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FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2021 IndiaI beat England inside two days TheT result went our way but the quality of batting wasn’t at alla up to standard by both teams. There was a lack of applicationa from both sides. Our bowlers were much more eeffective and that’s why we got the result.

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FIVB BEACH VOLLEYBALL WORLD TOUR: Ahmed Tijan/Cherif Younousse beat Daniil Kuvichka/Anton Kislytsyn 2-0 (22-20, 21-13)

Football giants Al Sadd, Al Duhail vow top show in title clash Stage set for thrilling Qatar Cup final FAWAD HUSSAIN “The two teams are THE PENINSULA undoubtedly looking forward to winning the title. Both teams are Reigning champions Al Sadd and We have to admit that the We are fully ready to play among the best in Qatar. We must QNB Stars League (QSL) winners final will be very difficult as the final. I hope the team work to avoid mistakes and pay Al Duhail will face off in Qatar Cup Al Duhail have begun to presents a great level attention to details to achieve the final today, promising thrilling gradually return to their top during the final, so we can desired goal, which is winning the action in a battle of arch-rivals level. They are clearly win the title. The final is Qatar Cup,” Lamouchi said seeking first silverware of the presenting good levels in one game that separates yesterday. on-going football season. “The strength of Al Sadd in the the league. They also The match of the heavyweights the winners and losers, and recent matches cannot be denied. is expected to produce electrifying played well in the FIFA I repeat cup matches are But I have told my players to contest at Al Duhail Stadium, with Club World Cup and completely different from focus more in order to achieve kick off set for 4:45pm. Amir Cup: Al Sadd’s the league: Al Duhail's victory,” he added. Although seven-time cham- Hassan Al Haydous Almoez Both the teams reached the pions Al Sadd – who dethroned Al Ali final after hard-fought wins in the Duhail with a 4-0 thrashing in last semi-finals. Al Duhail edged Al year’s final – are favourites in the Gharafa 2-1 while Al Sadd title clash, Al Duhail are rated overcame Al Rayyan 1-0. In case among the only few sides which Al Sadd's coach Al Duhail's coach of a tie in 90 minutes, the winners have the potential to bring an end Xavi Hernandez Sabri Lamouchi will be decided through penalties to Al Sadd’s unbeaten run this as there will be no extra-time in season. the game. The Wolves under coach Xavi likely to get an upper hand. However, Sadd coach said at a pre-final press con- – Al Sadd have enough firepower with “I think going directly to pen- Hernandez are in outstanding form, Xavi, whose side won a QSL thriller ference yesterday. the likes of Baghdad Bounedjah, alties in case of a tie (in regular time) with only one victory separating them against Al Arabi on Monday after “We are also stronger even though Cazorla, Rodrigo Tabata and Nam is very good. from the QSL title. stoppage time goal by Santiago Cazorla, Al Duhail are one of the best teams in Tae-Hee still available. This helps players avoid suffering They have 47 points, 13 points ahead is confident of a victory against The Red Asia and recently signed professional Coached by Sabri Lamouchi, Al from fatigue especially when there is of second-placed Al Duhail, with five Knights. players of the highest level. We are at Duhail possess top stars in Almoez Ali, pressure of playing many matches,” rounds to spare. “Al Duhail are one of the best teams our best. We are at the top of our Michael Olunga, Eduardo Rodrigues said Lamouchi. But the QSL record will count less in Qatar. Both teams have very high- physical conditioning,” he added. ‘Dudu and Paulo Edmilson, and the Al Duhail’s last Qatar Cup triumph in today’s final and the team with more level players and from my point of view, Despite the absence of star striker Frenchman believes by avoiding mis- came in 2018 when they beat Al Sadd composed effort in the crunch tie is Al Sadd are better than Al Duhail,” Al Akram Afif – serving a two-match ban takes, The Red Knights can beat Al Sadd. 2-1 in the final. Philippaerts guides H&M Legend Of Love to big win

RIZWAN REHMAT S1: INT. JUMPING COMPETITION IN TWO PHASES SPECIAL (1.45M) THE PENINSULA TABLE A, FEI ART. 274.2.5 - CSI5* Rank, Competitor (Horse/Rider, Nation) Result Prize Money Belgian rider Olivier Philippaerts 1. Safari d'Auge/Julien Epaillard (FRA) 32.19 sec €6,350 yesterday produced a flawless 2. Carlotta/Henrik von Eckermann (SWE) 33.06 sec €5,080 routine with H&M Legend Of Love 3. Hansson WL/Peder Fredricson (SWE) 33.34 sec €3,810 to win the feature event on day one of the Commerial Bank CHI Al S2: INT. JUMPING COMPETITION AGAINST THE CLOCK (1.50/1.55M) Shaqab Presented by Longines. Table A, FEI Art. 238.2.1 - CSI5* Maintaining superb control over Rank, Competitor (Horse/Rider, Nation) Result Prize Money narrow lines, the 27-year-old 1. H&M Legend of Love/Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) 60.61 sec €23,725 remained steady with his 15-year- 2. Hello Vincent/Scott Brash (GBR) 60.85 sec €18,980 old horse who clocked a time of 60.61 seconds to emerge faster than 3. Coby 8/Philipp Weishaupt (GER) 61.07 sec €14,235 second-placed Scott Brash of Great Britain. PARA DRESSAGE Brash, astride Hello Vincent, also FEI TEAM TEST - GRADE I - CPEDI3* impressed yesterday during his 1. Ana Isabel Mota Veiga (POR); Convicto; 70.714%; 65.714%; 66.071%; routine watched by cheering fans at Total Score: 67.500%; €330 Longines Arena at Al Shaqab. 2. Magdalena Cycak (POL); Sybilla; 67.857%; 62.857%; 66.429%; Omar Al Mannai, Event Director of Commercial Bank CHI Al Shaqab, and Bader Al Darwish, Secretary-General Hello Vincent, the 11-year-old 65.714%; €250 of Qatar and Asian Equestrian Federations and CHI Al Shaqab Organising Committee Member, posing for a stallion, looked in pristine running FEI TEAM TEST - GRADE II - CPEDI3* photograph with the podium winners of the CSI5* 150/155cm event, Olivier Philippaerts, Scott Brash and form (60.85 seconds) as the Briton 1. Pepo Puch (AUT); Sailor's Blue; 76.515%; 74.394%; 77.424%; Total Philipp Weishaupt yesterday. picked up €18,980 for his efforts. Score: 76.111%; Prize: €330 First-placed Philippaerts, twin 2. Annemarieke Nobel (NED); Doo Schufro; 65.758%; 67.727%; 72.121%; brother of Nicola Philippaerts, yes- Julien Epaillard TODAY'S SCHEDULE competitions at Longines Arena 68.535%; €250 terday won €23,725 on what was the and his 15-year- at Al Shaqab . FEI TEAM TEST - GRADE III - CPEDI3* opening day of the three-day event old ride Safari The day’s proceedings will 1. Rixt van der Horst (NED); Findsley N.O.P.; 76.176%; 76.471%; 72.353%; held at this time of the year. d’Auge exhibited commence with Longines 75.000%; €330 The third-fastest time of 61.07 no rustiness to Hathab Series round (Small 2. Maud de Reu (NED); Webron N.O.P.; 74.559%; 71.618%; 75.882%; seconds was clocked by German clinch the Tour, 1.15m) at 9:00am followed 74.020%; €250. rider Philipp Weishaupt who accom- opening CSI5* by the Para-Dressage CPEDI 3* FEI TEAM TEST - GRADE IV - CPEDI3* panied Coby 8 for the 1.55m compe- competition in at the Indoor Arena. 1. Rodolpho Riskalla (BRA); Don Henrico; 75.500%; 77.875%; 76.000%; tition staged in chilly conditions. which Swedish The Longines Hathab Belgian Pieter Devos (Jade VD riders dominated Medium Tour (1.35m) will start 76.458%; €300 Bisschop, 61.58 seconds, €9,490) proceedings and at 1:00pm while Dressage CDI 2. Lotte Krijnsen (NED); Rosenstolz; 74.625%; 70.750%; 72.250%; French rider Olivier Robert (Vivaldi grabbed the 5* will begin at 3:00pm. 72.542%; €250 des Meneaux, 62.12 seconds, €6,643) second and third The day’s last two events - 3. Tessa Baaijens-Van-De Vrie (NED); Happy Grace; 68.375%; 70.375%; completed the top five. spots respectively. The top-class action continues both CS5 * competitions - will see 68.500%; 69.083%; €200. Philippaerts was thrilled with his Safari d’Auge clocked 32.19 today with national and interna- riders in action in 1.50m and 1.60m FEI TEAM TEST - GRADE V - CPEDI3* first performance. seconds in the second phase of the tional riders set to be seen in various classes. 1. Valentina Strobl (AUT); Bequia Simba; 72.907%; 69.419%; 71.977%; “If you look at the start list, you 1.45m competition as Epaillard won 71.434%; €330. know that you have to ride fast if you €6,350 for his brilliant form in the 2. Amelia White (AUS); Genius; 68.023%; 67.442%; 68.256%; 67.907%; want to play a role of importance. I 39-entry field. €250. didn’t let that distract me and wanted Sweden’s Henrik Von Eck- 3. Tamsin Addison (IRL); Donna Siesta; 67.674%; 66.279%; 68.023%; to ride my own round. It’s super that ermann, astride 9-year-old Car- 67.326%; €200. we can start again at the highest level lotta, finished second in a time of here at this location. So I didn’t want 33.06 seconds. Von Eckermann won LONGINES HATHAB: DRESSAGE - PRELIM (LEVEL 2) TEST 2E to come to the start here unpre- €5,080 while his compatriot and Rank, Competitor (Horse/Rider, Nation) Result pared,” Philippaerts said. World Number 4 Peder Fredricson 1. Leslie Ann 2/Asmaa Yaser Mohammed (QAT) 67.708 % “In January, I rode in Oliva to get ended in third place with Hansson 2. Amber/Joanna Hockly (GBR) 63.958 % my horses optimally ready for the WL (33.34 seconds). Fredricson, a 3. Special Edition 19/Marie Albane Charlotte Bensussan (FRA) 63.541 % outdoor season and I seem to have Swedish Olympic medalist, won succeeded pretty well. My horses €3,810. French rider Penelope Lep- already have some competitions in revost (Verite Une Prince, 33.40 LONGINES HATHAB: DRESSAGE - MEDIUM (LEVEL 1) TEST 1E their legs and are in the rhythm. That seconds, €2,540) and Belgium’s Jos Rank, Competitor (Horse/Rider, Nation) Result certainly made a difference today,” Verlooy (Fabregas, 33.41 seconds, 1. Monopoly/Jassim Al Jaham Al Kuwari (QAT) 62.804 % Olivier Philippaerts guiding H&M 2. Rythm/Maryam Ahmed Alsemaitt (QAT) 62.073 % the 27-year-old added after the race. €1,778) secured the fourth and fifth Legend of Love over an obstacle. Earlier yesterday, French rider spots respectively. 3. Wait and See Ze/Maha Matar Al Kuwari (QAT) 57.073 % Sport FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2021 15

FIVB World Tour: Ahmed, Rashid wins Cherif through to semis bronze at ISSF Shotgun World Cup Qatar'sQ 'k' skeetk shooterh Rashid Saleh Hamad in action. Rashid yesterday won the bronze medal in the final of the Men's Skeet at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Cairo, Egypt. Ukraine's Mikola Milchev won the gold with a score of 53 while Denmark's Jesper Qatar's Ahmed Tijan and Cherif Younousse (right) in action during Hansen, one point behind their quarter-final match of the FIVB World Tour - Doha Beach the leader, won the silver. Volleyball Cup at Al Gharafa beach club yesterday. The Qatari Rashid scored 41 points duo, ranked 13th in the world, defeated Daniil Kuvichka, Anton in the final. Kislytsyn of Russia 2-0 (22-20, 21-13) to book a place in today's semi-finals. PSL: Crowds Guptill returns to increased to 50% for form as NZ edge Karachi games Australia in AP — ISLAMABAD

The 14 remaining round-robin matches of the Pakistan Super Dunedin thriller League at Karachi had their attendance increased from REUTERS — WELLINGTON BRIEF SCORES 20% to 50% by the Pakistan New Zealand 219 for 7 (Guptill 97, Board yesterday. Martin Guptill fell short of Williamson 53, Neesham 45*, Kane The decision meant that a third interna- around 19,000 fans could go tional century but his Richardson 3-43) beat 215 for 8

to the National Stadium to see strong return to form (Stoinis 78, Philippe 45, Sams 41, the country’s premier helped New Zealand to a Santner 4-31) by four runs Twenty20 cricket league. four-run win over The government also Australia in the second allowed the board to fill match in Dunedin yesterday. Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to New Zealand extended their lead to 2-0 in the five- its 27,000-seat capacity for match series after their 53-run win in Christchurch. the four play-offs this month. Opener Guptill smashed 97 off 50 balls and shared “We will continue to assess in a 131-run partnership with captain Kane Williamson how the crowds follow and Indian players celebrate during the (53) as New Zealand put 219 for seven on the board implement the (coronavirus second day of third Test in Ahmedabad. and set an imposing chase in front of a sell-out crowd protocols) before we make a PIC COURTESY: BCCI at University Oval. decision on crowd attendances “Outstanding knock from Martin,” Williamson said. for the Lahore-leg matches,” “The presence he brings at the top of the order along PCB chief executive Wasim with that power game that he has, it was great to see Khan said. that today.” Guptill’s knock ended a run of low scores Day-night Test: India beat after he was out for a duck in Christchurch and made a total of 46 runs in three T20I’s against Pakistan in Shortest December. “I’m a little bit cooked at the moment but it’s nice matches in Test England inside two days to get some runs and another win,” said the 34-year-old. cricket since REUTERS – AHMEDABAD SCOREBOARD “My mind has been clear. Things just haven’t gone ENGLAND 1st innings 112 J. Bairstow b Patel ...... 0 my way.” 1900 India’s Axar Patel claimed an INDIA 1st innings (overnight 99-3) J. Root lbw b Patel ...... 19 While Guptill was relieved, Australia captain Aaron 11- match haul as they beat R. Sharma lbw b Leach ...... 66 B. Stokes lbw b Ashwin ...... 25 Finch’s struggles continued with his dismissal for 12 All 13 matches were completed in two England by 10 inside two S. Gill c Crawley b Archer ...... 11 O. Pope b Ashwin ...... 12 by leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. days. days in the day-night third Test C. Pujara lbw b Leach...... 0 B. Foakes lbw b Patel ...... 8 Finch scored one run in Christchurch and was V. Kohli b Leach ...... 27 J. Archer lbw b Ashwin ...... 0 1912 - Australia beat South Africa by an yesterday, dashing the tourists’ passed over in the auction after hopes of making the final of the A. Rahane lbw b Leach ...... 7 J. Leach c Rahane b Ashwin ...... 9 managing just 179 runs at 13.76 from 13 innings in a innings and 88 runs in Manchester R. Pant c Foakes b Root...... 1 S. Broad ...... 1 inaugural World Test Champi- poor Big Bash League campaign for the Melbourne 1912 - England beat South Africa by 10 R. Ashwin c Crawley b Root ...... 17 J. Anderson c Pant b Sundar ...... 0 onship (WTC) in June. W. Sundar b Root ...... 0 Total (30.4 overs, all out) ...... 81 Renegades. wickets in London On a viciously turning track, A. Patel c Sibley b Root ...... 0 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-19, 4-60, 5-56, 6-66, 7-68, 9-80, 10-81 New Zealand’s bowlers looked set to wrap the 1921 - Australia beat England by 10 England were shot out for 81 in the I. Sharma not out ...... 10 Bowling: Patel 15-0-32-5, Ashwin 15-3-48-4, Sundar 0.4-0-1-1 match up quickly when Mitch Santner (4-31) reduced wickets in Nottingham second innings, their lowest ever J. Bumrah lbw b Root ...... 1 INDIA 2nd innings (target 49) Australia to 113 for six, having both Ashton Agar and 1931 - Australia beat West Indies by an total against India, who had suf- Extras (b2, lb2, w1) ...... 5 R. Sharma not out ...... 25 Mitchell Marsh out for ducks in consecutive balls. Total (53.2 overs, all out) ...... 145 S. Gill not out ...... 15 innings and 122 runs in Melbourne fered their own first-innings col- But (78) and Daniel Sams (41) lapse on a chaotic day at the Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-34, 3-98, 4-114, 5-115, 6-117, 7-125, Extras (b8, lb1) ...... 9 threatened to steal the match as they attacked the short 1936 - Australia beat South Africa by an 8-125, 9-134, 10-145 Total (7.4 overs) ...... 49 Narendra Modi Stadium. boundaries with gusto in a quickfire 92-run innings and 184 runs in Johannesburg Bowling: Anderson 13-8-20-0, Broad 6-1-16-0, Archer 5-2- Did not bat: C. Pujara, V. Kohli, A. Rahane, R. Pant, W. Chasing 49 for victory in the 24-1, Leach 20-2-54-4, Stokes 3-0-19-0 (w1), Root 6.2-3-8-5 Sundar, R. Ashwin, A. Patel, J. Bumrah, I. Sharma partnership. 1946 - Australia beat New Zea- spin-dominated, low-scoring ENGLAND 2nd innings Bowling: Leach 4-1-15-0, Root 3.4 0 25-0 Australia needed 15 runs off the last over but James land by an innings and 103 runs in Wel- contest, India overwhelmed the Z. Crawley b Patel ...... 0 Toss: England Neesham had Sams caught in front of the deep mid- lington target without losing a wicket to go D. Sibley c Pant b Patel...... 7 Result: India won by 10 wickets wicket boundary with the first ball. 2000 - England beat West In- 2-1 up in the four-Test series. Stoinis needed a six and a four in two balls to win dies by an innings and 39 runs in Leeds The hosts need a draw in the tourists back into the contest by Patel went on to claim 5-32, the game but was caught slogging to long-on as Aus- final Test, also in Ahmedabad from bowling out India for 145. England, while Ravichandran Ashwin dis- tralia finished 215 for eight. 2002 - Australia beat Pakistan March 4, to reach the WTC final. however, suffered a second batting missed four batsmen en route to The series continues in Wellington on March 3. by an innings and 198 runs in Sharjah If India lose the fourth Test, collapse to allow the hosts to take reaching 400 Test wickets. 2005 - South Africa beat Zimba- Australia will play New Zealand in charge again. Left-arm spinner Patel was bwe by an innings and 21 runs in Cape the June 18-22 contest. Earlier, resuming on 99-3, India named man-of-the-match for his Town “The result went our way but looked on course for a handy first- 11-70 in his second test. Martin Guptill poses for a photo after 2005 - New Zealand beat Zim- the quality of batting wasn’t at all innings lead but Root (5-8) and England lasted 30.4 overs with up to standard by both teams,” Leach (4-54) wreaked havoc with all 10 batsmen falling to spin. receiving his Player babwe by an innings and 294 runs in home captain Virat Kohli said. the pink ball. “A week like this does not Of The Match award. Harare “There was a lack of application Rohit Sharma top scored for define us as a team,” Root said, PICTURE COURTESY: 2017 - South Africa beat Zimba- from both sides. India with 66 but the hosts lost their lamenting how his side failed to @BLACKCAPS bwe by an innings and 120 runs in Port “Our bowlers were much more last seven wickets for 31 runs. capitalise on a decent start in the Elizabeth effective and that’s why we got the Patel had claimed six of the 10 first innings after winning a crucial 2018 - India beat Afghanistan result.” English wickets in the first innings toss. by an innings and 262 runs in Bengalu- England had been on the back and the left-arm spinner returned “We just didn’t capitalise on it. foot since being skittled out for 112 to haunt them with a two-wicket When you get into that sort of ru in their first innings at the world’s first over. position, you really want to make 2021 - India beat England by 10 largest cricket stadium. Ben Stokes (25) and Root (19) it count. Had we got 250 on that wickets in Ahmedabad Yet Joe Root and Jack Leach offered hints of a partnership wicket, that could have been a shone with the ball to drag the before they fell in successive overs. really good score.” World No.2 Nadal pulls out of Rotterdam Open with back issue

REUTERS – LONDON statement. As most of the fans not to play this upcupcomingoming Tsitsipas last week. Meanwhile, Rogers had an extended rally in know, I sufferedd some bacbackk week.” Nadal has not playplayeded in Coco Gauff and Jil Teichmann the ninth game of the third set, World number two Rafa Nadal problems in AustraliaAustralia Rotterdam since 2009,2009, and Once I got back to Spain I advanced to the Adelaide Inter- which Gauff won after setting (pictured) has withdrawn from that startedd in worldworld nnumberumber tthreehree DDaniilaniil visited my doctor and national semifinals on Thursday up game point with a cross- next week’s Rotterdam Open Adelaide andd concon-- MedvedevMedvedev will replacereplace him together with my team after three-set wins on the court return. due to a back injury, the tinued duringg Mel-Mel- asas the toptop seed at toutour-r- they’ve advised not to play Memorial Drive hard courts. Gauff will next face second- Spaniard said yesterday. bourne. We foundound a nament,nament, whichwhich will runrun The 16-year-old Gauff beat seeded Belinda Bencic, who The 20-time Grand Slam temporary solutionolution fromf MMarcharch 1-7.1-7. this upcoming week. Shelby Rogers 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, and beat Storm Sanders 6-2, 6-4. winner has been struggling with that allowed meme to playplay DespiteDespite thethe Teichmann defeated Anastasija Teichmann had five match a back issue since the build-up without pain in the injury, Nadal diddid Rafael Nadal Sevastova 6-4 ,6-7 (8), 7-5. points in the second-set tie- to the Australian Open and was second week of the not dropdrop a World No.3 Gauff has won five straight breaker against Sevastova but forced to skip Spain’s ATP Cup tournament. set at tthehe matches in Adelaide, including was unable to close it out. The ties earlier this month. “Once I gotot back two in qualifying, since her 23-year-old Swiss player was “It is with great sadness that to Spain I visitedited mmyy Australian Open until the second-round loss to fifth- then forced to save two match I have to forfeit from Rot- doctor and togetherether with quarter-finals, where he was seeded Elina Svitolina at the points while trailing 5-4 in the terdam,” Nadal said in a my team they’veve adviadvisedsed knocked out by Greek Stefanos Australian Open. She and third.