Page 398 - Sports
Sensational bowling effort from Alzarri: Rohit
Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma heaped praise on Alzarri Joseph who recorded the best bowling figures in Indian Premier League's (IPL) history, adding that it is important for the team to win games at the start of the tournament.
Kean winner puts Juventus on brink of Serie A title
Teenage sensation Moise Kean scored the winner to put Juventus one step away from an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday as a 2-1 comeback win over AC Milan pushed the champions 21 points clear at the top. Kean -- the victim of racist abuse earlier this week in Cagliari -- came on as a substitute and fired in the winner on 84 minutes for his fifth goal in as many league games. The Turin giants will seal a 35th Scudetto on Sunday with seven matches to spare -- the earliest any team has won Serie A -- if second-placed Napoli lose at home against Genoa. Juventus were playing without injured striker Cristiano Ronaldo, recovering from a thigh injury, as they prepare for their Champions League quarter-final, first leg against Ajax. But 19-year-old Kean has stepped up in the absence of the Portuguese superstar who is battling to be fit for Wednesday's game in Amsterdam. "Even today Kean came on and scored, he is very good at that," said Allegri of the youngster who also scored twice
KXIP, SRH look to get back to winning ways (Preview)
Going into the weekend high on confidence, both Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) lost their respective games in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday and come Monday, they will look to get back to winning ways when both teams clash at the I.S. Bindra Stadium in Mohali.
Barca a 'little closer' to La Liga title after beating 10-man Atletico
Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored twice in two minutes as Barcelona broke the resistance of 10-man Atletico Madrid to go 11 points clear of their La Liga title rivals. Diego Costa was sent off in the 28th minute at Camp Nou after insulting referee Gil Manzano but while Atletico held on for almost another hour, Suarez and Messi struck late to seal a pivotal 2-0 win. The victory leaves Barca almost out of sight with seven games left to play and maintains momentum ahead of Wednesday's trip to Manchester United in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. "It is three crucial points," coach Ernesto Valverde said. "We are a little closer." "It gives us a big margin," said Suarez. "We've taken not just one, but two steps forward." United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in the crowd along with his assistant Mike Phelan but this was a familiar story of Barcelona's deadly duo delivering when it mattered most. Costa's early and needless dismissal left Atletico needing snookers just
Recovering Pele will know Sunday if he can return to Brazil on Monday: advisor
Brazilian football legend Pele, who has been in hospital in Paris, will discover on Sunday if he will be allowed to return to Brazil on Monday, his advisor told AFP. "Tomorrow (Sunday), we will know. It is the doctors who will decide," said the advisor having earlier Saturday announced that Pele would definitely return Monday to Sao Paulo. A date for the 78-year-old's discharge has not been officially announced by hospital which is based in the Paris suburbs. The three-time World Cup winner was admitted to a hospital with a urinary tract infection on Wednesday, the day after appearing at a promotional event with France striker Kylian Mbappe. Brazilian news website G1 reported that Pele had intended to come out of hospital on Saturday to return to Brazil but had been delayed by further tests and would stay under observation until he was 100 percent. The infection was not serious and was under control, according to members of Pele's entourage. "Thank you so much for all the love! The ...
Barcelona, Juventus ominous in Champions League quarters with strong English accent
The Champions League returns this week with the competition now into the quarter-final stage and dominated by the Premier League with all four English representatives in the last eight. Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City go head-to-head, but Barcelona's clash with Manchester United is the tie of the round. AFP Sport casts a glance over the mouthwatering line-up ahead of the first legs on Tuesday and Wednesday: Spurs galvanised in new home? Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City Rarely in the recent history of the competition has it felt quite so important for the hosts in the first leg to make home advantage count as much as it does for Tottenham ahead of City's visit to north London. Tuesday's clash will be just their second game in their brand new 62,062-seat stadium, with this the first of three meetings between the clubs in 12 days -- Spurs will need a cushion to take to the Etihad Stadium for the return leg, before taking on City again in Manchester in the Premier League on ...
Not a done deal' - Qatar wary over 48-team World Cup
Qatar stressed that the 2022 World Cup remains at 32 teams as FIFA chief Gianni Infantino piled on pressure to expand the tournament to 48 and share it with other Gulf countries. Speaking to AFP at the Asian Football Confederation Congress, head organiser Nasser Al-Khater said Qatar was still planning for 32 and that studies about adding another 16 teams were just an "assessment". "There's a feasibility study on the countries that could possibly host. So together with FIFA we're looking into those possibilities," Khater said in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. "So that's where we are now. It's still open as an idea but it's not a done deal for it to be a 48-team World Cup." Although Qatar has said it is open to expanding, Khater was at pains to underline that "the status quo is that it's still a 32-team World Cup, everything after that is an assessment". After winning the right to host a 32-team World Cup in 2010, in a bidding process mired in bribery allegations, the Qataris are coming ...
I could not have asked for a better start: Joseph
Debutant Alzarri Joseph, who recorded the best bowling figures in the Indian Premier League's (IPL) history, said he could not have asked for a better start.
Alzarri Joseph's sixer hands Hyderabad 40-run defeat
Despite a batting failure, Alzarri Joseph's sensational six-wicket haul guided Mumbai Indians to a massive 40-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their Indian Premier League (IPL) contest here on Saturday.
Could not have asked for a better start, says Alzarri Joseph after dream IPL debut
"I could not have asked for a better start," a soft spoken Alzarri Joseph said after claiming the best bowling figures in IPL history on his tournament debut. Young Windies pacer ended with sensational figures of six for 12 in 3.4 overs, bettering the effort of Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir, who had taken six for 14 in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008, on Saturday night. His rare feat helped Mumbai Indians register a 40-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in a low-scoring game. "It is a dream. I could not have asked for a better start. I just backed my plans and it worked. My plan was to keep it simple and back myself," said Joseph at the post match presentation." Joseph's first over in IPL was a wicket maiden in which he removed the dangerous David Warner. "I know we had a game to win and I was focused on that. The boys are playing well and putting in a lot of hard work," said the 20-year-old when asked why he did not celebrate Warner's wicket.
Anand loses to Karjakin in Shamkir chess
Having done the hard work, Viswanathan Anand fumbled and lost to Sergey Karjakin of Russia in the sixth round of Shamkir chess tournament here on Saturday. Playing the black side of a queen's gambit declined, Anand came up with some spectacular preparation that should have been good enough for a draw but Karjakin pressed hard where it mattered and went on to secure a rare victory against Anand. Karjakin joined Magnus Carlsen of Norway in lead on four points out of a possible six following an unexpected victory. In other games of the day in the super tournament, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria beat Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, Dutchman Anish Giri played out a customary draw with David Navara of Czech Republic, reigning World champion Magnus Carlsen got no leeway and had to split the point with Ding Liren of China and Russian Alexander Grischuk got nothing against the ever solid Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan. Carlsen and Karjakin share the lead on four points each from six games ...
IPL 2019: Alzarri Jospeh stars as Mumbai Indians defeats Sunrisers Hyderabad
Mumbai Indians defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 40 runs in the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday, owing to Alzarri Joseph's 6-wicket haul.This spell by Joseph was the best ever bowling figures recorded by any bowler in the IPL.Chasing a score of 137, SRH got off to a good start once again as the openers Jonny Bairstow and David Warner stitched together an opening stand of 33 runs.Bairstow (16) was dismissed by Rahul Chahar in the fifth over of the innings. This was the first time in this year's edition of the IPL that SRH lost a wicket within the first six overs. Soon after Bairstow's wicket SRH were given another blow as Alzarri Joseph dismissed Warner (15) with his first ever ball in IPL.Joseph continued to wreak havoc on SRH batsmen, he next dismissed Vijay Shankar (5) and the team was reduced to 42 for three in the seventh over of the innings.Mumbai Indians continued to pile on the pressure on the SRH by not
Pollard, IPL debutant Joseph combine to script Mumbai's memorable win
Young West Indies pacer Alzzari Joseph made a dream IPL debut by recording the best bowling figures in tournament's history as Mumbai Indians picked up a 40-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in a low-scoring game here on Saturday. Keiron Pollard hammered an unbeaten 46 off 26 balls, helping Mumbai Indians recover to 136 for seven after an ordinary start. While Pollard was the stand out batsman, another West Indian in Joseph made all the difference in the bowling department, ending with sensational figures of six for 12 in 3.4 overs, bettering the effort of Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir, who had taken six for 14 in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008. Hyderabad were all out for 96 in 17.4 overs. It was the third win for Mumbai Indians in five games while Hyderabad suffered their second loss in five matches. Considering the stellar form of openers David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, 137 was expected to be a comfortable chase for Hyderabad. But they both were dismissed cheaply and that exposed .
Disciplined Hyderabad restrict Mumbai to 136/7
A disciplined bowling effort by Sunrisers Hyderabad helped restrict Mumbai Indians to a modest 136/7 in their Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Saturday.
Pollard gives Mumbai something to bowl at
Keiron Pollard hammered an unbeaten 46 off 26 balls, helping Mumbai Indians reach 136 for seven against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League here on Saturday. Hyderabad were well on course to limit Mumbai to a sub-120 total before Pollard's brute power came to the fore and enabled the visitors to collect 39 crucial runs off the final 12 balls. Until Pollard cut loose, Hyderabad put up an impressive bowling effort on a slow pitch. While Hyderabad fielded an unchanged side, Mumbai Indians made two changes in the playing eleven with Ishan Kishan replacing Yuvraj Singh and West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph coming in for Lasith Malinga, who has gone back to Sri Lanka to play in a domestic event. It wasn't the best of starts for Mumbai, who lost captain Rohit Sharma (11) and Suryakumar Yadav (7) early to be 30 for two in six overs. Rohit was dropped in the first over by Siddarth Kaul but could not make much use of that life and was holed out at deep midwicket off Mohammad Nabi ..
Ashwin defends decision to play 2 spinners
Kings XI Punjab captain Ravichandran Ashwin said there was nothing wrong about his team combination, defending the decision to play only two spinners in the game against CSK on spin-friendly track, here Saturday. CSK fielded three spinners, who dominated the Punjab batsmen and helped the hosts defend 160, while Punjab went in with just two. "I would love to have four spinners and four fast bowlers. We can only play XI. We have a combination where we have a six-strong batting and five-strong bowling attack," said Ashwin. "I thought the bowlers bowled well. Probably, missed the mark a bit in the powerplay, which is understandable. Whoever bowled and got a role to play, I thought we got them underpar as well. We were in the chase." Ashwin was all praise for young Sarfaraz though he was not able to take the team past the finish line. "Sarfaraz is someone who has got incredible abilities to play well. And look what has happened today can happen to anbody because it is not one of those ...
China's Lin Dan storms into Malaysia final
Chinese superstar Lin Dan put on a sensational display of badminton to power into the Malaysia Open final, beating compatriot Shi Yuqi, 21-19, 16-21, 21-12 on Saturday. His victory, which took 65 minutes, sets up a final against another Chinese player, Chen Long. Five-time world champion Lin allowed Shi to dictate the pace at the start of the opening game before seizing back the initiative, and winning 21-19. A couple of unforced errors paved the way for Shi to level with a 16-21 win in the second game, but Lin came to life in the decider and clinched the match. It is the second final that Lin has reached this year but the two-time Olympic gold medallist conceded it was tough to battle past Shi. "Now a days the competition within the Chinese men's singles team is as strong as against others. But I am used to the pressure, and the most important thing is to be consistent," Lin said Lin will play Chen in a repeat of the 2015 final, which was won by Chen. Chen was equally impressive in .
Women play historic round at once all-male Augusta
Striking blows for gender equality with every swing, women players competed for a trophy for the first time Saturday at former men-only enclave Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters. At a club that opened in 1933 but didn't admit its first women members until 2012, LPGA legends Pak Se Ri, Annika Sorenstam, Lorena Ochoa and Nancy Lopez hit ceremonial shots off the first tee to launch the historic final round of the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur. "It's just exciting to be a part of history," Lopez said. "A day of history for us, for the amateurs that are here and for Augusta National." A field of 72 played the first 36 holes at nearby Champions Retreat before the event moved to the famed Masters layout, with the top 30 advancing to the last 18 holes at Augusta National. "It's a dream come true. I'm so happy for them," Sorenstam said. "This has huge potential to not just inspire young girls but golfers, other women in sports and women in business." American Anna ...
Northern Command wins air weapon championship for the fourth time
Udhampur-based Northern Command has won the 15th edition of General J J Singh air weapon championship for the fourth consecutive time, a defence spokesman said on Saturday. The championship was conducted at Army Marksmanship Unit, Mhow between March 25 and April 3. Its aim was to identify, train and nurture talented young male and female officers of the Army for participation in various national and international shooting competitions, the official said. Over 100 male and female young shooters from across the Indian Army competed in the 10-metre air rifle and air pistol categories, the official added. The Northern Command team was selected and trained at Northern Command Shooting Node, Akhnoor near here under the aegis of the White Knight Corps for a period of six months, the spokesperson said. The winning team competed against nine other teams for the coveted 'Burma Shell Trophy' and won the overall inter command championship. It also bagged the women's overall trophy along with one .
IPL matches to be used to create awareness among voters
In a bid to create awareness among voters in Maharashtra where Lok Sabha elections will be held in four phases beginning April 11, the election commission is targetting IPL matches that attract a large number of people. The experiment has already started with a match played between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings which took place at Brabourne Stadium here on April 3. "At that cricket match, all relevant material was displayed for creating awareness amongst the voters," he said. The initiative was taken following a suggestion by the Election Commission of India which had asked the office of the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer to contact the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for arranging a voter awareness campaign, an official has said. The poll official said representatives of the BCCI were contacted and the relevant material and literature delivered to them. "Voters will also be appealed in a similar fashion during upcoming IPL matches to be