Page 509 - Sports
Bairstow, bowlers help England register win in first T20
Bowlers helped England restrict Windies to just 160 runs in the first T20 and Jonny Bairstow's knock of 68 runs helped the team to chase the target comfortably, resulting in a victory over Windies by four wickets.Tom Curran picked up his career-best figures of four for 36 runs, while Adil Rashid(1-15) and Chris Jordan(2-16) were economical in their spells, restricting the Windies to just 160 runs in St Lucia today.Nicolas Pooran scored the maximum runs for Windies as he struck a quickfire knock of 58 off just 37 deliveries. But the team kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and were deprived of any kind of momentum in their innings.In the pursuit of 160 runs, England lost Alex Hales(11) and Joe Root(0) inside the first three overs, but Bairstow kept on hitting boundaries and the team was in a comfortable position at the end of the powerplay.Bairstow who hit a knock of 68 runs off just 40 deliveries, hit 9 fours and two sixes. He stitched together a partnership of 51 runs with ...
Cricketer of the year award had a huge impact on me: Smriti Mandhana
India's opening batsman Smriti Mandhana has had a prolific year, breaking various records and winning awards. She holds the number one position in ICC ODI batting rankings. The player won the cricketer of the year award for Women at ICC awards and she has said that it had a huge impact on her."But that [Cricketer of the Year] award actually had a huge impact on me because till the end of the year, during the Big Bash, my body was feeling very fatigued. If you look back, for one and a half years I have not got a break. So from about 21st to 25-26th December, I had got into a kind of zone where I was telling myself, I need rest," ESPN Cricinfo quoted Mandhana as saying."I did not feel like going and practising, which is very rare. I had to literally push myself to bat, push myself into the gym. But as soon as that news came out, I read it and I was like, you have to get better. You cannot be stagnant. That news motivated me, and the next day I was back to normal: had breakfast, back to
Defending low totals will be crucial at World Cup: Kohli
Praising the team for victory over Australia in the second One-Day International (ODI) here on Tuesday, Virat Kohli asserted that the grit and attacking spirit displayed by Indians during their successful defence of 'a lowish' total will stand them in good stead during the World Cup later this year.
Not thinking about World Cup: Shankar
His last-over heroics against Australia may have brightened his World Cup chances but all-rounder Vijay Shankar says he is not thinking on those lines and would just stay in the moment. Captain Virat Kohli handed the ball to Shankar when Australia needed 11 runs from the last over and India required two wickets for a win. Shankar dismissed Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa in three balls, delivering when it mattered. He may have made a case for himself with this performance to make the squad for the World Cup but Shankar is not thinking on those lines. "I've said previously also that I never think about the selection or World Cup thing because it's a long way off from now. Every game is very important. I just look to give my best and win a game for the team," said the Tamil Nadu all-rounder. Shankar said the tough final of the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka last year when he struggled to rotate strike was a big learning curve for him and it helped him in pressure situation today. "To be ...
Another skier arrested in widening doping scandal
Austrian authorities on Tuesday arrested a cross-country skier already suspended over doping at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, according to media reports, in a widening scandal following several arrests last week. Five other skiers and two cyclists are under investigation as part of a probe into an alleged doping ring based in Germany and led by a 40-year-old sports doctor named as "Mark S". Prosecutors in the city of Innsbruck said they have arrested another Nordic skier. They did not name him or give details of why he was arrested. But the Kronen newspaper named the man as Johannes Duerr, who was thrown out of the Sochi Olympics in 2014 after testing positive for blood booster EPO. In a German TV programme broadcast in January, Duerr set out detailed claims of how he went about doping, as well alleging the complicity of some employees of the Austrian Ski Association (OSV). Prosecutors say last week's police crackdown on the alleged doping ring based in Erfurt in Germany was sparked by ...
Ireland beat Afghanistan by 4 wkts in 3rd ODI to level series 1-1
Top order-batsman Andy Balbirnie smashed a brilliant unbeaten 145 to steer Ireland to a four-wicket win over Afghanistan in the third ODI here Tuesday. The win meant that Ireland levelled the five-match series 1-1 after the second game was washed out. Balbirnie anchored Ireland's innings after coming to bat at number 3 at the fall of captain William Porterfield (3). Ireland had scored 13 from 2.4 overs then. Chasing 257 on a sluggish wicket, Balbirnie smashed eight fours and as many sixes during his 136-ball unbeaten knock to take his side home with one over to spare. Earlier, Afghanistan recovered from 74 for 5 on the back of Najibullah Zadran's maiden ODI hundred and a composed 75 by captain Asghar Afghan to post 256 for 8. Zadran hit an unbeaten 104 off 98 deliveries with the help of five sixes and as many fours. Afghanistan had won the first match by 5 wickets here on February 28.
India edge past Australia in 2nd ODI
A brilliant century by skipper Virat Kohli and a disciplined bowling effort saw India defeat Australia by eight runs in the second One-Day International (ODI), here on Tuesday. India now have a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Indian men tame Sweden; women hold Georgia
The Indian men scored an expected yet crushing 3.5-0.5 victory over last-minute entrants Sweden while the women got off to a flier by holding higher-ranked Georgia in the first round of World Teams Chess Championships, here Tuesday. Grandmaster B Adhiban delivered the goods on the top board for the men with a finely-crafted game with white pieces, laying the foundation of a huge win. The others did not disappoint as Surya Shekhar Ganguly cruised home against Axel Smith while S P Sethuraman defeated Linue Johansson. On the second board Krishnan Sasikiran conceded a half point to Erik Blomqvist. Only defending champion Chinese men were able to match the Indians as they overpowered Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5. The young Iranian team won many hearts as they lost narrowly to Russia by a 1.5-2.5 margin. The English men won convincingly over local hopefuls with some fine display on the top boards yielding them a minimal 2.5-1.5 victory. In the other match of the day, United States defeated Egypt by a
It's just a number: Kohli on his 40th ODI hundred
Captain Virat Kohli Tuesday struck his 40th ODI hundred to play a major role in India's 8-run victory over Australia in the second ODI here but he sought to downplay his achievement and instead lauded his team-mates for the win. "It felt good (to get to 40 ODI hundreds) but it is just a number. It feels good to win games for India," Kohli said after the match. Kohli hit 116 from 120 balls to guide India to 250 all out from 48.2 overs after being put into bat. Chasing 251 for a win, Australia were bowled out for 242 in 49.3 overs. "When I walk in to bat, when the situation gets difficult, I have no choice but to put my head down and bat through the innings," Kohli added. Pacer Vijay Shankar scalped the last two Australian batsmen in the final over in which the visitors needed to score 11 runs for a win. Handing the ball to Shankar at the make-or-break situation was a bold decision by Kohli. "I was thinking of using Vijay in the 46th over, but I spoke to Rohit and MS (Dhoni) and they ...
Shankar, Bumrah script thrilling win after Kohli's dogged century in 2nd ODI
Indian bowlers delivered in a heart-stopping climax to fashion a narrow eight-run victory against Australia in the second ODI after skipper Virat Kohli conjured up a resolute hundred in testing conditions, here Tuesday. Pacer Vijay Shankar scalped the last two Australian batsmen in the final over in which Australia needed to score 11 runs for a series-levelling win. Handing the ball to medium pacer Shankar at the make-or-break situation was a bold decision by skipper Kohli, who had the option of employing Kedar Jadhav as well. Chasing 251, Australia were 240 for eight when Shankar got rid of dangerous Marcus Stoinins (52) in the very first ball of the 50th over and castled Adam Zampa in the third ball to trigger celebrations in the Indian camp. Before that, pacer Jasprit Bumrah (2/19), who is ever-reliable in death overs, dismissed Nathan Coulter-Nile and Pat Cummins in space of three balls in the 46th over and conceded just one run in the 48th over, playing a crucial role in India's
India win 2nd ODI by 8 runs
India defeated Australia by eight runs in the second ODI, here on Tuesday.
Bayern trio Hummels, Boateng and Mueller out of Germany picture
Germany head coach Joachim Loew dropped a bombshell on Tuesday by announcing that 2014 World Cup winners Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Thomas Mueller are no longer in his plans. Loew told the Bayern Munich trio before he names the squad for the friendly against Serbia in Wolfsburg in two weeks and the Euro 2020 qualifier against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on March 24. Between them, Hummels, Boateng, both 30, and Mueller, still only 29, boast 246 appearances for Germany and were at the heart of the team which won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. However, last year's debacle at the World Cup finals in Russia saw Germany crash out after the group stages due to below-par performances from Loew's trusted stars, including the trio. "2019 is the year of a new start for the German national football team," said Loew. "It was important to me personally to explain my thoughts and plans to the players and managers of FC Bayern," added Loew, who flew to Munich to speak to the trio. The ...
ISL: Dynamic duo drive NorthEast forward
Football remains a team game and individual contributions sometimes don't really matter. When it comes to goals, one striker basks in the glory but those contributions alone are never enough to power the team.
India crash out of Turkish Women's Cup
The Indian women's football team ended their run at the Turkish Women's Cup with a narrow defeat at the hands of Kazakhstan, here on Tuesday.
East Bengal striker Jobby Justin handed 6-match ban, to miss match against Gokulam
East Bengal Tuesday suffered a blow as their striker Jobby Justin has been suspended for six matches for an ugly spat with Aizawl FC defender Kareem Nurain in a previous match, ruling him out of their I-League title-deciding tie against Gokulam Kerala on Saturday. The AIFF's disciplinary committee also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Justin, along with the six-match suspension. Nurain was also handed the same punishment of six-match ban, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Both were serving interim suspensions, before the AIFF Disciplinary Committee took the decision of six-match ban and fine. Justin, hailing from Kerala, was found spitting on Nurain after an ugly second-half tackle in their I-League match in Kolkata on February 25. The referee showed two yellow cards in succession to Nurain and sent him off. "Both Justin and Kareem have been handed six-match ban and Rs 1 lakh fine each. The disciplinary panel took it as a serious offence committed by both of them," a source in the AIFF ...
Cyclists caught in doping ring suspended by UCI
Austrian cyclists Georg Preidler and Stefan Denifl have been suspended by the International Cycling Union (UCI) after getting caught up in the doping ring that was broken in the recent Nordic Skiing world championships. Preidler, a three-time Austrian national time-trial champion, went to the Austrian police Monday to confess his guilt and was subsequently fired by his French team Groupama-FDJ. "The UCI has now received further information regarding the admissions made by Mr. Georg Preidler and Mr. Stefan Denifl. "After review of all elements in its possession, the UCI has decided to provisionally suspend both riders with immediate effect," a UCI statement said on Tuesday. Preidler was not among six athletes arrested last week in a probe into an international doping ring but handed himself in to police in Graz after struggling with his conscience. The triple Austrian time-trial champion said that he had been sought out by the doping ring and had only started doping "recently", ...
Chennaiyin FC to take on Colombo FC in AFC Cup
:Two-time Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC take on Sri Lankas Colombo FC in the 2019 AFC Cup qualifying playoff round first leg in Colombo on Wednesday (at 3.30 pm IST). This is Chennaiyins debut AFC Cup campaign following their 2017-18 ISL title success and are placed along with Colombo FC in the South Asian Zone of the competition, a press release said. Chennaiyin is also the first ISL outfit to participate in the AFC Cup, with this qualifying tie against Colombo FC for a place in the group stage of the 2019 edition. Chennaiyin concluded it's 2018-19 ISL campaign with a 1-0 defeat to FC Goa last week, with the focus now shifting to their maiden AFC Cup campaign. Chennaiyin players arrived in Colombo on Monday evening from Goa, having extended their stay there to prepare for the AFC Cup qualifying playoff against the Sri Lankan side. "The boys are in good spirits, having arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of what is a very big game for us against Colombo FC. We are ..
BPCL down spirited Union Bank
Last year's runners-up Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited cruised past Union Bank of India 4-2 in a Pool C league match of the 53rd All India Bombay Gold Cup hockey championship on Tuesday. BPCL took the lead through Abharan Sudevs penalty corner conversion in the first quarter before Union Bank restored parity in the second quarter through captain Anurag Sharma's efforts to go into the break tied at 1-all. After switching sides, BPCL struck two goals in the third quarter with Sudev (36th minute) and Shivam Anand (45th minute) finding the target from field efforts to give the team a 3-1 lead. The oilmen extended their lead when Rabichandran Moirangthem scored another field goal in the 50th minute before Vinod Saini converted from a penalty corner to help Union Bank cut the margin of defeat. Later, Uttar Pradesh XI -having reached Mumbai late last night- showed no signs of tiredness and they fought back to share honours with Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala in a 2-2 draw
Ridhima favourite for WPG Tour's fifth leg (Preview)
Ridhima DIlawari will have a chance to become the first multiple winner of the ongoing season as she heads the field in the fifth leg of the Womens Pro Golf Tour, which starts at the Classic Golf and Country Club here on Wednesday.
Minerva Punjab to get re-match against Real Kashmir, RKFC plans appeal
Defending champions Minerva Punjab FC, who pulled out of their I-League clash against Real Kashmir in Srinagar citing security concerns, will get a re-match, the All India Football Federation has ruled but the debutant side has decided to challenge the order. The February 18 game did not take place after Minerva refused to travel to Srinagar, insisting that their foreign players had been advised against it by their respective embassies in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack. "With the current situation in Kashmir not conducive to conduct a match, and keeping in mind the current extraordinary situation as well as the desire of teams to play football on the field, the match stands rescheduled to be held after March 6, 2019, at a time and location feasible for AIFF, and the participating teams," the AIFF said in a statement. It is learnt, the match could be held in Delhi on March 12. Officials in Real Kashmir said the club is likely to file an appeal against the decision and ...