Page 839 - Sports
Pakistan lose Hafeez after Watling's defiance in third Test
Pakistan got off to a poor start when opener Mohammad Hafeez was dismissed without scoring on the second day of the third and final Test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Hafeez fell to a low catch in the slips by Tim Southee off paceman Trent Boult as Pakistan were 0-1 at lunch after BJ Watling's fighting, unbeaten 77 took New Zealand to 274 all out in their first innings. Fellow opener Imam-ul-Haq was unbeaten on nought as Pakistan trailed by 274 runs with nine wickets intact as both teams fight for a series-clinching win. The three-match series is tied at 1-1. It was Watling who carried New Zealand's overnight total from 229-7 and added an invaluable 45 runs over the last three wickets to frustrate Pakistan. During his five-and-a-half-hour knock Watling, when on 66, passed 3,000 runs in his 56th Test. He is the 14th New Zealand batsman to score 3,000 or more runs, joining a list topped by Stephen Fleming who scored 7,172 in 111 Tests. Watling and debutant Will Somerville kept Pakistan's ...
Nicholas Latifi joins Williams as reserve driver for 2019 season
Winner of Formula 2 race Nicholas Latifi has joined Williams racing team as a reserve driver for the upcoming 2019 F1 season.The 23-year-old had spent two years as a test driver for Renault before joining Force India last year as their reserve driver. He then opened talks with Williams about a deal for next season and will join the iconic British team alongside race drivers Robert Kubica and George Russell for 2019.As part of his deal, Latifi will drive in six first practice sessions during Grand Prix weekends, as well as carry out driving duties in two in-season test days, one pre-season test day in Barcelona and two Pirelli tyre testing days.He will also conduct simulator running at the Williams factory at Grove and support the team trackside at race weekends.Latifi expressed delight over joining the team saying that it is an excellent opportunity for him to develop his F1 career."I'm thrilled to be joining an iconic team like Williams as a reserve driver for 2019. It's a fantastic .
Corinthians sack coach Jair Ventura
Corinthians have sacked coach Jair Ventura after the club's disappointing end to the year.
Ghani orders probe into sex abuse claims in women's football team
Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has ordered a probe into the allegations of sexual abuse of members of the national women's football team following a report that the females were molested by officials from the Afghan Football Federation (AFF).
Nuremberg hold Bayern Leverkusen 1-1 in German Bundesliga
Georg Margreitter's second-half equaliser secured newly promoted Nuremberg a 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen in the 13th round of Bundesliga action.
Levante batter struggling Athletic
Levante snapped a three-match winless streak with a 3-0 victory over Athletic Club, who find themselves in the drop zone more than one-third of the way through the 2018-2019 La Liga season.
Sporting goes 2nd in Portuguese 1st division
Sporting Lisbon defeated Rio Ave 3-1 to vault over two other clubs into second place in Portugal's Primeira Liga.
Luka Modric expresses desire to retire at Real Madrid
Croatian midfielder Luka Modric has expressed the desire to remain associated with his current team Real Madrid throughout his career, saying that he would like to retire at the club.The comment comes amid reports stating that Modric is likely to make a move to Serie A side Inter Milan."The club shows me a lot of affection and I'd like to retire at Real Madrid. My family enjoy it and I want to keep enjoying this huge club," goal.com quoted Modric, as saying.The Real Madrid player recently bagged the prestigious Ballon d'Or, ending the ten-year dominance of Argentina striker Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal. He, however, admits that he is willing to give up all his "best" awards to win the World Cup."I said, I think last time when I won The Best, I would change all my individual awards for the World Cup, and unfortunately it didn't happen. This success we achieved at the World Cup for such a small country like Croatia is something amazing," Modric said."But, like I told ..
ISL 2018-19: Mumbai City picks 4-2 victory over Delhi Dynamos
A brilliant second-half charge by Mumbai City FC saw them pick up a 4-2 victory over Delhi Dynamos FC in the ongoing fifth edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday.The Delhi team were leading by a goal at half-time but paid the price for being wasteful in front of goal yet again, as they slumped to their 6th defeat of the season. They are still winless after 10 matches.The win lifts the Mumbai City to the fourth spot in the ISL table with 17 points from 9 matches. Delhi, on the other hand, stay in the bottom position with just four points to their name.To the home crowd's delight, Delhi took the lead just three minutes into the match. Adria Carmona initiated the attack from the midfield and the ball eventually found its way to Lallianzuala Chhangte inside the Mumbai box. The Delhi No. 7 tried to fizz in a cross for the onrushing Rene Mihelic, prompting Sauvik Chakrabarti to attempt a block. The Mumbai defender managed to get his foot in, .
ISL 2018-19: Kerala look to end winless run against Jamshedpur
Kerala Blasters FC will look to keep their winning hopes alive in the ongoing fifth edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) while taking on in-form hosts Jamshedpur FC side here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday.The Blasters are currently seventh in the table with just eight points from nine matches and are falling behind in the race for the top four, fast. A victory against Jamshedpur will help them close the gap and keep themselves in the contention for a playoff spot.For Jamshedpur, the match will be an opportunity to strengthen their position in the top four race, which is turning out to be a close battle this season.The two teams have met in the ISL on three occasions in the past and Kerala are yet to taste a victory against Jamshedpur.After staying unbeaten in their first five matches this season, David James' men seem to have lost the plot in their last four outings, losing three and drawing their last fixture against Chennaiyin FC. Even a draw may be considered a ...
Euro zone to make public debt restructuring easier by 2022
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers agreed to introduce by 2022 new rules that would facilitate the restructuring of public debt in the bloc's countries, the chairman of the Eurogroup Mario Centeno said on Tuesday.
'Ticket sale goes down for Adelaide Test after India's refusal to play day-night format'
South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) chief executive Keith Bradshaw has claimed that ticket sales for the first Test between Indian and Australia at the Adelaide Oval have "suffered" following the refusal of hosts to play a day-night match at the venue.The chief executive said that the fans turned up in significant numbers when they had day-night Test match but the same is not the case with day games."It has been an issue, it has affected ticket sales. One of the characteristics that we have noticed is that we are quite down in interstate sales given it's a day Test, not a day-night Test. There is definitely a day-night factor, without a doubt," News.com.au quoted Bradshaw, as saying."The fans have absolutely voted with their feet the last few years that we have had day-night Tests, we have been significantly up for attendances," he added.Earlier this year, Indian head coach Ravi Shastri had met the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) and informed them ...
Watling passes 3,000 runs in Tests to frustrate Pakistan
New Zealand's wicketkeeper batsman BJ Watling passed 3,000 Test runs as he continued to defy Pakistan on the second day of the third and final Test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Watling became the 14th New Zealand batsmen to score 3,000 or more runs when he reached 66, joining a list topped by Stephen Fleming who scored 7,172 runs in 111 Tests. Resuming at 229 for 7, Watling and debutant Will Somerville prolonged their eighth-wicket stand to 44 as New Zealand inched to 253 for 7 in the first hour of the day. Watling did all the scoring, adding 24 runs as Pakistan used pace and spin in a bid to make the breakthrough. Watling, playing his 56th Test, reached his 16th Test half-century with a boundary off medium pacer Hasan Ali, reaching the milestone off 199 balls. He has so far hit four boundaries. Somerville, at the other end has not added to his overnight score, but defied Yasir Shah to delay the leg-spinner's attempt to become the fastest player ever to take 200 Test wickets. Yasir, who .
Olympics: Samsung extends Olympics sponsorship to 2028 - IOC
BERLIN (Reuters) - South Korea's Samsung has extended its sponsorship contract with the International Olympic Committee by eight years and will remain a top sponsor until the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the world governing body said on Tuesday.
Aaron Finch sustains painful blow in nets ahead of first Test against India
Australian batsman Aaron Finch on Tuesday sustained a painful blow on his right hand after being struck by a bouncer by pacer Mitchell Starc while practicing in the nets ahead of their first Test of the upcoming four-match series against India.The 32-year-old was, however, allowed to continue batting with hand straps on after Australia's team doctor assessed the injury.Talking about the blow, Australia's batting all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, said, "A bit of mayo on that from Finchy."The Australian batsmen sweat hard on the field as they face their quality pacemen in a net session. Marsh said that they have practiced "exceptionally well" and are prepared for the Test series."We've all trained exceptionally well. We've prepared as best we possibly can," Marsh stated.When asked who would be the opening partner for Aaron Finch in the Test series, Marsh said, " I haven't spoken to 'Painey' (Tim Paine). I'm sure we'll find out soon."India and Australia .
Guardiola confident Sane will sign new Man City deal
Pep Guardiola is confident that winger Leroy Sane will sign a new long-term deal with Manchester City despite delays in ongoing contract negotiations between the two parties. The 22-year-old has recovered well from the disappointment of a summer in which he was not selected in Germany's World Cup squad and then returned to England to discover he had lost his starting place under Guardiola. Sane has still only started seven of City's 14 league games this season but four goals in his past five Premier League games suggests he is rediscovering his impressive form of the past two seasons. And even though Sane is yet to join a list of senior stars such as Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Ederson, Gabriel Jesus and Nicolas Otamendi in signing new long-term contracts with the club, Guardiola is convinced that will happen. "I don't have any info about the club, about being in trouble with Leroy," said the City manager, whose side travel to Watford on Tuesday. "The
Inter captain Icardi wins Serie A footballer of year award
Inter Milan's Argentina striker Mauro Icardi won the Serie A Footballer of the Year award at the Gran Gala del Calcio ceremony in Milan on Monday night. The 25-year-old becomes the first player outside Juventus to win the Italian Players' Association award, voted for by his peers, since Zlatan Ibrahimovic with AC Milan in 2011. Icardi was joint top scorer with Lazio's Ciro Immobile in Serie A last season with 29 goals. The Argentine also won the best goal award for his spectacular backheel during a four-goal haul against Sampdoria last March. Icardi disagreed with the choice, insisting his "one (goal) at AC Milan was more beautiful". Juventus were voted top team with Massimiliano Allegri winning coach of the year after the Turin side won a league and Cup double for the fourth consecutive year. "It's a group of great men, with a great club behind us," said Allegri, who has won the award four times. "I'm fortunate to have worked with so many marvellous players and tonight I see the ...
Mourinho aiming to stop rot as Man Utd season unravels
Jose Mourinho needs to lift Manchester United's morale quickly as a deflating run of performances threatens to throw their season off track completely but he faces a daunting task against a revitalised Arsenal. Mourinho's team have not looked themselves at Old Trafford for much of the season, with their past two matches producing an insipid goalless draw against Crystal Palace and an unconvincing late Champions League victory over Swiss side Young Boys. On their travels, they had looked as if they were getting back to form as October turned to November, with the side producing fine displays in drawing at Chelsea and beating Juventus. Yet perhaps those performances were just papering over the cracks. United recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw at Southampton on Saturday and Romelu Lukaku scored his first club goal since September 15 but there was much to be alarmed about. Mourinho claimed his players, with the exception of Marcus Rashford, were meek, lacking the spirit of what he .
Modric sees off French stars to end Messi, Ronaldo grip on Ballon d'Or
Luka Modric saw off competition from a host of French World Cup stars as the Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder won the 2018 Ballon d'Or on Monday, ending the 10-year stranglehold on the award by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Modric, 33, was announced as the winner of the prestigious prize in a glitzy ceremony held in Paris. Ronaldo was second, with France and Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann completing the podium. Paris Saint-Germain's teenage forward Kylian Mbappe came fourth, leaving Messi to settle for fifth position. Another Frenchman, Modric's Madrid teammate Raphael Varane, was seventh, just behind Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah. "As a kid we all have dreams. My dream was to play for a big club and win important trophies," Modric said. "The Ballon d'Or was more than just a dream for me and it is really an honour and a privilege to hold this trophy." Mbappe, who does not turn 20 until later this month, picked up the consolation prize of the Kopa Trophy
Women's Ballon d'Or winner shuts down 'twerk' demand made by presenter
It was a historic moment for women's football as Ada Hegerberg of Norway became the first woman to be awarded a Ballon d'Or but the moment was dampened when presenter DJ Martin Solveig asked the footballer to twerk.Hegerberg responded with a swift 'no' to the request before leaving the stage, immediately.Later, Solveig took to his official handle and apologised for what he called was a misunderstood situation."Sincere apologies to the one I may have offended. My point was: I don't invite women to twerk but dance on a Sinatra song. Watch the full sequence. People who have followed me for 20 years know how respectful I am especially with women," Solveig wrote on Twitter.He later followed up by tweeting, "I explained to Ada Hegerberg the buzz and she told me she understood it was a joke. Nevertheless my apologies to anyone who may have been offended. Most importantly congratulations to Ada."Speaking about the incident, Hegerberg admitted that Solveig did come to her afterward and was ...