Page 1963 - Sports
Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar shine as India begin T20 series in style
India's domination in limited overs cricket rolled on unabated as they cantered to a 28-run victory over South Africa in the first T20 International, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the three-match series here today. Shikhar Dhawan smashed his fourth Twenty20 half-century, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in T20I to emerge as the architects of the victory at the Wanderers. Dhawan smashed a 39-ball 72 studded with 10 fours and two sixes to power India to a challenging 203 for 5 after South Africa won the toss and elected to field. Pacer Bhuvneshwar then returned with figures of 4-0-24-5 as South Africa folded for 175 for nine, despite opener Reeza Hendricks's 50-ball 70-run innings. Chasing 204, South Africa made a quick start with opener Jon-Jon Smuts (14) and Hendricks putting on 29 off 17 balls as Jaydev Unadkat (1-33) was expensive in his opening spell. Smuts skied one off Bhuvneshwar and Dhawan took a well-judged catch at mid-on. Two overs later, Raina took .
Sri Lanka complete sweep with Bangladesh win in 2nd T20
Opener Kusal Mendis smashed a career-best 42-ball 70 as Sri Lanka completed a tour sweep, sealing a 75-run win over Bangladesh in the second and final T20 international today. Sri Lanka also claimed the tri-nation one-day trophy and took the Test series 1-0 in their one-and-half-month long Bangladesh tour. A second straight half-century of the series for Mendis steered Sri Lanka to a hefty 210 -4, before the bowlers put on a fine display to dismiss Bangladesh for 135 in 18.4 overs. Opener Danushka Gunathilaka made 42 while Thisara Perera scored 31. Dasun Shanaka smashed an 11-ball 30 not out towards the end to help Sri Lanka propel past 200. Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka combined for a 98-run partnership for the opening stand that set up the platform for a big total. Gunathilaka survived twice on 15 and 28 before he holed out to Tamim Iqbal at long-off for 42. Thisara Perera joined Mendis to accelerate the innings but Abu Jayed made him his maiden wicket to stall the ...
I-League: Lajong to host Aizawl in season's final
As the I-League approaches its final leg; Shillong Lajong FC will be looking to scavenge as many points as possible when they take on current champions - Aizawl FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.Shillong Lajong FC and Aizawl FC are placed at 5th and 6th on the points table respectively with 18 points each.However, the new-look Aizawl FC who drew with Indian Arrows in their last outing are determined to thwart their opponents and come up on top."We do not underestimate Shillong Lajong as they are a very good side," said Aizawl coach Santosh Kashyap at the pre-match press conference in Shillong today."However, we will not hold back and will try our hardest to win the three points," he added.On being asked if the weather would prove to be a disadvantage for his team, Kashyap replied, "Actually no, the weather is almost the same as in Aizawl; conditions are almost the same and even Lajong's playing style is almost the same. So I don't think that we are at a ...
India beat S. Africa by 28 runs in 1st T20I
A brilliant all-round show helped India beat South Africa by 28 runs in the first Twenty-20 International (T20I) at the New Wanderers Stadium here on Sunday.
Federer overpowers Dimitrov to win 97th career title
Roger Federer overpowered Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2 in less than an hour today to win the ABN AMRO World Tournament, his 97th career title. Federer extended his domination over the player once dubbed "Baby Fed" for the similarities in their playing style, registering his seventh victory in as many meetings. Federer's third title at the Rotterdam tournament comes a day before he officially returns to the top of the rankings, more than five years after he was last world No. 1. The 36-year-old Swiss earned a return to the top when the rankings are updated Monday, by reaching the semifinals in Rotterdam. Federer, who has 20 Grand Slam titles to his name, said his next target is 100 career titles. He moved a step closer today.
India beat South Africa by 28 runs in first T20I
India defeated South Africa by 28 runs in the opening twenty20 international to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series here today. Brief Scores: India: 203 for five in 20 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 72, Junior Dala 2/47) South Africa: 175 for nine in 20 overs (RR Hendricks 70; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 5/24).
Chennaiyin remain 3rd after 1-1 draw with Jamshedpur in ISL
Chennaiyin FC on Sunday earned a valuable point after forcing Jamshedpur FC to a 1-1 draw as they held their third position in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) table.
Injury-depleted Juventus continue Turin derby domination
Alex Sandro put Juventus top of Serie A with a 1-0 derby win at Torino but rivals Napoli could reclaim the summit when they play SPAL later today. Brazilian Sandro scored after 33 minutes for the six-time defending champions who dominated despite being weakened by injuries and losing top scorer Gonzalo Higuain to an early knock. Juventus have 65 points from 25 games, two points ahead of Napoli who host struggling SPAL later in the day. Massimiliano Allegri's side -- held 2-2 by Tottenham in their Champions League home tie in Turin this week -- were without injured Mario Mandzukic, Blaise Matuidi and Juan Cuadrado, with Paulo Dybala and Federico Bernardeschi starting on the bench. Dybala made his comeback from a hamstring injury in the second half. "Today was not a great answer to 2-2 in the first leg but we will go to London convinced we can do it," said Allegri. "Juve are a strong side with extraordinary players that for years has been challenging in all fronts and I don't consider ..
Kohli has every chance to go past Sachin's 100 tons: Viswanath
Former great Gundappa Viswanath today said run-machine Virat Kohli has "every chance" to break Sachin Tendulkar's staggering record of notching 100 international centuries. Kohli continued his sublime form in the ongoing tour of South Africa and created yet another world record two days ago, becoming the first batsman ever to score 500 runs in a bilateral ODI series. "Kohli has shown consistency, performance and is getting hundreds regularly, he has got every chance to break that record, but it's a tall order," Viswanath said here on the sidelines of an U-14 invitational cricket tournament. The original wristy artist in Indian cricket added, "Records are eventually meant to be broken. I am happy for that and I think even Sachin will be happy. But it is still a long way to go." Kohli went on to score his 35th ODI hundred, his third of the series and also the first by an Indian batsman in a bilateral series, to help his team register an emphatic eight-wicket victory and complete a 5-1 ..
Kodaira breaks Olympic record to win women's 500m speed skating
Nao Kodaira of Japan broke the Olympic record here on Sunday on her way to winning the women's 500 meters speed skating at the Winter Games.
Kohli set to break all records, Indian cricket on right path: Viswanath
Heaping praise on skipper Virat Kohli and the entire Indian team, batting great and former India captain Gundappa Viswanath on Sunday said cricket in the country is on the right track with the U-19 team also winning the World Cup and the eves on an upward spiral.
Czech, Russia, Sweden, Canada power into men's hockey quarter-finals
The Czech Republic, the Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR), Canada and Sweden reached the quarter-finals of the men's ice hockey at the PyeongChang Olympics on Sunday.
Khsitij dropped finally, Kalra on stand by
The DDCA senior selection committee finally dropped controversial pick Khsitij Sharma from the 15--member Delhi squad for the knock out stage of Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, U-19 World Cup hero Manjot Kalra has been kept on stand by with young left-arm spinner Harsh Tyagi taking Khsitij's place. Khsitij, who had been included in the squad during Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, has attracted a lot of negative attention as he was included bypassing proven performers. There were strong allegations that he was included at the behest of a senior DDCA official, who wanted him to get an IPL contract. Interestingly, Delhi played him one T20 game in which he failed and he landed a Rs 20 lakh contract with Chennai Super Kings. The selectors then included him in the one day squad with the logic that he now has an IPL contract. Once he flopped in the Hazare Trophy, the selection committee led by Atul Wassan had no option but to exclude him from the final squad. Squad: Ishant Sharma ...
Juventus regain Serie A lead with 1-0 win over Torino
Six-time defending champions Juventus on Sunday won the derby against Torino 1-0 to provisionally jump to the top of the Serie A table.
Sociedad extend Levante's winless run with 3-0 victory in La Liga
Real Sociedad on Sunday defeated Levante 3-0, extending their winless run to 12 matches in the La Liga football championship.
AB de Villiers ruled out of T20 series
South African batsman AB de Villiers on Sunday was ruled out of the ongoing T20 international series against India, owing to an injured left knee."He suffered a blow to the knee while batting ahead of the fifth ODI, and although he passed a fitness test on Friday, the injury worsened significantly throughout the match," espncricinfo quoted South Africa's team manager, Mohammed Moosajee as saying.The selectors have not yet named a replacement for the remaining T20Is.De Villiers had missed the first three ODIs against India too, because of an injury to his right index finger, which he sustained during the third Test.Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock were also ruled out earlier of the limited-overs matches.The second T20Is will be played on February 21 in Centurion.
Fourcade wins most gold medals in French Olympic history
French biathlete Martin Fourcade made history on Sunday when he won his fourth Olympic gold medal in a dramatic photo finish in the men's biathlon 15-kilometre mass start at the Winter Olympics here.
Anderson to face Querrey in New York Open final
South Africa's Kevin Anderson and American Sam Querrey will play in the final of the New York Open at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island.
Substitute Rafi's late strike helps Chennaiyin FC snatch draw
Super-sub Mohammed Rafi's header in the 89th minute helped Chennaiyin FC secure a 1-1 draw against Jamshedpur FC in an Indian Super League game at the Nehru stadium here today. The visitors had taken the lead in the 32nd minute through a brilliant strike from Wellington Priori and kept the Chennaiyin side at bay with some superb defending. The Jamshedpur team coached by Steve Coppell, as is their wont, held back after going ahead in the first half, which perhaps proved their undoing. Also, the players seemed to be tired in rather humid conditions towards the end of the match. The equaliser came when Rafi headed home a cross from Rene Mihelic, leaving Jamshedpur custodian Subrata Paul stranded. It was Rafi's second goal of the season. Towards the end of the game, Mihelic sent in a precise ball into the box but Henrique Sereno couldn't connect, much to the relief of the rival defence. In the first half, Chennaiyin forwards couldn't get their way past the organised Jamshedpur defence ...
Dhawan's 72 takes India to 203/5 in first T20I
Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan once again unleashed mayhem in South Africa, with his 72 powering India to 203 for five wickets in the first Twenty-20 International (T20I) at the New Wanderers Stadium here on Sunday.