Page 2074 - Sports

Vijay, Kohli extend India's lead on a treacheous track

Opener Murali Vijay and skipper Virat Kohli showed lot of grit on a treacherous track as India reached 100 for 4 against South Africa at lunch on the third day, thereby extending their overall lead to 93. Vijay was out at the stroke of lunch when Kagiso Rabada's yorker cleaned him up after he showed a lot of patience scoring 25 off 127 balls during his three hour and 14 minutes vigil at the crease. Kohli as usual showed his class with some crisp on drives as he reached 27 off 49 balls at the break having added 43 runs for the fourth wicket after KL Rahul (16) and Cheteshwar Pujara (1) were dismissed early in the morning. However the talk of the morning was about the uneven bounce of the Wanderers track with some of the cracks on good length and short of it opening up. With deliveries rearing up and keeping low from the same spot from the Corlett Drive End, it became difficult for the batsmen with on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould inspecting a few spots on the ...

India ease into ICC U-19 World Cup semis

India put up an all-round show to hammer Bangladesh by 131 runs on Friday to set-up an ICC Under-19 World Cup semi-final against arch-foes Pakistan.

Scoreboard at lunch on the

Scoreboard at lunch on the third day of the third and final cricket Test between India and South Africa, here today: India 1st innings: 187 South Africa 1st innings: 194 all out India 2nd innings: Murali Vijay b Rabada 25 Parthiv Patel c Markram b Philander 16 KL Rahul c du Plessis b Philander 16 Chesteshwar Pujara c du Plessis b Morkel 1 Virat Kohli not out 27 Extras: (B-5, LB-8, W-2) 15 Total: (for four wickets in 40.5 overs) 100 Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-51, 3-57, 4-100 Bowling: Vernon Philander 12-3-21-2, Kagiso Rabada 13.5-3-31-1, Morne Morkel 9-3-13-1, Lungi Ngidi 6-1-22-0.

Australian Open: Federer enters final after Chung retires hurt

World number two Roger Federer made it through to a record seventh Australian Open final after South Korean opponent Hyeon Chung retired hurt in the second set of their semi-final clash on Friday.Federer allowed Chung to win just three games. The Swiss maestro won the first set 6-1 against a nervy Chung and was leading 5-2 in the second set when the latter opted to withdraw.Federer will be aiming to win his second consecutive title at Melbourne Park when he faces Marin Cilic in the finals on Sunday.Meanwhile, it was a heart-breaking end to a fairytale journey for Hyeon Chung at this year's Australian Open.The South Korean player had to take a medical timeout after a blister on his left foot. The trainer treated him for blisters on his feet in the second set, but he was unable to recover.Federer sympathized with Chung, sayin, "I could tell something was wrong before he took the time-out. But he has a great composure and I think we're going to see a lot more of him. Top 10 for sure. The

Mourinho feels Sanchez move not money driven

Manchester United head coach Jose Mourinho stressed on Alexis Sanchez's decision to sign for the club over arch-rivals Manchester City and said he did not join the club because of the money poured at him.

India were 100-4 on day three

India were 100 for four in their second innings, leading South Africa by 93 runs, at lunch on day three of the third Test and final cricket Test here today. Brief scores: India 1st innings: 187 South Africa 1st innings: 194 India 2nd innings: 100 for four in 40.5 overs (V Kohli 27; V Philander 2/21).

Wolfsburg extend defender Jung's contract

VfL Wolfsburg have extended defender Sebastian Jung's contract which keeps him at the German football club till June 2019.

Saina beats Sindhu to reach Indonesia Masters semis

Veteran Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal got the better of compatriot P.V. Sindhu in straight games to enter the semi-finals of $350,000 Indonesia Masters World Tour Super 500 here on Friday.

Nadal hopes future changes can reduce injuries

Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal has said he hoped a long-term solution can be found to reduce the number of injuries on the tennis circuit.

Confident India take on Japan in last pool match

Having secured its place in the final, a confident Indian men's hockey team would look to continue the winning streak against less-fancied Japan in its last pool match at the second-leg of the Four-Nation Invitational Tournament, here tomorrow. India are unbeaten in the tournament so far with 3-2 and 5-4 win over hosts New Zealand and higher-ranked Belgium. Having drubbed Japan 6-0 in the first leg at Tauranga, India will start as overwhelming favourites against their Asian counterparts at the Gallagher Hockey Stadium tomorrow. While the team would look to clinch a third straight win after beating hosts New Zealand 3-2 in the first match, followed by a stunning win against Belgium, chief coach Sjoerd Marijne wants his players to work on their shortcomings. "We would like to improve our ball possession and we can train on this aspect against Japan. Our 75 yard press needs to improve as well and that is also something we want to work on when we play against Japan," said the

Barcelona advance to Copa del Rey semis

Goals by Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in the first half were all FC Barcelona needed to prevail 2-1 on aggregate over neighbours Espanyol here in their Copa del Rey quarter-final tie.

Windies' Russell, Narine skip World Cup qualifiers

Form West Indies Test captain Chris Gayle has been named in the World Cup qualifiers squad, even as other big names to play in the Pakistan T20 Super League (PSL).Cricket West Indies has announced a 15-man squad for the qualifiers in Zimbabwe which is to begin from March 4.Leading players Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo are not part of the team.The team will be led by all-rounder Jason Holder."Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo and Andre Russell, however, indicated that they were unavailable to help us qualify as their priority was playing in the Pakistan Super League,"Chairman of Selectors Courtney Browne said in an official statement.He described the selected team as a combination of skilled and experienced players, combined with young cricketers."Dwayne Bravo was not contacted as he had indicated previously that he is no longer available to play cricket for the West Indies," the statement further said.West Indies squad: Jason Holder (c), Jason ..

Peru midfielder Cueva to remain at Sao Paulo

Unsettled Peruvian midfielder Christian Cueva has vowed to see out his contract with Brazil's Sao Paulo as he looks to earn a place in Peru's football squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Inter Milan forward Barbosa rejoins Santos

Brazilian forward Gabriel Barbosa has returned to his former club Santos on a year-long loan from Inter Milan.

Bayern's young defender joins Bremen

Werder Bremen have signed Bayern Munich youngster Marco Friedl on loan. The 19-year-old Austrian defender will reinforce the German football club Bremen's defence after signing a contract that will expire in June 2019.

Chicago Fire my first choice: Schweinsteiger

German veteran midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has admitted that he turned down offers from Europe and Asia to continue the work he started at Major League Soccer (MLS) club Chicago Fire.

We're just giving platform to talented Manipuris: Neroca owner

Manipur has been the country's football factory for the past decade or so and the tiny state's tremendous passion for the game is what the Neroca FC owner Naoba Thangjam wants to capitalise on after qualifying for the top-tier I-League. Neroca, established in 1965 and based in the capital city of Imphal, qualified for the I-League this season after winning the second division I-League, the first club from Manipur to do so. They are now in the second spot of the league table and are one of the title aspirants though they are playing in their debut season. Naoba says that his side will be for a long haul in the Indian football domestic circuit and has some big plans, including the setting up of a full-fledged academy in three years time. "It was an emotional moment for fans in Manipur, for football lovers in the state when we qualified for the I- League. We have senior members of the club who are former footballers and who have dreamt of Neroca playing at the top level ..

Cilic stronger for bitter-sweet Slams experience

Marin Cilic has experienced the highs and lows of playing in a Grand Slam final and says he is primed to be at his physical best for Sunday's Australian Open decider. The world number six is the first Croatian man or woman to appear in the final at Melbourne Park as he guns for his second major title. Cilic's career high point so far has been his victory at the 2014 US Open where, as the 14th seed, he swept Roger Federer in straight sets on the way to beating Kei Nishikori in the Flushing Meadows final. But he was in tears when he gamely played on with a nasty blister on his left foot in last year's Wimbledon decider against the Swiss star, describing it as very tough to deal with. Another opportunity to win a Grand Slam has quickly materialised early in 2018, with either defending champion Federer or South Korean young gun Chung Hyeon waiting for him. Cilic got there by beating injured top seed Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals and rising British star Kyle Edmund in ..

Babos, Mladenovic win women's doubles title

Fifth seeds Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic took out the Australian Open women's doubles title on Friday to be crowned Grand Slam champions for the first time. The Hungarian-French pairing battled past second seeded Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena. "It's an incredible feeling, I was in tears," said an emotional Babos. "It's amazing to play with you," she added of Mladenovic. It was their first Slam title after going close at Wimbledon in 2014, where they made the final but lost. Overall, they own three other doubles titles as a team, all won in 2015 -- at Dubai, Marrakech and Rome.

Woakes saves England from disaster in fourth Australia ODI

Australian captain Steve Smith's decision to bowl paid dividends as England were held to just 196 in the fourth one-day international in Adelaide on Friday. With the five-match series already in their keeping after winning the first three games, the tourists did well to reach a competitive total following a disastrous start which saw them lose four of their top six batsmen for ducks. On Australia Day, it was all the home side as the tourists slumped to eight for five in the early overs. Their lowest-ever total of 86 looked in danger until all-rounder Chris Woakes rescued the innings. It could easily have been six wickets before reaching double figures as well, with captain Eoin Morgan having two near-misses as soon as he came to the crease. In the end, solid resistance from Woakes (78) along with Morgan and Moeen Ali (33 each) -- and Tom Curran (35) -- enabled England to scramble to a decent total. Woakes continued his excellent form with the bat in the series, hitting ...