Page 929 - Sports
Chennai T20I: India aim clean sweep
India would be aiming to sweep the three-match T20I series against an inconsistent West Indies when the two teams lock horns against each other for the final game at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) here on Sunday.The Indian pace duo Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah and spinner Kuldeep Yadav have been rested for the inconsequential encounter against the Caribbean side. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has added Siddarth Kaul to the Indian squad.On the batting front, opener and stand-in captain Rohit Sharma has shone with the bat, smashing an unbeaten century at the Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Stadium in Lucknow on November 7.However, the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul have been scratchy throughout the series and have not been able to muster runs from their willows.India's bowling department has shown a lot of promise with pacers and spinners, breathing fire and stifling out the West Indian batsmen. Big names such as Kieron Pollard, ...
Ganguly backs Saha, says best stumper in last five-six years
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Sunday said Wriddhiman Saha is the best wicketkeeper to have played for the country in last five-six years.
Injured Saha eyeing comeback by mid or end of December
Out of action for most part of the year due to injury, India wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha on Sunday said he is eyeing a comeback to competitive cricket by the mid or end of December.
Dortmund overpower Bayern in Bundesliga's top clash
Front-runners Borussia Dortmund twice came from behind to beat Bayern Munich 3-2 at the 11th round in Bundesliga.
Red-hot number one Momota wins badminton's China Open
World champion Kento Momota won badminton's Fuzhou China Open on Sunday to add another title to his already spectacular season. Japan's world number one survived a spirited challenge from Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen, defeating the fourth seed 21-13, 11-21, 21-16 in 66 minutes. The 24-year-old Momota collapsed to the court floor and lay on his back exhausted after finally seeing off Chou. Momota has been in scorching form this year, winning the World Championships, the Asia Championships and now four events on the World Tour. His defeat of Chou was a repeat of the Denmark Open final in October, when the explosive Momota similarly prevailed in three games. Momota, who was expelled from the Japanese team for the 2016 Rio Olympics and banned for over a year for visiting an illegal casino, is now set to compete at Hong Kong Open. He is drawn to face ageing former number one Lin Dan of China in his opening match.
Saha eyeing December return in Ranji Trophy
Injured India Test glovsman Wriddhiman Saha is confident of returning to first-class in December having completed his rehabilitation programme after a shoulder surgery in July. "I am feeling much better now. I hope to be back in action by mid-December. I am preparing and training accordingly. Hope my body recovers in time and I'm fit to play (Ranji Trophy). I've started net sessions but I am yet to get match-fit," Saha said during the launch of sports fiction 'Wiki' by noted journalist Gautam Bhattacharya at the East Bengal Tent. It has been an extremely disappointing year for Saha, who was sent home with a hamstring injury after playing the fist Test of the year against South Africa in Cape Town. During the IPL he had injured his thumb, which was believed to be the reason for his missing the Afghanistan Test in June. But later it was revealed that he had a more serious shoulder injury (posterosuperior labral tear) for which he underwent a surgery in United Kingdom. India have picked .
Saha India's best wicketkeeper in last 5-10 years: Ganguly
A shoulder injury has forced Wriddhiman Saha out of action as of now but he has been India's best wicketkeeper in the last five to ten years, reckons former captain Sourav Ganguly. The 34-year-old Saha, who has been India's number one wicketkeeper in Test cricket since MS Dhoni's retirement in December 2014, is undergoing rehab for his shoulder surgery. "He's out of the team for about a year now but I think in the last five to 10 years' he has been India's best glovesman. Hope he recovers soon," Ganguly said. The former captain spoke during the launch of 'Wiki', a sports fiction written by senior journalist Gautam Bhattacharya. The book chronicles the journey of a struggling wicketkeeper and how he makes it big. Young Rishabh Pant has made an impressive start to his Test career and he will take flight for the upcoming Australia tour. Parthiv Patel is also in the squad as a backup to Pant. Saha, who has played 32 Tests and scored 1164 runs including three hundreds, last played in the ..
World T20I: Indian eves to face Pakistan
After a swashbuckling 103 runs from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and a sensational 134-run partnership stitched with batter Jemimah Rodrigues, India defeated formidable New Zealand in their opening fixture of the ongoing first standalone International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's World T20.With a power-packed 34 runs victory to prove that they can go all the way, the Indian women's team will face arch-rivals Pakistan in its second group meeting here on Sunday.India and Pakistan have faced each other 10 times with India winning eight encounters, while the neighbors winning the other two battles. Needing 14 runs in the last over, India lost by one run in 2012, while in a rain-hit match held in Delhi, the team lost by two runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method (DLS) method in 2016.Given the reputation India have built with Harmanpreet's form in becoming the first Indian to score a T20I ton, opener Smriti Mandhana went away cheaply for just 2 runs in the opening match. Mandhana's performance and
Miller, du Plessis plunder tons as South Africa score 320
David Miller and Faf du Plessis plundered centuries in a 252-run stand to power South Africa to 320-5 in the third and final one-dayer against Australia here on Sunday. The pair came together at 55-3 in the 16th over with Miller swatting 139 for his fifth limited-overs century and du Plessis smashing 125 -- his 10th one-day ton. Mitchell Starc, with 2-57, was the best of the Australian bowlers who were ruthlessly taken apart in the later overs. The series is all square with the Proteas winning the opening game by six wickets and Australia snapping their seven-game losing streak to clinch the second by seven runs. South Africa are seeking their first ODI series win in Australia since 2009, while the home team are desperate to keep their momentum going ahead of the arrival of India for a three-format tour. Both sides opted for unchanged line-ups and, after winning the toss and putting the visitors into bat, Australia got a dream start with Quinton de Kock out in the third over. Mitchell
PCB terminates agreement with PSL franchise Multan Sultans
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has terminated its agreement with Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, Multan Sultans over payment issues. Multan Sultans made its debut in the third edition of PSL earlier this year with a bevy of stars which includes captain Shoaib Malik and former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram and Australian Tom Moody on its team management. The PCB said in a statement late on Saturday night that it has terminated the franchise agreement with Schon Properties Broker LLC, the owner of Multan Sultans. "As a result of this termination, all rights in respect of the team have now reverted back to PCB," the statement said. The development will come as a blow to the PSL as since its launch in 2016 the league has enjoyed great credibility in financial matters including payments to players and otherwise. The PCB said the termination was brought about due to the franchisee's inability to meet its financial obligations under the agreement. Schon Properties had purchased the ..
Ruiz and late own goal rescue Napoli in rainy Genoa
Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz and a late Davide Biraschi own goal rescued a 2-1 win for title-chasing Napoli in a rain-hit Serie A game at Genoa. Ivorian Christian Kouame had shocked Carlo Ancelotti's side by opening the scoring after 20 minutes in a match which was suspended for 13 minutes around the hour mark because of torrential rain on Saturday. But substitute Ruiz pulled Napoli level immediately after play resumed, with defender Biraschi piling the misery on the hosts by turning into his own net three minutes from time. Napoli move up into second place, three points behind champions Juventus who travel to AC Milan on Sunday, and three ahead of third-placed Inter Milan who play at Bergamo side Atalanta. "This success is worth even more than three points, because it was achieved on a difficult pitch made heavy by the rain," said Brazilian midfielder Allan. "We won and that's what is important. It gives us peace of mind before the (international) break." Ancelotti's side proved ...
Alcacer fires Dortmund past beleaguered Bayern to maintain Bundesliga lead
Paco Alcacer scored the winner as Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund twice came from behind to beat defending champions Bayern Munich 3-2 and move seven points clear of their third-placed rivals. The result on Saturday piles added pressure on Bayern head coach Niko Kovac, as his side's chances of winning a seventh straight title in his first season in charge took another blow. "We allowed ourselves to be beaten twice on the counter, that shouldn't have happened," said Kovac. "We should have been more compact and unfortunately we lost a game which should have been a draw," he added after Robert Lewandowski had two second-half goals disallowed for offside. Bayern have now been beaten in three of their last six Bundesliga games after defeats by Hertha Berlin and Borussia Moenchengladbach, managing just eight points from the last 21 available. They will drop to fourth in the table on Sunday if RB Leipzig beat Bayer Leverkusen at home. Lucien Favre's Dortmund remain unbeaten and four ...
Atletico need VAR and late winner from injured Godin to beat Bilbao
Diego Godin played on injured for half an hour and then scored a 91st-minute winner as Atletico Madrid twice came from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 3-2 in La Liga. Godin pulled a muscle in the 64th minute on Saturday as Inaki Williams gave Bilbao a 2-1 lead at the Wanda Metropolitano, but Atletico's captain stayed on as they had made all three of their substitutes. Rodrigo headed them level with 10 minutes left, before Godin's close-range finish, initially ruled out for offside, was allowed to stand by referee Jose Sanchez, after consultation with his video assistant referee. It proved a spectacular finale to a pulsating encounter, in which Bilbao led twice after Williams' opener was cancelled out by a long-range strike from Thomas Partey. "During the Williams goal I felt my muscle go," Godin said afterwards. "Simeone told me to stay on up front, in case a corner or a ball came into the area. I tried to help and it worked out well." Simeone added: "It is one of the most exciting ...
Man shot dead in Brazil football violence
A man was shot dead during clashes between rival football fans in Rio de Janeiro, police said.
Spice Girls add new dates to upcoming tour
Iconic girl band Spice Girls have added four new dates to its highly anticipated reunion tour due to "phenomenal demand" from fans.
5 injured in crash of bus carrying Princeton students
Police say a coach bus carrying Princeton University students heading to a football game at Yale has crashed into a building in Connecticut, sending four of them to the hospital with minor injuries. Police say the bus driver was also injured in Saturday's crash in West Haven. The extent of the driver's injuries was not immediately clear. Police say the students who weren't injured were put on another bus to the game. Police say they believe the driver lost control because of a brake issue.
Ghosal to face Zahed Salem in final of squash meet
Top seeded Saurav Ghosal breezed past Todd Harrity of the USA 3-0 in the semifinal to book a summit with Egyptian Zahed Salem of the Kolkata International $30,000 PSA event here on Friday.
Chess: Nakamura jumps to lead on penultimate day
Hikaru Nakamura of the USA recorded three successive wins to jump to the lead with Armenian Levon Aronian on the penultimate day of the Tata Steel Chess India 2018 rapid tournament here Saturday.
PKL: Patna Pirates, Gujarat Fortunegiants notch up wins
Patna Pirates proved too strong for their opponents Bengal Warriors as they romped to a 50-30 win in an enthralling Pro Kabaddi League match here on Saturday. In the second encounter of the day, local side U Mumba suffered a loss against dominant Gujarat Fortunegiants. The Gujarat team held their nerves in the end to win 38-36 in what was a keenly contested match. The Patna team, which was more effective in the both raids and defence, inflicted an all-out, their first in the game to extend their lead to 16-8, with six minutes remaining for the end of the first half at the NSCI complex in Worli. Such was Patnas dominance that they inflicted three all-outs of their opponents in the game to come out triumphant. It was an off day in office for Bengal Warriors as they slumped to their third defeat in nine games. For Patna, Deepak Narwal (13 points) emerged as their hero and was ably supported by 21-year-old captain Pardeep Narwal (11 points) and Jaideep (5 points). Deepak ...
PKL 6: Patna hammer Bengal in East India Derby
Defending champions Patna Pirates roared back again in style as they outclassed Bengal Warriors 50-30 for the second time in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 6 at the NSCI stadium here on saturday.