Page 2079 - Sports
Pak levels T20I series against Kiwis
Pakistan registered a comfortable 48-run victory over New Zealand to keep the three-match Twenty20 series alive here on Thursday.Betting first, Pakistan posted 201 in 20 overs.Openers Fakhar Zaman and Ahmed Shehzad gave Pakistan a solid start by scoring 50 and 44 respectively.Babar Azam then hit the second half-century for the side while Sarfraz Ahmed scored 41 runs.Chasing the target, New Zealand lost Colin Munro and Kane Williamson in the first four overs.Martin Guptill scored 26, while lower order batsmen Mitchell Santner and Ben Wheeler scored 37 and 30 respectively.Faheem Ashraf took three wickets for Pakistan, Mohammad Amir and Shadab Khan claimed two each.The T20I series will now go into a decider at Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
Jo'burg Test: Kumar limits Proteas on 81/3 for lunch on Day 2
South Africa were 81 for the loss of three wickets at lunch, trailing India by 106 runs, on Day Two of the third and final Test here on Thursday.The hosts resumed the day on 6/1 with Dean Elgar and Kagiso Rabada on the crease.Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave India their first wicket of the day in the form of Elgar after claiming Aiden Markram at the score of 6 on the first day.Rabada scored 30 runs before being dismissed by Ishant Sharma.Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers were on the crease at the time of lunch, batting on 32 and 0 respectively.Earlier on Day Four, India were bowled out on 187.Skipper Virat Kolhi scored 54 while Cheteshwar Pujara hit a slow half-century.Apart from Pujara and Kohli, Kumar (30) was the only batsman to reach double digits.Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers as he took three wickets for 39 runs while Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Andile Phehlukwayo got two wickets each.
South Africa reach 81/3 at lunch on Day 2 of third Test
South Africa reached 81/3 at lunch after losing opener Dean Elgar early in the morning session on Day 2 of the third and final cricket Test against India at the New Wanderers Stadium here on Thursday.
Arsenal lost a great player in Sanchez: Wenger
Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger said the club lost a great player in Chilean star forward Alexis Sanchez after he secured a move to English football giants Manchester United.
Rabada, Amla take South Africa to 81/3 at lunch on Day 2
Nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada frustrated the Indian bowlers for 114 minutes as South Africa reached 81 for 3 in 31 overs at lunch on the second day of the third Test. They now trail by 106 runs after India were dismissed for a paltry 187 in their first innings. At the break, Hashim Amla was unbeaten on 32 (52 balls, 5 fours) while AB de Villiers (0*) was keeping him company. Starting from overnight 6/1, Rabada looked to bat for time in a bid to help South Africa an early march on day two. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/17 in 11 overs) bowled a superb spell of 6-5-1-1 that mirrored Vernon Philander's effort of 8-7-1-1 from day one. He had Dean Elgar (4) in all sorts of trouble, as the left-hander was unable to comprehend the outswinger from Kumar. Finally, in the 7th over of the morning, Kumar got his reward as Elgar edged behind off another out-swinger. Amla then joined Rabada and the duo frustrated India with a 66-run partnership for the 3rd wicket. To counter his fallibility outside
Pakistan finally overcome Blacks Caps with T20 win
Pakistan crushed New Zealand by 48 runs in the second T20 in Auckland today to notch their first victory of the tour over the Black Caps. The tourists finally found form with both bat and ball to level the three-match T20 series after a humiliating losing streak that included a 5-0 ODI series whitewash. They set an imposing target of 202 after winning the toss and electing to bat, with half centuries for Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. In response, New Zealand's top order crumbled to 64 for six under a combination of tight bowling and commitment in the field from Pakistan. "Pakistan were excellent tonight in all departments and we weren't that good in any department," New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said. "When you catch them on a great day, you get the result we got." Openers Fakhar and Ahmed Shehzad laid the platform with a partnership of 94. Pakistan's previous best top-order partnership during the six limited-over matches played on tour so far was just 14. The pair ..
South Africa 81/3 at lunch on day two
South Africa were 81 for three in their first innings, trailing India by 106 runs at lunch on day two of the third Test and final Test here. Brief scores: India 187. South Africa 81/3 in 31 overs (Amla 32; Kumar 3/81).
Anand shines in victory over Jones in TATA Steel Masters
World rapid champion Viswanathan Anand outclassed Gawain Jones of England and moved to fifth spot after the end of the 10th round of Tata Steel Masters here. With his third victory in the event, Anand came back within striking distance of the leaders. His tally of six points out of ten is only one point less than Holland's Anish Giri, Norway's Magnus Carlsen and Azerbaijan's Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who all have seven points apiece. With three rounds still remaining in what is called the Wimbledon of chess, Anand will have his task cut out in the next round after the final rest day. He will look forward to bridge the gap further as he plays white against tail-ender Yifan Hou of China. The victory against Jones was especially important as it came with black pieces. The English Grandmaster chose the Alapin variation to counter Anand's Sicilian defense but did not continue adequately in the ensuing middle game. It was on the 16th move that Jones erred by pushing his queen ...
Afghanistan stun New Zealand to enter semis of U-19 World Cup
A 23-ball 66 from Azmatullah Omarzai was backed up by some precise bowling by spinners Mujeeb Zadran and Qais Ahmad as Afghanistan recorded a thumping 202-run victory over New Zealand to reach the semfinals of the ICC U19 World Cup here today. Azmatullah unleashed three fours and seven sixes as the Asian champions posted a mammoth 309 for six after electing to bat first at the Hagley Oval. New Zealand were bowled out for 107 with off-spinner Mujeeb (four for 14) and leg-spinner Qais (four for 33) mesmerising the host sides batting. Azmatullah, who was one of three players rested in Afghanistans last league match against Ireland which they lost by four runs, showed what the Afghanistan first-choice players are capable of as they get ready to take on three-time champions Australia in the first semi-final on Monday. The result also means that three Asian sides will be in the semifinals since Pakistan have already qualified and await the winners of the match between two ...
India beat Belgium in Four Nations hockey tourney
India avenged the Four Nations Invitational tournament's first leg final loss against Belgium by beating the Olympic silver medallists 5-4 in their second outing of the second leg at the Gallagher Hockey Stadium here on Thursday.
IOC 'not humiliating Russia' by inviting clean athletes to 2018 Games: Bach
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is not humiliating Russia by inviting to the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea only clean athletes, IOC President Thomas Bach has said.
Russia's 2018 FIFA World Cup infrastructure must be ready by April 1: Deputy PM
The infrastructure for the 2018 FIFA World Cup must be ready by April 1, the stadiums for the tournament must be commissioned by March and handed over to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Russia-2018 on May 25, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko said.
Halep battles into Open final with Wozniacki
World number one Simona Halep set up an Australian Open final against Caroline Wozniacki after a thrilling 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 battle past former champion Angelique Kerber today. In a see-sawing contest, Halep sprinted into a 6-3, 3-1 lead before the 2016 Melbourne Park winner, seeded 21, fought back. The Romanian finally prevailed in 2hr 20min with her fourth match point to ensure a new name will grace the trophy on Saturday. "Definitely was very tough. I'm shaking now. I'm really emotional right now because I won this match," said Halep, who saved two match points. "I knew it was going to be tough. She is hitting from everywhere, I'm glad I could resist. Thank you everyone for supporting me, you helped me." Halep scampered to the first set in 25 minutes and, after dropping the second set against the run of play, squandered two match points in the third before saving two from Kerber as she served for the match at 6-5. "I said if she come back I could do it. I had confidence .
Halep overcomes Kerber in epic semis to reach Australian Open final
World No.1 Simona Halep justified her ranking by defeating Germany's Angelique Kerber 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 in a gruelling Australian Open semi-final here on Thursday.
Athletes' villages ready to greet visitors for Winter Games
With the PyeongChang Winter Olympics just around the corner, organisers said Thursday the two athletes' villages are ready to greet participants, with visitors expected to start moving in this week.
Belarus to send 28 athletes to PyeongChang Winter Olympics
Twenty-eight Belarusian athletes will take part in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, chief of the Belarusian delegation Alexander Baraulya announced here.
Stuttgart sign Dortmund's Larsen on loan
Newly promoted Stuttgart have signed Dortmund's youngster Jacob Bruun Larsen with immediate effect, both Bundesliga clubs confirmed.
India upset Belgium 5-4 in four-nation hockey
The Indian men's hockey team produced a spirited perfomance to upstage world No.3 Belgium 5-4 in its second match of the Four Nations Invitational Tournament's second leg here today. India had earlier lost 1-2 to Belgium in the final of the first leg but held their nerve till the final hooter to come up with a winner in this high-tempo, high-speed match. Rupinder Pal Singh (4', 42'), Harmanpreet Singh (46'), Lalit Upadhyay (53') and Dilpreet Singh (59') scored in India's win while John-John Dohmen (17'), Felix Denayer (37'), Alexander Hendrickx (45') and Tom Boon (56') scored for Belgium. Sjoerd Marijne-coached India began the match with disciplined structure, playing two-touch hockey to rotate the ball swiftly and accurately to pave their way into Belgium's striking circle. The effort paid off early when Vivek Sagar Prasad made a quick penetration from the left flank forcing Belgian defender to foul which resulted in the first penalty corner of the match. It was ...
Ngidi named in ODI squad; Morkel, Morris return
Young pace sensation Lungi Ngidi has been rewarded for his recent performances with a place in South Africas squad for the six-match ODI series against India starting in Durban on February 1. The 21-year-old had made his Test debut at Centurion and was named man-of-the-match for returning 7-for-90 as South Africa took the series 2-0. Ngidi had previously missed out on ODI call-up because he was injured. Pacer Morne Morkel and all-rounder Chris Morris have also been included in the 15-man squad. The duo returns after missing the ODI series against Bangladesh (in October 2017) owing to injuries. More noticeably, South Africa have named two leg-spinners in the squad with orthodox Imran Tahir pairing up with chinaman Tabraiz Shamsi. Middle-order batsman/wicket-keeper Khayelihle Zondo is another inclusion. He had previously toured India in 2015 but didnt feature in a single game as South African had won that five-match series 3-2. Squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, ...
Confident India face Bangladesh in ICC U19 World Cup quarters (Preview)
After convincing wins in all their three group matches against Australia, Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe, the Indian Under 19 team will lock horns with Bangladesh in the quarter-final of the ICC U19 World Cup at the Queenstown Events Centre here on Friday.