Page 529 - Sports
Injured shoulder completely recovered, says MotoGP champ Marquez
Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez of Spain has said that he has completely recovered from his shoulder injury and his team and friends were the best antidote to help combat his stress levels.
2019 ICC World set to grab eyeballs with new format
The 2019 ODI World Cup - the 12th edition of the storied tournament - will feature the round robin format in its first phase, a deviation from the group league stage of the previous editions.
Brunt five-for restricts India women to 205-8
Medium-pacer Katherine Brunt grabbed a five-for as India frittered away the platform laid by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut to finish at 205 for 8 against England in the third and final ODI here Thursday. The 33-year-old Brunt (5-28) was the wrecker-in-chief as the hosts suffered a middle-order collapse after they slumped from 129 for 1 to 150 for 7 and never recovered from that. However, Deepti Sharma (27 not out) and Shikha Pandey (26) ensured that India crossed the 200-run mark with 47-run eighth wicket stand. Earlier, opting to bat, the hosts lost Jemimah Rodrigues (0) early, after she played onto her stumps off Brunt. But then Mandhana (66 off 74 balls) and Raut (56 off 97 balls) steadied the ship with their 129-run second wicket stand. They initially played with caution and later hammered the loose deliveries as they toyed with the English attack. Mandhana, who mostly relied on pulls and drives, stuck eight fours and a six, while Raut hit seven boundaries. But ...
Brunt five for restricts India women to 205-8
Medium-pacer Katherine Brunt grabbed a five-for as India frittered away the platform laid by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and Punam Raut to finish at 205 for 8 against England in the third and final ODI here Thursday. The 33-year-old Brunt (5-28) was the wrecker-in-chief as the hosts suffered a middle-order collapse after they slumped from 129 for 1 to 150 for 7 and never recovered from that. However, Deepti Sharma (27 not out) and Shikha Pandey (26) ensured that India crossed the 200-run mark with 47-run eighth wicket stand. Earlier, opting to bat, the hosts lost Jemimah Rodrigues (0) early, after she played onto her stumps off Brunt. But then Mandhana (66 off 74 balls) and Raut (56 off 97 balls) steadied the ship with their 129-run second wicket stand. They initially played with caution and later hammered the loose deliveries as they toyed with the English attack. Mandhana, who mostly relied on pulls and drives, stuck eight fours and a six, while Raut hit seven boundaries. But ...
Billy Stanlake set to return to Sheffield Shield
Australia fast bowler Billy Stanlake is all set to play first-class cricket in the Sheffield Shield for the first time since three years.Stanlake made his return to long-form cricket last week, taking two wickets for 53 runs for Queensland's league side.Replacing leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson, the 24- year-old has also been named in the squad of Queensland to face New South Wales from Sunday.Ashes hopeful Dan Worrall has also been named to play in the next round of Shield.Queensland's chairman of selectors Justin Sternes said Billy always had the goal of playing in the longest format of the game."Bill is keen to showcase his red ball skills and returning to first-class cricket has been one of his goals this season,'' Cricket Australia quoted Sternes, as saying.Stanlake was not at his lethal best during the Big Bash League (BBL), picking up just eleven wickets in as many games. The pacer leaked runs at an economy of 9.07 in the tournament.
Chris Gayle to rethink retirment decision
Swashbuckling left-handed batsman Chris Gayle enjoyed run-soaked innings against England in the fourth ODI of the five-match series that he confessed he might rethink the decision to retire from the format at the end of the World Cup.Ten days after Gayle announced his intention to retire after the World Cup, the West Indies cricketer smashed 162 off 97 balls which saw 14 sixes and 11 boundaries, second-highest score of his ODI career.It was his second century of a series, amassing 347 runs from three innings at an average of 115.66 and a strike rate of 120.06. He became the 14th batsman and second from the Caribbean after Brian Lara, to reach the milestone of 10,000 ODI runs."I think this is one of the most entertaining games I have ever played in. It was a fantastic game of cricket. I have been playing a lot of T20 cricket so it is always going to be a difficult coming back into 50 over cricket. But eventually, the body gets accustomed to the 50-over format. What is the matter with ..
Barca beat Real Madrid to reach Copa del Rey final
FC Barcelona were outplayed by Real Madrid for much of their Copa del Rey semifinal second leg, but the visitors did enough to prevail 3-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate and are headed to the final for the sixth consecutive year.
Del Potro withdraws from Indian Wells with knee injury
Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro has withdrawn from next month's BNP Paribas Open because of a knee injury. Del Potro said Wednesday through tournament officials that he's been advised to rest by his doctors and he hopes to return to action soon. He defeated Roger Federer to win his first Masters 1000 title last year in the Southern California desert. The fourth-ranked Argentine lost in the quarterfinals of last week's Delray Beach Open in Florida. It was del Potro's first tournament since injuring his knee at the Shanghai Masters in October. Del Potro had already pulled out of this week's Mexican Open in Acapulco, which he won last year. He also missed the Australian Open in January. With del Potro's withdrawal, Taro Daniel of Japan moves into the men's draw. The women's draw already lost two-time winner Maria Sharapova, who withdrew with a shoulder injury. The tournament runs March 6-17 in Indian Wells.
It would be nice to bat higher up in ODIs: Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell would prefer batting higher up the order in ODIs, following his series-winning 113 at number four in Australia's seven-wicket victory against India in the second T20 International. Maxwell bats at number 7 in ODIs and would happily take a promotion in the five-match ODI series starting in Hyderabad on March 2. The 30-year-old slammed his third T20 international hundred on Wednesday night, an unbeaten 113 off 55 balls, to blow away India and win the series 2-0. "In my case tonight, when I came out, it was 15 overs to go I think. And as long as I get a 80 or a 100 out of that even, if I am doing that at a No 6 or a 7, it doesn't really matter. It's just me making the most of the opportunities when I get them," said Maxwell. "It's not easy to just come here and go like that because the ball is a lot older, the wicket's gone a lot quicker here. Even tonight at the end of the game, the wicket's sort of drying out and there was scuffs all over it," he added. Maxwell believes ..
Aus to host 2021 IAAF World Cross Country C'ship
Australia will host the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athletics Series event for the first time in 25 years, following the decision to award the 2021 World Cross Country Championships to Bathurst in New South Wales.The event will be held at one of Australia's most famous sporting venues, Mount Panorama, which is better known as the home of Australia's premier endurance motor race. It will now welcome the world's best endurance runners on March 20.The varied landscape and altitude around the iconic race track offer a range of enticing and challenging options for cross country running. The event will also benefit from the established major event facilities on site, including grandstands, administration offices, team areas and a full media centre, which will significantly reduce the costs and complexity of organising the biennial championships.Athletics Australia president Mark Arbib said the event would embrace both elite and recreational runners in a ..
Juventus aim to end title discussion at Napoli
Juventus travel to Napoli on Sunday looking to close the book on a Serie A title race that has hardly looked in doubt since the opening day of the season. Under previous coach Maurizio Sarri, Napoli had become Juve's biggest rivals and last season even managed to take the title race down to the final weeks. But managed by Carlo Ancelotti this campaign they have failed to provide a challenge for the champions, who are odds-on to clinch their eighth straight "Scudetto" regardless of what happens at the San Paolo stadium on Sunday night. "The race has finished too quickly," said Jose Mourinho, who won the treble with Inter Milan in 2010, in an interview with the Gazzetta Dello Sport. Juve are 13 points clear and that gap has taken some of the sting out of what is one of Italy's iconic fixtures, as well as leaving little room for drama at the top. "Juventus aren't facing much of a challenge, and while that's obviously good for them, it's a negative for Italian football," Mourinho ...
Football fans brave Venezuela's match-night terrors
As dusk creeps into the streets, most of Caracas becomes a ghost town. But something is moving tonight in the shadow of FC Caracas's football stadium. Fans float in small groups along the sidewalks. The green of the floodlit pitch gleams through gaps in the grey concrete edifice. FC Caracas need to beat their Peruvian opponents Melgar by three goals in a second-leg game to qualify for the group stages of the Copa Libertadores. But venturing out on match night in Caracas is about more than sporting odds and rivalries. It means braving crime and shortages. "The situation the country is in complicates everything. Transport is difficult at night," says Daniel Mendoza, a thin 25-year-old with curly brown hair under a beanie hat. "Football helps you endure the situation the country is in, for a while." - Make some noise - =================== Red shirts appear in the hardcore fans' stand behind the FC Caracas home goal in the Olympic Stadium. The drums and horns start up. "The Red Demons, ...
'We can do better', says Guardiola as City stay in title hunt
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola accepted his side "can be better" after a 1-0 win over West Ham at the Etihad on Wednesday kept them in the hunt to retain their Premier League title and a remarkable quadruple of trophies. Just days after a penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea at Wembley saw City to victory in the League Cup final, Guardiola's men were indebted to a 59th-minute spot-kick from Sergio Aguero for a victory that left the English champions a point behind leaders Liverpool. With the League Cup already in their trophy cabinet, a City side also still involved in the FA Cup and Champions League could yet end the season having won a remarkable four major pieces of silverware in the one campaign. They didn't make life easy for themselves on Wednesday and were indebted to what West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini labelled a "soft" penalty, awarded when Felipe Anderson made contact with City substitute Bernardo Silva, for giving Aguero the chance to score the lone goal. "We ...
Ozil leads five-star Arsenal past Bournemouth
Mesut Ozil made the most of being handed a rare start by Arsenal boss Unai Emery as the German masterminded a 5-1 victory over Bournemouth on Wednesday to keep the Gunners in pole position for a top-four finish in the Premier League. Ozil opened the scoring after just four minutes before turning provider for Henrikh Mkhitaryan to double Arsenal's lead. Lys Mousset briefly gave Bournemouth hope before half-time, but Ozil and Mkhitaryan combined once more to tee up Laurent Koscielny to make it 3-1 before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette rounded off an eighth straight Premier League win at the Emirates for Emery's men. The Spanish coach has been reluctant to use Arsenal's highest earner in his debut season in charge as Ozil was making just his second league start of the year. However, the former Real Madrid midfielder showed why Arsenal handed him a contract worth a reported GBP 350,000 a week last January by rolling back the years as the link-up between him and ...
Liverpool back in the groove to hammer Watford
Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk each scored twice as Liverpool thrashed Watford 5-0 to maintain their one-point advantage over Manchester City in the Premier League title race. Mane ensured it was not going to be a nervy night at Anfield by scoring twice in the first 20 minutes, including a spectacular backheel for his second. Divock Origi added a third in the second half before Dutch centre-back Van Dijk headed two goals in the final 10 minutes. It was a strong statement of intent from a team who had drawn four of their last five games, but who have genuine hope of becoming English champions for the first time since 1990. As they sought to maintain the Premier League leadership, Liverpool's main concern was finding a way to overcome the absence of Roberto Firmino because of an ankle injury. Klopp's solution to the problem was to reshuffle his three-man forward line, with Mane moving to the centre, and Divock Origi coming in on the left for only his second Premier League start of the ..
Chelsea sink Spurs to ease Sarri's woes after Kepa axed
Chelsea put a smile back on Maurizio Sarri's face with a crucial 2-0 win over Tottenham that secured a stay of execution for their troubled manager after Kepa Arrizabalaga was dropped following his Wembley mutiny. Pedro's second half strike and a farcical own goal from Kieran Trippier were a much-needed boost for Sarri as the Chelsea manager fights to avoid the sack following a turbulent first season in charge. Sarri's standing had been severely undermined by Kepa after the rebellious keeper sparked an astonishing meltdown from the Italian when he refused to be substituted during Sunday's League Cup final. Sarri was furious when Kepa ignored his decision to take him off after he required treatment for cramp in the closing stages of their penalty shoot-out defeat to Manchester City. Kepa apologised for his behaviour, but the 24-year-old was punished with a fine of one week's wages before Sarri attempted to regain control of his squad by selecting Argentine veteran Willy Caballero in ...
Lukaku lays down marker as Man Utd beat Palace
Romelu Lukaku pressed his claims for a more prominent role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with his first goals in 10 appearances, scoring twice in Manchester United's 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace on Wednesday that maintained their challenge for a top-four finish. Lukaku scored either side of half-time to put United in control at Selhurst Park, with Ashley Young adding a late third after Palace's Joel Ward had reduced the deficit to threaten a home fightback. United's lengthening injury list had given Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez the opportunity to show Solskjaer they were ready to shoulder more responsibility during the final months of the campaign. The Old Trafford futures of both players has been questioned but in the absence of Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial, and with Marcus Rashford held back on the bench, the pair were tasked with providing the attacking threat Solskjaer hoped would ensure his side strengthened their bid for a place in next season's Champions League. The United ...
Ronaldo a doubt for Juventus' trip to Napoli
Cristiano Ronaldo is a doubt for Juventus' Serie A clash at Napoli on Sunday after picking up an ankle injury during the weekend's 1-0 win at Bologna, the club announced on Wednesday. "For CR7, check ups have been scheduled for today (Wednesday) and tomorrow following a knock to his left ankle during the game against Bologna," Juventus said on their website. Champions Juve travel to second-placed Napoli 13 points clear at the top of the league, and coach Massimiliano Allegri could leave the Portuguese out of the match knowing that even a defeat would likely not cause serious harm their bid for an eighth straight title. Juve host Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on March 12 needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit after being beaten at the Wanda Metropolitano in the first leg of their last-16 tie with the La Liga outfit.
Dortmund eager to learn from Bayern slip-up at Augsburg
Lucien Favre says his Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund must learn from Bayern Munich's stumble against Friday's opponents Augsburg to stay ahead in the tense title race. With just under a third of the season left, recent poor results have slashed Dortmund's lead from nine to just three points before Friday's trip south to Augsburg, where Bayern came perilously close to a shock defeat a fortnight ago. The defending champions leaked two goals from crosses, including a weak own-goal by Leon Goretzka 13 seconds into the Bavarian derby, and needed two Kingsley Coman goals to draw level before David Alaba scored the winner in a 3-2 victory. Dortmund had their own close shave at home to Augsburg last October in a seven-goal thriller after replacement Paco Alcacer claimed a hat-trick by drilling home a stunning 96th-minute free-kick to seal a dramatic 4-3 win. Augsburg sit just above the relegation places, but their winger Philipp Max still found lots of space on the flanks against Bayern
Barca stuns Madrid 3-0 at Bernabeu, reaches Copa final again
Real Madrid couldn't put Barcelona away when it had the chance, and ended up being dealt a hard blow by its biggest rival. In the first of two consecutive games between the Spanish powerhouses at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Barcelona weathered a dominant first half by Madrid and then scored three times after the break for a 3-0 win Wednesday and a spot in the Copa del Rey final for a sixth straight season. "I have to admit that we didn't play very well in the first half," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde after his 100th match in charge. "We scored three goals but didn't have that many chances. It happens sometimes." Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona advanced 4-1 on aggregate after being held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the semifinals at Camp Nou three weeks ago. The Catalan club also benefited from an own goal by Madrid defender Raphael Varane. "They were a lot more efficient than we were," Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari said. "We created many chances but couldn't ...