Page 755 - Sports
PKL: Bengaluru registers convincing win over Jaipur
Bengaluru Bulls wrapped up their league stage campaign in style as they beat Jaipur Pink Panthers 40-32 in a Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) clash at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here on Thursday.
Bengaluru top Zone B, seal Qualifier 1 clash vs Gujarat
Pawan Sehrawat dished out a superlative display as Bengaluru Bulls thrashed Jaipur Pink Panthers 40-32 to storm into the Play-offs with a table-top finish in Zone B of the Pro Kabaddi League, here Thursday. Sehrawat made his 11th Super 10 this season en route 16 raid points to jump to the top of the raiders leader-board with 236 points, three ahead of Pardeep Narwal of Patna Pirates. Amit Sheoran stood tall in the defence with four tackle points from five attempts. Sehwrawat found a fine support from his captain Rohit Kumar, who made five raid points as Bengaluru Bulls executed two all outs to seal an easy win in the Inter-Zone Wildcard fixture at the Netaji Indoor Stadium. Bengaluru will now clash against Gujarat Fortunegiants in the Qualifier one of the season six in Kochi on December 31. Sumit Singh picked up a two-point raid to get Bengaluru Bulls going as they led 3-1 after two minutes. Deepak Niwas Hooda was the key man for Jaipur Pink Panthers in the first half. Both teams were
MCA to meet Mumbai players, team management on Ranji display
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) authorities are expected to call individual players and team management post the Ranji Trophy season and discuss with them about the team's performance in the tournament. "There will be one-on-one discussion with players and we will ask them about the difficulties that they faced during the season. "It's like if you don't tell the doctor where the pain is then it is not able for him to give a remedy", an MCA insider, who was present at the joint meeting of Cricket Improvement Committee and the Ad-Hoc Committee held at the MCA office in South Mumbai, Thursday evening said on condition of anonymity. According to the insider, such a discussion will also take place with members of the team management. Another official said the discussions are expected to take place in the second week of January. But if Mumbai qualify for the quarter-finals, then the meeting will be postponed. At present, the 41-time champions need to win their last two ...
BCB tweaks rule to ensure Smith's participation in BPL
A week after barring banned Australian cricketer Steve Smith from participating in the Bangladesh Premier League, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has tweaked its rules to ensure his engagement in the domestic T20 league.Smith was signed by Comilla Victorians as a replacement for Sri Lanka's Asela Gunaratne but according to the BPL rules, replacement players are supposed to be chosen from among the players who were in the draft in the first place and Smith was not a part of the draft.Other BPL franchises had objected to the development following which it was decided that Smith would not participate in the tournament.The BCB has now changed the rules of the tournament allowing a team to replace a maximum of one outside-the-draft player with another. BCB director Jalal Younus, who also heads the BPL governing council, said that the decision was a "democratic" one. He further stated that Smith's inclusion in the league will make it "better, more popular and glamorous.""We could have ...
Natl TT: PSPB retain Youth Boys title, WB claim Youth Girls crown
Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB), spearheaded by Manav Thakkar, defeated a spirited West Bengal 3-1 to retain the Youth Boys title at the 11Sports 80th Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championships at the DPS Hall here on Thursday.
Jeison Murillo unveiled as Barcelona new player
Barcelona on Thursday presented defender Jeison Murillo as a centre-back, the third Colombian player to join the Catalan giant, following in the footsteps of Lauro Mosquera and Yerry Mina.
Not winning Ballon d'Or did not come as surprise, I already knew it: Messi
Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has won the prestigious Ballo d'Or title five times in his career but this time he finished fifth on the list. The 31-year-old is, however, not at all surprised by the development as he already knew that this time he would not be the winner.Messi, while admitting that Ballon d'Or is a big prize, said that he already knew that he has got no chance of winning the trophy this season."If I'm honest, I don't give much importance to it although it is a big prize. I knew this season I didn't have the chance to win it and I wasn't surprised," Marca.com quoted Messi as saying.The Argentina footballer has three children and two of them are often spotted with Barcelona camp. The forward player said that at this point of his life when he has children, family has become his priority. "As soon as I had my children, the priority was always my family. It is the most important thing. Obviously, I love football and I live for it, but family is above all," Messi ...
Neroca FC host Mohun Bagan with pole position in sight
Mohun Bagan will be desperate to log home full points in their bid to remain in contention when they take on hosts Neroca FC in a 10th round I-League encounter on Friday. Neroca are sitting fourth on the league table with 15 points from nine games. They are one rung above their Friday visitors, who have the same number of points from an equal number of games, but Neroca have the better goal difference. A win on Friday will take either of the teams equal on points with current league leaders Chennai City FC, although that might change depending on the result of the day's second game between East Bengal and Real Kashmir FC, which will follow the game in Imphal. Neroca, coached by Spaniard Manuel Fraile, are coming off a keenly contested goalless draw in their previous game against champions Minerva Punjab, but have been in good form, winning three on the trot before that. Mohun Bagan, on the other hand, have bounced back admirably after their derby loss against arch-rivals East Bengal, .
I-League: Neroca FC host Mohun Bagan with pole position in sight
A mouth-watering extravaganza is on the cards for Friday when the Neroca FC takes on Mohun Bagan at Khuman Lampak Stadium.
Online cricket betting racket busted, three held in Telangana
An online cricket betting racket was busted here Thursday and three bookies arrested in this connection, police said. Cash to the tune of Rs 41 lakh was seized from them, they said. Acting on a tip off, a team of task force police and local police raided the premises, where betting was carried out and arrested the accused while they were accepting betting amounts online for a test match between India and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Stadium, it said. Police also seized a television set, set-top box and six mobile phones from the accused, it added.
Manu Bhaker wins women and junior 10m air pistol, Moudgil tops 50m rifle 3 positions finals
The young Manu Bhaker was in top form in the 10-metre air pistol event, winning both the women's and junior finals at the national selection trials, while Anjum Moudgil topped the 50-metre rifle 3 positions here Thursday. Winner of gold medals at the Youth Olympics, ISSF World Cup and Commonwealth Games, Haryana's Bhaker shot a total of 242.1 in the women's 10-metre air pistol final to finish ahead of 13-year-old teen sensation Esha Singh, who shot 240.4, and Anuradha (219.3). Bhaker was second in the qualification with a score of 579. In the women's 50-metre rifle 3 positions finals, Punjab's Moudgil shot a total of 460.6 to finish ahead of Tamil Nadu's Gaayathri N (457.4) and veteran Tejaswini Sawant (445.7) of Maharashtra. Shirin Godara, representing Haryana, won the 50m rifle 3 positions women's junior finals with 450.7. Zenab Hussain (447.6) finished second while Ayushi Podder was third with 438.2. Former world number one Heena Sidhu, who equalled the women's 10m air pistol ...
Aman Raj lands eagle en route 64 on 2nd day, lies 5th at Q-School
Aman Raj sunk an eagle en route a superb seven-under 64 which placed him fifth after the second round of the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, on Thursday. Raj, who wears a trademark hat while on a golf course, played one of his best rounds as a professional on the Asian Tour as he now lies two shots behind the leader, Poom Pattaropong (67-64; total 131). Three players, Christoffer Baumann (64-68), Choo Tze Huang (65-67) an Zach Murray (68-64) are Tied-second at 10-under 132. For the second day running, Aman had an eagle. It was on a Par-5 on first day and on the second day he holed his second shot on the Par-4 453-yard 12th hole. He was three-under for the front nine, and then bogeyed the 10th. But between the 12th and 17th, he hit a purple patch with an eagle and four birdies, but unfortunately closed with a bogey for 64. Raj, who turned professional in 2016 and went on to top the class at the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) Qualifying School in 2016, was recently ...
Cummins always delivers when chips are down: Finch
Australia opener Aaron Finch on Thursday heaped praise on pacer Pat Cummins, saying he is one bowler who rises to the occasion when the pitch has nothing to offer.
Inter Milan fan dies after clashes at Napoli game
An Inter Milan supporter died on Thursday morning after being hit by a vehicle during clashes with Napoli fans on Wednesday before the Serie A match between the two teams at the San Siro. Milan police chief Marcello Cadorna told journalists that the incident happened after around 100 Inter fans attacked Napoli supporters' minibuses with chains and hammers. Cadorna, himself a former Serie A referee, said that four Napoli fans were injured in the "despicable and absolutely impossible to prevent" attack. In the ensuing confusion, Inter fan Daniele Belardinelli, 35, was hit by a vehicle, likely a dark SUV and not one of the Napoli minibuses, according to mobile phone footage of the incident, Cadorna said. Inter fans carried Belardinelli to a nearby hospital where he died of his injuries despite being operated on. "You can't die for a football game," said far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, adding that he would summon fan organisations for talks in January. Police arrested three ...
Imam takes Pakistan into lead against South Africa
Imam-ul-Haq scored a half-century as Pakistan made a good start to their second innings on the second day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Thursday. Imam was on 57 not out as Pakistan reached 100 for one at tea, an overall lead of 58 in what has been a low-scoring Test. Imam and opening partner Fakhar Zaman wiped out a first-innings deficit of 42, taking their side two runs into the lead before Zaman flicked a ball from first-innings destroyer Duanne Olivier to fine leg after scoring 12. The left-handed Imam made a shaky start. He hurried to 15 off 11 balls but all three of his boundaries to that point were off the edge of his bat. He was still on 15 when he was dropped low down by Hashim Amla at first slip off Dale Steyn. But he then batted solidly in reaching fifty off 71 balls with seven fours and a hooked six off Olivier. Imam and Shan Masood (22 not out) added an unbeaten 56 for the second wicket. Earlier, Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock steered South
Bangladesh lifts Smith's Twenty20 tournament ban
Bangladeshi cricket officials on Thursday lifted a ban on former Australian captain Steve Smith playing in the forthcoming Twenty20 Bangladesh Premier League, an official said. The ruling means Smith, currently serving a one-year ban from international cricket over a ball-tampering scandal, is free to play for Comilla Victorians in the next edition of the BPL starting on January 5. He has signed for the side and is expected to join up with teammates in mid-January for the second phase of the BPL as a replacement for Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had initially blocked his participation after other franchises raised objections about Smith, who was not in the initial players' draft list for the tournament. "We could not give him permission earlier as other franchises had protested his signing," BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus said on Thursday. "Today four franchises emailed us separately saying that they have withdrawn their objections for the greater ...
Roger Federer visits Australia's Pinnacles
Tennis icon Roger Federer on Thursday took a trip to the popular tourist spot of the Pinnacles in western Australia, posing with children for some selfies and meeting a newlywed couple there, ahead of the Hopman Cup 2019 that begins at the weekend in Perth.
Varun Chakravarthy is back-up spinner who will add value to Kings XI Punjab: Zinta
The unheralded Varun Chakravarthy's whopping Rs 8.40 crore deal at the IPL auctions have raised eyebrows but Kings XI Punjab co-owner Preity Zinta termed the Tamil Nadu spinner a "long-term investment" and a "back-up spinner" for skipper Ravichandran Ashwin. Confirming that Ashwin will continue to lead the KXIP this season, Zinta provided the rationale behind picking Varun, who did well in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), for such a humongous amount. "Varun is an underexposed mystery bowler along with being a back-up spinner who will add value to the team. Kings XI Punjab has always wanted to give chance to untested talent and Varun is a long term investment for us," Zinta told PTI in an e-mail interview. "I feel that with guidance from coach Mike Hesson, he (Varun) will be able to hone his capabilities and contribute to team's success," the Bollywood actor said. She was happy that Kings XI were able to pick players whom the management thought could be the missing link from the ..
Mayank Agarwal showed great attitude and confidence against Australia: Madan Lal
Indian right-hand batsman Mayank Agarwal, with his blistering knock of 76 runs in the first innings of the Melbourne Test against Australia, set the tempo for his team which put up a solid total of 435 runs before declaring their first innings at the end of the Day Two. The opener's contribution, which is the highest by any Indian debutant against Australia, won the praise of former national cricketer Madan Lal who hailed his batting as a perfect display of good attitude and confidence."Mayank Agarwal played really well innings. He showed a good attitude and played with a lot of confidence. Playing your first Test in front of this huge crowd of MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) is a big deal for any cricketer," said Madan Lal while speaking to ANI exclusively."Agarwal's contribution was crucial. It is because of his smashing opening innings that India managed a good total in the end," he added.The former cricketer also acknowledged the pivotal role played by top-order batsman Cheteshwar .
Kohli on the verge of surpassing Graeme Smith to create an overseas record
Indian skipper Virat Kohli needs just 75 more runs to be the highest run-scorer in Test cricket away from home in one calendar year.The right-hand batsman will be aiming to overtake former South African skipper Graeme Smith who is sitting at top of the list with a total of 1212 Test runs away from home in one calendar year, sport24 reported.With his 82 runs knock in the first innings of the ongoing third Test against Australia on Day Two, the 30-year-old has accumulated a total of 1138 runs surpassing former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid (1137) to be the top scorer for India in overseas Tests in any calendar year.The second innings of India in the Melbourne Test might add another feather to the Indian skipper's cap.India posted a mammoth total of 443 runs against Australia before declaring their first innings on Day Two of the third Test. In reply, Australian openers Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris remained unbeaten on the respective scores of five and three. Australia are trailing the ...