Page 358 - Sports
RCB will seek to stay afloat when they clash with KKR
Their house in complete disorder after seven defeats from eight outings, the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore will be desperate for a win to stay afloat in the IPL when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders here on Friday. It would be a great opportunity for the Bangalore outfit to post a win against an opponent who are low on confidence having slipped from second to sixth position in the points table after suffering three straight defeats. In fact, to make matters worse, Kolkata's dangerman Andre Russell has suffered an injury scare after being hit on his left shoulder by a bouncer during their practice. Russell was already suffering from niggles ahead of their last match against Chennai Super Kings and had failed to fire for the first time, exposing KKR's over-reliance on the West Indies big hitter. Russell had left the Royal Challengers in shambles in their first leg exchange, smashing seven sixes en route to his 13-ball 48 not out as KKR had chased down a huge 206. It ...
IPL match at Kotla stadium: Last metro to leave ITO at midnight
Delhi Metro has extended by an hour the departure of the last train from ITO metro station till midnight to cater to the rush of cricket fans who will be travelling to Firoz Shah Kotla stadium to watch the IPL match Thursday evening. "For IPL T20 matches starting at 8 PM in Firoz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi Metro is extending its last train timings from ITO metro station till midnight to facilitate cricket fans," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation tweeted. "Tokens will be available 5 minutes prior to the last train timings," it added. The last train from ITO metro station usually departs at 11pm.
South Africa could win ICC World Cup, says Dale Steyn
Fast bowler Dale Steyn believes South Africa have chances of winning the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019, considering the side has "some fantastic players."Ahead of his first Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Steyn said the likes of Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, and Kagiso Rabada has given his national side a reason to be confident for the 50-over marquee event, starting May 30 in England and Wales."We are led by Faf, who has been in fantastic form late. And in the IPL, Imran Tahir has been right up there in terms of wickets. From Quinton de Kock all the way down to number 11, they are all match-winners. We just need to go there and hope a bit of luck - weather, a missed no-ball - goes your way, and you could win the tournament," ICC quoted Steyn, as saying."You look at KG (Rabada), he has been bowling exceptionally well. Kagiso is a wunderkind. Just hope he continues that kind of form. He has come on to the scene in international cricket and ...
Rabada is a wonderkid, he is here to stay: Steyn
Kagiso Rabada is a wonder-kid and has shown the mettle to shine on the international stage, feels South Africa and Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Dale Steyn.
Mbappe-less PSG lose at Nantes, again fail to clinch French title
Paris Saint-Germain failed to the seal the Ligue 1 title for the third match running after a second-string line-up without dropped Kylian Mbappe took the champions to their second defeat in a matter of days, 3-2 at Nantes. A Diego Carlos brace and Majeed Waris' tap-in inflicted a third league loss on Thomas Tuchel's side, who were hammered 5-1 at second-placed Lille on Sunday and drew with Strasbourg the previous week, despite Dani Alves' stunning opener and substitute Metehan Guclu pulling one back late on. However PSG, who were also missing a host of other first-team players through injuries and suspension, remain 17 points clear with six games left. The runaway leaders will win their sixth title in seven years on Sunday if Lille fail to win at Toulouse and they then beat struggling Monaco. Tuchel refused to reveal if he left Mbappe out of the squad for blasting his teammates for "lacking personality" after the Lille loss, saying that there would be "no explanation" of his ...
Liverpool seal semi-final date with Barca after strolling past Porto
Liverpool set up a mouthwatering Champions League semi-final against Barcelona after their superstar front three all scored in a 4-1 win away at FC Porto that saw them cruise into the last four 6-1 on aggregate. On a wet night at the Estadio do Dragao, Liverpool had to weather an early storm before scoring from their first attempt just before the half-hour mark, Sadio Mane prodding home for a goal given after a lengthy VAR review. Already in control of the tie after a 2-0 win at Anfield in the first leg last week, Liverpool had effectively killed off Porto there and then, but Mohamed Salah, substitute Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk added further goals after the break. Eder Militao scored a consolation for the hosts 21 minutes before the end, but this was another miserable night for them after they lost 5-0 to the same opponents on this ground a year ago. Liverpool now march on to a clash with Lionel Messi's Barca, the first meeting of the clubs since a last-16 encounter in ...
Warner, Bairstow happy to start well for Hyderabad
A big reason behind Sunrisers Hyderabad's success this year is the form of their openers David Warner and Jonny Bairstow. While partnerships are mostly about balancing the act, in the case of these two, both like to take the attack to the bowlers and there is no story of one looking to play second fiddle to the other. Against Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday it was the same story as Warner hit a 25-ball 50 and Bairstow was unbeaten on 61 off 44 balls.
Spurs survive seven-goal thriller to end Man City's quadruple quest
Manchester City's bid for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies ended in dramatic fashion as Tottenham progressed to the Champions League semi-finals on away goals as a pulsating 4-3 win for City was not enough to overturn their 1-0 first leg deficit. Four goals were scored in a crazy opening 11 minutes as Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva cancelled out two Son Heung-min away goals for Tottenham. City finally looked set for the last four when further goals from Sterling and Sergio Aguero put them ahead in the tie for the first time. But there was a further twist when Fernando Llorente's controversial goal 17 minutes from time was allowed to stand despite a VAR check for handball by the Spaniard. VAR intervened again deep into stoppage time to save Spurs once more when Sterling thought he had completed his hat-trick only for Aguero to be ruled offside in the build-up. Tottenham's reward is a semi-final clash against Ajax. Pep Guardiola will face more questions over his failure to ...
We showed intensity and chase was superb: Williamson
Chasing Chennai Super Kings' score of 132, Sunrisers Hyderabad started brilliantly as David Warner hit a 25-ball 50 to set the platform for a six-wicket win and skipper Kane Williamson said that the boys came back really well after the Chennai openers started with a bang at the top of the innings.
Dhoni is better, will probably play against RCB: Raina
Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in their Indian Premier League encounter on Wednesday and while M.S. Dhoni's absence was felt, stand-in skipper Suresh Raina felt that it was a good wake-up call for the team as things start moving towards the business end. It was only the second loss of the season for CSK.
Dhoni 'might' play the next game, says Raina
Suresh Raina said captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni "might" play the next game after missing Chennai Super Kings's six-wicket defeat by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL here Wednesday. Dhoni was ruled out of the match with back spasm, paving the way for Raina to shoulder captaincy responsibility. "He (Dhoni) is feeling better. His back was stiff and might play the next game," Raina said at the post-match presentation ceremony. For a team that has won seven of its eight matches this season, the defeat was a wake-up call, Raina said. "I think it is a very good wake up call." CSK were stopped at 132 for five after they opted to bat, and then, SRH chased down the target with 19 balls to spare. "I think we didn't put a decent score on the board and kept losing wickets. We lost too many wickets in between and that's why it cost us the game. "We should have looked for partnerships and should have rotated our strike better. Hence, we were 30 runs short," Raina said. Man of the Match David Warner ...
Rankings won't mean anything at World Cup: Steyn
The top ranked England and India may be seen as favourites going into the World Cup, but South Africa's veteran pacer Dale Steyn Wednesday said rankings would be of little significance in the showpiece, beginning May 30. "I think you really need to take rankings and throw it out of the window. Rankings these days don't mean anything. I don't even know what ranking West Indies have, and they just beat England. Australia were losing, and then they've started winning again," the Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer said at the Eden Gardens. "I think every team going to the World Cup has a massive chance. England are playing in England, and they're playing good some white-ball cricket," he said refusing to name any clear favourites. "You just need to go there, figure out which teams are best adapting the conditions and then the team that hits the ground running first has the best chance." Steyn, who will turn 36 in June, will probably be appearing in his last World Cup and he said they are ..
SRH humble Super Kings by six wickets, bring life to campaign
David Warner played in the manner that defines his batting after the bowlers gave very little away, helping Sunrisers Hyderabad humble Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in the IPL here Wednesday. While the outcome ended Sunrisers' run of three straight losses, it also brought to a screeching halt CSK's ruthless streak, the sound of which though failing to drown the chants of 'Dhoni, Dhoni' that reverberated across the stadium. Mahendra Singh Dhoni watched the proceedings from the dressing room after being ruled out of the game with back spasm, the first time since 2010 that he was not leading his beloved yellow brigade, and the team missed him. Warner smashed a 24-ball half century before his opening partner Jonny Bairstow (61 off 44 balls) completed the chase of 133 with as many as 19 deliveries to spare. Leading the side in the absence of Dhoni, Suresh Raina opted to bat after the coin landed in his favour. But the decision did not work wonders for the visitors as Sunrisers bowled .
Bairstow, Warner star as SRH rout CSK in Hyderabad
Johnny Bairstow and David Warner struck blistering half-centuries to help Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) break their losing streak in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) as they defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, here on Wednesday.
Sunrisers Hyderabad beat CSK by six wickets
Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in their Indian Premier League match here Wednesday. Opting to bat, Chennai Super Kings were stopped at 132 for five, and then, the hosts chased down the target of 133 with 19 balls to spare. Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings: 132/5 in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 45; Rashid Khan 2/17) Sunrisers Hyderabad: 137/4 in 16.5 overs (Jonny Bairstow 61 not out, David Warner 50; Imran Tahir 2/20).
Nadal steamrolls to opening Monte Carlo win
Rafael Nadal charged out of the blocks Wednesday to hammer Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 6-1 in his opening match at the Monte Carlo Masters. The 11-time champion showed no sign of the knee problems which forced him to quit ahead of an Indian Wells semi-final against Roger Federer a month ago. The 32-year-old had expressed pre-tournament caution regarding the health of his knee -- a worry which appeared to be groundless after a 76-minute masterclass. "I'm happy for this very positive start. I had good feelings on court," he said. Nadal collected the opening five games of the afternoon in 17 minutes as he set the tone for another dominant display in the principality. He was equally in control during the second set, where he saved three break points in the fourth game and two more in the sixth. "It was a great start, it's good to be back here," the 17-time Grand Slam winner said, keeping talk of his knee to a minimum. "I can't pretend to not have pain at all, but professionals normally ...
Shamed Bancroft hits 151 on Durham one-day debut
Cameron Bancroft hit an unbeaten 151 on his one-day debut for Durham as the disgraced Australia batsman started to repay the English county's faith in him. Bancroft was banned for nine months after being caught in the Australia ball-tampering scandal during their tour to South Africa last year The 'sandpaper-gate' incident during the Newlands Test against South Africa also led to Bancroft's Australia team-mates Steve Smith and David Warner receiving year-long suspensions. After returning in Australia's Big Bash League in December, and playing a role in the back end of Western Australia's current Sheffield Shield campaign, Bancroft has joined up with Durham with a view to making Australia's Ashes squad. Durham, now under a new Australian director of cricket in Marcus North, attracted criticism in some quarters when they recruited Bancroft. But the 26-year-old was controversially appointed Durham captain and, making his maiden limited overs appearance, Bancroft piled up the runs in ...
AFC Cup: Minerva Punjab, Abahani Dhaka share points
Bangladesh's Abahani Dhaka and I-League's Minerva Punjab split points after an entertaining 2-2 draw in their second Group E match of the AFC Cup 2019, in Dhaka on Wednesday.
SRH bowlers restrict CSK to 132 for five
A brilliant performance by bowlers helped Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) restrict Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a paltry 132/5 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, here on Wednesday.
Scoreboard of the Indian Premier league match between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers ...
Scoreboard of the Indian Premier league match between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad here Wednesday. Chennai Super Kings Shane Watson b Nadeem 31 Faf du Plessis c Bairstow b Vijay Shankar 45 Suresh Raina lbw b Rashid Khan 13 Ambati Rayudu not out 25 Kedar Jadhav lbw b Rashid Khan 1 Sam Billings c Vijay Shankar b Khaleel Ahmed 0 Ravindra Jadeja not out 10 Extras: (B-2, LB-2, W-3) 7 Total: 132/5 in 20 overs Fall of wickets: 79-1, 81-2, 97-3, 99-4, 101-5 Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-0-21-0, K Khaleel Ahmed 4-0-22-1, Sandeep Sharma 4-0-33-0, Shahbaz Nadeem 2-0-24-1, Rashid Khan 4-0-17-2, Vijay Shankar 2-0-11-1.