Page 870 - Sports
Sri Lanka's Mendis resists England spin in 3rd Test
Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Mendis hit a defiant 77 to block England's path to a landmark win in the third and final Test on Monday. Chasing a daunting 327 for victory to prevent England scoring a series whitewash, the hosts were 164 for five at lunch on day four. Mendis and Roshen Silva, on 37, were batting. Sri Lanka need another 163 runs to avoid a humiliating third straight defeat in the series. England are looking for their first overseas sweep in a series of three or more Tests since Ted Dexter's England won 3-0 in New Zealand in 1963. Left-arm spinner Jack Leach got the only wicket of the morning session after Sri Lanka resumed on 53-4. Nightwatchman Lakshan Sandakan scored seven before giving Ben Stokes a catch. Mendis, who started the day on 15, has put on 82 runs for the sixth wicket with Silva. Moeen Ali had led England's spin charge in the final session on Sunday, removing the Sri Lankan openers for just 24 runs. Leach and Stokes also took a wicket each on Sunday as Sri Lanka
Madrid, Bayern back in crisis as Champions League resumes
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich return to the Champions League on Tuesday in crisis mode after the latest setbacks in their domestic leagues. Madrid, the three-time European defending champion, was humiliated 3-0 by Eibar in Spain on Saturday. The first defeat for new coach Santiago Solari renews debate over his team's ability to challenge for honors in its first season without Cristiano Ronaldo in nearly a decade. Solari, who started with four wins after replacing the fired Julen Lopetegui, next faces a stern test at Roma. Bayern, which appeared without a serious rival as it clocked up six consecutive Bundesliga titles, is suddenly vulnerable in Niko Kovac's first season in charge. Bayern was held to a 3-3 draw at home by promoted Fortuna Duesseldorf - a relegation candidate - on Saturday, and is already well behind resurgent Borussia Dortmund. A seventh straight title is appearing increasingly unlikely. Kovac has a point to prove when his team hosts Benfica, though a draw will be ...
Hamilton supreme on night of emotional farewells
Lewis Hamilton ended his near-perfect 2018 with a typically assured victory in Sunday's eventful season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix amid topless celebrations and farewells on an emotional evening at the Yas Marina Circuit. The 33-year-old Briton, who reeled off the 11th win of a dominant season that brought him his fifth drivers' world championship ahead of four-time champ Sebastian Vettel, showed off his tattooed torso on the podium amid goodbyes for former foe Fernando Alonso, who retired from F1 after 17 years and 311 GPs. "I really wanted to end the season strong," said Hamilton, who won the F1 championship last month in Mexico. "The team did an exceptional job all year long, and I really wanted, race on, race off, to deliver for them and wanted to end the way that I plan to start next year. That was kind of the new psyche." Hamilton's latest win came after Nico Hulkenberg survived a spectacular accident on the opening lap -- escaping unhurst as flames licked around him while he ..
Laporte set to show France what they are missing in Lyon
Aymeric Laporte may still be trying to win the confidence of France coach Didier Deschamps, but as Manchester City travel to Laporte's homeland to face Lyon on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola's trust in the centre-back is indisputable. Signed for a then club record USD 73 million in January, there was skepticism as to whether City needed to splash out once more for a centre-back after investing more than John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi and the return to fitness of captain Vincent Kompany. On his arrival from Athletic Bilbao, Laporte took time to settle in his new surroundings with all three of his Champions League outings last season ending in defeat. However, having had a full summer under Guardiola's orders in pre-season as he missed out on Deschamps' World Cup-winning squad, Laporte has become the stalwart of a City defence that has conceded just eight goals in 19 games. In an incredibly deep squad with choices aplenty for Guardiola, the 24-year-old is the only outfield player to have ...
Ramos in spotlight again but Madrid need him more than ever
More than hour after the final whistle had sounded on Real Madrid's 3-0 humiliation by Eibar on Saturday, Sergio Ramos began to let rip. Deep in the belly of the tiny 7,083-capacity Ipurua stadium, Ramos said his side's attitude had been off, their intensity lacking. "When you don't match your opponent, you become a vulgar team," he said. It was not the result Real wanted before they travel to Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday, when the winner is likely to go through top of Group G. Then Ramos moved onto the anti-doping allegations published on Friday by German magazine Der Spiegel. The most damaging among them claimed Ramos tested positive for dexamethasone after the 2017 Champions League final and failed to declare it, as is required according to World Anti-Doping Authority regulations. Responding for the first time, Ramos said: "You can tell a lie many times over but it is still a lie." He added: "These types of people try to stain my reputation and my professional ...
Milan coach hits back as Italy's deputy PM slams his game plan
AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso told Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini to focus on politics and not football after criticising his game plan in a Sunday's 1-1 draw against Lazio. "It drives me crazy, with all the issues this country has that Salvini has time to chat about AC Milan," said Gattuso. Salvini, an AC Milan supporter, was in the stands at Rome's Stadio Olimpico during Sunday's game when Argentine Joaquin Correa snatched a last-gasp draw for Lazio. Franck Kessie had put Milan ahead after 78 minutes. "If I had been Gattuso I would have made some substitutions, the players were tired, I don't understand why he didn't change something in the second half," Salvini told Italian television after the match. "We had at least three who were exhausted with the heavy rain and the muddy pitch. Can someone explain this Gattuso stubbornness to me? "When I saw a three-man defence today, I started praying." AC Milan are fifth in Serie A, one point behind Lazio, who occupy the final
Juve pull eight points clear as Napoli held by lowly Chievo
Juventus' bid for an eighth consecutive Serie A title were boosted after title-chasing Napoli's ambitions took a knock with a goalless draw against bottom club Chievo. Carlo Ancelotti's second-placed side needed a win to maintain the six-point gap between them and leaders Juventus, but could not find a way past Chievo in the Stadio San Paulo just days before they host Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League. Napoli are now eight points behind Juventus, who beat SPAL 2-0 on Saturday with goals from in-form Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukic. "There's no point looking at the Serie A table now. We'll look and evaluate at the halfway point," said Ancelotti. Inter Milan are a further point back in third following their comfortable 3-0 win over second-from-bottom Frosinone. Joaquin Correa snatched a last-gasp 1-1 draw with AC Milan for Lazio as both teams lost ground on the top three. The club from the capital are fourth but five points behind Inter, whose local rivals Milan are a ...
Copa Libertadores final postponed again after bus attack
The second leg of the Copa Libertadores final has been postponed for a second time after River Plate fans attacked the Boca Juniors team bus, organizers Conmebol said. Boca said they will petition the South American federation to also punish River following scenes Saturday the club described as "shameful". The match between the Buenos Aires arch-rivals was due to be played at 2000 GMT on Sunday after initially being postponed following the attack near River's Monumental stadium, which left Boca players with injuries from shards of broken glass and suffering the effects of smoke inhalation. "There isn't a level playing field to play the final. That is why Conmebol have taken the decision to postpone the final of the Libertadores and to call a meeting of the presidents of both clubs in Asuncion to find a new date," Conmebol president Alejandro Dominguez said on Sunday. Boca president Daniel Angelici said he would petition the governing body's autonomous disciplinary commission to punish
Sevilla go top of La Liga after narrow win over Real Valladolid
Sevilla moved back to the top of La Liga as they capitalised on the stuttering form of their rivals by beating Real Valladolid 1-0. Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona all failed to win on Saturday as Real were shocked 3-0 by Eibar before Atletico and Barca played out a 1-1 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano. The way was open for Sevilla to take advantage and they made no mistake, Andre Silva continuing his excellent form this season by heading in the winner at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Sunday. "Nobody expected us to be in this position of course," coach Pablo Machin said. "But we are going to fight. We deserve to have all these points and that is why we are first." Hosts Sevilla certainly rode their luck, twice needing VAR to deny Real Valladolid an equaliser, with the first cancellation particularly fortunate. Enes Unal's strike was ruled out as the offside Toni Villa was deemed to be obstructing the goalkeeper's view. Victory puts Sevilla one point above Barcelona at the ...
Croatia beat France, claim Davis Cup title for second time
Croatian tennis player Marin Cilic has defeated France's Lucas Pouille 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-3 to secure his country's second Davis Cup title.
I-League: Churchill stun Mohun Bagan with 3-0 win
Churchill Brothers thrashed Mohun Bagan 3-0 with Trinidad and Tobago striker Willis Plaza scoring a brace in an I-League encounter here on Sunday.
Croatia clinch 3-1 victory over France to win Davis Cup
Marin Cilic beat France's Lucas Pouille in straight sets on Sunday to give Croatia an unassailable lead in the Davis Cup final. Cilic won 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 6-3, to dethrone defending champions France and secure Croatia's second Davis Cup, 13 years after their first. Pouille took Cilic to a tie-break in the first set but could not mount a challenge in the next two, losing in two hours, 19 minutes. Croatia won all three singles matches in straight sets. "It's just a dream weekend, we all dreamed of playing as well all weekend," said Cilic. "We did not even concede a service (in singles)." It was the last final in the traditional format before a radical reorganisation of the venerable competition. "Yes, that makes it special," said Cilic. The victory gives Croatia some revenge for their football team's defeat by France in the World Cup final in July. "We can't wait to be in Zagreb, like the footballers when they came back from the World Cup," said Zeljko Krajan, the Croatia captain. In the ..
Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana named in ICC Women's World T20 squad
Indian women cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, her deputy and left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana and bowler Poonam Yadav have been named in the ICC Women's World T20 2018 team of the tournament.Harmanpreet, who scored 183 runs in the prestigious tournament, has been named as the captain of the ICC Women's World T20 team.Apart from the three Indians who figure in the squad, three players from England, two from Australia and one each from Pakistan, New Zealand, and the West Indies have been named in the playing eleven, which was selected by a selection panel that included three former international players.Harmanpreet is one of the two captains to make it to the squad along with Pakistan's Javeria Khan, while player of the tournament Alyssa Healy of Australia, Mandhana and England's Amy Jones were nominated to bat ahead of her.All-rounders Deandra Dottin of the Windies and Allyse Perry of Australia, and England fast bowler Anya Shrubsole are the seam bowlers in the squad with ...
Champion Hamilton wins Alonso's final GP
New five-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton kept his cool in a incident-filled final Grand Prix of the season on Sunday to claim his 11th win of the campaign in Abu Dhabi. The 33-year-old Briton, who started from his 83rd pole position, came home 2.5 seconds ahead of his main title rival, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, on the day Fernando Alonso bade farewell to F1. Retirement-bound Alonso finished just outside the points positions for McLaren as the two-time champion taking 11th in his 311th and final GP. Hamilton's win came after a race that began with an horrific opening lap crash from which Nico Hulkenberg escaped unhurt despite his Renault car catching ablaze and barrel-rolling into the track-side barriers. Hamilton's victory completed a season of total dominance for the Englishman. "I am so happy right now," he said, before praising Vettel. "I know next year he's going to come back stronger." Vettel responded generously. "He deserves to be champion," ...
Haryana Steelers beat Dabang Delhi 34-27 in PKL
Haryana Steelers put up an accomplished team effort to register a much-needed 34-27 win over Dabang Delhi in a Vivo Pro Kabaddi League Season 6 match here Sunday. Vikas Kandola was the star performer as he scored 10 points and was ably supported by Naveen, who chipped in with five points. Dabang Delhi's Naveen Kumar scored 10 raid points but his effort went in vain as he didn't get enough support from his defence. It was a morale boosting win for Haryana Steelers as they climbed up the table in Zone A. Haryana Steelers got off to a quick start to lead 2-0 after two minutes but Naveen Kumar levelled the match for Dabang Delhi with a two-point raid. It was a quiet first 10 minutes as both the sides seemed to be measuring each other. Haryana Steelers were trailing 5-7 and their star raider Monu Goyat was struggling to put points on the board. Vikas Kandola got the bulk of raid points for Haryana Steelers in the first half. After 15 minutes both the teams were locked in a tight battle ..
Hamilton wins Abu Dhabi GP, Alonso bids farewell
British driver Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) won the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, which saw Spain's Fernando Alonso (Mclaren) bidding farewell to Formula One (F1).
Syed Modi Open 2018: Sameer Verma defends title, Saina lose in summit clash
Ace Indian shuttler Sameer Verma defended his Syed Modi International Super 300 tournament title while it was heartbreak for Saina Nehwal after suffering straight game defeats here on Sunday.
PKL: Haryana Steelers defeat Dabang Delhi 34-27
Haryana Steelers put up an accomplished team performance to register a much-needed 34-27 win over Dabang Delhi in a Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) clash at the Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex here on Sunday.
3rd T20I: Kohli lauds bowlers for victory over Australia
After India defeated Australia by six wickets in the third and the final Twenty20 match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to level the rubber 1-1, skipper Virat Kohli felt his bowlers did a commendable job on a tough wicket.
Jamshedpur beat Chennaiyin 3-1 in ISL
Hosts Jamshedpur FC inflicted a 3-1 loss on defending champions Chennaiyin FC in a Hero Indian Super League (ISL) encounter here on Sunday. Pablo Morgado fired Jamshedpur into the lead (14th minute) before Carlos Calvo doubled their advantage (29th). Raphael Augusto pulled one back in the second half (68th) before Mario Arques (72nd) restored the two-goal lead and ensured all three points for the home side. Cesar Ferrando's men have now climbed to third spot on the points table while Chennaiyin remain ninth. It was Jamshedpur who saw more of the ball in the initial stages at the JRD Tata Sports Complex. They were rewarded in the 14th minute with a delightful strike by Morgado. A free-kick by Carlos Calvo was headed by Mailson Alves and the ball reached to Morgado, who whacked the ball into the back of the net from 30 yards, giving Karanjit Singh no chance whatsoever. They had another chance when Arques headed over from a corner as he was allowed a free header inside the ...