NBA | Page 5 Harden scores 50-point triple-double in Rockets victory Saturday, December 15, 2018 FOOTBALL Rabia II 8, 1440 AH Trophies matter, says GULF TIMES Mourinho ahead of Liverpool clash SPORT Page 3 SECOND TEST Australia happy aft er day one despite India fi ghtback Indian bowlers strike after a century partnership by Harris and Finch as hosts post 277 for six at stumps in Perth AFP Scorecard Perth, Australia AUSTRALIA 1st innings ustralia were pleased M. Harris c Rahane b Vihari 70 with their overall posi- A. Finch lbw Bumrah 50 tion at the end of the U. Khawaja c Pant b Yadav 5 fi rst day of the second ATest against India yesterday, de- S. Marsh c Rahane b Vihari 45 spite several top order batsmen P. Handscomb c Kohli b Sharma 7 failing to capitalise on promising T. Head c Shami b Sharma 58 starts in Perth. A century opening partnership T. Paine not out 16 after captain Tim Paine won the P. Cummins not out 11 toss and elected to bat appeared Extras (b4, lb3, nb1, w7) 15 to lay the foundation for a sizea- ble total on a challenging pitch at Total (for 6 wickets; 90 overs) 277 Test cricket’s newest venue, but Fall of wickets: 1-112 (Finch), openers Marcus Harris and Aar- 2-130 (Khawaja), 3-134 (Harris), on Finch were among a number 4-148 (Handscomb), 5-232 of top order players who couldn’t (Marsh), 6-251 (Head) build the big individual score Bowling: Sharma 16-7-35-2 Australia craved. (nb1), Bumrah 22-8-41-1, Yadav At stumps on a scorching 18-2-68-1 (1w), Shami 19-3-63- day, the home side were 277 for 0 (1w), Vihari 14-1-53-2, Vijay six, with Tim Paine on 16 and 1-0-10-0 Pat Cummins on 11, a crowd of 20,746 braving the heat to be part of history on the fi rst day of Test off the pitch and it followed Har- cricket at the new Optus Sta- ris as he recoiled, fending it to dium. Ajinkya Rahane at fi rst slip. Finch, who made 50 at the top Harris had been there for 141 of the order to ease some of the balls, but his dismissal meant pressure on his spot in the team, Australia had lost three wickets said the Australians were satis- for just 22 runs and surrendered fi ed with their work given the their early advantage. conditions. Australia slumped to 148 for “I thought we batted really four when Peter Handscomb (7) well today,” he said, adding that again fell against a short ball out- the wicket presented “some side off stump, Indian skipper Vi- challenges”. rat Kohli pulling down a scintillat- “The position we are in, we ing one-handed catch in slips from would have taken that at the start the bowling of Sharma (2-35). of the day,” he said. Marsh, dropped by Pant on 24 India dropped two catches and from the bowling of Vahari, and ended the day with concerns of Head steadied the shop with an their own. 84-run stand. Paceman Ishant Sharma brief- However, Marsh became Vi- ly left the fi eld late in the day hari’s second victim, caught at with what team offi cials said was fi rst slip by Ajinkya Rahane. cramp, and their batsmen would India’s Hanuma Vihari (second from right) celebrates with teammates after dismissing Australia’s Marcus Harris (right) on the first day of the second Test in Perth yesterday. (AFP) Head was growing in confi - have been slightly alarmed by dence and was eyeing his fi rst some of the variable bounce. cerned by it. no to think about those aspects vourite Shaun Marsh made 45. to a rare four-pronged Indian made just fi ve, sparring at a short Test century until a rush of blood Recalled batsman Hanuma Vi- Vihari said the game was even- (bounce) too much.” pace attack, the pair backed their ball from Umesh Yadav and get- saw him lash out at a wide de- hari, who picked up two impor- ly poised heading into the second Four Australian batsmen made 3 wickets lost for 22 captain’s call at the toss until ting a thick edge to wicketkeeper livery from Ishant and slice it tant wickets with his part-time day. over 40, but none went on to post Australia started very well, Finch’s luck ran out and he was Rishabh Pant. straight to Mohammed Shami on spin including a sharply rising “The fi rst hour tomorrow is a substantial innings. with Harris and the under-pres- trapped in front by paceman Jas- Harris was dropped at second the third man boundary. delivery which removed Harris, crucial,” he said. Second-gamer Harris led the sure opener Finch putting on 112 prit Bumrah (1-41). slip from the bowling of Mohamed India won the fi rst Test in Ad- admitted it was impossible to ig- “If we can get them out for less way with 70, Finch made 50, for the fi rst wicket. Finch’s dismissal brought Shami on 60, he but added just 10 elaide by 31 runs as they seek nore the variable bounce but that than 320 we are back in the game. Travis Head hit 58 before throw- Despite the pitch having a dis- struggling left-hander Usman more before falling to Vihari (2-53). their fi rst series victory on Aus- their batsmen would not be con- “The important thing for us is ing his wicket away and local fa- tinctly green tinge that appealed Khawaja to the wicket and he Vihari got a ball to rise sharply tralian soil. MOTORSPORT Al-Sulaiti, al-Khelaifi grab Qatar Superstock and QTCC poles again By Sports Reporter lost the front in corner 6, but the day. Abdulla was amazing today Doha crash was small. I feel good with and he got away from all of us. I the bike for the race and ready don’t think I can manage to get for tomorrow as the pain in the 1.5 seconds to beat him tomorrow efending Qatar Super- toe due to last weekend crash de- but I will try my best,” al-Asiri stock 600 champion, creased and I feel much better,” said. Qatar’s Saeed al-Su- said al-Sulaiti. Ibrahim al-Abdulghani had laiti, grabbed the pole Mishal al-Naimi and Nasser some problems with his car in the Dposition of the round 2 at Losail al-Malki will start in third and opening round and didn’t man- International Circuit, and so did fourth place respectively. age to get a good result but this the double winner of the last Qa- In the QSTK Trophy, the fast- weekend, he fi nished in third in tar Touring Car Championship est rider was Qatar’s Sheikh Jas- the qualifying session with a time round, Abdulla al-Khelaifi . sim al-Thani with a lap time of of 2:25.830. Al-Sulaiti was on top in the 2:08.122. Kuwaiti riders Moham- Today, QSTK Race 1 starts at two free practice sessions, and ed al-Zaidan and Ali Abdulhus- Qatar’s Saeed al-Sulaiti (left) and Abdulla al-Sulaiti in action during the 11:30 and Race 2 at 14:30. For managed to do the fastest lap in sain fi nished second and third qualifying session for the Qatar Superstock 600 at Losail International Qatar’s Abdulla al-Khelaifi in action during the qualifying session for QTCC, the fi rst race is scheduled the Superpole in 2:04.024 to lock respectively. Circuit yesterday. the Qatar Touring Car Championships yesterday. at 13:00 and the second race at the fi rst spot in the grid ahead of “I am again the fastest rider in 16:00. Abdulla al-Qubaisi. the QSTK Trophy category and best acceleration I can until the Al-Khelaifi was very satisfi ed and I think that tomorrow I can Newcomer driver, al-Asiri Qatar Superstock 600 and Qa- “In the Superpole, my lap time hopefully tomorrow I can have a end,” Sheikh Jassim said. with the results of the day. “I am go even faster. The competition will start second on the grid as tar Touring Car Championship was very good but in the last good start because the front rid- In the Qatar Touring Car very happy with today’s timings. is getting stronger in each round he managed to clock the time are organised by Losail Circuit three minutes, I went for the last ers have better starts than me. I Championship, al-Khelaifi was It’s the best qualifying I ever had, and I have to build a bigger gap if during the Qualifying time at Sports Club and Qatar Motor lap and in the fi rst sector I was always follow them behind and on pole again with a lap time of best qualifying of the category. I want to stay away from (Ahmed) 2:25.373. and Motorcycle Federation with even faster but unfortunately, I this time I will try to keep the 2:23.037. Still there is some time in the car al-Asiri.” “The car is a little bit better to- Pirelli Qatar as sponsor. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, December 15, 2018 CRICKET FOCUS U19 WORLD CUP ASIA DIV TWO QUALIFIER Agarwal shines as Bangladesh cruise Qatar see off Bhutan By A Correspondent nought as Agarwal weaved his Bangkok magic, giving Qatar their second win in three matches.