Page 333 - Sports
Losing 6 games hurt, looking to enjoy our game: Kohli
It looked like another night where the famed Royal Challengers Bangalore batting line-up was set to disappoint the fans at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as Kings XI Punjab had reduced them to 81/4 in the 9th over of their innings. But what followed was mayhem as AB de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis took the KXIP bowling to the cleaners and RCB ended with 202 in their 20 overs. The end result was a 17-run win for Virat Kohli's boys.
Andre Russell included in West Indies World Cup squad
Andre Russell, the all-rounder was included in the Jason Holder-led West Indies squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, announced on Wednesday.Russell, last played ODI cricket in July 2018. He was recalled into the team for last two ODI matches against England earlier this year, but injury ruled him out of the series.The 30-year old is currently playing in the ongoing edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) and has shown fine form in the tournament, averaging 65.33 with a strike-rate of 217.77.Apart from Russell, fast-bowlers Sheldon Cottrell and Shannon Gabriel were also added to the fifteen-member West Indies team. Addition of these two bowlers will strengthen the fast-bowling department which also includes Kemar Roach and Oshane Thomas.Nicholas Pooran will do the wicket-keeping duties whereas Shai Hope will act as backup wicket-keeper.Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo failed to make the West Indies team. Fabian Allen and Ashley Nurse have been included in the squad to bolster the ...
Gayle, Russell highlight West Indies squad for WC
The Windies announced their World Cup squad late on Wednesday as Andre Russell and Chris Gayle were named in the 15-member squad for the showpiece event in England and Wales. While the senior campaigners were named in the squad, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine were the notable absentees.
IPL 2019: De Villiers help RCB beat KXIP by 17 runs
AB de Villiers helped Royal Challengers Bangalore to defeat Kings XI Punjab by 17 runs here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.Chasing 203, Punjab got off to a superb start with Chris Gayle and KL Rahul replying with back-to-back boundaries. AB de Villiers became the game changer as he stopped Gayle (23) at long-on off Umesh Yadav.Mayank Agarwal and Rahul recovered Punjab with their 59-run stand for the second wicket. Bangalore applied brakes on the scoring as Marcus Stoinis dismissed Mayank (35), who was caught by a tumbling Yuzvendra Chahal at midwicket. In the next over, Moeen Ali got rid off Rahul (42) to put Punjab under pressure.Nicholas Pooran and David Miller build a strong 68-run partnership to take Punjab home but de Villiers denied the visitors. Navdeep Saini dismissed Miller (24), who was caught by de Villiers at long-on.The final over consumed Ravichandran Ashwin and Hardus Viljoen, which helped Umesh Yadav pick three wickets and Punjab ended for 185/7.Earlier, ...
Losing six in a row really hurt us: Kohli
Losing half a dozen of matches in one go did hurt his team's pride and a fabulous turnaround could be attributed to players enjoying their game, said Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli. RCB has won four out of their last five games and there is an outside chance of their play-off qualification if they can win the remaining three games. "The only focus was to play well as a team. Losing six in a row really hurt us. Literally no one in the team has been part of such a streak," Kohli said at the post-match press conference. "Yeah, we've won four of the five. Could have been five out of five. We were just looking to enjoy the cricket and tonight was a great example of having fun. So we just refreshed, thought about just enjoying ourselves and the important thing now is not to take on any pressure. We know how we play. The world knows how we play," the skipper said.
Brilliant Saini, stylish ABD star in RCB victory
Navdeep Saini's fabulous penultimate over kept Royal Challengers Bangalore afloat as they beat Kings XI Punjab by 17 runs in an Indian Premier League encounter here Wednesday. AB de Villiers' unbeaten 82 off 44 balls took RCB to a healthy 202 for 4 and things could have gone awry with young Nicholas Pooran (46 off 28 balls) hitting five sixes at the rear before Saini sealed it in the 19th over. Kings XI Punjab finished at 185 for 7 as RCB are now on eight points with three games left. Needing 30 off the last two, Saini (2/33), who is one of India's fastest bowlers produced a hostile over in which he removed the dangerous David Miller and Pooran but more importantly gave away only three runs. Saini bowled fast and into the body of the batsmen, who couldn't really get going and his aggression became the defining factor in the end. Defending 27 runs off the final over, Umesh Yadav (3/33) was better than the other night against CSK as he got a couple of wickets. With four wins in the last
USA secure ODI status for first time
The United States on Wednesday sealed one-day international status for the first time with a third straight victory at the World Cricket League Division Two event in Namibia. The Americans, whose only previous experience of ODI cricket was at the 2004 Champions Trophy, thrashed Hong Kong by 84 runs to wrap up a top-four place in the six-team competition. There will be 20 ODI nations after the end of the tournament, with the top four sides to join Scotland, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal and the Netherlands in having temporary status. The United States will now be able to play 36 ODIs in the next two and a half years. "Moving forward, playing competitive ODI cricket for the next two and a half years is another level, bringing the team to this will require more hard work," said USA coach Pubudu Dassanayake. After an opening loss to Oman, the US beat Namibia and Papua New Guinea to leave themselves one win away from their target. Former West Indies batsman Xavier Marshall hit 100 as the
FIFA bans eight for life over match-fixing
FIFA issued eight lifetime bans to current and former players and an agent on Wednesday after they were found guilty of match manipulation. Former Sierra Leone captain Ibrahim Kargbo and ex-Trinidad and Tobago defender Keyeno Thomas were among those suspended from all football-related activities over attempts to rig matches at international level. World football's governing body also banned former players from Benin, Afghanistan and Cuba, as well as Zimbabwean agent Kudzanai Shaba. Kenyan defender George Owino Audi received a 10-year ban and a fine of 15,000 Swiss francs (13,165 euros). FIFA said it opened disciplinary proceedings after a vast investigation into various international matches that Singaporean Wilson Raj Perumal, a convicted match-fixer, had attempted to manipulate for betting purposes. "This large-scale investigation was conducted by FIFA over several years through its integrity department and in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and authorities," read a FIFA .
Indian challenge ends as Sathiyan bows out
The Indian challenge at 2019 ITTF World Championships came to an end when G Sathiyan lost to Hugo Calderano of Brazil in men's singles round of 32 in Budapest on Wednesday. The Brazilian, ranked No. 7 in the world, took less than 30 minutes to put it across the top-ranked Indian 11-6, 11-3, 11-9, 11-9 and move into the pre-quarterfinals. However, it was creditable that Sathiyan had reached the round of 32 in this prestigious event. Sathiyan, who had secured a berth in the Chengdu World Cup, had finished sixth in the Asian Cup held at Yokohama recently. Sharath Kamal, on the other hand, was woefully out of sorts against Tomislav Pucar of Croatia when he went down 9-11 10-12 11-8 4-11 9-11 in the round of 64. The Indian, ranked No. 36, failed to come to grips against the world No. 58, who had a better control over the match and Sharath. The Indian, however, registered a 4-0 win over Uzbek's Zokhid Kenjaev in the first round. Manav Thakkar, who had made the main draw cut, failed to go ...
Chitra wins gold on final day to help India finish 4th in Asian Athletics C'ships
P U Chitra led the charge with a gold in women's 1500m race as India picked up five medals on the fourth and final day of competitions to end at fourth at the medal tally in the Asian Athletics Championships here on Wednesday. Chitra defended the title she had won in the 2017 edition to give India its third gold medal while Ajay Kumar Saroj (men's 1500m) and the men's and women's 4x400m relay teams clinched a silver each at the Khalifa Stadium. Sprinter Dutee Chand added a bronze in women's 200m to take India's medal tally to 3 Gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze. India had won 29 medals (12 Gold, 5 silver, 12 bronze) in the last edition in Bhubaneswar in 2017, topping the medal tally for the first time. This time, Bahrain topped the medal tally with 11 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze, followed by China (10 gold, 12 silver, 8 bronze) and Japan (5 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze). This was the second time since 1983 that China has been pushed to the second spot. India did it in 2017 while Bahrain did ...
De Villiers, Stonis propel RCB to imposing 202 for 4 against KXIP
AB de Villiers' scintillating half century and a 121-run stand with Marcus Stoinis propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore to 202 for four against Kings XI Punjab in a must-win Indian Premier League match here Wednesday. Sent into bat, De Villiers scored a brilliant unbeaten 82 off 44 balls with three fours and seven sixes, while Stoinis hammered 46 off 34 balls with two fours and three sixes. In the last two overs, both Stonis and De Villiers hamered 45 runs off Mohammad Shami and Hardus Viljoen. After reaching his 50 off 35 balls, De Villiers, smashed Shami for three sixes, plundering 18 runs in the penultimate over. In the last over, both Stoinis and De Villiers hammered 27 runs off Viljoen, which helped the hosts to race past 200 runs mark. Put into bat, opener Parthiv (43 off 24 balls) and Virat Kohli gave a rollicking start getting 35 runs on board in 18 balls but RCB captain was dismissed by Shami after he was caught by Mandeep Singh at extra cover. Parthiv then got into the act .
De Villiers, Stoinis power RCB to 202/4 against KXIP
A.B. de Villiers cracked an unbeaten half-century as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) posted a mammoth 202/4 in 20 overs against Kings XI Punjab in their Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Wednesday.
Chitra wins gold at Asian Athletics Championship
P.U. Chitra clocked 4:14.56 to strike gold for India in the womens' 1500m race on the concluding day of the Asian Athletics Championships here on Wednesday. The win also ensured Chitra's qualification for the World Championships.
Ganguly unveiled as ambassador of Zee Bangla U-19 football league
Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly was on Wednesday unveiled as the ambassador of the Zee Bangla Under-19 Football League which will be held from May 26-June 23. "I just want to involve in whichever capacity I can. I cannot play anymore. So it's about just being involved in the promotion of the game," Ganguly said of the upcoming league which is supported by Indian Football Association. Ganguly hoped the league will develop football at the grassroots level and help in unearthing hidden talents. "Grassroots is most important in any sport. Look at (Virat) Kohli, (Prithvi) Shaw or (Rishabh) Pant. They all have come from U-19 level. Kohli was India's U-19 World Cup winning captain. Myself, Sachin and Rahul too have played. That's the base. That will always be a huge stepping for any sportsperson," Ganguly said while hailing the initiative. "People don't know who is an administrator, but people always remember the likes of Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar. Football has .
KKR still have a healthy dressing room: Brathwaite
Kolkata Knight Riders may look like a divided house with the team practising without skipper Dinesh Karthik on the eve of their IPL match against Rajasthan Royals but West Indian all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite Wednesday said they still have a healthy dressing room. KKR found themselves on the brink of elimination with five losses in a row, the latest coming against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday as the team think tank chose to give their under performing India players, including skipper Karthik, some days' break. Karthik, along with the likes of Robin Uthappa, Shubman Gill who were training in Mumbai, checked in late in the evening but Brathwaite said the mood in the camp was absolutely fine. "I think the mood in the camp is good. We are still teasing each other. As a professional player, you cannot allow results to alter your demeanour or your mindset," Brathwaite said. "If you allow that then the remaining four games will be even harder. We still laugh out at each other. We are still .
Dhawan says no debate surrounding No. 4 spot in WC squad
India opener Shikhar Dhawan Wednesday said that there was no debate surrounding the number 4 batting slot in the World Cup team and the skipper and the coach will decide on that. There was a lot of debate surrounding the issue but chief selector MSK Prasad, during the press conference while announcing the squad, had said that Vijay Shankar will bat at number 4 slot though the team has other options also. Asked about the debate surrounding the crucial slot, Shikhar said, "There is no debate anymore now. There is Vijay Shankar now. Even KL Rahul is there. They are there to play for that number. Whatever the captain and coach think we will go with them." The dashing left-handed opener was speaking after being roped in as the brand ambassador of lubricants firm GS Caltex India at a function here. Dhawan is part of the 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming World Cup beginning on May 30. Dhawan, who was part of the 2013 and 2017 Champions Trophy squad, said that most of the team members ..
PU Chitra gives 3rd gold for India in Asian Athletics C'ships
P U Chitra defended her 1500m title to give India its third gold medal while Ajay Kumar Saroj and Dutee Chand won a silver and a bronze in men's 1500m and women's 200m respectively on the fourth and final day of the Asian Athletics Championships here on Wednesday. Chitra overtook Bahraini runner Tigest Gashaw just a few metres before the finishing line to win the race in 4 minute 14.56 seconds at the Khalifa Stadium. This was India's third gold of the championships after Gomathi Marimuthu (women's 800m) and Tejinder Pal Singh Toor (men's shot put) won a yellow metal each on the second day on Monday. Gashaw clocked 4:14.81 for the silver while another Bahraini Mutile Winfred Yavi took the bronze in 4:16.18. "Got a little nervous towards the end being next to Bahraini runner (Gashaw Tigest). She beat me to third place in Asian Games. I had to really push hard in the end," said the 23-year-old Chitra who had won a bronze in the Jakarta Asian Games. Chitra had won gold in the 2017 edition
See myself as natural leader: KKR all-rounder Brathwaite
At a time when Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Dinesh Karthik is under the pump, Carlos Brathwaite said the team does not have a leadership group within the squad and everyone contributes when required.
FA Cup winners to be served non-alcoholic champagne
The winners of next month's FA Cup final between Manchester City and Watford will for the first time celebrate with non-alcoholic champagne to accommodate those who do not drink. The FA said in a statement that they had taken note of those players who do not drink for religious reasons, are tee-total or too young to consume alcohol. "Winning teams will be awarded with non-alcoholic 'champagne' for their celebrations in all FA competitions, starting from this year's FA Cup Final," read a statement cited by Sky Sports. "This is to ensure that we are as inclusive as possible to players and communities who may be prohibited from alcohol, as well as any players who are under 18.
Lahiri and Shubhankar team up for Zurich Classic New Orleans
India's Anirban Lahiri and Shubhankar Sharma are all set to team up for the USD 7.3 million Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which tees off here Thursday. The unique event is played on a team format with alternating rounds of Foursomes and four-ball format. The starting field will have 80 teams (160 players). In the tournament, the top available players from the PGA TOUR Priority Rankings get to choose his partner and Lahiri picked Sharma which is how the 22-year-old came in to play at TPC Louisiana. The winner of the event get FedEx points players plus a two-year exemption on the Tour. For Foursomes play, the players will be rotating tee shots, one player will hit the tee shots on all the odd-numbered holes while the other will hit on even-numbered holes. For Four-Ball play, players on each team will play his own ball throughout the entirety of the round, with the best score on each hole being recorded. Lahiri, who is a regular on the PGA Tour, said he is looking forward to his ...