Page 910 - Sports
Burns fifty thrusts England into crucial lead
Opener Rory Burns hit his maiden Test half-century to give England a crucial 85-run second-innings lead against a persistent Sri Lankan spin attack in the second Test on Friday. The left-handed Burns, playing just his second international match, made 59 off 66 deliveries before being trapped lbw off Malinda Pushpakumara on day three in Kandy. Spinners led by Dilruwan Perera struck regularly in the morning session as England took lunch on 131 for four. Skipper Joe Root, on 26, and Jos Buttler, on 14, were batting at the break. Perera wasted little time in sending nightwatchman Jack Leach back to the pavilion for one in just the second over of the day. Burns then put together 73 runs for the second wicket with Keaton Jennings, who made 26, to steady the innings and help England overcome their 46-run deficit. Burns got to his 50 with a boundary off Akila Dananjaya, to a rousing ovation from the travelling English fans. But he fell soon after and new man Ben Stokes was then out for ...
Du Plessis urges Australia to keep the aggression
Australia have clearly toned down their sledging since a ball-tampering scandal broke, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said Friday, but urged them not to totally sacrifice their confrontational approach. Coach Justin Langer and Test skipper Tim Paine have both pledged to change the win-at-all-costs culture that was rampant when Australian players tried to cheat in Cape Town this year. Their attempt to alter the ball with sandpaper rocked the game, led to bans for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft and saw a clean-out of executives at Cricket Australia. Du Plessis, who has just led the Proteas in three one-dayers against Australia, said there had been a marked change in their on-field behaviour and the baiting of opposition players had receded. "The series in South Africa (earlier this year) was like that, especially that first Test in Durban. It was a feisty one," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off Twenty20 on Saturday. "Then comparing that to now, you can see ...
Under Harmanpreet Kaur's captaincy, team India have a superb opportunity (Comment)
For a country thats as cricket-crazy as India is, its amazing (read "really really unfortunate"), that the womens game, up until very recently, has got such little attention.
PSL franchise replaces Afridi with Akram
Pakistan's flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi parted ways with the Pakistan Super League franchise, Karachi Kings, but has been promptly replaced by a bigger name in world cricket, Wasim Akram. Afridi has left Karachi Kings after serving as their president and player for just one season. The reason being given for his departure is that the KK owner, Salman Iqbal, asked him to disassociate himself with the T10 league in the UAE. But Afridi refused and left the franchise, after which Iqbal approached Wasim Akram, who was associated with the PSL franchise, Multan Sultans, last season. "Soon after the Pakistan Cricket Board announced that it had terminated its agreement with Multan Sultans because of payment issues, Iqbal approached Wasim who agreed to join KK as their president," one official said. Interestingly Akram has made it clear he would also keep his partnership with the T10 league intact as he serves as their talent hunt director and also as coach of the Maratha Arabians ...
Insigne in spotlight as Italy look to bury World Cup demons in San Siro
Lorenzo Insigne will be in the spotlight as Italy return to the San Siro for Saturday's Nations League clash against the European champions Portugal 12 months after their dramatic failure to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time in 60 years. Relegated to the bench by former coach Gian Piero Ventura for the entire second leg of the play-off lost to Sweden, the Napoli winger did not play a direct role in Italy's humiliating exit. A year on and the versatile 27-year-old has become an integral part of the new Italy side being built by coach Roberto Mancini, which is fighting for a place in the Nation's League semi-finals. Insigne has started five of the seven games Mancini has overseen -- two wins against Saudi Arabia and Poland and three draws. "It hurts to think about it. More than the bench that evening, it hurts me to think that didn't qualify," said Insigne. But despite his goal-scoring form with Napoli -- seven in 12 league games this season -- Insigne has struggled to
Greece wants to host World Cup with Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia
Greece invited Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia to meet on November 23 to discuss jointly hosting the 2030 World Cup. Greek Deputy Culture Minister Giorgos Vassiliadis on Thursday called on his counterparts from the three countries and the four football federations to meet to discuss the plan. The 2030 World Cup is scheduled to include 48 teams, meaning few nations could host it alone, and the joint bid could face stiff competition. There are already two potential three-nation joint bids -- one from Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay in South America and another from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in Africa. England has announced that it will bid and plan to hold talks with the three other UK football federations as well as Ireland about the possibility of holding the World Cup.
Djokovic, Federer back new ATP Cup men's team event
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have backed a new men's team competition just a day after the Serbian raised concerns over the timing of the event, which will take place shortly after the revamped Davis Cup. The ATP Cup, announced by the ATP and Tennis Australia on Thursday during the ATP Finals in London, will be played from 2020 across three Australian cities over 10 days in the lead-up to the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, which starts in January. It will offer USD15 million (13.25 million euros) in prize money and up to 750 ATP Rankings points to the winners. "I like that it's owned by ATP, by the players, and that we have ranking points, and it's going to be the best way to kickstart the season," said world number one Djokovic. "More than 90 percent of the time we're playing as individuals and we don't have too many team events." Federer was upbeat about the new event and said the Davis Cup would not suffer. "Clearly if the World Team Cup is going to be held,
Deschamps wary of resurgent Dutch and dynamo De Jong
France coach Didier Deschamps admitted that the world champions were not underestimating a reborn Netherlands team as his side set their sights on the semi-finals of the Nations League. The French need just a point from their final match -- in Rotterdam on Friday -- to ensure a place in the knockout stages, and former France midfielder Deschamps picked out Frenkie de Jong as the key to the Dutch revival under Ronald Koeman after failing to qualify for the summer's World Cup. "We tend to praise attacking players, but there is one that impresses me and that's the young De Jong in midfield, with his intelligence, his ability to bring the ball out and get it forward," said Deschamps on Thursday. France are unbeaten and top of Group 1 in League A after three games, four points ahead of second-placed the Netherlands, who still have two matches left to play. Koeman's side hammered Germany 3-0 last time out and were only narrowly beaten at the Stade de France in September. They also impressed
Neymar ready to act as mentor to Richarlison
Brazil captain Neymar has revealed he is acting as a mentor to rising Everton star Richarlison. Richarlison has won a place in the Brazil squad this season after impressing for Everton following his transfer from Watford. The 21-year-old has scored twice in his first four appearances for the Selecao and will feature in their friendly against Uruguay at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Friday. Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar, who has hit 59 goals in 94 caps, has been impressed by Richarlison's emergence and is taking the youngster under his wing. "Everybody knows that Richarlison is a really great player and a really nice guy," Neymar told reporters on Thursday. "He has this trick to solve matches, to play well in great matches as he is doing now for Everton. "I expect him to grow up, to keep developing in his career. "I hope I can help him to achieve his goals and to help inside the pitch and even outside the pitch, as a friend, as a colleague. "And if he is as smart as he is showing .
Croatia stun Spain as Jedvaj strikes twice to keep hopes alive
Spain passed up the chance to seal progress to the Nations League finals as they were beaten 3-2 by Croatia, undone by a 93rd-minute winner from Tin Jedvaj. Jedvaj's late strike leaves Group 4 wide open ahead of its final fixture between England and Croatia on Sunday. The victors will qualify, while Spain can still go through if the match at Wembley finishes in a draw. Croatia were deserving winners in Zagreb, where Jedvaj scored twice -- his first international goals -- to snatch a memorable victory at the end of a pulsating contest. Andrej Kramaric had put Croatia ahead but twice Spain came back, as Dani Ceballos' equaliser and Sergio Ramos' penalty looked to have earned them a point, before Jedvaj prodded in deep into injury-time on Thursday. Croatia will now head to London with a spring in their step while Spain are left to ponder back-to-back defeats under their new coach Luis Enrique, following their surprise loss by the same scoreline at home to England last month. "I am ...
Future bright for England as youngsters beat USA on Rooney farewell
Wayne Rooney believes the future is bright for England as a youthful Three Lions eased past the United States 3-0 at Wembley on his international swansong. Jesse Lingard, Trent Alexander-Arnold and debutant Callum Wilson grabbed the goals in a dominant England display despite Gareth Southgate fielding a very inexperienced side on Thursday. Should England avenge their heartbreaking World Cup semi-final defeat by Croatia on Sunday at Wembley, Southgate's men can build on the progress made by surpassing expectations in Russia this summer by qualifying for the semi-finals of the inaugural Nations League. "It's my opinion that England are in very safe hands from what I've seen this week," said Rooney. "The way they are being coached is brilliant, it's a great group of young players who have a bright future. "They will go close to being the next team to bring a trophy back for England." The decision to honour Rooney with a first cap for two years divided opinion. However, the biggest cheer .
ICC Women's WorldT20: Indian ride spinners' show to beat Ireland and make semis (Roundup)
India rode their spinners' good show to beat Ireland with a comfortable 52-run margin and enter the semi-finals of the ICC Women's World T20 at the Providence Stadium here on Thursday.
167 against Australia gave me confidence: VVS Laxman
While the epic inning of 281 against Australia at Eden Gardens is what defines V.V.S. Laxman, but it is knock of 167 against the same team at Sydney which is close to the heart of the former Indian cricketer.
India beat Ireland by 52 runs to enter semi-finals
India beat Ireland by 52 runs to enter the semi-finals of the ICC Women's World T20 on Thursday. Batting first, India scored 145 for six with Mithali Raj scoring 51 off 56 balls and Smriti Mandhana supporting with 33 off 29 balls. In reply, Ireland could manage only 93/8 in 20 overs as Deepti Sharma got 2 fo 15 in 3 overs. Radha Yadav picked 3/25 in 4 overs.
PKL 6: U Mumba end home leg on perfect note, hammer Tamil Thalaivas 36-22
U Mumba ended their home leg on a happy note after they thrashed Tamil Thalaivas 36-22 in an inter-zonal clash of the ongoing Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) at the NSCI stadium here on Thursday.
Want to build my own legacy, says Birla son Aryaman
Son of Kumar Mangalam Birla, among the top 10 richest Indians, 21-year-old Aryaman, who plays for Madhya Pradesh in first class cricket, on Thursday said he wants to make a name for himself on his own.
IPL: KKR release Curran, Johnson ; Nagarkoti retained
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Mitchell Johnson, Tom Curran, Cameron Delport and Javon Searles ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction for the next season, the franchise announced on Thursday.
Favourites prevail on 1st day of women's boxing worlds
Pre-tournament favourites enjoyed easy outings even as the bout between Staridsman Anja of Australia and Cordero Hernanadez of Columbia in the lightweight category turned out to be the best on the opening day of the AIBA Womens World Boxing Championships here on Thursday.
ICC Women's WorldT20: Mithali half-ton lifts India to 145/6 vs Ireland
Former skipper Mithali Raj once again came to India's rescue with a fluent half century to help the women-in-blue post a below-par 145/6 against Ireland in their third match of the ICC Women's World T20 at the Providence Stadium here on Thursday.
Hong Kong Open: Sindhu knocked out by Ji Hyun
Ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu crashed out of the ongoing Hong Kong Open after being defeated by Sung Ji Hyun of South Korea in the women's singles event here on Thursday.The 23-year old stumbled to a 24-26, 20-22 defeat in a closely fought contest to miss the quarter-final spot of the tournament.In a grueling match, the South Korean shuttler won a total of 48 rallies to race ahead of Sindhu.Making an aggressive start to the match, Ji Hyun made her intentions quite clear having gained a four-point lead making it 6-2 in the opening game. The Indian shuttler, however, made a strong comeback with some strong rallies. After trailing for most part of the match, Sindhu leveled the score at 20-20.Despite saving the game point for three times in the first game, Sindhu ultimately stumbled to a 24-26 defeat.The second game started in a similar fashion as the first one, with South Korean shuttler taking the initial lead. Maintaining a consistent lead of two points, Ji Hyun gave some tough time to