Page 629 - Sports
Tauranga ODI: Indian bowlers on roll, bundle out Kiwis for 243
Continuing with their impressive run, Indian bowlers bundled out the New Zealand side at the score of 243 runs in the third ODI of their ongoing five-match series here at the Bay Oval Cricket Ground on Monday.Asked to bowl first, India finished the New Zealand innings in 49 overs, getting an achievable target of 244.Pacer Mohammed Shami picked up three wickets for India followed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik Pandya who scalped two wickets each in the match.Shami gave India their first breakthrough in the form of opposition opener Colin Munro (7) who was caught at the slips by Rohit Sharma. New Zealand had added just 16 more runs to their scorecard when they lost their second opener Martin Guptill (13), who played a lazy shot off one of Bhuvneshwar Kumar deliveries and gave an easy catch to keeper Dinesh Karthik.New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was the next man on the crease and was expected to take his team out of the trouble as they were struggling at ...
India women aim to seal series against NZ in 2nd ODI
A dominant India will look to seal the three-ODI series with another collective effort and consolidate their position in the ICC women's championship table when they face New Zealand in the second one-dayer here Tuesday. The Indian women's team put behind off-field controversies by making a superb start to the three-ODI rubber -- which is part of the ICC Women's Championship series -- thrashing New Zealand by nine wickets in the opening match. Ahead of the series, Indian women's cricket had found itself in the middle of a furore when ODI skipper Mithali Raj and then coach Ramesh Powar had a fallout during the semifinal of the T20 World Cup in West Indies. It eventually led to the exit of Powar and appointment of WV Raman as head coach. Under Raman, the Indian team dished out a dominating performance, outclassing the hosts in all three departments in the series-opener. The spin trio of Ekta Bisht (3/32), Poonam Yadav (3/42) and Deepti Sharma (2/27) strangled the Kiwi batswomen to ...
3rd ODI: Disciplined India restrict New Zealand to 243
Pacer Mohammed Shami starred with the ball taking three wickets helping India overcome veteran Ross Taylor's defiant 93 and restricting New Zealand to a below-par 243 in the crucial third ODI at the Bay Oval here on Monday.
Hardik shines on return, India restrict New Zealand to 243
Hardik Pandya seemed unfazed by the tribulations of the past few weeks and made a significant contribution to India's impressive bowling effort which shot New Zealand out for 243 in the third ODI here Monday. Coming back into the side after the suspension on him for sexist remarks on a TV show was lifted, Pandya delivered figures of two for 45 in 10 overs and choked the run flow during the middle overs. Skipper Virat Kohli's stand on the kind of balance that the Baroda all-rounder brings to the side stood vindicated during another controlled bowling effort by the visitors. Save the 119-run fourth wicket stand between Ross Taylor (93 off 106 balls) and Tom Latham (51 off 64 balls), New Zealand couldn't really accelerate against the Indian attack on a pitch that was a touch slower compared to the second ODI. Mohammed Shami (3/41 in 9 overs), who had all but sealed the third seamer's spot for the World cup, once again provided the initial breakthrough as Colin Munro (7) edged one to ...
Dhoni misses 3rd ODI with 'rare' injury
Former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni missed out of Monday's third ODI against New Zealand with a hamstring injury, making it only the third occasion when the veteran stumper was forced out of the playing XI.
History the spur and curse for improving West Indies
No cricket team have their own celebrated past used against them quite like the West Indies. They dominated Test cricket for some 15 years from the mid 1970s to the early 1990s and, having even before then been viewed as the five-day game's 'great entertainers', it has made the Caribbean side's ensuing decline in the format seem all the more acute. Yet damning the likes of Kemar Roach as "no Malcolm Marshall" miss the point that few cricketers before or since have reached the same standard as the late West Indies fast bowler. Roach, however, didn't have to be Marshall or Joel Garner as he ripped through England's top-order with a return of five for 17 in a first-innings total of 77 all out that set up Saturday's colossal 381-run win for the West Indies in the first Test at his Kensington Oval home ground in Barbados. And West Indies captain Jason Holder, one of six Bajans in the side, didn't have to bat like Garfield Sobers, the island's greatest cricketer, as he struck a majestic 202
Solskjaer puts his United winning streak to Burnley test
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aims to continue his impressive start as Manchester United manager at home to Burnley on Tuesday, with the case for him to be appointed permanently seemingly growing by the week. The FA Cup fourth-round victory at Arsenal on Friday took the Norwegian caretaker manager's record to eight successive wins since taking over from Jose Mourinho before Christmas -- a mark that surpasses even the great Matt Busby at the start of an Old Trafford managerial reign. While it appears Tottenham Hotspur's Mauricio Pochettino remains United's preferred choice as long-term appointment, the strides Solskjaer is making on and off the pitch make an increasingly compelling case for the 45-year-old to win the job. A fourth-placed finish, and Champions League football next season, were looking a distant dream in the latter days of Mourinho's reign, but victory over Burnley would lift United level on points with Chelsea, for 24 hours at least. And if results involving Chelsea and Arsenal .
Packed programme a 'privilege', insists Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has challenged his in-form players to relish their demanding schedule as they continue to chase Premier League leaders Liverpool with a visit to Newcastle on Tuesday. Jurgen Klopp's side exited both domestic cup competitions at early stages this season, leaving them to concentrate on the Premier and Champions Leagues. In stark contrast, City remain active in four major competitions, having advanced to the League Cup final and the fifth round of the FA Cup, following Saturday's 5-0 fourth-round win over Burnley. It adds a fascinating angle to what is shaping up to be a memorable title race between the two north-west giants although there is no doubt Liverpool's players have the advantage in terms of rest and recovery. The Merseyside club spent four days in Dubai last week to avoid the harsh English winter weather, while Guardiola's team packed in a league visit to Huddersfield, a League Cup trip to Burton and that FA Cup clash with Burnley. - 'Big .
'Super difficult' for Neymar to be fit to face Man Utd, says PSG coach
Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel has admitted Neymar is unlikely to be fit in time for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester United next month. "It's going to be super difficult", Tuchel told Canal+ when asked if Neymar would return from a metatarsal injury in time for the game at Old Trafford on February 12. "It is still too early to talk about a return date because we need to wait and see how 'Ney' reacts to treatment to be more precise," he said after PSG beat Rennes 4-1 at the Parc des Princes. Tuchel's admission came after newspaper Le Parisien claimed on Sunday evening that Neymar had suffered "a hairline fracture of the fifth metatarsal", exactly where the Brazilian underwent an operation on a fracture in March last year. Neymar missed the last three months of last season as a result, including the second leg of PSG's Champions League last-16 defeat against Real Madrid. He only returned just in time for the World Cup. "I can't confirm a ..
Bale back with a bang as 10-man Madrid beat Espanyol
Gareth Bale needed just two minutes to mark his return from injury with a goal as 10-man Real Madrid held on for a 4-2 victory over Espanyol on Sunday. Bale had been out since January 3 with a calf strain but made an instant impact off the bench at the RCDE Stadium, where Karim Benzema continued his own rich vein of form by scoring twice. Sergio Ramos was also on target with a brilliant header before Leo Baptistao kept Espanyol in sight. Bale and Benzema seemed to have wrapped things up but Raphael Varane was sent off with 18 minutes left and substitute Roberto Rosales drove in to set up a nervy finish. Madrid, however, survived for their fifth win in sixth matches, even if it was only enough to restore the 10-point difference behind Barcelona, who had earlier seen off Girona 2-0, with Lionel Messi scoring a sublime chip. They may not be closing the gap on the league leaders but Madrid are gaining momentum, with the resumption of the Champions League just around the corner. Benzema ...
Ronaldo late winner pulls Juventus 11 points clear in Serie A
Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty to seal a hard-fought 2-1 win for Juventus against Lazio in Rome on Sunday to pull 11 points clear in Serie A. Juventus had trailed after an Emre Can own-goal after an hour before substitute Joao Cancelo pulled the champions level and then earned the penalty which Ronaldo slotted in with two minutes to go. An eighth straight Serie A title beckons for Massimiliano Allegri's side who soar clear of second-placed Napoli who were held to a goalless draw at AC Milan on Saturday. Inter Milan are 19 points behind the leaders after losing 1-0 at Torino earlier on Sunday. Lazio drop to eighth place -- three points off the Champions League spots -- after their second defeat in a row after losing to Napoli by the same score last weekend. "For sixty minutes it was the worst Juventus of the year," said captain Giorgio Chiellini. "Paradoxically after the goal disadvantage we found the motivation to win it. "We've got players who make the difference. (Goalkeeper
Djokovic eyes Federer's Grand Slam record
Newly-crowned Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic is focused on continuing to improve his game and get closer to Swiss tennis star Roger Federer's record of 20 Grand Slam titles.The 31-year-old said that his utmost priority is to play Grand Slams and biggest ATP events in this season and the coming seasons."I do want to definitely focus myself on continuing to improve my game and maintaining the overall well-being that I have mentally, physically, emotionally, so I will be able to compete at such a high level for the years to come, and have a shot at eventually getting closer to Roger's record," ATP quoted Djokovic, as saying."I am aware that making history of the sport that I truly love is something special. Of course, it motivates me. Playing Grand Slams, the biggest ATP events is my utmost priority in this season and in seasons to come," he added.The Serbian player had registered a dominating straight-sets victory over world number two Rafael Nadal in the final of the ...
Hockey: Indian women draw 1-1 with Spain
The Indian women's hockey team drew 1-1 with hosts Spain in an intense second match of their tour here.
Spurs stunned by Palace as FA Cup holders Chelsea ease past Wednesday
Tottenham Hotspur suffered their second defeat in English knockout football in a matter of days as they lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday. Connor Wickham gave the unfancied Eagles, 29 points adrift of Spurs in the Premier League, a ninth-minute lead before a penalty by former Tottenham winger Andros Townsend made it 2-0. Spurs' Kieran Trippier missed with a penalty before half-time as Tottenham suffered more spot-kick woe following Thursday's shoot-out defeat by Chelsea, another of their London rivals, in a League Cup semi-final. FA Cup-holders Chelsea had no such problems later on Sunday as they marked Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain's club debut with a 3-0 win at home to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Willian scored twice either side of a goal from highly-rated English teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi, linked with a transfer window move to German giants Bayern Munich. Earlier, Tottenham's reverse left Mauricio Pochettino still searching for .
3rd ODI: Kiwis opt to bat vs India; injured Dhoni misses, Hardik back
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bat in the crucial third ODI against India at the Bay Oval here on Monday.
Tauranga ODI: India asked to bowl first, injured Dhoni misses out
New Zealand won the toss and asked India to bowl first in the third ODI of their ongoing five-match series here at the Bay Oval Cricket Ground on Monday.Following the toss, Indian skipper Virat Kohli informed that wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni is ruled out of the match due to a hamstring injury. Dinesh Karthik has been included in the team as Dhoni's replacement.Kohli further confirmed that all-rounder Hardik Pandya is back in the team.As far as the New Zealand team is concerned, captain Kane Williamson said that while they have included spinner Mitchell Santner in the team, Colin de Grandhomme is out.Having won the first two matches of the series, India will be looking to seal the deal by clinching the victory in today's clash.Following are the playing eleven for India and New Zealand:India- Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (capt), Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra ChahalNew Zealand- .
India to field, injured Dhoni misses out, Hardik in
Hardik Pandya predictably came in the playing XI while Mahendra Singh Dhoni missed out due to injured hamstring as India will field in the third ODI against New Zealand here Monday. The home team will have Mitchell Santner coming in place of Colin de Grandhomme. In place of Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik will keep and Vijay Shankar makes way for Pandya. Teams India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.
Prajnesh, Ramkumar need to believe in their ability: Bhupathi
Indian tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi, who is the non-playing captain of the Davis Cup team to take on Italy in the World Group qualifiers, has high hopes from his singles' players Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Ramkumar Ramanthan.
PWL: Delhi beat Mumbai to raise hope of semis berth
Skipper Khetik Shabalov on Sunday led from the front as Delhi Sultans put Mumbai Maharathis chances of making it to the semis on the backburner by beating them 5-2 in their final group game at the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) Season 4 currently underway at the Gautam Buddha University Indoor Stadium here.
Djokovic singles out his 2019 Australian Open triumph
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic on Sunday recognized the stellar performance he needed to put in to defeat Spaniard Rafael Nadal for his record seventh Australian Open title.