Page 1832 - Sports
Best cricketing moment of my life: Karthik on last ball sixer
Few days after guiding India to a four-wicket win over Bangladesh to clinch Nidahas Trophy T20 tri-series, Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik on Saturday described it as the "best cricketing moment of my life".Karthik, who remained unbeaten at 29, clinched the match on the final delivery at the R Premadasa Stadium last week, sending a flat six over the covers. His eight-ball knock included two fours and three sixes and he was adjudged Man of the Match.Reflecting on the same, the 32-year-old said he had received a lot of attention in the following days over his heroic performance, adding that he was now hopeful of a good sort of journey from here on."Initially, the first couple of days I have got a lot of attention. Now, the things are becoming normal. It's been a good few days. A lot of people have been sending me congratulatory messages. It's been really nice. Though at the back of my mind, I do feel strongly that there should be a start of something nice and a good sort of ..
Australian GP: Hamilton grabs 73rd pole position
Four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton reeled off a stunning lap during qualification to clinch pole position for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Saturday.The 33-year-old Mercedes driver, who posted his fastest lap of one minute and 26.067 seconds, finished 0.664 faster than Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen to grab 73rd career pole position.Raikkonen's teammate and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel finished at the third position in his Ferrari, Sport24 reported.Meanwhile, the Red Bull pair of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo was fourth and fifth quickest respectively in the intense qualifying round.However, it was mixed fortunes for Mercedes as Hamilton's team-mate Vatteri Bottas crashed heavily in the third and final qualifying race without setting a time, thus causing the session to be temporarily red-flagged.Reigning F1 world champion Hamilton will aim to kick start his season on positive note when the Australian Grand Prix takes place on March 25.
Cricket controversy: Bancroft, Smith admit ball-tampering
Australia's Cameron Bancroft and captain Steve Smith admitted to ball-tampering during the third Test against South Africa today. Bancroft was caught on television cameras appearing to rub a yellow object on the ball, and later said: "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I want to be here (in the press conference) because I want to be accountable for my actions." Smith added: "The leadership group knew about it.
Australian Bancroft charged with altering ball's condition
Australian fielder Cameron Bancroft on Saturday said that he has been charged with attempting to change the condition of the ball during their third Test against South Africa here on Saturday.
Bancroft faces ball tampering claims as South Africa stretch lead
Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft could face tampering claims after being spoken to by umpires about an object in his pocket during today's play in the third Test against South Africa. Television footage appeared to show Bancroft take on object out of his pocket while fielding on the third day of the Test at Newlands. He was then seen tucking the object down the front of his trousers before he spoke to on-field umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth. Shane Warne, the Australian spin bowling great, said on Twitter he was "very disappointed" by the pictures and called on Australia captain Steve Smith to clear up the "mess" in the post-play press conference. Aiden Markram and AB de Villiers batted South Africa into a strong position, leaving South Africa at 238 for five in their second innings when bad light ended play, an overall lead of 294. The series is tied at one match apiece. Opening batsman Markram made 84 and De Villiers batted with unusual caution to be 51 not ...
Advani retains Asian Billiards title with ease
Pankaj Advani defended his title at the Asian Billiards Championships by pulverising his practice partner B. Bhaskar 6-1 in the summit clash here, while Amee Kamani bagged the Asian Women's Snooker title by blanking her Thai opponent Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan 3-0.
Dinesh Karthik's current form will help him lead KKR confidently: Piyush Chawla
Upbeat about his team's chances in the upcoming 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kolkata Knight Riders leg-spinner Piyush Chawla believes Dinesh Karthik's current form will be an added advantage when he steps out to lead the side for the first time in his IPL career.Chawla said Kolkata Knight Riders are looking to a great season ahead under the new captain Dinesh Karthik."We are looking ahead at a very good season under the new captain Dinesh Karthik. Karthik is an experienced campaigner and his current form will help him lead the team confidently," he said.Piyush, who has 126 IPL wickets under his belt and had picked six wickets for KKR last season, also believes that the team has an effective bowling line-up, with most of them possessing wicket taking capabilities."It is important to take wickets in T20 and I believe we have a good line-up of bowlers who are capable of taking wickets at crucial junctures. Kuldeep has bowled really well for team India in the past year
Khedira reassures fans about his physical status
Juventus' German midfielder Sami Khedira on Saturday reassured fans about his physical status, saying a minor issue forced him to leave the field during Germany's 1-1 draw against Spain in their friendly on Friday.
Indian Tigers go down fighting to Astana Arlans in WSB clash
Indian Tigers put up a spirited challenge before going down 2-3 in a hard-fought battle against Artana Arlans of Kazakhstan in the first ever World Series of Boxing (WSB) bout in the country.
Spain's Silva to miss Argentina friendly
Manchester City attacking midfielder David Silva on Saturday morning left Spain's training camp at Las Rozas Sports City in Madrid, and is to miss the upcoming friendly against Argentina.
Indian eves need to raise their level to beat England: Harmanpreet Kaur
Indian women's T20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur on Saturday admitted that her side needs to raise their game against England in the second match of the triangular series, if they want to avoid a repeat of their defeat to Australia at the Brabourne Stadium.The Indian women's cricket stadium kicked off their T20I triangular series with a defeat as they slumped to a six-wicket loss against Australia in the opening match.The women in blue will now have their task cut out when they face the 50-over World Cup winners England in their second game.Having beaten Australia by eight wickets in their first match, England will be boosting with confidence and are upbeat about their chances against India, who have slumped to four defeats in a row across ODIs and T20Is in the last two weeks.Though Harmanpreet admitted that in-form England would pose a big challenge to her side, she insisted that India had shown improvement in their last match and that they could turn around their fortunes on ...
Abhishek Nayar showed me light at end of tunnel: Karthik
Wicket-keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik today revealed that former India player Abhishek Nayar had helped him overcome self-doubts when he struggled to cement a place in the Indian team. Karthik did a Javed Miandad as he hit pacer Soumya Sarkar for a flat six over covers on March 18 guiding his team to a win over Bangladesh in the summit clash of the Tri-nation Nidahas Trophy T20 tournament in Sri Lanka. "I want to play as long as (possible). It was hard a lot of times. I had a lot of doubt whether I will ever play for the country again," Karthik told reporters at a media conference here. "That is where I have been lucky to meet Abhishek (Nayar). He is kind of guiding me through the process. I was not sure, where do I need to go and he (Nayar) kind of showed me light at the end of tunnel, things have been touch wood, good and I have been lucky, he said. Karthik is part of No Honking 11 which is playing against Road Safety 11 in an exhibition match at the Wankhede Stadium. The batsman .
Indian Tigers lose to Astana Arlans as WSB makes debut on Indian soil
Indian Tigers put up a spirited challenge before going down 2-3 against Artana Arlans of Kazakhstan in the first ever World Series of Boxing (WSB) bout in the country here today. In the historic event held at the National Boxing Academy in Rohtak, the hosts were looking to avenge their defeat in Kazakhstan but the three-time champions proved to be the better team and emerged victorious. With Indian Tigers down 1-3 before the final bout of the contest, it was the local lad Sanjeet Kumar who narrowed down the score line. In the clash of heavyweights, Sanjeet rolled out his A-Game against the much-fancied Abilkhair Turlanbekov to win the last bout of the evening 2:1 to send the packed stadium into a thunderous applause. With his family and friends in attendance, Sanjeet peppered his opponent with his hooks and jabs to leave his rival reeling in the squared ring. Sanjeet dominated the proceedings from the word go and outsmarted his opponent by using his height advantage and constantly ...
ICC WC Qualifiers: Windies aim to settle scores with Afghanistan in final
The 2018 ICC World Cup qualifiers will come to an end on Sunday when the West Indies take on second-seeded Afghanistan in the final at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe.This is the West Indies' maiden appearance in the World Cup qualifying event after they failed to qualify directly for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 by finishing outside the top eight on the ODI Team Rankings at the September 30, 2017 cut-off.Meanwhile, Afghanistan played in the qualifiers in 2009 in South Africa and finished fifth, but didn't compete in the 2014 qualifier after having progressed to the 2015 World Cup by virtue of finishing second to Ireland in the ICC World Cricket League Championship.Sunday's winner will join Sri Lanka (1979), Zimbabwe (1982, 1986 and 1990), United Arab Emirates (1994), Bangladesh (1997), Netherlands (2001), Scotland (2005 and 2014) and Ireland (2009) to lift the silverware of one of the most competitive and keenly-contested tournaments on the cricket calendar.Both the Caribbean ...
Punjab, PSPB in national hockey final
Hockey Punjab and Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) progressed to the final of the 8th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship (A Division) after defeating Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) and Air India Sports Promotion Board (AISPB) respectively here on Saturday.
Santosh Trophy: Mizoram inch closer to semis; Karnataka remain in hunt
Former champions Mizoram all but sealed a semi-final berth with a 2-1 win over Punjab, while Karnataka too remained in the hunt after beating Odisha by an identical scoreline in the national football championship for the 72nd Santosh Trophy here on Saturday.
It's final, Thiruvananthapuram to host India-WI ODI on November 1
The general body meeting of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) here on Saturday cleared the decision that the KCA executive has taken to hold the November 1 One-Day International (ODI) between Indian and the visiting West Indies team in the state capital city of Thiruvananthapuram.
Markram stretches S Africa lead beyond 200
Aiden Markram survived two dropped catches and went on to make 84 as South Africa extended their lead beyond 200 in the third Test against Australia today. Markram was out for 84 shortly before tea on the third day, which South Africa reached on 151 for three, an overall lead of 207, at Newlands. Markram, out for nought in the first innings, could have completed a "pair" but he was dropped off the fourth ball of the second innings when he edged Mitchell Starc low to the left of Usman Khawaja at gully. He survived another much more difficult chance on 59 when Australian captain Steve Smith flung himself to his right at second slip and got his fingertips to a flying edge off Josh Hazlewood. Smith, who held a world record-equalling five catches in the first innings, had already added to his tally by catching first innings century-maker Dean Elgar off Pat Cummins for 14. Markram, who made a century in the first Test in Durban, batted solidly despite his lapses and hit ten fours and two ...
Bancroft could face ball tampering questions
Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft could face questions over an incident captured by television cameras during the third day of the third Test against South Africa at Newlands. Bancroft was spoken to by umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth during the 43rd over of South Africa's second innings today after appearing to have an object in his hand after fielding the ball at cover. While the umpires were conferring, Bancroft appeared to place a small yellow object in his underpants. When the umpires went across to talk to him he reached into a pocket and showed them what seemed to be a different object - what looked like a soft pouch for sunglasses. The umpires took no action and did not change the ball. There were boos from a capacity crowd at Newlands when the incident was shown on the big screen at the ground.
Asian Cup Qualifier: Constantine names squad for Kyrgyzstan game
India chief coach Stephen Constantine on Saturday announced the list of 24 footballers for the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek on Tuesday.