Page 434 - Sports
Former Australian Test spinner Bruce Yardley dies
Former Australian Test star Bruce Yardley, who was later regarded as one of the world's leading spin-bowling coaches, has died aged 71 after a battle with cancer. The West Australian played 33 Tests and was his country's first-choice spinner in the 1980s, taking 126 wickets at an average of 31.63. He was also handy with the bat, holding the Australian record for the quickest Test fifty for 38 years. Known as "Roo", Yardley was equally well known for coaching Sri Lanka in the 1990s and being a big influence on the greatest Test wicket-taker of all time -- Muttiah Muralitharan. Yardley, who was the international cricketer of the year in 1981, was reportedly the man who advised the Sri Lankan great to start bowling his famous "Doosra" delivery. "Bruce was a significant figure in Australian cricket, contributing in many ways on and off the field," said Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts after his death on Wednesday. "As a player, it took him more than 10 years of persistence .
Injured Ronaldo returns to Turin for tests
Cristiano Ronaldo will undergo further tests in Turin on Thursday as he battles to be fit for Juventus's Champions League double header against Ajax after picking up a thigh injury on international duty for Portugal. The 34-year-old pulled up injured after half an hour into European champions Portugal's 1-1 Euro 2020 qualifier draw against Serbia. Juventus said initial tests in Portugal had shown "a minor injury" to Ronaldo's right thigh, with their Champions League quarter-final first leg tie against Ajax on April 10. Ronaldo flew to Barcelona for personal business on Wednesday, and not for a consultation, with the Portuguese star later posting a photo of himself on social media. Italian media reported the five-time Ballon d'Or had returned by private jet to Turin late on Wednesday with tests scheduled with Juventus medical staff on Thursday morning. But Ronaldo will likely miss the champions next three Serie A games, against Empoli on Saturday, Cagliari on April 2, and AC Milan four
Federer ready for Anderson barrage after Miami romp
Roger Federer is preparing himself for a barrage of Kevin Anderson big serves after the Swiss superstar sealed his place in the ATP and WTA Miami Open quarter-finals in just 61 minutes. Federer is celebrating 20 years at this tournament and edged closer to his fourth title in South Florida as the up and coming Russian Daniil Medvedev was swatted aside 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday. Next up for the 20-time Grand Slam-winning legend is the South African world number seven who famously beat the 37-year-old at Wimbledon in 2018 over five dramatic sets. That triumph was Anderson's only win over Federer in six attempts - and the only time he's won a set. But having classily dealt with Medvedev, the former world number one knows it won't be as straightforward with the 6 ft 8 in Anderson at the other end of the Hard Rock Stadium's center court. "I think if you beat me at Wimbledon, you've got my attention," smiled Federer. "He's got a great serve and I'm happy he's playing again after his injury. "So .
Ashwin's pause was too long, not within the spirit of the game: MCC's U-turn on 'Mankad' controversy
Just a day after ruling that the controversial run-out of Jos Buttler in the IPL was clean, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Wednesday clarified that Kings XI Punjab's skipper Ravichandran Ashwin "paused too long", which was "not within the spirit of cricket"."We now have had a chance to review it in more detail and we think that Buttler was in his ground as Ashwin got into a position when the non-striker could reasonably have expected the ball to have been delivered. Ashwin seemed to pause to allow Buttler to go out of his ground and then obviously he put the wicket down; Buttler did not really make much of an effort to get back into his ground. It is one where we just felt the pause was just too long and therefore not within the spirit of cricket," Fraser Stewart, MCC's cricket academy manager told ESPN Cricinfo.Ashwin had said that Buttler's dismissal was completely instinctive and he had not planned on doing it. But Stewart said that when the incident happened, Buttler was in .
If the first ball is in slot, I go at it: Russell
A new day, a new game, but the same old result as Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Andre Russell smashed his way to a 17-ball 48 to help set the game for KKR against Kings XI Punjab at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday night.
Australia win 3rd ODI against Pakistan, lead series 3-0
Australia defeated Pakistan in the third ODI of the five-match series by 80 runs to take a 3-0 unassailable lead in the series.As a result of this win, the team has now won six matches in a row.Aaron Finch's 90-run knock and a sparkling cameo from Glenn Maxwell propelled Australia to 266 for the loss of six wickets, before Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa claimed seven wickets between them to secure the win for the team.Australia won the toss and elected to bat, but they were off to a bad start as they were reduced to 20 for two having lost both Usman Khawaja (0) and Shaun Marsh (14).Finch got help from Peter Handscomb (47) in the middle as they both stitched together a partnership of 84 runs to stabilise the Aussie innings.The conditions of the pitch were not allowing Finch to be at his fluent best and he was finally dismissed for 90 runs, falling just 10 runs short of becoming the first Australian to make three consecutive ODI hundreds.But, Maxwell played with freedom striking eight fours
Breakdancing makes next move to Olympic status at Paris 2024
Breakdancing and three other sports have made the next move toward becoming medal events at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The International Olympic Committee's executive board on Wednesday recommended adding breakdancing, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing to the Paris program when the full membership meets in June. A final decision must be made by the board in December 2020 after further monitoring of the four. Also Wednesday, the IOC board agreed to continue helping North and South Korean athletes and officials work together despite diplomatic setbacks between the neighboring governments in recent days. Joint Korean teams are being prepared in four sports to try to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and a co-hosting bid for the 2032 Summer Games is a possible aim. With those 2032 Olympics and the 2030 Winter Games in mind, a panel has been asked to look at ways of making an often expensive and politically unpopular candidate process "more flexible and more targeted." "The IOC ..
IPL: KKR ride Rana, Russell show to rout Punjab
Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa slammed half centuries while Andre Russell plundered a 17-ball 48 as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) romped to a 28-run victory against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in a lopsided Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday.
Russell yet again stars in KKR's win
Andre Russell's second consecutive blistering knock made all the difference as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Kings XI Punjab by 28 runs in their IPL match here on Wednesday. Russell, who hit a sensational 19-ball 49 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in KKR's previous match, bludgeoned his way to a 17-ball 48 to propel the home side to a massive 218 for 4 after being sent into bat. He later took two wickets for 21 runs to help KKR restrict KXIP to 190 for 4 and emerge as the undisputed star of the match. When on three, Russell was yorked by Mohammed Shami off the last delivery of the 17th over but to the horror of KXIP, the umpire signalled a no-ball as the visiting team was found to have one fielder short of the mandatory four inside the 30-yard circle. The 30-year-old Russell made full use of the reprieve as he hammered five sixes and three fours from the next 11 balls he faced to send the Eden Gardens crowd berserk. He was dismissed in the final over. KKR made 56 runs in 19 balls after the ..
IPL2019: Russell help Kolkata secure win over Punjab
All-rounder Andre Russell helped Kolkata Knight Riders defeat Kings XI Punjab by 28 runs in the 12th edition of the IPL at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.Punjab suffered an early hiccup while chasing a mammoth of 219. The Universe Boss Chris Gayle opened his arms to smash two boundaries and as many sixes before he was dismissed off fast bowler Andre Russell for 20.Mayank Agarwal and David Miller in the middle retrieved Punjab following the loss of Sarfaraz Khan (13). Agarwal and Miller formed a 74-run stand, the only highest stand for Punjab, to help their side towards the victory. But leg-spinner Piyush Chawla denied Punjab's hopes as he struck Agarwal (58), which proved a turning point.Miller joined by Mandeep Singh tried to change the fate of their side but were left stranded on 59 and 33 respectively.Scintillating innings from Nitish Rana and Russell powered Kolkata to post 218 for the loss of four, recording the venue's highest IPL total along the way after sent in by Punjab.Sunil
KKR beat Kings XI by 28 runs
Kolkata Kinight Riders beat Kings XI Punjab by 28 runs in an IPL match here on Wednesday. Brief Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders: 218 for 4 in 20 overs (Nitish Rana 63, Robin Uthappa 67 not out, Andrew Russell 48; Varun Chakravarthy 1/35, Hardus Viljoen 1/36, Andrew 1/37). Kings XI Punjab: 190 for 4 in 20 overs (Mayank Agarwal 58, David Miller 59 not out; Andre Russell 2/21).
Ashwin forgets field restriction 'rule' as castled Andre performs Russell Mania
Sport is a great leveller and no one would agree more than Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been through a roller-coaster ride in the last 48 hours. On Monday, Kings XI Punjab captain Ashwin was at the centre of the controversy as he 'Mankaded' Rajasthan Royals' in-form batsman Jos Buttler, a perfectly legal dismissal but an act which triggered a debate concerning 'Spirit of Cricket'. Buttler's dismissal sparked a collapse and Kings Xi Punjab comfortably won the match in the end. On Wednesday, Ashwin was at the receiving end of a harsh yet perfectly legal call by on-field umpire Anil Chaudhary. KKR's last match hero Russell had walked in at the fall of Nitish Rana's wicket and got a perfect yorker from Mohammed Shami off the last delivery of the 17th over. Russell was on his way back to the dug-out. However, to the horror of KXIP players, umpire Anil signalled no-ball and a free-hit. Ashwin was at his wits end thinking that Shami had overstepped only to find out that KXIP had one fielder .
IPL: Russell, Rana light up Eden as KKR post 218/4
Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa slammed half-centuries while Andre Russell continued his pyrotechnics with the bat as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) posted a mammoth 218/4 against Kings XI Punjab in their Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday.
Another Russell blitz propels KKR to 218/4 against KXIP
Half centuries from Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa, and yet another blistering knock from Andre Russell helped Kolkata Knight Riders post a massive 218 for 4 against Kings XI Punjab in their IPL match here Wednesday. Russell made full use of a reprieve when he was on three to hammer five sixes and three fours in his 17-ball 48 to play a major role in KKR posting a big total. Russell, who hit a sensational 19-ball 49 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, was brilliantly yorked by Mohammed Shami. But it was adjudged a no-ball as only three KXIP fielders were inside the 30-yard-circle against a mandatory minimum of four. The Jamaican then hit top gear, smashing Andre Tye for two sixes and two fours. He then went on to hit Shami for three sixes in a row to take KKR past 200. Playing his first match after the 'Mankading' controversy, Kings XI Punjab skipper Ravichandran Ashwin found the going tough after he opted to bowl with Sunil Narine unleashing the fury early on with a nine-ball 24. Nitish Rana
Finch misses record hundred as Australia post 266-6
Skipper Aaron Finch fell 10 short of his third consecutive hundred but still took Australia to 266 for 6 in the third ODI against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The right-handed opener scored 90 off 136 balls with five boundaries and a six to anchor Australia -- who won the toss and opted to bat -- after light rain delayed the start by 15 minutes at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Finch, who scored 116 and 153 not out in Australia's eight wicket wins in the first two matches -- could have been the first Australian to score three hundreds in as many ODIs. Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara holds the record of most successive hundreds with four while nine other batsmen (none from Australia) have struck three consecutive hundreds in ODI cricket. Glenn Maxwell (55-ball 71 with eight boundaries and a six) gave the total its final touches. Finch holed out to leg-spinner Yasir Shah in the 42nd over but he had once again built the innings. Australia started shakily and lost opener Usman Khawaja off just .
Mandeep scores hat-trick as India beat Canada 7-3
Indian men's hockey team continued their winning form at the on-going 28th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2019 as they beat Canada 7-3 in a high-scoring match that enthralled the Malaysian spectators here on Wednesday.With this win, India have topped the pool standings with 10 points from three wins and a draw. India will take on Poland on March 28.It was striker Mandeep Singh who starred in India's win with a brilliant hat-trick of goals in the 20th, 27th and 29th minute while Varun Kumar opened the scoreboard in the 12th minute with a powerful conversion of a penalty corner and Amit Rohidas scored the team's fifth goal in the 39th minute through a penalty corner.Youngsters Vivek Sagar Prasad and Nilakanta Sharma too contributed to the score-line with splendid field goals in the 55th and 58th minute respectively that ensured India were on course for the final on Sunday. For Canada, Mark Pearson (35'), Fin Boothroyd (50') and James Wallace (57') scored the goals.India showed progress ...
Super Cup to get underway from March 29
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday announced that the final round of the Super Cup will kick off at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from March 29. The tournament will begin with Chennaiyin FC taking on Mumbai City FC in the opening game.
Scoreboard of the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab here on ...
Scoreboard of the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab here on Wednesday. Kolkata Knight Riders Innings Chris Lynn c Miller b Shami 10 Sunil Narine c Rahul b Viljoen 24 Robin Uthappa not out 67 Nitish Rana c Agarwal b Chakravarthy 63 Andre Russell c Agarwal b Tye 48 Dinesh Karthik not out 1 Extras: (LB-1 W-3 NB-1) 5 Total: (For 4 wkts in 20 overs) 218 Fall of Wickets: 1/34 2/36 3/146 4/213 Bowling: Mohammed Shami 4-0-44-1, Varun Chakravarthy 3-0-35-1, Hardus Viljoen 4-0-36-1, Andrew Tye 4-0-37-1, Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-47-0, Mandeep Singh 1-0-18-0.
Upset win for Subhankar; Sindhu, Srikanth advance to India Open second round
India's Subhankar Dey produced the biggest upset of the Yonex-Sunrise India Open so far, knocking out fourth seed Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto, while former champions P V Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth also progressed to the second round here Wednesday. Unseeded Subhankar, ranked 44th in the world, eked out a stunning 14-21 22-20 21-11 triumph over world number 9 Sugiarto to join a group of Indians, including H S Prannoy, B Sai Praneeth and Sameer Verma, in the men's singles second round. "It was a very tough match. Last time I played him in New Zealand was really easy for him. I really played well," said the 25-year-old Subhankar from Kolkata, who does not have any personal coach or physio and plays in the Danish League for Greve Strands Club. "I gained a lot of confidence after Swiss Open. I played quarterfinal there. I beat Jonatan Christie. Tommy is the fourth seed and top-10 player, so it is one of my top wins," Subhankar said. Earlier, Sindhu, who reached the finals in the last two ...
Sindhu, Kidambi breeze into second round of India Open
The 2017 champion PV Sindhu and the 2015 winner Kidambi Srikanth advanced to the second round of the India Open at the KD Jadhav Hall on Wednesday.World number six Sindhu had an easy win 21-8, 21-13 over compatriot Mughdha Agrey in women's singles event that lasted just 23 minutes.Sindhu has a point to prove to herself and to the world as she came into the tournament at the back of losing the All England Championship in the opening round.A pepped-up Sindhu exuded sheer class as she hardly broke a sweat to seal her seat in the Round of 16.In men's singles, World number seven Srikanth won an intense game 21-16, 18-21, 21-19 over tricky Wong Wing Ki Vincent of Hong Kong in 56 minutes.Srikanth, who is looking to regain form after getting knocked out in recent All England Championship quarters, skilfully took the first game 21-16.However, the Indian shuttler struggled in the second game and trailed 7-14 as Vincent came from behind to keep the game alive. Srikanth tried to put up a fight ...