Page 362 - Sports
Ramnaresh Sarwan steps in to mentor Windies ahead of WC
Former West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan is working with the current team as they prepare for the ICC World Cup 2019, beginning May 30 in England.The 38-year-old has been brought in at the training camp to help batsmen ahead of the tri-nation ODI series in Ireland followed by the World Cup, ICC reported.Sarwan, who played 87 Tests, 181 ODIs and 18 T20Is before retiring with 11,944 runs across formats, is focusing on helping batsmen to improve running between the wickets and finishing games."I have come here to act as kind of a mentor to the players and try my best to assist them in any technical ways and with any shortcomings where I think they can improve, and to offer as much help to the head coach, Floyd Reifer, and his coaching staff," Sarwan said."I know our batsmen have struggled in the past with rotating the strike, so I am trying to see how best we can get them to improve in this area... It is not an overnight fix, but it is important to share ideas with them so that they ..
Focus on Kotla pitch as in-form DC play MI (Preview)
It will be a battle of equals when Delhi Capitals host Mumbai Indians in their Indian Premier League encounter at the Feroze Shah Kotla stadium on Thursday. Both teams are coming into the game having registered convincing wins in their previous encounters and are also seated at 10 points each on the table.
Ravichandran Ashwin the all-rounder has been a huge asset: David Miller
Kings XI Punjab batsman David Miller has heaped praise on captain Ravichandran Ashwin for his all-round skills, saying the wily operator has been a huge asset for the team. Ashwin and opener KL Rahul played pivotal roles as Kings XI produced a superb all-round performance to script a comfortable 12-run win over Rajasthan Royals in a second leg IPL clash to bring their campaign back on track on Tuesday. Rahul hit a 47-ball 52, while Ashwin (2/24) smashed 17 off four balls in the last over and then took two crucial wickets as KXIP bounced back after successive losses in the last two matches to record their fifth win this IPL. "(Skipper) Ashwin has contributed extremely well with bat and bowl," Miller told a post-match press conference here. The South African said that it is not just with his bowling, but Ashwin has also chipped in with useful contributions with the bat putting the team in good positions. "His bowling has been extremely good. His economy rate has been really low and he's
Asia's 2022 World Cup qualifiers drawn
The draw for the first phase of Asia's qualifying round for the World Cup in 2022 was made on Wednesday, featuring the continent's lowest ranked nations.
Barca toy with United, Ajax knock out Juventus
FC Barcelona booked their berth in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in four years riding Lionel Messi's brilliance, while Ajax stunned Juventus to keep their juggernaut rolling.
Injury scare for KXIP's Henriques, Mujeeb
Kings XI Punjab players Moises Henriques and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have picked up injuries, giving their team a minor scare in the second half of the IPL. While Henriques, who was set to make his KXIP debut, injured himself during warm-up before the game against Rajasthan Royals, Aghanistan spinner Mujeeb hurt his shoulder in the match played on Tuesday. "Moises went on to take a catch during warm ups and injured his ankle while Mujeeb picked up a shoulder injury during the match. Both are awaiting further results," said KXIP in a statement. KXIP won the game by 12 runs and now have 10 points from nine games.
Klopp keeps Liverpool feet on ground before Porto return
Liverpool are on the brink of a place in the Champions League semi-finals in what could turn out to be a dream season, but Jurgen Klopp warned his team still have a fight on their hands to finish the job in their quarter-final tie against FC Porto. The Reds travelled to northern Portugal in a strong position going into Wednesday's second leg after a 2-0 win at Anfield last week, when Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino both scored. Since then, the Premier League leaders have stretched their unbeaten run to 16 games and made it seven wins on the bounce by seeing off Chelsea 2-0 on Sunday. Little wonder the excitement is building with Klopp's side still tantalisingly in with the chance of doing the double of Premier League and Champions League, the kind of success not enjoyed at Anfield since the early 1980s. However, there was no hint of complacency from the Liverpool manager as he spoke at the Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday. "It is so far a very positive season, that is why we are here, but .
Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Guardiola's Champions League
Pep Guardiola's bid to win the Champions League for the first time since 2011 will come under threat from his old friend Mauricio Pochettino when Manchester City face Tottenham in the quarter-final second leg later on Wednesday. Guardiola's side must overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit at the Etihad Stadium to avoid extending their manager's frustrating Champions League run. Guardiola is rightly regarded as the best manager of his generation after trophy-laden spells with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now City. But despite having access to vast financial backing at all three clubs and coaching some of the world's greatest players, Guardiola has only got his hands on the Champions League trophy twice in his 11-year managerial career. The Spaniard won it with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, while also earning a winners' medal as a Barca player in 1992. Some critics see that as a meagre return and the only flaw on Guardiola's CV, placing more pressure on the City manager to lead the English ...
Allegri sticking with Juventus despite Champions League flop
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri announced on Tuesday he would be staying on as coach with the Italian giants next season despite another Champions League disappointment. Cristiano Ronaldo's side crashed out of the championship to Dutch side Ajax after a 2-1 loss on the night in Turin and 3-2 aggregate defeat. "I met the (club) president (Andrea Agnelli) a couple of days ago and told him that I will stay at Juventus. We'll sit down with the club and think about the future," Allegri told a press conference. "If I didn't have the motivation I would have told him so straight away, but this is not the case. "I think that during these past five years we've worked well, the players have progressed," said Allegri, 51, who arrived in Turin at the beginning of the 2014-2015 season. "Winning five Scudetto is not easy, reaching two Champions League finals, is not easy." Allegri has won ten titles with Juventus since arriving in the 2014-2015 season, with the team just one point away from a ...
Ajax stun Ronaldo's Juventus to reach Champions League semis
Ajax stunned Juventus to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 1997 as Matthijs de Ligt's thumping second-half header secured a 2-1 second-leg victory in the last eight in Turin on Tuesday. Cristiano Ronaldo, bidding for his sixth Champions League title, scored a 28th-minute header to put Juve ahead after a 1-1 first-leg draw, but Donny van de Beek levelled for Ajax before half-time. Teenage centre-back De Ligt struck midway through the second period, though, to seal a 3-2 aggregate win and set up a last-four clash with either Manchester City or Tottenham. The young Dutch side had already eliminated three-time defending champions Real Madrid en route to the quarters, overturning a 2-1 home defeat against the Spanish side with a memorable 4-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu. "It's an incredible evening for Ajax and its players and also for Dutch football," said coach Erik ten Hag. "Once again we eliminated the favourites. "We said before we were not the ...
Careless United undone by Messi double as Barca cruise into semis
Lionel Messi pounced on two Manchester United mistakes to score twice and end their hopes of another comeback at Camp Nou as Barcelona breezed into the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday. After an excellent start, United were undone twice in four minutes by Messi, who first nicked the ball off the careless Ashley Young and then watched as a weak shot from distance squirmed underneath David de Gea. Philippe Coutinho, in perhaps his best performance of the season, added a third with a curling effort into the top corner and by the end, an outclassed United might have been relieved the score was not more traumatic than 3-0, 4-0 on aggregate. "We had five uncomfortable minutes because they came out strong," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde. "But then there were another 85 minutes where we weren't bad." A dizzying opening spell, in which Marcus Rashford had hit the crossbar, was long-forgotten, even if it could offer Barca's next opponents some encouragement. Liverpool, who take a
Messi hails Barca demolition of United, but laments slow start
Lionel Messi said Barcelona put on a spectacle in their victory over Manchester United on Tuesday, but warned his teammates they cannot afford any more slow starts if they are to win the competition. Messi capitalised on early mistakes from Ashley Young and David de Gea to score twice at Camp Nou before Philippe Coutinho added a third for a 3-0 win, 4-0 on aggregate. But United had made a brilliant start before Messi intervened, as Marcus Rashford hit the crossbar within 30 seconds and Scott McTominay fluffed another chance with a poor touch. "We have shown who we are, we put on a spectacle and played a great game," said Messi after the match. "But we came out cold and looked nervous in the first five minutes. It was a bit weird until we regained control of the game and we scored the first goal. "We cannot come out like that in a Champions League match because we have the experience of Rome last season and it could (have) made qualifying difficult. Five bad minutes can knock you ...
Called out for trying things, but kept on: Ashwin
With five wins in nine games, Kings XI Punjab have entered the double figure marks on the table with 10 points to their name after beating Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League encounter and skipper R. Ashwin believes that it is important to maintain momentum now.
182 on that wicket was quite chaseable: Rahane
Chasing 182 at the I.S. Bindra Stadium in Mohali is not generally considered a huge task, but Rajasthan Royals failed to do that against Kings XI Punjab in their Indian Premier League encounter with the visitors falling short by 12 runs.
Philippe signs BBL contract with Sydney Sixers
Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Philippe signed a three-year Big Bash League (BBL) contract extension with Sydney Sixers.The 21-year-old, one of the standout performers during the last season, made a last-minute move from Perth Scorchers to the Sixers on a one-year deal, just ahead of the commencement of the tournament, ESPNcricinfo reported.Philippe scored 304 runs at a strike-rate of 158.33, the highest of the 21 players who made 300 runs or more in the league. He smashed two half-centuries including an unbeaten 86 against Hobart Hurricanes and 52 against eventual champions Melbourne Renegades in the semi-final.The Scorchers tried its best to lure Philippe as he hails from Perth, began his career with the Scorchers in 2017-18 BBL and plays one-day domestic and Sheffield Shield with Western Australia. The wicketkeeper-batsman will continue to play for Western Australia next season but has committed to the Sixers for the next three years.The three-time champions, Scorchers will ...
Pele 'thirsty' for life after hospital release
Brazil football great Pele has said he is ready to pursue "new goals" after 13 days in hospital with a urinary tract infection and kidney problem.
Right time to achieve 10-point mark: Ashwin
Kings XI Punjab skipper R Ashwin believes his team bounced back in the tournament at the right time and lavished praise on young pacer Arshdeep Singh for taking two crucial wickets in his IPL debut here Tuesday. After suffering successive losses, KXIP Tuesday brought their campaign back on track with a comprehensive 12-run win over Rajasthan Royals at home to grab the fourth spot in the table with 10 points. "It was very important to get that 10-point mark and I guess it's the right time in the tournament to do that," said Ashwin after KXIP restricted RR to 170 for 7 while chasing 182 for six. "Its very tough to defend here, the wicket generally gets better in the second half. We probably thought we were 10-15 runs short on this pitch." Defending the total, 20-year-old Arshdeep provided a big breakthrough for Punjab when he dismissed big-hitting opener Jos Buttler early. "I thought Arshdeep bowled really well in the first few overs. We had some plans for Jos and he really executed ...
Ashwin, Rahul lead Punjab to win over Rajasthan
Skipper R Ashwin struck at crucial times while KL Rahul scored a matured half century to help Kings XI Punjab return to winning ways with a 12-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in an Indian Premier League (IPL) clash here on Tuesday.
Ashwin, Rahul script KXIP's 12-run win over RR in IPL
Skipper Ravichandran Ashwin and opener KL Rahul played pivotal roles as Kings XI Punjab produced a superb all-round performance to script a comfortable 12-run win over Rajasthan Royals in a second leg IPL clash to bring their campaign back on track. Opener Rahul hit a 47-ball 52, while Ashwin (2/24) smashed 17 off four balls in the last over and then took two crucial wickets as KXIP bounced back after successive losses in the last two matches to record their fifth win in this IPL. Invited to bat, Rahul, who was named in India's World Cup squad on Monday, and David Miller (40 off 27) shared a 85-run stand to lay the foundation. Ashwin then smashed a four and successive sixes in the last two balls to put KXIP in a strong position. The hosts then returned to restrict Rajasthan to 168 for seven, courtesy some superb bowling by Ashwin and Murugan Ashwin (1/24) in the middle overs after Arshdeep Singh's maiden two IPL wickets. Mohammad Shami was expensive but came good in the final overs, ..
Rahul 50 helps KXIP post 182/6 despite Archer heroics
Buoyed by a World Cup call-up, KL Rahul struck a well-timed fifty but Jofra Archer stole the limelight from him with splendid figures of 3/15 as Kings XI Punjab posted 182/6 against Rajasthan Royals in an Indian Premier League game here on Tuesday.