on Sunday.

Milestone man Chhetri helps India beat Kenya 2-0 to clinch title

Inspirational Indian captain Sunil Chhetri scored a brace to put himself on par with Lionel Messi and lead the home side to Intercontinental Cup title triumph with a 2-0 win over Kenya in the summit clash here today. Playing in his 102nd international match, Chhetri struck in the eighth and 29th minutes to hand a dominant India the trophy to the wild celebration of the home fans at the Mumbai Football Arena here. The 33-year-old Chhetri's double strike capped a brilliant tournament which saw him score eight out of India's 11 goals and put him on par with Argentine superstar Messi with 64 strikes for the country to be the joint second highest international goal scorer among active players. He had scored three against Chinese Taipei, two each against Kenya in the league game and the final today and one against New Zealand. Chhetri gave India the lead off a set-piece, assisted by Anirudh Thapa. Kenyan defender Bernard Oginga gave away a silly free-kick to India for a high-boot on Chhetri

Teenaged Tijil Rao to debut in national racing

Fourteen-year old Tijil Rao will make his debut in the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Racing Championship 2018, having overcome a rare handicap that had made even the simple act of walking extremely excruciating for him. Born with clubfoot, a condition in which ones feet are rotated inwards, Tijil had to undergo two surgeries in each of his legs, first when he was just three months old and then again one year later to live a normal life. That, however, didnt stop him from pursuing his passion for racing. Tijil will now have the distinction of being one of the youngest racers on the Formula LGB 1300 Grid, which is part of the MRF Indian National Racing Championship this year. The first round of the championship will be held here from June 22 to 24. The Bengaluru boy, studying in Class X at the Mirambika School for New Age, will be racing for Momentum Motorsports. We are delighted to have Tijil Rao in our Formula LGB 1300 driver line up, Rasheed Khan, Momentum Motorsports ..

Neymar on target again as Brazil beat Austria

Neymar marked his return to the starting line-up with another brilliant goal as Brazil eased to a 3-0 win over Austria here today in their final friendly ahead of the World Cup. Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho netted either side of Neymar's strike at the Ernst Happel Stadion, as the world's most expensive player confirmed his return to fitness following a foot operation three months ago. It was an encouraging way for Tite's side to complete their preparations before their departure for their base in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi. The Brazilians were due to arrive there in the early hours tomorrow, ahead of their opening game at the tournament against Switzerland next Sunday. Neymar's goal was his 55th in a Brazil shirt, allowing him to draw level with Romario on his country's list of all-time leading scorers -- only the great Pele and Ronaldo have scored more goals for Brazil than the Paris Saint-Germain superstar. The 26-year-old had come off the bench to score in ...

Nadal wins 11th French Open despite late injury scare

Rafael Nadal claimed an 11th French Open title today with a 6-4 6-3 6-2 demolition of Dominic Thiem despite a worrying injury scare in the closing stages of the final. The 32-year-old world number one now has 17 Grand Slam titles, just three behind great rival Roger Federer. Nadal endured a nervy conclusion to the final, however, when he needed treatment in the fourth game of the third set for a finger injury before sealing victory on a fifth match point when Thiem fired a backhand long. "It's really incredible. I played a great match against a great player," said Nadal. "I had tough moment in the third set with cramps in my hand. I was very scared but that's sport -- it was very humid. "To win 11 times here -- it's fantastic and not something I ever dreamed of." Nadal joins Australia's Margaret Court as the only player to win 11 titles at the same major. Victory also took Nadal's record at Roland Garros to 86 wins and just two losses. For Thiem, playing in his first Slam final, it ...

Shuttlers Simran, Ritika win Mauritius tourney

Indian shuttlers Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker beat Aminath Nabeeha Abdul Razzaq and Fathimath Nabeeha Abdul Razzaq of Maldives in straight games to win the women's doubles title at the Mauritius Senior International Tournament here on Sunday.

Simran-Ritika win Mauritius Open women's doubles

Young Indian women's doubles pair of Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker clinched their second international title by beating Aminath Nabeeha Abdul Razzaq and Fathimath Nabeeha Abdul Razzaq of Maldives in the Mauritius Senior International badminton tournament in Mauritius today. The India pair was seeded second in the tournament and were at their dominating best as they brushed aside the number one seeds 21-17 21-12 with consummate ease. We are very happy with the win and it gives us great confidence going ahead in our career. We hope to carry the momentum forward in the upcoming Asian Badminton Championship (U-19) and give our best shot at the elite Asian Continental tournament and return with medal, an elated Ritika said after the match. Simran and Ritika, who are number one ranked U-19 pair of India, will be spearheading the Indian girls' double challenge at the U-19 Asian Badminton Championship and lot will be expected of them after their recent success.

Sakshi, Vinesh to lead Indian women wrestlers in Asian Games

Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik and Commonwealth Games gold winner Vinesh Phogat will lead a six-member Indian women wrestling team at the Asian Games to be held in Indonesia later this year. Sakshi, who won bronze medals in this year's Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as well as 2016 Rio Olympics, and Vinesh were exempted from the trials by the Wrestling Federation of India because of their current form and past performances. Sakshi and Vinesh will carry India's hopes in the 50kg and 62kg freestyle categories even as four other wrestlers went through the trials here today to book their tickets for the Asian Games. Other women wrestlers who will be representing India at the Asian Games are Pinki (53kg), Pooja Dhanda (57kg), Divya Kakran (68kg) and Kiran (72kg). The Asian Games will be held in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2.

Chhetri equals Messi'S record, joint second highest scorer among active players

Talismanic Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri today became the joint second highest international goal scorer among active players along with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi with his 64th strike for the country against Kenya in the Intercontinental Cup summit clash here. Chhetri, who had come into the match with 62 goals, gave India the lead in the eighth minute before scoring the second goal in the 29th minute to put him on par with Meesi. He chested down a long pass from Anas Edathodika between two Kenyan defenders before firing in a low left-footer just inside the box that beat goalkeeper Patrick Matasi all ends up. The 33-year-old Chhetri, who was playing in his 102nd international match, and Messi are behind leader and Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo who has 81 goals from 150 matches. Chhetri and Messi are currently in joint 21st in the all-time list of goal scorers. The Indian is just one goal below former Chelsea and Ivory Coast stalwart Didier Drogba (65 from ..

Low key arrival for unfancied Australia

Australia today finally arrived at their base in chilly Kazan, where the 'Socceroos' will begin preparations for what many pundits believe will be yet another early departure from the World Cup. Scheduled to meet highly-fancied France in their World Cup opener on June 16, Bert Van Marwijk's men touched down shortly after midday and made the short trip from Kazan airport to their hotel and training complex a few kilometres from the centre of the colourful, windswept Tatar city. Australia, whose best World Cup performance was reaching the last 16 under Guus Hiddink in 2006, are based at the Trudovye Rezervy Stadium, the training centre of local top ice-hockey side Ak Bars Kazan. Van Marwijk's greatest moment was leading the Netherlands to the World Cup final in 2010, when the 'Oranje' were beaten 1-0 by Spain in South Africa. But this current Australia crop would only seriously begin to impress home fans if they managed to qualify from a Group C also featuring Denmark and Peru.

Nice sign Brazilian midfielder Danilo Barbosa

OGC Nice announced on Sunday that they have reached an agreement to sign Brazilian midfielder Danilo Barbosa from Portuguese football club Braga.

Spain's Aspas says fans' scoring expectations too high

Forward Iago Aspas on Sunday said that the Spanish football team suffered from fans' expectations of high-scoring wins in its last two friendlies against Switzerland and Tunisia ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.