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Monday, March 14, 2016 TENNIS Jumada II 5, 1437 AH Nadal fi res back GULF TIMES at dope-cover up allegations SPORT Page 10 FA CUP Watford stun Arsenal in FA Cup, Martial saves Man Utd ‘I’ve just arrived in England and to get there is exciting. I’m really happy for the fans... They deserve this kind of day’

Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger reacts in Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal (R) and West Ham his seat during the FA Cup match yesterday. manager Slaven Bilic (2ndL) walk off after the game yesterday.

Adlene Guedioura celebrates scoring the second goal for Watford during their FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal.

AFP London

olders Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup by Watford yesterday, while Anthony Martial’s 83rd-minute goal Hearned Manchester United a 1-1 draw with West Ham United. Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura ended Arsenal’s two-year reign as FA Cup holders as Watford won 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium to join Crystal Pal- ace and Everton in the semi-fi nals. Manchester United looked set to follow Arsenal out of the competi- tion after Dimitri Payet put West Ham ahead with a stunning free-kick at Old Traff ord, but French forward Martial spared manager Louis van Gaal from another wave of unfl attering headlines with a late volleyed equaliser. “Our fantastic run has come to an end on a day where we felt that our performance deserved a win,” said Ar- senal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side replied through substitute Danny Welbeck in the 88th minute. “Credit to Watford, they created Anthony Martial celebrates scoring the equaliser for Manchester United. few chances, but took them all. It’s sad because we gave everything.” a left-wing throw-in to Ighalo, who loss at Liverpool in the fi rst leg of Triumphant in the FA Cup in 2014 turned, held off Gabriel and beat Dav- their Europa League last 16 tie, United and 2015, Arsenal were beaten in the id Ospina with a low shot. welcomed West Ham to Old Traff ord competition for the fi rst time since a needing victory to rekindle their sea- 1-0 fi fth-round defeat by Blackburn PICTURE-PERFECT PAYET son. Rovers in February 2013. The visitors extended their advantage But Slaven Bilic’s visitors created It left them facing the prospect of 13 minutes later in stunning fashion as the better fi rst-half chances, with a trophyless season, with Wenger’s Guedioura met Deeney’s lay-off with a Emmanuel Emenike shooting wide side—booed off at the fi nal whistle— blistering strike that fl ew from his right from Andy Carroll’s lobbed pass and eight points off the pace in the Premier foot into the top-right corner. heading straight at David de Gea from League and 2-0 down to Barcelona Welbeck reduced the arrears in the Aaron Cresswell’s cross. ahead of Wednesday’s Champions 88th minute, fi nishing neatly after a West Ham took the lead in the 68th League last 16 return leg at Camp Nou. one-two with Mesut Ozil, but then minute when French playmaker Payet Wenger named a strong team to for squandered a golden chance to equal- confi rmed his status as one of the the visit of Watford, but despite dom- ise by shooting wide of an open goal players of the season by arcing a pic- inating possession Arsenal struggled from Kieran Gibbs’s pass. ture-perfect 30-yard free-kick over to create chances in the fi rst half, with “I have memories on television the wall and in off the left-hand post. Mohamed Elneny sweeping one eff ort of the old Wembley and watching But with nails being chewed to the over the bar. in Spain and seeing the fi nals of this quick by the home fans, Martial kept Arsenal centre-back Gabriel, mean- competition,” said Watford’s Spanish United in the competition by charging while, was very fortunate to escape manager Quique Sanchez Flores. in to convert Ander Herrera’s right- without even a booking after fl ying “Now it is a new Wembley. I’ve just wing cross with a close-range volley. into a two-footed challenge on Troy arrived in England and to get there is Michail Antonio almost restored Deeney with his studs raised. exciting. I’m really happy for the fans West Ham’s lead in stoppage time, but Watford made the breakthrough and they deserve this kind of day.” De Gea turned his low strike around in the 50th minute as Deeney fl icked Reeling from last Thursday’s 2-0 the post to send the tie to a replay. Gulf Times 2 Monday, March 14, 2016 FOOTBALL

LIGUE 1 ANALYSIS Home dominance leaves PSG looking Ibra nets four as abroad for kicks

AFP gests that PSG are the country’s Paris best supported team, with aver- age crowds of over 46,000 sell- ing out the Parc des Princes. long with the satisfaction The reality, though, is some- stylish PSG seal of reaching the Champi- what diff erent. Many season ons League quarter-fi - ticket holders only turn up for nals last midweek, Paris the biggest games, leaving thou- Saint-GermainA may also have felt sands of empty seats and little of considerable relief at prolonging the once raucous atmosphere the their European adventure. rest of the time. After all, a failure to make it That contrasts with the way four consecutive appearances things used to be, even in the last title in record time in the last eight of Europe’s elite decade when PSG plunged the club competition would have depths of mediocrity. ‘To score nine goals is magnificent. But this is only the first step of the season, it’s not over’ made for a rather anti-climactic Players and offi cials alike have end to the season. expressed frustration at a sup- PSG celebrated winning a fourth port who often only make them- successive French title on Sunday, selves heard to whistle their team their sixth overall, with a 9-0 vic- on the rare occasions when they tory at bottom side Troyes. are not winning, or not winning Laurent Blanc’s team are the well enough. earliest champions in the history “Sometimes the crowd at the of the French game, with eight Parc can be too calm, and some of matches and two months of the the whistles...I don’t understand season remaining. them,” Paris president Nasser al- “We have been top right from Khelaifi had told Le Figaro. the start. I don’t know if we’ll Blanc’s side deserve better, ever manage to repeat such a but there is not much they can performance,” said Blanc this do when opposition teams occa- weekend. sionally rest key players in Paris, Paris will now hope to go and accepting defeat before the game complete a clean sweep of the has begun. domestic trophies for the second PSG are not playing in the year running, with a French Cup same league as the rest of France, semi-fi nal at Lorient and the such a monster have they be- League Cup fi nal against Lille to come since the Qatari takeover come in April. of 2011. That is certainly not to be Talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, sniff ed at, but they measure in possibly his last season in themselves now against the France, has again gone past the continent’s best in the Champi- 30-goal mark, while the arrival ons League, and there will be no of Angel Di Maria and emergence euphoria at winning a league in of Lucas Moura have helped take which their domination has be- PSG to another level at times. come abysmal. But the rest of the continent Before a 2-1 defeat at Lyon looks down on the lack of com- two weeks ago, they had gone a petition in Ligue 1 and an ap- record 36 Ligue 1 games unbeat- pearance in the semi-fi nals of the en since March 2015, and despite Champions League for the fi rst that solitary loss, PSG are on time since 1995 is necessary for course to break their own record PSG to be fully respected abroad. for the highest points total in However, Paris have been France’s top fl ight. quick to stress that their do- These are heady times to be mestic dominance is not all their a supporter of the French capi- fault, with the failings of their tal’s only top-fl ight side, and yet potential rivals also to blame. even they seem to regret the fact “We have done our job. Our their team’s superiority is so em- rivals have not done what they phatic. needed to do against the oth- A quick glance at the French er teams in order to keep up,” league’s attendance records sug- Blanc said.

Paris St Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after a goal against Troyes during their French Ligue 1 match at Stade de l’Aube stadium yesterday. QATAR STARS LEAGUE Reuters league with eight games still to play. Results er’s own goal in the 58th minute securing Paris The championship is the sixth in the PSG’s 24th league win of the season. club’s history and the fastest-ever Ligue 1 Troyes 0 PSG 9 Troyes substitute Lossemy Karaboue victory, breaking the record set by Gerard Nantes 2 Angers 0 was sent off for denying Cavani a goals- 5 Things we learnt our goals from Zlatan Ibrahi- Houllier’s Olympique Lyonnais in 2007, coring opportunity only 10 minutes after movic spurred Paris St Germain who won the title after 33 matches. coming on and the Uruguayan added the to their fourth successive Ligue “We did what we needed to do, partic- Pastore added a second in the 17th eighth goal from the rebound after Dreyer from Round 22 1 title with a 9-0 rout of Troyes, ularly in the second period,” coach Lau- minute after receiving a delicious back- saved his penalty. becomingF the fi rst team to win the cham- rent Blanc told beIN Sports. “From day heel from Ibrahimovic, evading the at- Ibrahimovic took his league tally to Al Wakrah left it late to beat By Sports Reporter pionship after 30 matches. one we’ve wanted to set a rhythm that tentions of two defenders and fi nishing 27 at the death following a devastating Doha Mesaimeer 3-1 with two goals in Ibrahimovic’s sensational nine- would be diffi cult to match. calmly over Matthieu Dreyer. counter attack as PSG completed a mag- the fi nal two minutes to ensure minute hat-trick at the start of the sec- “We did it and we’ve maintained it. We It was 3-0 inside 20 minutes when nifi cent afternoon. all three points. The result has ond half followed goals from Edinson know that no one can match us.” Cavani’s eff ort was saved by Dreyer and “We’ve been winning everything for ere’s what Round 22 of pushed Mauricio Larriera’s team Cavani, Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot. PSG knew that victory over Troyes Rabiot slammed home the rebound to almost four years,” Ibrahimovic told Ca- the Qatar Stars League to ninth in the league, fi ve points Matthieu Saunier’s own goal and further would secure a historic league triumph take the contest fi rmly beyond shambolic nal Plus. “I don’t know how long it will go produced: away from the drop zone. strikes by Cavani and Ibrahimovic com- following Monaco’s 2-2 draw at home to Troyes. on for but I’m making the most of it.” Whilst for Al Ahli, they sur- pleted the biggest away victory in Ligue Reims on Friday, leaving them 22 points Ligue 1 top scorer Ibrahimovic made it Having won a domestic quadruple last H prised Umm Salal 4-2 on Sat- 1 history. behind the leaders having played a game 4-0 in the 46th minute after fi ne inter- season, the Qatari-owned side remain on Kings cause Rayyan upset urday evening. Braces from “To score nine goals is magnifi cent,” more. play with Cavani, then added his 25th of course to better that haul. Many people wouldn’t have Mouchine Iajour and veteran club president Nasser al-Khelaifi told the season and 100th goal in Ligue 1 mo- They have already won the Trophy of given Qatar SC much hope midfi elder Meshal Abdulla mean Canal Plus. 100TH GOAL ments later by burying Angel Di Maria’s Champions and are still in the running against newly crowned QSL that the Bridadeers are up to 10th “But this is only the fi rst step of the The home side started brightly, but Cav- excellent cross. for the French Cup, the League Cup and champions Al Rayyan on Friday and are four points away from season, it’s not over.” ani pounced on a wayward pass from Ibrahimovic completed his sublime the Champions League, having elimi- evening. the drop. PSG moved up to 77 points, 25 clear Saunier to open the scoring in the 13th hat-trick three minutes later after fi ne nated Chelsea in the round of 16 on However Sebastio Lazaroni’s of second-place Monaco, winning the minute, his 13th league goal of the season. work from Layvin Kurzawa, with Sauni- Wednesday. team perhaps pulled off the big- Sailiya ship four goals. gest shock of the round drawing Al Sailiya where comprehen- 0-0 with Joge Fossati’s team. sively beaten 4-0 by Al Gharafa LA LIGA Keeper Mohammed Mubarak on Saturday evening. Interest- was the star of the show for the ingly this is the third time this Kings pulling off a number of season that the Peregrines have fantastic saves in the second half lost 4-0 after suff ering back to to deny Rayyan. back losses by the same scoreline This is the fi rst time that Al to Al Rayyan & El Jaish in the fi rst Rayyan has failed to score in the half of the season. Neville’s Valencia suff er derby QSL season. Even more impressive Before this defeat Sailiya had for Qatar SC is that in the fi rst leg been on a two game winning Al Rayyan crushed them 9-0. streak in the league. This pushed Sebastio Lazaroni will have to Sami Trabelsi’s side to the front rally his troops for their winnable of the chasing pack for the Qa- defeat, Sevilla climb to fi ft h round 23 clash against Al Sailiya. tar Cup places. The QSL’s long- est serving manager will have to AFP Rossi hit the post, whilst Di- Results Inconsistent Arabi come up rally his defl ated side when they Valencia ego Alves made fi ne saves from with the goods take on relegation threatened Deyverson and Zouhair Feddal as Levante 1 Valencia 0 Al Arabi fans have endured a Qatar SC in round 23. Levante dominated the fi rst-half. Sevilla 4 Villarreal 2 inconsistent season under the alencia boss Gary Nev- The second-half was shorter stewardship of Gianfranco Zola, Weiss and Nemeth partnership ille’s troubles contin- on goalmouth action, but de- for every big win against the top blossoming ued as he branded his spite Neville’s pre-match warn- Vicente Iborra fi nished off a teams, like the slender 1-0 win Al Gharafa’s impressive 4-0 side’s performance ing that they had to improve, brilliant counter-attack to give over Lekhwiya there has been a win, underlined the good work V“unacceptable” in losing their Valencia were made to pay once Seville the lead. frustrating result against a lower that Pedro Caixinia has done local derby 1-0 to Levante yes- more for poor defending at set- However, Cedric Bakambu side, take the 1-1 draw with Al since arriving to the Cheetahs in terday. pieces as Rossi swivelled to vol- continued his fi ne form with a Kharaitiyat. Janaury. Gharafa have lost only Meanwhile, Sevilla maintained ley a long-throw into the far double to give Villarreal a 2-1 Thankfully in round 22 Arabi once in six QSL games, since the their hopes of Champions League corner 25 minutes from time. half-time lead. registered a big win, defeating Portuguese tactician took over. football next season with a thrill- Neville also insisted before Victor Ruiz’s own goal restored second placed El Jaish to push Central to this has been the ing 4-2 win over Villarreal. the game that he will fulfi l his parity for the hosts before Yehven on in their quest for a Qatar cup attacking duo of Vladimir Weiss Neville has now won just three duties as an England coach dur- Konoplyanka’s stunning long- place. Two quick-fi re goals in the and Kristian Nemeth. Who have of 15 La Liga games in charge with ing a 10-day international break range strike regained the lead. fi rst half from Paulinho & Ashkan both chipped in with 6 goals col- Valencia rooted in mid-table me- later this month. Sevilla had to see out the fi nal Dejagah have pushed Arabi up into lectively for their new team. Both diocrity in 12th, just eight points Sevilla’s Kevin Gameiro (L) celebrates after scoring. That decision is likely to come 10 minutes with 10 men as Ever 5th place and are now fi ve points players are set to represent their above the relegation zone. under further scrutiny in the Banega was shown a second yel- behind Al Sadd in 4th. respective countries of Slovakia Former Manchester United “I take responsibility for the premise of a football match is coming week with his future at low card. and Hungary at the upcoming striker Giuseppe Rossi’s solitary defeat, but that was an indefen- that you run, fi ght and tackle as the Mestalla far from secure. But Unai Emery’s men struck Wakrah and Ahli ease Euro 2016 tournament in France. goal revitalised Levante’s chanc- sible performance, unaccept- hard as the opposition.” At the other end of the ta- again on the break in stoppage relegation fears Gharafa will be hoping they es of beating relegation as they able and not good enough,” said Valencia’s season now hinges ble, Sevilla moved to within fi ve time as Jose Antonio Reyes rolled Al Wakrah & Al Ahli have taken can hold onto their two Europe- moved to within three points of Neville. upon overturning a 1-0 fi rst-leg points of Villarreal in fourth as into an empty net after Alphonse a big step to safety in the QSL for an stars, as Caixinia’s side start safety despite remaining bottom “I apologise to the fans of defi cit at home to Athletic Bilbao they came from behind to regis- Areola saved Kevin Gameiro’s this season, registering impor- to prepare for the 2016/2017 sea- of the table. Valencia because the very basic in the Europa League. ter a 16th straight win at home. initial eff ort. tant wins in round 22. son. Gulf Times Monday, March 14, 2016 3 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT PREVIEW Benitez begins Newcastle rescue bid Kane brace downs with Leicester test Villa and sees Spurs close gap The prolific England striker takes his tally to 22 goals for the season by striking either side of half-time at Villa Park as Spurs move to within two points of leaders Leicester New Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez.

AFP ing Benitez’s last season in Eng- Newcastle lish football in 2012-13, when he steered Chelsea to Europa League glory as interim manager. afael Benitez’s mis- At the time Leicester were an sion to haul Newcastle upwardly mobile Championship United out of the Pre- outfi t, but three years on they re- mier League relegation main on course for arguably the zoneR begins in unfavourable cir- most spectacular title success cumstances today as his new side in the history of the English top visit leaders Leicester City. fl ight. Appointed manager on a Leicester’s lead will be three-year contract on Friday trimmed to two points if Totten- following Steve McClaren’s dis- ham Hotspur win at bottom club missal, Benitez has just 10 games Aston Villa on Sunday, but man- to steer the big-spending north- ager Claudio Ranieri continues east giants to safety. to draw encouragement from the Benitez has made his name as season’s chaotic nature. a trophy-winner with some of “The league this year is crazy,” Europe’s most glamorous clubs, said the Italian, whose side won but he believes that his experi- 1-0 at Watford on their last out- ence will prove equally valid in a ing. “You know my ideas. I still relegation dogfi ght. have these ideas. Every decade “I was at Real Madrid as an or 20 years, something strange academy coach, then the sec- could happen. ond division, fi rst division, and “For this reason, we are fi ght- I have experience of promotion ing because it’s a crazy league and relegation,” he told his in- and anything could happen. We troductory press conference on have to fi ght and at the end we Saturday. can say, ‘We have achieved this.’ “At the end it’s more or less “I said there were fi ve games the same. It’s about how you ap- (before this month’s interna- proach the games and analyse tional break) and then I can say things. You have to be sure eve- what we can do. Now I am fo- rybody is giving everything. cused on Newcastle. The three “The responsibility is the same points are very important for us.” as trying to win a trophy. You Ranieri, 64, has much in don’t want to make a mistake to common with 55-year-old lose a trophy, you don’t want to Spaniard Benitez, as both men make a mistake to be relegated. count Napoli, Valencia, Chel- It’s the same. sea and Inter Milan among their “I know we have a very good former clubs. group of players and quality in But the Leicester manager has Tottenham’s Harry Kane celebrates scoring their first goal during his team’s Barclays Premier League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park yesterday. the squad. We can give them expressed regret over the dismiss- confi dence and from them I ex- al of McClaren, who oversaw only AFP Kane’s England team-mate Dele Alli Villa’s rescue with an instinctive save to their dominance as the Alli-Kane part- pect 100 percent every game. six league wins during his nine- London set up both of his goals, fi rstly with a keep out a close-range eff ort from Kane nership struck again. “The fans will be behind us month St James’ Park tenure. quickly taken free-kick on the cusp of following a cross by Danny Rose. The former Milton Keynes Dons teen- and will help. We need every- “It’s our job, it’s our life,” half-time and then with a burst down the Tottenham were then left wonder- ager ventured forward down the left and thing now.” Ranieri said. “Sometimes it arry Kane reignited Tottenham left wing in the 48th minute. ing how a goal did not arrive in the 32nd his low cross was side-footed into the A trip to the King Power Sta- could happen. I appreciated him. Hotspur’s Premier League ti- Spurs exerted pressure on the Villa minute as Lamela’s fi rst-time shot from roof of the net by the ever-alert Kane. dium carried little danger dur- It’s sad.” tle challenge with a well-taken defence from the outset and should have a Kyle Walker cross was pushed onto the It knocked the stuffi ng out of Villa and double as his side heaped more gone ahead as early as the third minute. post by Guzan. Spurs passed the ball around with relative Hmisery on rock-bottom Aston Villa with Erik Lamela threaded a pass through ease as they probed for another opening. NEW PLAN a 2-0 win yesterday. to Kane, but while he timed his run per- FLUFFED CHANCES It seemed almost too easy when Lame- The prolifi c England striker took his fectly, his chip over the advancing Brad The rebound hit the Villa goalkeeper on la broke to the edge of the box, but his tally to 22 goals for the season by strik- Guzan was too heavy and he watched in the shoulder before Alan Hutton man- eventual shot lacked the sting or direc- ing either side of half-time at Villa Park anguish as it clipped the top of the bar. aged to clear the loose ball. tion to trouble Guzan. City coach Pellegrini as Spurs moved to within two points of The fi rst threat from Villa came when Spurs had been knocking at the door A burst down the left by Rose teed up leaders Leicester City, who host Newcas- Jordan Veretout produced a penetrating throughout the fi rst half and right on the an opportunity for Eriksen to try his luck tle United on Monday. run down the right, but Rudy Gestede could stroke of half-time, they got the all-im- from long range again, but his left-foot shift s sights to It was the perfect answer for the not make clean contact with his cross. portant breakthrough. volley was high and wide. doubters at the end of a week in which That was only brief respite for the Alli unlocked the Villa defence with a Villa’s torment was heightened by two Mauricio Pochettino’s side had squan- home side as wave upon wave of Spurs smart free-kick and Kane forced his way glaring misses in the closing stages as Champions League dered a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 with Arsenal raids led to a succession of clear-cut op- past Jores Okore before fi ring a low shot Gestede hit the underside of the bar from in the north London derby before crash- portunities to take the lead. beyond the reach of Guzan. point-blank range before Joleon Lescott AFP ing 3-0 at Borussia Dortmund in the fi rst After Christian Eriksen had shot inch- Within three minutes of the restart, somehow contrived to miss from a simi- Manchester leg of their Europa League last 16 tie. es wide from distance, Guzan came to Tottenham had gained further reward for lar position moments later.

anuel Pellegrini BOTTOMLINE urged his Manches- ter City players to re- focus on the Cham- Mpions League following their disappointing 0-0 draw against Premier League strugglers Nor- wich City at Carrow Road. I did not bite Barry, insists Costa Pellegrini’s men were frus- trated by a resolute Norwich side AFP give a judgement, he was chased The 22-year-old Belgian in- battling to retain their top-fl ight London a bit in the game as well. ternational had his path to fi rst status and were left nine points City manager Manuel Pellegrini. “They went after him, they team football blocked at Stam- adrift of leaders Leicester City, know it. It’s within the rules but, ford Bridge, moving to Goodison who host Rafael Benitez’s New- threat, with Wilfried Bony, Jesus ontroversial Chelsea as a referee, you must protect the Park on a season-long loan be- castle United on Monday. Navas and Silva all unable to to striker Diego Costa in- situation a little bit. I’m not say- fore signing in a £28 million (36.1 Pellegrini refused to rule his make signifi cant attacking con- sisted yesterday that he ing ‘PROTECT’ with capitals, but million euros) permanent deal in side out of the title race, but tributions. did not bite the neck of knowing and feeling the atmos- the summer of 2014. said that Tuesday’s Champions Silva, 30, has been a creative GarethC Barry during his team’s phere, the little provocations.” Now, with 25 goals for Everton League last 16 second-leg clash force for City in the last few sea- 2-0 FA Cup quarter-fi nal defeat Any FA punishment will de- this season, that investment by with Dynamo Kiev at the Etihad sons, but he has rarely met his at Everton. pend on referee Oliver’s report Roberto Martinez looks a sound Stadium, in which City lead 3-1, own exacting standards in the The fi ery Chelsea star was although Hiddink repeated his one, although the player himself is now the immediate priority. current campaign. shown a second yellow card by often-stated position of insist- insisted that he was not moti- “Every time you drop points in “He is playing with some referee Michael Oliver after 84 ing he does not want Costa to vated by any sense of revenge in the Premier League it becomes problem in his ankle, but not a minutes following an alterca- alter his combative style. facing Chelsea. more diffi cult,” the Chilean said problem that does not allow him tion with the Everton midfi elder “I like him,” said Hiddink, “I don’t think I have anything after Saturday’s encounter. to play,” Pellegrini said. in which he moved his head to- who praised Costa for wanting to prove,” said Lukaku. “Obvi- “But it will not change my “He is not 100 percent com- wards his opponent and ap- to play despite suff ering injury in ously there is a bit of emotion. mind. We think we can do it, fortable, but I think today (Sat- peared to place his mouth on his the midweek Champions League I went there as an 18-year-old but the most important thing urday) he tried in diff erent ways. neck in an attempted bite. loss to PSG. kid, that’s where I learned my now is to focus on the Champi- I think that Aguero also tried. All However, Costa was adamant File picture of Chelsea’s Diego Costa clashing with Everton’s Gareth “I still like he is going towards trade to be a professional foot- ons League game that we play on of our players tried, but we just that there was no foul play after Barry before being sent off during their FA Cup match. the edge but you also have to baller. Tuesday night to try and qualify couldn’t do it.” a defeat which eff ectively ended take into consideration he des- “But I moved on, like they did. for the next stage. Pellegrini added: “We are al- Chelsea’s season. Goodison Park, Barry was also with reference to the Hollywood perately wanted to play today. I wish them the best for the fu- “After that we have to play ways talking with David and the “Diego spoke to club offi cials booked in the fl ashpoint and movie “Anger Management”. It would have been better for ture but do my best for my team. against Manchester United on doctor. He wants to play. I don’t after the game and expressed received a second yellow card “There are movies about him to be rested but this was not “I think the fi rst goal is my Sunday and we try to win again think it is just the problem of regret over his reaction to the of his own in the dying minutes that,” said Hiddink when asked the type of game where you rest best of the season but it’s just the three points. At the end of David that we don’t create the challenge from Gareth Barry after fouling Cesc Fabregas. if he will advise his player to seek players.” another goal. the season we see how many space today. that led to his red card,” said a Chelsea interim manager counselling. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku “I am just happy for the points we have.” “We have wingers who must Chelsea statement. Guus Hiddink refused to con- “I have seen that fi lm. Maybe insisted he had nothing to prove team, we really wanted to win A concern for City has been win the one-on-ones and we “But Diego was also very clear demn Costa after the fi rst send- we will go and watch it together. to his old club after his two spec- today. If you want to win cups, the recent form of Spanish play- have the forwards that must try that he did not bite him at any ing off of his Blues career. I try to be fair in my judgement tacular late goals earned Everton you have to win against the big maker David Silva. to create more space. When you point during that altercation.” The Dutchman even man- and I haven’t see it (the incident) the victory against his former teams and that’s what we did Against Norwich, only Ser- cannot win, it is the problem of To add to the late drama at aged to laugh off the incident, so far. But without wanting to employers. today. gio Aguero posed a genuine goal the team and not one person.” Gulf Times 4 Monday, March 14, 2016 FOOTBALL

BUNDESLIGA MLS Pappa’s Dortmund stay on Bayern’s strike lift s trail aft er win over Mainz Rapids AFP Dortmund have now gone 17 home games without a defeat over two seasons Los Angeles

DPA olorado newcomer Mar- Berlin co Pappa struck in the dying seconds to lift the Rapids to a 1-0 Major orussia Dortmund restored the gap on LeagueC Soccer victory over Los leaders Bayern Munich to fi ve points with Angeles Galaxy, whose coach a 2-0 victory over Mainz yesterday. Bruce Arena was left fuming on Marco Reus fi nished on the half hour Saturday. Bafter a strong run and perfectly weighted pass by The contest at a windswept Gonzalo Castro, and Shinji Kagawa netted from DSG Park in Denver looked close range in the 73rd minute. headed to a scoreless draw until Mainz beat Bayern 2-1 in their last away game Pappa, a 67th minute substi- but could not deal as well with Dortmund, who tute, scored from close range in are unbeaten this year and have now gone 17 home the fi fth minute of injury time— games without a defeat over two season. Arena calling it “ridiculous” and Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel saw his former “disgraceful” that so much in- club defend well for 25 minutes but the home side jury time was added on. began to combine dangerously after going in front. “It was bad judgment by the Mainz had to thank keeper Loris Karius who referee and bad judgment by the foiled Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang three times in fourth offi cial not to question it,” a minute shortly after the break. Arena said. “That’s a 93-minute Henrikh Mkhitaryan blasted over the bar from a game at most. good position after being set up by Reus, and the “To lose in the 95th minute is a midfi elder then saw an eff ort saved by Karius after crime. It’s disgraceful.” an Aubameyang shot came off a defender. Reus was The Rapids’ Kevin Doyle had the next to squander a chance with a shot over the chipped a pass into the area and bar after the ball was pulled by Mkhitaryan. Galaxy defender Daniel Steres’ But the second goal which had threatened fi nally clearance attempt fl oated toward came when Mkhitaryan found Aubameyang, who Dortmund’s striker Marco Reus celebrates after Pappa, who fi red a left-footed had time on the left to square the ball across goal scoring against Mainz during the German Bundesliga volley under the crossbar. for Kagawa to fi nish into an open goal. match in Dortmund yesterday. (AFP) Pappa, who was traded from A third goal should have followed when Aubam- the Seattle Sounders in the eyang raced clear but instead of fi nishing himself, off -season and had to work his the striker passed to Mikhitaryan whose shot was way back to fi tness after he was blocked, and Marcel Schmelzer then screwed the stabbed in the side in December, ball high and wide of an open goal. was making his home debut for Despite the string of chances there was a sub- the Rapids. dued atmosphere in the Westfalenstadion for His goal put an exclama- much of the second half after news that a fan had tion point on a match that often died of a heart attack and another was taken to dragged. Colorado dominated hospital after reportedly collapsing. possession in the fi rst half but Bayern, who thrashed Werder Bremen 5-0 on were unable to produce quality chances against a Galaxy team that seemed intent on slowing down the pace and could muster POINTS TABLE no attack after the interval. Read as: played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals Saturday, have 66 points, while Dortmund move to On Saturday: Borussia Moenchengladbach 3 (Stindl Darmstadt 2 (Vrancic 12, Wagner 40) Augsburg 2 (Feul- Los Angeles’ best chance against, points 61, 16 points ahead of third-placed Hertha Berlin. 36, Raff ael 53, Dahoud 79) Eintracht Frankfurt 0 Hano- ner 63, Finnbogason 90-pen) came when Belgian Jelle Van Bayern Munich 26 21 3 2 64 13 66 Mainz are sixth on 40 points. ver 96 0 Cologne 2 (Bittencourt 43, 61) Bayern Munich 5 (Alcantara 9, 90, Mueller 31, 65, Damme, acquired in January Borussia Dortmund 26 19 4 3 61 25 61 Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, ended a run of Hoff enheim 1 (Kramaric 3) Wolfsburg 0 Lewandowski 86) Werder Bremen 0 from Standard Liege and making Hertha Berlin 26 13 6 7 35 26 45 four league games without a win by beating visiting Ingolstadt 3 (Hartmann 4, Leckie 56, Lezcano 61) VfB On Friday: Hertha Berlin 2 (Ibisevic 42, Stark 65) his MLS debut, hit the crossbar Moenchengladbach 26 13 3 10 53 42 42 SV Hamburg 1-0. Hamburg midfi elder Albin Ekdal Stuttgart 3 (Kostic 9, Rupp 79, Didavi 84-pen) Schalke 04 0 in the 29th minute. “The condi- Schalke 04 26 12 5 9 37 34 41 turned a shot by Julian Brandt into his own net in tions were hard for both teams,” Mainz 05 26 12 4 10 34 32 40 the 18th minute to give Leverkusen the points. Arena said. Bayer Leverkusen 26 11 6 9 37 33 39 Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt was back on FAN DIES DURING BUNDESLIGA MATCH “The offi ciating was obviously VfL Wolfsburg 26 10 7 9 38 33 37 the touchline after a three-match suspension to very inconsistent, but neither Cologne 26 8 9 9 28 33 33 celebrate the win on his birthday. The only blot was Dortmund: A spectator collapsed and died and They broke out in a rendition of “You’ll Never team played particularly well. Ingolstadt 26 8 9 9 22 29 33 the dismissal of defender Tin Jedvaj following two another was admitted to hospital during Borussia Walk Alone” shortly before the final whistle and It’s still early in the year. The VfB Stuttgart 26 9 5 12 43 52 32 yellow cards in quick succession in stoppage time Dortmund’s 2-0 victory over Mainz in the Bundes- again after the match when Dortmund players altitude is a challenge for both Hamburg 26 8 7 11 30 35 31 - fi rst for time wasting, then for a gesture towards liga yesterday, the club said. Dortmund said via Twit- stood in the penalty area and linked arms facing teams this time of year not only Augsburg 26 6 9 11 32 40 27 the referee. Leverkusen move to seventh on 39 ter that eff orts were made to reanimate two people fans in the South Bank behind the goal. us but for Colorado as well.” Darmstadt 26 6 9 11 27 40 27 points, one place outside a Europa League qualify- during the game. One spectator died and another Club president Reinhard Rauball thanked sup- The Montreal Impact again Werder Bremen 26 7 6 13 35 53 27 ing place. Hamburg are 12th on 31 points. was reported in a stable condition in hospital. porters for their solidarity. “I can only compliment managed nicely without former Eintracht Frankfurt 26 5 9 12 28 43 24 Supporters in the Westfalenstadion fell largely the supporters on the way they reacted. This is Ivory Coast star striker Didier Hoff enheim 26 5 9 12 27 42 24 RESULTS silent for the rest of the match after the fatality something I have not experienced in this form Drogba, scoring three second- Hanover 96 26 5 2 19 22 48 17 Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Ekdal 18-og) Hamburg 0 became known during the second half. before,” he told Sky television. half goals in a 3-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund 2 (Reus 30, Kagawa 73) Mainz 0 the New York Red Bulls.

SERIE A Dzeko answers critics, Fiorentina held by Verona

AFP Rome POINTS TABLE Read as: played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, din Dzeko answered his critics with a goals against, points seventh goal of the campaign as Roma Juventus 29 21 4 4 51 15 67 remained fi rmly in the hunt for a third Napoli 28 18 7 3 58 23 61 consecutive Champions League cam- Roma 29 17 8 4 61 30 59 paignE thanks to a 2-1 win at Udinese. Fiorentina 29 16 6 7 50 32 54 With Juventus and Napoli expected to duel Inter Milan 29 16 6 7 39 27 54 for this season’s Serie A title over the remain- AC Milan 29 13 9 7 39 30 48 ing nine games, the focus is on the battle the Sassuolo 29 11 11 7 36 32 44 league’s third and last Champions League quali- Lazio 28 10 8 10 35 37 38 fying spot. But Roma’s eighth consecutive win, Bologna 29 10 6 13 30 33 36 coupled with draws for AC Milan and Fiorentina, Chievo 29 9 8 12 33 39 35 means they are now just two points behind sec- Empoli 29 9 8 12 34 42 35 ond-placed Napoli ahead of their trip to Palermo Genoa 29 9 7 13 31 34 34 later last night, and fi ve points ahead of Cham- Torino 29 8 9 12 36 38 33 pions League rivals Fiorentina and Inter Milan. Sampdoria 29 8 8 13 43 47 32 Fiorentina, who took a 40th minute lead Atalanta 28 7 9 12 26 33 30 through Mauro Zarate in Florence, were pegged Udinese 29 8 6 15 25 44 30 back by Eros Pisano’s late leveller for the league Palermo 28 7 6 15 28 50 27 strugglers. The point took Paulo Sousa’s men Frosinone 29 7 5 17 29 55 26 move back up to fourth place at the expense Carpi 29 5 10 14 26 45 25 of Inter Milan, who secured a precious 2-1 win Verona 29 2 13 14 25 49 19 over Bologna on Saturday, but La Viola are now level on points with the Nerazzurri (54). AC Milan, meanwhile, saw their hopes of last week’s defeat to Roma and a home draw fi nishing among the top three dented after a with Napoli. The draw, however, gave Verona scoreless draw at Chievo left Sinisa Mihajlovic’s coach Luigi Delneri the belief that his men have men in sixth at 11 points behind Roma. Dzeko what it takes to launch a dramatic fi ght for top was one of several Roma players slated by coach fl ight survival. Luciano Spalletti after a 2-0 reverse to Real Ma- drid last week left the Italians limping out of the RESULTS last 16 of the competition 4-0 on aggregate. AS Roma’s Edin Dzeko (right) scores a goal against Udinese during the Italian Serie A match yesterday. (AFP) Chievo 0 AC Milan 0 Spalletti told Dzeko on Saturday he should Carpi 2 (Bianco 27, De Guzman 90-pen) Frosinone be “begging” for his shirt ahead of the trip to “Every coach has his own approach or way to He came close with a glancing header from Roma regained control in the 74th minute 1 (Dionisi 72) the Friuli Stadium. By the fi nal whistle, the get you playing. The result speaks for itself. I Stephan El Shaarawy’s cross in the open- when Alessandro Florenzi produced a fi ne Fiorentina 1 (Zarate 40) Verona 1 (Pisano 87) 57-year-old Italian coach had changed his tune. was motivated, because I wanted to win but I’m ing minutes before breaking the deadlock on touch on the edge of the box to beat Karnezis Genoa 3 (Cerci 20-pen, 45+2-pen, Rigoni 66) Torino “Today Dzeko was perfect. He got a lot of un- very happy to have scored.” the quarter-hour when he ran on to Mohamed at his far post with the outside of his boot. 2 (Immobile 4, 15) warranted stick in the press, I hoped he would Although a Napoli defeat would boost Ro- Salah’s deft touch off El Shaarawy’s weighted But Roma were forced to endure a nervous Udinese 1 (Fernandes 85) Roma 2 (Dzeko 15, go out and silence all of them,” Spalletti told ma’s chances of a second-place fi nish, Dzeko delivery from midfi eld to poke the ball past fi nish when Bruno Fernandes pounced on a Florenzi 74) Rai. “It wasn’t easy to refocus our priorities said their focus now is on winning all their re- Orestis Karnezis. loose ball inside the area to fi re an unstoppable On Saturday: Empoli 1 (Laurini 82) Sampdoria 1 after elimination from the Champions League. maining games. “We always go out to try and Roma twice fl irted with conceding an equal- shot past Szczesny and inside the far post fi ve (Quagliarella 42) Although today’s game looked simple on paper, win, and we’ll see where we end up. For the mo- iser early after the restart when Wojciech Szc- minutes from the end. Inter Milan 2 (Perisic 72, D’Ambrosio 76) Bologna 1 it was far from easy so compliments to the lads.” ment, we’re happy to be in third place,” said the zesny parried Cyril Thereau’s defl ected drive Although Fiorentina have been among the (Brienza 90) Dzeko admitted Spalletti’s spur for him to Bosnian. After Spalletti’s call to action, Dzeko before eeing Duvan Zapata’s probing header top four most of this season, Sousa’s men took On Friday show improvement had ultimately worked: responded in positively. from a corner come off the upright. their winless streak to three games following Juventus 1 (Dybala 36) Sassuolo 0 Gulf Times Monday, March 14, 2016 5 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT Oz women favourites to win 4th Pakistan cricketers get WT20 title eg Lanning’s Australia have won three out of Mfour ICC Women’s World Twenty20 tournaments to date, and it is no surprise that the number-one ranked T20I side in more love in India than the world will start this competi- tion as clear favourites again. England are the only other side to have won the tournament when they clinched the inaugural edition of the competition in 2009 in their backyard. Charlotte Edward’s side is closely behind Australia back home, says Afridi in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s Team Rankings, having finished as runners-up in 2012 and 2014. ‘Talking about fans, my cricket is about to end. The sort of love I have got here I will remember Hosts India are coming into the tournament following a home se- all through my life. People here really love cricket and cricketers. They love good performances’ ries win against Sri Lanka. Mithali Raj’s girls will be keen to fully utilise familiar conditions and pull off a few surprise results against higher-ranked Australia, England and third-ranked New Zealand. The 10 women’s sides are di- vided into two groups, with Group A featuring Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka and Group B including India, England, Pakistan, Bangladesh and West Indies. The top two sides from each group will progress to the semi-finals. Based on the teams’ rankings, Australia and New Zealand are expected to progress to the semi- finals from Group A, while England are likely to top Group B. This means the fight for second place in this group will be between India and the West Indies. The women’s matches will begin on March 15 when hosts India will take on Bangladesh in an afternoon match (15:00 start) in Bengaluru, while New Zealand will play Sri Lanka in an evening match starting in Delhi (19:30 start). A total of 23 matches will be played in the women’s competi- tion, including the semi-finals and the final which will be played be- fore the men’s knock-out matches on the same day and at the same venues. Out of 23 women’s match- itics and cricket to bring the two coun- the case in Bangladesh where Pakistan es, the ICC will produce broadcast IANS Pakistan captain Shahid Kolkata tries together?” he asked. fared poorly in the recent Asia Cup. coverage of a record 13 matches, However, Afridi disagreed with a Afridi talks to the media. However, he made it clear that the which, in turn will be carried media person that by not opting out (Above) Pakistan team side would not be weighed down by the around the world by ICC’s Global ndian fans and the country’s secu- of the tournament despite being given during a training session Bangladesh debacle, and instead ap- Broadcast Partner Star Sports and rity environment got a rousing en- a choice by the authorities in Islama- at the Eden Gardens in proach the coming engagements with other broadcast partners. dorsement from Pakistan cricket- bad to travel or not to travel to India, Kolkata yesterday. (AFP) a positive frame of mind. On the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s ers yesterday, with visiting skipper the cricketers have disagreed with the Reminded that Pakistan have never Team Rankings, 59 points separate IShahid Afridi acknowledging that his Pakistan government’s apprehensions won a game against India in World Cups, top-ranked Australia (129 points) boys get more love from sports buff s about their security in India. be it in the 50-over format or Twenty20, from eighth-ranked Sri Lanka (70 here than from those back home. “It is not a question of disagree- Afridi said: “This (Pakistani record vis- points). England are second on 122 Another seasoned Pakistani cam- ment. Whatever decision the govern- a-vis India) is negative. However, nega- points, followed by New Zealand paigner, Shoaib Malik, married to In- ment takes, we back it. We are not poli- tives comes with positives... I’ve always (114), India (111), West Indies (101), dian tennis star Sania Mirza, gave the ticians,” he said. taken things positively.” South Africa (94), Pakistan (80), Sri thumbs up to the security provided to Pakistan were earlier scheduled to At the same time, the Pakistan play- Lanka (70), Bangladesh (47) and the team and asserted that he never arrive here on Tuesday but that got ers gave ample evidence of their com- Ireland (31). faced any security issue during his fre- delayed as the country’s government bative side. Afridi dismissed Indian Australia have an impressive quent trips to India. wasn’t happy with the security ar- batsman Rohit Sharma’s argument record in the tournament, having In a series of media interactions rangements in India. Finally after an that there was nothing to “go gaga” won 15 out of a total of 20 matches yesterday, a day after setting foot on assurance from Home Minister Ra- over Pakistan speedster Mohamed to date. Nevertheless, they are Indian soil to take part in the World jnath Singh, the team fi nally arrived Amir, who has been in fi ne form since coming into the tournament hav- Twenty20 tournament, the Pakistan here on Saturday evening. and the cricketers. They love good per- the Indian government. The security is returning to international cricket after ing lost T20I series to India and cricketers played the role of goodwill But Afridi said the delay did not formances,” he said. very good. My wife is from India and I serving a fi ve-year ban for spot-fi xing. New Zealand earlier this year. ambassadors to perfection, stressing hamper their preparations as they were Pakistan have a clean slate at Eden come to India a lot. I have never faced “For me, Mohamed Amir is the best... Meg Lanning is the number one on the cultural similarities between already training in Lahore. “We were in the limited-overs format, winning any security issue,” the 34-year-old his name is there among the top inter- ranked batsman on the MRF Tyres the two neighbours and underscoring mentally and physically ready that each of the six games they have played acknowledged. national bowlers,” Afridi said. ICC Women’s T20I Rankings, but the importance of cricket in bringing defi nitely we will go.” at the hallowed venue. And the statis- Malik said he has always got lot of Malik virtually threw a challenge to she is the only Australian player to the two nations closer. Afridi turned a tad sentimental as tics has made Afridi upbeat about his love from the Indian people and the those giving his team the underdogs feature inside the top 10. “We get lot of love from fans here, he profusely praised the Eden Gar- side’s prospects in the fi rst two games. media. “I don’t really see any diff er- tag, saying Pakistan were rated as un- Hosts India, which got the bet- even more than the love we get from dens, particularly its boisterous crowd, “Good that we are playing our fi rst ence between Pakistani people and the derdogs before both the 1992 World ter of Australia in Australia at the fans in Pakistan,” Afridi told media where Pakistan would be playing a two games here. We have always en- Indians. Cup and the 2009 World Twenty20 end of January this year, will be persons at the Eden Gardens ground. warm-up game as also two Super Ten joyed playing on this ground. This “We eat the same food, we speak the and ended up winning both. confident of a good performance. The 36-year-old dashing all-round- group B fi xtures including the high- ground suits us,” said Afridi, who has same language. I am very happy to be Indian skipper Mahendra Singh The host team’s middle-order er recalled that he has been coming to voltage clash against India on March 19. played 398 One-Day Internationals in India. I’m honoured to be in India.” Dhoni also got glowing tributes from batter and captain Mithali Raj sits India for two decades during his long “Talking about the fans, my cricket (ODIs), 94 T20Is and 27 Tests. Coming to matters cricket, Afridi Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Sar- in fifth spot in the rankings, while career. “Cricket is a sport which has is about to end. The sort of love I have Malik thanked the Indian govern- said his team, particularly the bats- fraz Ahmed, who called him his idol, fast bowler Jhulan Goswami is brought the two countries together. got here I will remember all through ment for the security arranged for the men, needed to play according to the and said he wanted to be a “fi nisher” ranked 12th. Can there be anything better than pol- my life. People here really love cricket team. “Firstly, I would like to thank team plan, and admitted that was not like the Ranchi boy.

WARM-UP GAMES Sammy fi ft y helps Windies to 3-wicket win over Australia IANS Knight Riders, remained unfazed and Watson and Smith then put on 30 their fi nal match of the World T20. Kolkata plundered a few boundaries and some runs together but Australia lost wickets Invited to bat in the inconsequen- sixes, which included a monstrous hit in a fl urry. They were reduced to 117/5 tial group tie, the Dutch openers had to into the stands. However, he tried the with Watson (60), Khawaja (5), Max- wait for more than two and a half hours est Indies captain Darren big slog too often and was out, caught well (0) and Marsh (2) returning to the to take to the fi eld with the rain-aff ect- Sammy’s unconquered at long on after a brisk 29. dug-out in quick succession. ed game reduced to 6-overs-a-side. knock of 50 overshadowed Skipper Sammy and Carlos Smith concentrated on ones and Left-hander Stephen Myburgh Josh Hazlewood’s hat- Brathwaite got together to rescue the twos more than the big hits and kept struck an 18-ball 27 to help Nether- Wtrick as they beat Australia by three team and brought up its hundred in the scoreboard ticking. But at the other lands post 59 for fi ve and the bowlers wickets in a World Twenty20 warm-up the 14th over. The two, known for their end, Australia kept on losing wickets. did well to defend the total. contest at the Eden Gardens yesterday. hard hitting, changed the game in a Towards the end, when they needed Medium-pacer Van Meekeren (4-11 The match went right down to the matter of few overs. quick runs, the West Indies bowlers from 2 overs) tore into the Irish batting wire as the West Indies got over the line Brathwaite played the role of the ag- kept them on a tight leash but they getting good support from left-arm with only one ball to spare. For Aus- gressor, hitting three fours and two managed to get to a fi ghting total. spinner Roelof van der Merwe, who tralia, pacer Hazlewood returned with sixes en route to 33 and, after his dis- picked up two scalps, to restrict Ireland fi gures of 3/13. missal, Sammy carried on from where Brief scores to 47 for seven. There was no toss for the game. Aus- his partner left. Australia 161/9 in 20 overs (Shane “It’s special, I’m not sure if it’s hap- tralia batted fi rst after a mutual agree- Earlier, Australia got off to a rollick- Watson 60, Steve Smith 36; Dwayne pened yet. We had been preparing for ment. Chasing Australia’s score of ing start as Shane Watson and Aaron Bravo 4/21, Suleiman Benn 3/37) lost to this for the last three weeks, maybe six 161/9, the West Indies got off to a dis- Finch punished the bowlers who erred West Indies 162/7 in 19.5 overs (Dar- months, and it worked out well,” said astrous start with Hazlewood getting in length. ren Sammy 50*, Carlos Brathwaite 33; an out-of-breath Van Meekeren after rid of Jason Holder (6), Marlon Samuels Watson took to a liking for Holder Josh Hazlewod 3/13, Andrew Tye 2/35) the win. (0) and Dwayne Bravo (0) in three con- in the third over, hitting him for two by 3 wickets Both Netherlands and Ireland were secutive deliveries. consecutive sixes. In the previous over, hard done by rain abandoned games in Johnson Charles then fell prey to Finch had struck Jerome Taylor for two Winless Ireland end WT20 their respective second outings after Steve Smith’s leg-spinners as the Car- back-to-back boundaries. campaign with Dutch defeat losing their opening matches to Bang- ibbean team was left tottering at 27/4 in Finch was dropped at 29 by Russell ladesh and Oman. the eighth over. At the end of the 10th but he could not quite capitalise on In Dharamsala, Paul van Meekeren over, the score read 56/5. the miss. He got out, at 33, trying to hit bagged four wickets to help Nether- Brief scores Andre Russell, who plays for Indian Suleiman Benn as Australia lost their lands notch up a consolation 12-run Netherlands 59-5 (6 overs) beat Ire- Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata fi rst with the score at 76. win via Duckworth/Lewis method in land 47-7 (6 overs) by 12 runs Gulf Times 6 Monday, March 14, 2016 CRICKET

SUPER 10 QUALIFIER Aussie batting might could help them Tamim blasts ton as break WT20 title drought he World Twenty20 is the one major international cricketing Tprize to have eluded Australia but with the batting firepower in Bangladesh rout Oman their ranks, they cannot be ruled out as contenders to grasp it at the sixth attempt. With David Warner, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja and skipper Steve Smith all able to take the to make main draw game away from their opponents on any given day, the 50-over world champions have every reason for Left-handed opener scores his country's first T20 international century to help Bangladesh confidence in the tournament. The big question mark over thrash Oman by 54 runs and make it to the Super 10 stage of the World Twenty20 their challenge is the fact that their batsmen have rarely thrived on the spin-friendly pitches of South AFP Asia, where teams will use three, Dharamsala Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal and sometimes four, slow bowlers celebrates after reaching his against them. century during a World Twenty20 amim Iqbal’s maiden Twenty20 cen- qualifying match against Oman in “It’s no secret that teams are tar- tury helped Bangladesh storm into Dharamsala yesterday. (AFP) geting us with spin and rightfully the World T20 Super 10s with a re- so, we haven’t played it all that sounding 54-run win against Oman well over the last little while in the Tvia the Duckworth/Lewis method in the last shortest format,” Finch said after qualifi er in scenic Dharamsala yesterday. South Africa’s Imran Tahir took 3-21 Put in to bat in the knockout encounter, against them in a warm-up game Bangladesh rode on Tamim’s unbeaten 63- in Durban last week. “It’s just about ball 103 to post 180 for two. Oman were re- changing our mindsets slightly if stricted to 65 for nine in pursuit of their rain we do have a few dot balls... there revised target of 120 in 12 overs. were some times when our ego Tamim, who has been in blazing form with scores of 83 and 47 in the fi rst two games, be- probably took over a little bit.” came Bangladesh’s only centurion in T20s. When they get it right, though, “The next stage is very important for us. Australia’s batsmen can be dev- The Pakistan game is very important. I hope astating in the 20-over game, as I can continue the form. I fi nally got a hun- Warner and Maxwell showed with dred, that was due,” said man-of-the-match a record 161-run stand in the sec- Tamim. ond warm-up against South Africa The left-handed batsman, who bettered at Wanderers. Perhaps heeding his previous highest of 88 not out, is a veteran Finch’s words from a few days of 153 ODIs and 42 Tests. Tamim, 26, has also earlier, it was controlled, not wild, registered four fi fties in the shortest format. aggression that enabled them to The left-handed batsman made sure Bang- get the better of Tahir and guide ladesh didn’t lose early wickets with the Oman bowlers making the ball move on a the team to a five-wicket victory. moisture-laden track post evening showers. After losing 3-0 to India in a T20 Making a composed start along with Sou- series on home soil in January, mya Sarkar, Tamim switched gears after reg- Australia’s selectors tore up the istering his second fi fty of the tournament script and started again, dispens- and there was no looking back. ing with a string of players and Tamim, who clobbered 10 fours and fi ve replacing Finch with Smith as sixes, soon found company in Sabbir Rahman captain. It was in the bowling as the duo hit the ball to all parts of the pic- department that the overhaul turesque ground during their 92-run partner- was greatest with left-arm spin- ship. Getting plenty of confi dence from their ner Ashton Agar and leg-spinner batting show, Bangladesh’s bowlers picked up regular wickets to fl atten Oman’s rain-hit Adam Zampa now making up an chase. extremely inexperienced unit. The Sultan Ahmed-led side, which mostly Youngsters Josh Hazlewood and consists of Indian and Pakistani expats, never Nathan Coulter-Nile are most likely really got going and the two rain interventions to be given the chance to get what during their stop-start chase didn’t help the pace they can out of the flat Indian cause either. tracks, while James Faulkner’s fin- Shakib Al Hasan picked up four wick- ishing with ball and bat makes him ets while skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, Taskin an indispensable part of the team. Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain and Sabbir bagged The inexperience of parts of the one each. Bangladesh will now meet hosts In- team is compounded by the fact dia, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia in Group 2 of the Super 10s. that Australia’s third warm-up match Earlier, medium-pacer Paul van Meek- in Cape Town last week was only eren bagged four wickets to help Netherlands their 11th outing in the format since notch up a consolation 12-run win via Duck- they crashed out of the Super 10 worth/Lewis method against Ireland. stage at the 2014 World Twenty20. Invited to bat in the inconsequential group Former Test bowler Ryan Harris tie, the Dutch made sure their opening show believes that should not be too of 59 for fi ve remains untouched after re- much of a problem given most of stricting Ireland to 47 for seven. the top players now travel to South Monday remains a rest day before India Asia every year to play in the Indian face New Zealand in the main draw opener Premier League. “Most countries tomorrow. have players who have been in the Brief scores IPL and know the conditions really Bangladesh 180 for 2 in 20 overs well and all the grounds, so it is go- (Tamim Iqbal 103*) beat Oman 65 for 9 in 12 ing to be a good competition and overs (Shakib Al Hasan 4-15) by 54 runs (D/L good to watch,” he said. method)

OPINION Eng made ‘smart move’ by hiring Mahela: Sanga Jayawardene’s decision to act Thilanga Sumathipala, to call for a Like me, Mahela has been out of the Sri Sangakkara, whose unbeaten 52 as a World Twenty20 coaching two-year cooling-off period before re- Mahela Jayawardene Lankan Twenty20 side for two years and helped his side chase down 131 to beat consultant for England has not tired players are allowed to work with and Kumar Sangakkara. England have been lucky enough to in- India by six wickets in the fi nal, recalls: gone down well in his native Sri rival national teams. vite him to be part of their coaching staff . “We had a very good side with an expe- Lanka but his former international “I’m very disappointed that a na- “It was a smart move by England and rienced batting lineup and strong vari- teammate says only players can tional captain, within a few months of something any professional who has ety in our bowling but going into the infl ict damage on opponents retirement, has been retained by an- retired from the international game tournament, it was not the most set- other team at a World Cup. I had a lot would accept. You would always prefer tled time for Sri Lankan cricket, with By Ali Martin in London of respect and gratitude for Mahela’s to give back to your own country fi rst some disputes going on. The Guardian knowledge but now he’s adviser to a but the way Mahela conducted himself “But all of this actually brought us competing team of ours,” Sumathipala as a player for Sri Lanka over the years closer together as a team; it made us was quoted as saying. has been exemplary.” even more determined to do our job for umar Sangakkara, man of the However, Sangakkara, himself re- The 38-year-old Sangakkara, who the supporters and the country. In the match when Sri Lanka won cently appointed a Sri Lankan selec- played his fi nal Test match last August end, it was an emotional way for myself the World Twenty20 fi nal tor, has no issue with his close friend but will turn out domestically for Sur- and Mahela to sign off from our Twen- two years ago, has praised advising England’s cricketers, insisting rey and the Caribbean Premier League ty20 international careers. Kthe “smart move” by England in rehir- only the players themselves can infl ict side Jamaica Tallawahs this year, con- “This year India are playing some ing his former international teammate damage on opponents and pointing to cedes hosts India remain favourites for excellent cricket and in home condi- Mahela Jayawardene as a coaching Jayawardene’s record in 18 years of na- this year’s title but points to his coun- tions they are very strong, so will come consultant for this year’s tournament. tional service before his retirement af- try’s victorious campaign in 2014 as into it with a lot of confi dence. Virat Jayawardene mentored England’s ter last year’s 50-over World Cup. proof that the fi eld remains wide open. Kohli and Rohit Sharma allow them to batsmen during their Test series “I haven’t spoken to Mahela about Sri Lanka, then working under the trust their batting lineup and they have against Pakistan last October and is the role too much,” Sangakkara said. current England assistant coach, Paul a good solid bowling attack. currently in the middle of a second 10- “It’s awkward for him to talk about Farbrace, went into the tournament “But as we have seen, Twenty20 day spell with Eoin Morgan’s short- something that is in progress but I in Bangladesh on the back of a bitter cricket is such a volatile form of the form side before their opener against know what his approach will be, get- dispute between the players and their game, things can change in a match so West Indies in Mumbai on Wednesday. ting players to think about how they mation but at the end of the day it’s down ing expressive, positive cricket.” board over pay and conditions, while quickly that any side can get on a roll. A With Sri Lanka also in Group One, adapt to situations and manipulating to the players who walk out on to the Asked about Sumathipala’s com- Sangakkara and Jayawardene had been team like South Africa or England, who the 38-year-old’s appointment was fi elds against the spinners, which is key fi eld. It’s down to them, in that moment, ments, he added: “There has been some criticised by the selector Sanath Jayas- aren’t as used to the conditions, could not well received back home, however, in the subcontinent. executing their skills. The England team talk about it but it’s nothing Mahela uriya for going public on their plans for still succeed, as the West Indies did in and prompted their board’s president, “There will be a lot of valuable infor- approach looks very conducive to play- will take seriously–it’s just chitchat. retirement from the format. Sri Lanka in 2012.” Gulf Times Monday, March 14, 2016 7 SPORT

NBA Blackhawks have plenty of time to work out their issues Believe it or not, there was a positive development for the Blackhawks during their 5-2 loss to the Stars on Friday night. Fans already may have Spurs rally past Thunder turned the game off before it occurred, but rest assured, it happened. Both Hawks goals came from a line that was playing together for the first time. And it was the third line of Tomas Fleischmann, Teuvo Teravainen and Dale Weise for 41st straight home win rather than the top one of Andrew Ladd, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. Teravainen ‘They got more physical. Kawhi got himself into the game, and everybody did a good job’ and Fleischmann scored in the second and third periods, respectively, to allow the DPA Hawks at least to leave with Los Angeles some dignity after one of the two teams they are battling for first place in the Central Divi- nother home win for the San sion demolished them. Antonio Spurs, another blown Friday night was the sullen fourth-quarter lead for the end of a two-game stretch in Oklahoma City Thunder. which the Hawks had a chance AKawhi Leonard scored 26 points Sat- to separate themselves some- urday night and fuelled a late rally as what from the Blues and the the Spurs remained unbeaten at home Stars. They did that, except in with a 93-85 victory over the slumping the wrong direction. Now the Thunder and clinched their fi fth South- Hawks sit alone in third place west Division title in the last six years. for the first time since Jan 4. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 points The setbacks made clear the for the Spurs (56-10), who improved to Hawks and coach Joel Quen- 32-0 at the AT&T Center this season. neville still are trying to figure Dating to last season, San Antonio has out how some pieces are won 41 straight home games, the third- going to fit before the playoff s longest streak in NBA history. begin. Adding four new “I thought their competitiveness got players at the trade deadline better as the game went along,” Spurs causes that with less than coach Gregg Popovich said. a month left in the regular “They got more physical. Kawhi season. That’s why fans should got himself into the game, and every- not dismiss what Fleischmann, body did a good job.” The NBA cham- Teravainen and Weise did pion Golden State Warriors are riding Friday. Fleischmann and Tera- a record 48-game home winning streak vainen have flashed instant dating to last season and the 1995-96 chemistry since Fleischmann Chicago Bulls won 44 in a row at home. arrived, and putting Weise on No team has ever gone an entire season that line instead of Andrew without losing at home. Desjardins, a more defensively “We just want to get better as each inclined forward, enabled game goes and as the season goes on,” the unit’s scoring potential to Leonard said. “So it doesn’t matter who emerge. we are playing, it’s just about us. Are we Teravainen has been solid all going to execute? Are we going to go out season, yet his production has and have energy and play defense?” drawn criticism. Perhaps the Kevin Durant had 28 points and eight move back to centre, between assists for the Thunder (44-22), who are Fleischmann and Weise, can just 4-8 since the All-Star break. Okla- help boost his numbers. homa City has lost a league-high 12 His new line as well as other games after holding a lead entering the changing parts of the Hawks; fi nal period, including six in their recent rotation need to jell. slide. The Thunder made their fi rst two Hossa returned after missing shots of the fourth quarter as layups by nearly a month because of a Randy Foye and Durant opened a 72-66 left leg injury. While he was lead. But they were just 4-of-16 there- out, general manager Stan after, missing their last six attempts. Bowman brought in Ladd to “They’re obviously a terrifi c defensive play with Hossa and Jonathan team,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan Toews on the top line. Their said. “We had a tough time scoring at first game together wasn’t times in that fourth quarter.” a disaster, but it also wasn’t After three straight baskets by Dav- memorable. Now the three id West tied the game, Leonard took have a month to come to- charge. His jumper provided a 76-74 gether. The same goes for the edge with 7:58 to go. After a bucket by penalty kill - the biggest issue Turkey’s Enes Kanter tied it, three- plaguing the Hawks and the pointers by Green and Leonard gave the biggest reason they lost their Spurs an 82-76 advantage. grip on first place. Quenneville “We started playing defense and ex- has been mixing and matching ecuting on the off ensive end and finally personnel, but nothing has started to knock down shots,” Leonard quite worked. Even Hossa, said. “I got my rhythm going and my San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (No 2) shoots the ball over Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka (No 9) and center Enes Kanter (No 11) who is one of the team’s best teammates found me and I just kept go- during the first half at AT&T Center. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports weapons on the kill, could not ing from there.” bring relief Friday to a unit Elsewhere: Atlanta Hawks 95, Memphis fi fth straight loss despite 30 points from Denver Nuggets 116, Washing- RESULTS that has allowed 22 goals on Golden State Warriors 123, Phoe- Grizzlies 83: Paul Millsap scored 21 German star Dirk Nowitzki. ton Wizards 100: Bosnia’s Jusuf its last 66 chances. The unit nix Suns 116: Stephen Curry scored 35 points to lead a balanced attack for the Detroit Pistons 125, Philadel- Nurkic scored 17 points to lead a bal- Indiana 112 Dallas 105 also should get Marcus Kruger points for the Warriors, who improved host Hawks, who have won four of fi ve. phia 76ers 111: Reggie Jackson had 24 anced attack as the Nuggets com- Charlotte 125 Houston 109 back toward the end of the to 30-0 at home as they fought off the Charlotte Hornets 125, Houston points and 10 assists for the visiting pleted a 5-1 homestand and handed Detroit 125 Philadelphia 111 season. “We know that when pesky Suns, who got 30 points from Rockets 109: Kemba Walker scored Pistons. The 76ers retired the No. 4 of the Wizards their fifth straight set- Toronto 112 Miami 104 (OT) there’s something that’s really Brandon Knight. 26 points as the host Hornets held All- late former NBA great Dolph Schayes at back. Milwaukee 103 New Orleans 92 sticking out in our game, if Toronto Raptors 112, Miami Heat Star James Harden to 12 points in their halftime. Milwaukee Bucks 103, New Orle- Atlanta 95 Memphis 83 we address it, put even more 104 (OT): DeMar DeRozan scored seventh straight win. Portland Trail Blazers 121, Or- ans Hornets 92: Khris Middleton to- San Antonio 93 Oklahoma City 85 focus on it, work on it, there’s a season-high 38 points with 10 re- Indiana Pacers 112, Dallas Maver- lando Magic 84: Damian Lillard col- taled 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight Denver 116 Washington 100 nothing we can’t rectify and bounds for the host Raptors, who have icks 105: Paul George scored 20 points lected 19 points and 10 assists as the assists for the host Bucks. Anthony Golden State 123 Phoenix 116 improve on,” Toews said. won fi ve of six. Joe Johnson scored 28 to lead a balanced attack for the visiting Trail Blazers blasted the Magic, who Davis had 29 points and 11 boards for Portland 121 Orlando 84 Chicago Tribune points for the Heat. Pacers, who handed the Mavericks their completed a 1-3 road trip. the Pelicans.

NHL Granlund shines in Wild’s win over Canadiens

By Michael Russo RESULTS and said, “We’re still in the mix, the left-wing wall and centred Star Tribune (Minneapolis) which is good. But we’ve got to a pass that from the corner with Boston 3 NY Islanders 1 fi nd that last hump to get into his backhand that found Gran- Buff alo 3 Carolina 2 (OT) that last spot. It’s there to take it lund in the opposite circle. Detroit 3 NY Rangers 2 (OT) for us, but we have to work hard. Condon was distracted by ince home victories are Minnesota 4 Montreal 1 It’s not going to be given to us.” Thomas Vanek wreaking havoc a rarity these days, the Ottawa 4 Toronto 0 The fi rst part of the fi rst peri- at the front of the net and Gran- Wild know how crucial Florida 5 Philadelphia 4 (SO) od was a bit of a snoozer. It took lund one-timed the go-ahead the road will be this fi nal Winnipeg 3 Colorado 2 the Wild 4{ minutes to get a shot, tally. sprintS to the fi nish. St. Louis 5 Dallas 4 (OT) the Canadiens 7{ minutes. One big reason for the Wild’s One year after having a Arizona 4 Edmonton 0 But former Wild farmhand strong road play of late has been league-best 15-2-1 road record in Vancouver 4 Nashville 2 Mike Condon spiced things up a sizzling power play. the second half, the Wild opened New Jersey 2 Los Angeles 1 (OT) by lollygagging out of his net and The Wild entered the game a three-game trip Saturday night San Jose 5 Washington 2 coughing up the puck at the blue with 14 power-play goals in a by snapping the depleted Mon- line to Niederreiter. franchise-record 12 straight road treal Canadiens’ eight-game With Condon trapped, de- games. Granlund made it 15 in a home point streak with a 4-1 win is the only reason why the Wild fenseman Alexei Emelin tried to franchise-record 13 straight road at Bell Centre. are still in the playoff picture. get in front of Niederreiter, but games, the longest streak in the In front of a Hockey Night in The Colorado Avalanche blew a the big left wing made a couple NHL since 2007. Canada audience, Mikael Gran- 2-0 lead in Winnipeg and lost, moved, deked and whistled his Scandella, on the power play lund scored his career-high 3-2, meaning the Wild hopped 15th goal into a wide-open net. for the fi rst time under Torchetti ninth and 10th goals for his fi rst back into the eighth and fi nal The Canadiens would tie the with Mike Reilly scratched and career two-goal game. Montreal playoff spot. game when defenseman Mark Jason Pominville injured, wrist- native Marco Scandella was on Nino Niederreiter scored the Barberio scored on a rebound, ed a shot into traffi c that was for three Wild goals and Devan game’s fi rst goal and Erik Haula but the Wild got the lead back 67 blocked. Vanek sprung it loose Dubnyk, coming off a rough start added an empty-netter for the seconds later on Granlund’s fi rst to the side of the net for a wide- his last time out against St. Lou- Wild, who snapped a two-game of the night. open Granlund. is, was stellar with 30 saves as losing streak. Defenseman Matt Dumba The Wild did a good job shut- the Wild improved to 6-2 on the Saturday morning, Nieder- made the play. He blew by Tor- ting down Habs young talent road under John Torchetti. reiter talked about how unac- rey Mitchell, the former Wild Alex Galchenyuk. He entered the After going 2-8-3 at home in ceptable the Wild’s eff ort was winger who requested to be game with fi ve multi-goal games Minnesota Wild center Mikael Granlund (No 64) celebrates his goal against Montreal Canadiens with 2016, the Wild’s road play of late in Thursday’s loss to Edmonton traded two years ago, fl ew down in the previous eight games. teammates during the second period at Bell Centre. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times 8 Monday, March 14, 2016 SPORT

ATHLETICS FOCUS Ivanoff kicks off World Championship Bracy, Pierre, Eaton season with victory in Abu Dhabi

Agencies homme, the title is anyone’s to Abu Dhabi seize, and the heat was on at and Rollins claim Abu Dhabi’s sizzling shoreline. Unpredictable winds and a chal- he fi rst race of the 2016 lenging racetrack put the lineup Red Bull Air Race World of fourteen of the world’s best Championship was even pilots, including three former hotter than expected on World Champions and two TSaturday, as Nicolas Ivanoff of charging newcomers, to the test. France blazed through the py- The challenges will continue US Indoor crowns lons to victory in a close com- across six more countries before petition at Abu Dhabi’s famed the points are tallied to crown Corniche. Battling for the early the 2016 World Champion of the ‘I’m going to come out here and give it everything I’ve got’ lead in what’s setting up to be ultimate motorsport series in the an especially fi erce title bat- sky at the season fi nale in Las tle over the eight-race season, Vegas, USA this October. Ivanoff ’s time of 00:58:550 was Tickets for all stops of the MARVIN BRACY just enough to clinch the top step 2016 Red Bull Air Race World of the podium ahead of Matthias Championship – including the Dolderer of Germany in second next race in Spielberg, Austria on place 00:58;660 and Francois Le 23-24 April – are on sale now. For Vot of France in third 01:02;281. more information on tickets and With the retirement of 2015 all the latest, visit www.redbul- World Champion Paul Bon- lairrace.com

Nicolas Ivanoff (C) celebrates on the podium with Matthias Dolderer (L) and Francois Le Vot.

Kenyan athletes’ rep quits in frustration over doping crisis

AFP rugby, was fi fth in 6.67. Pierre, di Morris, fourth at last year’s ed this season and helped my 3:44.33, 2. Robby Andrews The Kenyan athletes’ representative, Noah Ngeny, has quit his Portland an Olympian for Haiti in 2008, world outdoors, cleared a per- confi dence going into worlds.” 3:44.40, 3. Ben Blankenship post, saying that the country’s sporting authorities were not doing matched Dutch star Dafne sonal best 4.95m to edge Suhr Vernon Norwood, a member 3:45.40 enough to tackle a doping crisis. Schippers for the fastest time in by .05. “I’m living a dream right of the US 4x400 world champi- Shot Put: 1. Kurt Roberts Kenya is a global leader in endurance running, both on the track arvin Bracy and the world this year by winning now,” Morris said. “I was kind of on relay last year at Beijing, won 20.08m, 2. Reese Hoff a 20.07, 3. and in city marathons but more than 40 of its athletes have been Barbara Pierre won the women’s 60 in 7.00sec with doubting myself, making things the men’s 400 crown in 45.80. Jonathan Jones 19.94 banned for doping in the past three years. impressive 60m ti- Tori Bowie second in 7.15. on my second or third attempts. Quanera Hayes used a strong Triple Jump: 1. Chris Carter Several senior off icials have also been suspended for misusing tles while Brianna Pierre said she was shocked To come out on top with a big fi nishing kick to win the wom- 17.06, 2. Omar Craddock 16.96, funds and other allegations. MRollins and Jarret Eaton cap- by her victory margin and speed personal record, that’s incred- en’s 400 while Natasha Hast- 3. Chris Benard 16.93 The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has given Kenya until April tured outstanding 60m hurdles but, “it was more the time. I’ve ible.” ings, a former world and Olym- Women 5 to prove it can successfully tackle the doping issue, or face exclu- crowns Saturday at the US In- been working hard. For me to pic US 4x400 relay champion, 60m: 1. Barbara Pierre 7.00, 2. sion from the Rio Olympics. door Track and Field Champi- come out here and get that, I Rio dream faded late and settled for third. Tori Bowie 7.15, 3. Tianna Barto- “Athletics Kenya (AK) has ignored my advice to spend money in sen- onships. was like, ‘Yes, I need that in my Vasthi Cunningham, the Ajee Wilson won her third US letta 7.17 sitising athletes on matters of doping. I find that unacceptable,” said The American sprinters es- life.’” 18-year-old daughter of former indoor 800 crown in four years 60 hurdles: 1. Brianna Rollins Ngeny, the 1,500 metre champion at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. tablished themselves as strong Eaton won the 60 hurdles in NFL quarterback Randall Cun- in 2:00.87. 7.76, 2. Kendra Harrison 7.77, 3. Sponsors have withdrawn their support and questioned AK’s spend- title contenders when the World 7.52, the best time in the world ningham, won the women’s Kurt Roberts won the shot put Queen Harrison 7.83 ing practices, he said. Indoor Championships are this year, with Spencer Adams high jump by clearing 1.99m. crown with a heave of 20.08m, 400: 1. Quanera Hayes 51.09, 2. Ngeny retired from international athletics in 2006 and has been the staged next week at the same runner-up in 7.58. Rollins won She will bid for a world title next edging former world champion Ashley Spencer 51.29, 3. Nata- athletes’ representative in AK venue in Portland, Oregon. a photo fi nish for the women’s week and a spot in the Rio Ol- Reese Hoff a by .01. sha Hastings 51.34 Last month AK Chief Executive Isaac Mwangi was provisionally Bracy took his third consecu- 60 hurdles title in 7.76 to 7.77 for ympics in July. RESULTS 800: 1. Ajee Wilson 2:00.87, suspended by the Ethics Board of the sport’s world governing body tive US indoor 60m crown in a Kendra Harrison as they ran the “One of my dreams is to be Men 2. Laura Roesler 2:02.44, 3. after being accused of seeking bribes to reduce doping suspensions photo fi nish, outleaning Tray- two fastest times in the world on the US 2016 Olympic team,” 60m: 1. Marvin Bracy 6.51 sec- Phoebe Wright 2:02.51 of two athletes. von Bromell after both broke the this year. “Been practicing that she said. “My dad has helped me onds, 2. Brayvon Bromell 6.51, 3. 1,500: 1. Brenda Martinez Former AK President Isaiah Kiplagat, his former deputy, David tape in 6.51 seconds. lean,” Rollins said. “There are a develop as an athlete and a per- Trell Kimmons 6.55 4:08.37, 2. Cory McGee 4:09.97, Okeyo, and former AK treasurer Joseph Kinyua have all been Bracy, 22, and Bromell, 20, lot of fast girls out here.” son very strongly. His knowl- 60 hurdles: 1. Jarret Eaton 7.52, 3. Amanda Eccleston 4:10.42 suspended by the IAAF Ethics Commission on charges of misusing will challenge Jamaica’s Asafa Reigning Olympic champion edge transfers to my head very 2. Spencer Adams 7.58, 3. Jeff Long Jump: 1. Brittney Reese funds from a sponsorship by U.S. sports manufacturer Nike. Powell for the world crown next Brittney Reese, a three-time well.” Porter 7.61 6.89m, 2. Janay DeLoach 6.64, The off icials have denied wrongdoing. week. world outdoor champion and Matthew Centrowitz, fourth 400: 1. Vernon Norwood 45.80, 3. Andrea Geubelle 6.57 Ngeny also questioned why the current AK President, Jack Tuwei, “I’m going to come out here two-time world indoor cham- in the 2012 Olympic men’s 2. Kyle Clemons 45.95, 3. Elvy- High Jump: 1. Vasthi Cunning- has not been formally confirmed after serving in the position for and give it everything I’ve got,” pion, won the women’s long 1,500, won the event in 3:44.33 onn Bailey 46.22 ham 1.99m, 2. Elizabeth Patter- nearly a year. “The best thing to do under such circumstances is call Bracy said. US Eagles rugby jump with a leap of 6.89m. and seeks a world crown next 800: 1. Boris Berian 1:47.19, 2. son 1.93, 3. Chaunte Lowe 1.93 for elections to give off icials a fresh mandate for running the federa- sevens player Carlin Isles, who Reigning Olympic champion week. Erik Sowinski 1:47.62, 3. Casimir Pole Vault: 1. Sandi Morris tion,” Ngeny said. says he wants to qualify for Jenn Suhr settled for second in “Just the momentum (was Loxsom 1:47.89 4.95m, 2. Jenn Suhr 4.90, 3. Tuwei was not available for comment. the Rio Olympics in track and the women’s pole vault as San- big),” he said. “Stayed undefeat- 1,500: 1. Matthew Centrowitz Demi Payne 4.85

SPOTLIGHT Kirwa wins Nagoya as Noguchi’s Rio dream dashed

AFP ing a third Japanese berth up for grabs. Nagyo Former Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi’s dreams of a fairytale end to her career were dashed when the 37-year-old ahrain’s Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa won failed to keep up with the early pace and fi n- the Nagoya Women’s Marathon for ished 23rd, fi ghting back tears as she crossed the second year in succession yes- the line. terday as Japanese runners jostled “After 30 kilometres the support was forB Olympic spots behind her. overwhelming,” said Noguchi, winner of the The Kenyan-born athlete, who holds the 2004 Olympics when she famously broke Asian Games gold, clocked 2hr 22min 40sec Briton Paula Radcliff e’s heart in an Athens while Japan’s Tomomi Tanaka fi nished sec- heatwave to take gold. ond to boost her hopes of going to Rio this “I tried to keep smiling because it was like summer. a guard of honour coming home. I’ve no re- “The hard work starts now,” Kirwa told grets.” reporters. “I know the Olympics will not be Marathon running is seen as something easy so I have to keep pushing in training.” of a religion in Japan and reached its ze- Tanaka struggled to hold back tears after nith when fan favourite Naoko Takahashi the race. stormed to gold at the 2000 Sydney Olym- “There was so much support I felt like I pics, followed by Noguchi’s Athens triumph was going to cry,” said Tanaka. “I’m so de- in 2004. termined to get to Rio that I didn’t want any- The same year, Yoko Shibui won the pres- one to beat me.” tigious Berlin Marathon but major success Mai Ito has already qualified for Rio af- has been fl eeting since, highlighted by Reiko ter finishing seventh at last year’s world Tosa’s 2006 Tokyo win, as Kenyan and Ethi- championships in Beijing while Kayoko opian runners in particular have come to the Fukushi is virtually assured a spot, leav- fore. Bahrain’s Eunice Jepkirui Kirwa celebrates after crossing the finish line in the Nagoya Women’s Marathon yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Monday, March 14, 2016 9 SPORT

Qatari duo top UAE Jetski Championship CYCLING Thomas edges Contador for Paris-Nice win

Qatari Aquabike Team ‘Prochamp’ took part in the UAE Jetski Championship in Sharjah on Friday. Qatari rider Mohammed al-Heidous was champion in the super stock expert category, while his compatriot Bader al-Zaini topped the stock expert category.

GOLF

Britain’s Geraint Thomas celebrates on the podium after he won the 74th edition of the Paris-Nice cycling Spieth fi ghts race after the seventh and final stage yesterday.

AFP Cote d’Azur city of Nice to hold on to the yellow jersey. Nice He said: “When Alberto went on the Cote de Peille I stuck with my team and felt good, strong and in con- trol, but when he went again half way up the Col d’Eze riton Geraint Thomas claimed his maiden my legs just gave way. Paris-Nice yesterday after a nerve-tingling “It was horrible and I thought ‘this is going to be all back but Haas seventh and fi nal stage won by Belgium’s Tim over’. Wellens. “I got dropped from the chase group and thought BThomas, who only took the race leader’s yellow I was going to struggle to even get on the podium. jersey off Australian Michael Matthews on Saturday’s Thankfully Sergio stayed with me.” stage, fi nished a mere four seconds ahead of two-time Contador was frustrated. Tour de France winner Alberto Contador of Spain. He said: “I wanted another outcome, I don’t like It was one of the closest fi nishes in the history of fi nishing second. I came to the Paris-Nice to win. the event known as the ‘Race to the Sun’. “Geraint Thomas controlled it well, he’s got a very grabs the lead The 29-year-old Welshman’s biggest career vic- strong team, but we can succeed in beating them. tory was Team Sky’s fourth in fi ve editions of the “On the plus side I feel good and it’s encouraging Paris-Nice. for the Tour of Catalonia.” ‘I made some nice putts early and some loose shots on the back Wellens took the fi nal day honours after fending off Thomas becomes the third Briton to win the event breakaway partners Contador and Australian Richie after Tom Simpson in 1967 and Bradley Wiggins in nine I was able to get away with’ Porte in a sprint for the line. 2012. Thomas crossed in the chasing pack fi ve seconds The winning margin was the second tightest only AFP adrift. shaded by the three seconds Davide Rebellin had up Miami Contador, 15sec behind at the start of the 134 kilo- his sleeve over his fellow Italian Rinaldo Nocentini in metre ride, launched a number of attacks, the fi rst 2008. 50km from the end. Thomas added: “It’s incredible to have won Paris- op-ranked defending champion The Spaniard made a decisive move on the Col Nice and hard to believe, to be honest. Jordan Spieth fought into conten- d’Eze, 17km out. “Contador is one of the best stage racers ever and tion but it was fellow American Bill Pursued by Thomas he appeared to have done Richie won nearly every race he did last year, so to beat Haas who grabbed the lead after Sat- enough to make up his defi cit on the Welshman who those two - I can’t really believe it. urday’sT third round of the US PGA Valspar was struggling up the climb. “I came here trying to win and do the best I could, Championship. But Thomas, helped by his Colombian teammate but to actually do it is amazing. It’s the biggest win of Reigning Masters and US Open champion Sergio Henso, made up ground in the entrance to the my career, for sure, and I’m over the moon.” Spieth, frustrated after opening with a 76, fi red a bogey-free four-under par 67 Satur- day to reach two-under 211, six shots off the pace of Haas, who also had a 67 on the Cop- perhead course at Innisbrook. Qatar International Taekwondo “I’m still in this golf tournament,” Spieth said. “(I will need) something like seven-un- der tomorrow, which is feasible. So to think Golf Channel reporter Notah after the fi rst round that I go Saturday night Begay III looks on during the and be able to sleep with a chance to win the third round of the Valspar golf tournament, I’m very pleased with that.” Championship at Innisbrook Haas birdied the par-5 fi rst and par-3 Resort Copperhead Course in fourth then began the back nine with back- Palm Harbor, Florida. to-back birdies. He answered a bogey at the par-3 13th with a chip-in birdie at the par-3 15th to grab his seventh career 54-hole lead, his fi rst since winning last year at Palm Desert, California. “I made some nice putts early and some loose shots on the back nine I was able to get away with,” Haas said. “Overall somewhat solid. Very pleased to shoot four-under.” Canada’s Graham DeLaet, seeking his fi rst US PGA title, was second on 206 after a 68 while Americans Charley Hoff man and Ryan Moore shared third on 208, a US trio and his greens in regulation has progressed round,” Spieth said. “Really nice to have no of Steve Stricker, Patrick Reed and Charles from six to 10 to 12. blemishes.” Howell were on 209 and South African Charl “My misses were still on the greens today,” Spieth, who won the Hyundai Tourna- Schwartzel was on 210. Spieth said. “I drove the ball a bit better. To ment of Champions in January, was happy at Then came Spieth in a pack of 10 play- be honest with you, it really felt like it was a his fi ghtback from a poor start. ers on 211. The 22-year-old Texan said he 6-, 7-under round.” “Very well could have packed it in and wouldn’t rule out fl irting with the course Spieth opened with a tap-in birdie, added had some more rest this week,” Spieth said. record of 61 even though the layout has been a 31-foot birdie at the 12th and sank a 51-foot “But we did a great job of sticking to it and stingy this week. eagle putt at the par-5 14th hole. understanding that if we’re patient with our “I don’t even think we need to do that to- “I was leaving everything short, which birdies out here and we just limit those bo- morrow and we’re defi nitely capable of it,” you’ll see a lot this week here, but started geys and don’t take too many chances we can Spieth said. to be a little more aggressive today on the shoot rounds of 3-, 4-under and maybe you Winners pose with their medals during the Qatar International Taekwondo Championships in Doha Spieth found all but two fairways after greens, hitting my longer putts harder and get one at 6 (under) tomorrow and I have a yesterday. The event has attracted particpiants from many countries. PICTURE: Jayaram reaching only seven in the fi rst two rounds it was stress-free pars for the majority of the chance to win.”

BOTTOMLINE Aussie Hend holds off Piya charge to claim title

Reuters 798th in the world, threatened an unlikely tee shot at the 330 metre par-four 17th and Hua Hin victory with a blistering 63. walked away with a key birdie after a solid Piya had already made six birdies and an short putt to go ahead for good. eagle when he rolled in a tricky 15-foot to pick More power hitting saw him fi nd the green cott Hend continued Australia’s im- up another shot on the fi nal green and snatch in two at the par fi ve last as he took three Scott Hend of Australia pressive run on the European Tour the lead for the fi rst time, drawing a fl urry of putts to close out victory at the $1.75 million holds the winner’s trophy this season by holding off the course fi st pumps and cheers from the crowd. event and become the fi fth diff erent Austral- after the final round of the record charge of home hope Piya But overnight leader Hend quickly re- ian winner in 13 European Tour events this SwangarunpornS to win the True Thailand sponded, rolling in a birdie two on the 14th at season. True Thailand Classic golf tournament at the Black Classic yesterday. Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin where Belgium’s Thomas Pieters (68) fi nished Mountain Golf Club in Hua The 42-year-old Queenslander birdied his he was runner-up a year ago. third on 15-under, with American Peter Uih- Hin, Thailand. 17th hole and went on to sign for a four-un- The big hitting Australian, whose previous lein (70) fourth and Swede Pelle Edberg (70) der-par 68 and 18-under total to edge Piya by European Tour win came at the 2014 Hong fi fth at the event co-sanctioned with the one-shot after the unheralded Thai, ranked Kong Open, then drove the green with his Asian Tour. Gulf Times 10 Monday, March 14, 2016 SPORT

BADMINTON Lin Dan eyes Rio gold aft er All-England triumph AFP here at the world’s oldest interna- game, increasing the pace slightly at this stage. “I don’t think that’s Birmingham tional tournament, it was a suitably and taking a few more risks in try- right,” Lin answered. “Last year we China's Lin Dan (left) excellent way to say good-bye. Mis- ing to force attacks through. were always in the same half and we and compatriot Tian chievously skilful, tenaciously con- He reduced the defi cit to 10-15, did play against each other, and we Houwei pose with their All in Dan, already regarded by tentious, and consistently fl uent he but these were the last points he do respect each other.” England trophies. Lin Dan many as the greatest player ensured the outcome was never in was able to win. A rare but fantas- There is now only six weeks till won 21-9, 21-10. (AFP) of all time, made another doubt. Almost within moments he tic piece of retrieving by Lin was the end of the Olympic qualify- entry into the record books was 7-1 up and was playing with an followed by a dramatic transform- ing period, and though much may Lwith an overwhelming perform- intensity of focus greater than any- ing kill and a piece of theatrics as happen during that time, it is ance to recpature his sixth All- thing previously this week. he turned to the crowd and threw now highly likely—despite all the England Open title yesterday. Tian tried to hustle him a little his arms wide open. speculation in recent years about Lin’s 21-9, 21-10 victory over and got back to 7-11 but it was al- He may have enjoyed that mo- retirement—that Lin will go to an- his compatriot Tian Houwei was most impossible to escape the web ment as much as anything since other Games. But will he ever be a thrilling rebuttal to critics who created by the patient accuracy of triumphing at the London Ol- seen at another All-England? “I reckoned that, now aged 32 and Lin’s clears, lifts and net shots. ympics three and a half years don’t know,” he shrugged. with a mere handful of titles in the Lin also made very few mistakes ago. “When I came back (af- Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara beat past three years, the Chinese leg- despite often playing to tight mar- ter two long periods away from China’s Wang Shixian 21-11, 16-21, end is really only a past master. gins, before picking his moments the game) I tried to prove to the 21-19 to win the women's title. Instead Lin suggested a record superbly to make a quick change world that I am still the best,” Lin third Olympic men’s singles gold of direction or a sudden attack- said, appearing to imply that he Results (Finals) medal could well be possible in Rio ing thrust. He used the smash or now thought he was.“I am pleased Men’s singles: Lin Dan (CHN x5) bt de Janeiro in fi ve months’ time. “I the fast drop only rarely, but it was with the fi tness that I have.” Tian Houwei (CHN x8) 21-9, 21-10 wanted to show everyone that at 33 often enough to make a constant Notably though he did not this Women’s singles: Nozomi Oku- I will still be able to do it,” he said. attacking threat and infrequent week have to play his long-time hara (JPN x8) bt Wang Shixian It was four years since Lin last enough to remain a surprise. rival Lee Chong Wei, the former (CHN x7) 21-11, 16-21, 21-19 won the All-England, but his total of By the second game his confi - world number one from Malay- Women’s doubles: Misaki Matsu- men’s singles titles here now has only dence in ultimate victory was very sia, or Chen Long, the top-seeded tomo/Ayaka Takahashi (JPN x3) bt been surpassed by Rudy Hartono, the evident, and twice he produced mo- world number one who is likely to Yu Yang/Tang Yuanting (CHN x6) great Indonesian, who won eight. ments of arrogant magic in which be his teammate in Rio. 21-10, 21-12; Mixed doubles: Praveen That though was more than 40 years he managed to make Tian turn and It was suggested by one ques- Jordan/Debby Susanto (INDO x8) bt ago and in the pre-professional era. run. The younger man made his last tioner that he and Chen might have Joachim Fischer Nielsen/Christina If this is Lin’s last appearance serious push at 4-13 in the second been trying to avoid each other Pedersen (DEN x5) 21-12, 21-17

BNB PARIBAS OPEN FOCUS Nadal hits back at dope Kerber, Muguruza lead cover-up seeds’ exodus; Murray, allegations Wawrinka cruise ahead 'If you lose in the first round you always have the next week to make it better. I achieved my goal of winning a Grand Slam. Nobody can take that away from me'

Angelique Kerber of Germany AFP returns a shot to Denisa Allertova Indian Wells of Czech Republic during their second-round match at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on panish tennis star Rafael Nadal Saturday. (AFP) has hit back at a claim that he faked an injury in 2012 to cover up a failed drugs test. The 14-time major win- nerS said it was unfathomable that someone would accuse him of using a false injury to try and escape the wrath of the tennis’ anti-doping offi cials. “Me?” he asked. “You can ask the ITF (International Tennis Federation), you can ask WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), you can ask everybody.” Nadal has never failed a drug test in his many years on the ATP Tour and has always vehemently denied ever using a banned substance. “I never did and I will never do and I don’t want to talk about that again,” he said on Saturday night after his doubles loss to the Americans Bob and Mike Bryan at the hardcourt tournament at Indian Wells. Roselyne Bachelot, France’s sports min- ister between 2007 and 2010, claimed that Nadal had faked an injury in 2012, when he missed the fi nal six months of the season due to knee problems, to hide a positive drug test. Nadal said he wants “justice”—his name cleared and for people to stop pointing fi n- gers at him. “I have been working so hard during the whole of my career to have the success that I have and now is the moment to do justice. I am tired of that and I want justice,” Nadal said. Nadal’s comments come in the wake of former world number one Maria Sharapo- va’s failed drug test at the Australian Open which she revealed on Monday. Sharapova tested positive for meldo- nium, which was added to the WADA’s banned list this year. Nadal said he was pleased to see all the support he has received from sports or- ganizations, sports personalities, fans and AFP jury just prior to her opening match than it was a few months ago,” she seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland will face Federico Delbonis who beat family who have rushed to his defence after Indian Wells against Daria Kasatkina. said. “I will try to learn from this ex- beat American Laura Davis 6-3, 3-6, Joao Sousa 7-6 (8/6), 6-4. Bachelot’s comments. Kerber knocked off Serena Williams perience. It was a busy week for me. It 6-3, Eugenie Bouchard beat Sloane “I came out and served a good “Just thanks for the support from the in the Australian Open fi nal in January is a new situation I have to try to get Stephens 7-5, 7-5 and Italian Roberta game,” Murray said. “I had my serv- people,” Nadal said. “It is great to see the ustralian Open champion for the fi rst Grand Slam tournament used to.” Vinci outlasted Margarita Gasparyan ice game going, especially in the tie- huge support from the world of sport.” Angelique Kerber, fourth victory of her career. Kerber said the trophy she won at 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/5). breaker.” Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane seed Garbine Muguruza and But Kerber’s biggest problem on the the Australian Open recently arrived On the men’s side of the draw, French Open champion Stan launched a staunch personal defence of Spanish star Carla Suarez WTA Tour has been inconsistency. at her home and now sits in the mid- world No. 2 and second seed Andy Wawrinka defeated Illya Marchenko Nadal, saying “he is a gentleman and a per- NavarroA were all second-round casu- She played superbly in Australia but dle of her living room. “It was a great Murray got his campaign off to a y-fl 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round. son that has shown values”. alties at the Indian Wells hardcourt then lost her fi rst match at Doha. This feeling and it is the highlight of my ing start with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) win over Third seed Wawrinka, who will turn Real Madrid also released a statement tennis tournament on Saturday. is the third straight year she has lost career right now,” she said. Spaniard Marcel Granollers. 31 later this month, moves on to face and Nadal’s uncle Toni Nadal called Bach- World No. 2 and second seed Kerber her opening match at Indian Wells. Kerber had no aces and four dou- Murray is playing in his fi fth ATP unseeded Russian Andrey Kuznetsov elot “an imbecile”. crashed out of the joint WTA and ATP “If you lose in the fi rst round you ble-faults. She had her serve broken Tour tournament since losing to No- who beat Jeremy Chardy in straight Nadal hopes that with the support he event, losing her opening match in always have the next week to make it four times in the 98 minute main sta- vak Djokovic in the fi nal of the Aus- sets 6-4, 6-2. has received he can now put the matter to straight sets 7-5, 7-5 to Czech Denisa better,” she said. “I achieved my goal dium match. “I had my chances in the tralian Open. It was his fourth cham- Czech Tomas Berdych defeated bed once and for all. Allertova. of winning a Grand Slam. Nobody can second set and I didn’t take them,” she pionship match loss to Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 “Believe me our sport is clean,” he said. Former Wimbledon fi nalist Mugu- take that away from me.” said. the fi fth time he has lost in an Aus- and Canadian 12th seed Milos Raonic “If everybody is doing something wrong ruza was upset by American Chris- The 28-year-old German said there Allertova, 23, advanced to the third tralian fi nal. routed Inigo Cervantes-Huegun 6-1, then the people go to the justice and go on tina McHale 7-5, 6-1 and sixth seeded are now more demands on her time round where she will face Great Brit- Murray, who was the Indian Wells 6-3. Eighth-seeded Richard Gasquet trial and then the judge decides. Our sports Suarez Navarro withdrew from the since her victory in Australia. ain’s Johanna Konta. runner-up to Rafael Nadal in 2009, beat Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-1 in an all- is not a sport that covers up for people do- tournament with a right ankle in- “The pressure is much diff erent In other women’s matches, seventh advances to the third round where he French matchup and Gael Monfi ls. ing negative things. I am tired of all of this.” Gulf Times Monday, March 14, 2016 11 SPORT

RUGBY Scots down France to hand Six Nations crown to England A win over Ireland in Dublin next week could give the Scots a creditable third place finish

France’s Damien Chouly (centre) catches the ball in the line-out during the Six Nations international rugby union match against Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, Scotland yesterday. (AFP)

AFP by a big margin to harbour any realistic hopes to Fofana and he found skipper Guilhem Guira- Laidlaw missed the conversion, but four min- in search of a third try, but the Scottish de- Edinburgh, Scotland of overtaking unbeaten England for the Six Na- do at his shoulder to charge over for the opening utes later Taylor broke clear from near his own fence held firm. Shortly afterwards Machen- tions title. Coach Guy Noves brought in potent score. Fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc missed the 22-metre line puncturing some sloppy French aud reduced the deficit to three points from fi repower in the back division in the shape of conversion and he then sent wide a straightfor- defending and racing the length of the fi eld to much further out after another Scottish in- cotland produced their best perform- Wesley Fofana, Gael Fickou and Scott Spedding, ward penalty attempt wide as France turned on touch down for a superb individual try. fringment. ance in years to defeat France 29-18 and looking for a cutting edge that was missing in the early pressure. This time Laidlaw converted and suddenly it Scotland worked their way deep into French hand the Six Nations title to unbeaten the loss to Wales. Scrum-half Greig Laidlaw, winning his 50th was 18-5 for the home side. territory from the kickoff and two charging runs England at Murrayfi eld yesterday. Vern His Scottish counterpart and close friend cap for Scotland and 25th as skipper, then opened France needed a quick response before half- from Richie Gray and Willem Nel to just short of SCotter’s side ran in three tries to two as they ran from their Top 14 club rivalry, Vern Cotter, his side’s account with two easy penalties after 15 time and they got it right on the whistle as Fick- the line fi xed the French defence and Tim Visser up back-to-back wins in the tournament for the opted for stability on the back of the away win and 20 minutes as the Scottish pack drove for- ou darted over after a multi-phase action. dived over in the corner on a tap-on pass from fi rst time in three years, and in the process se- over Italy with just two changes - Alex Dunbar ward. Against the run of play Scotland had their Trinh-Duc fi nally found his range to send the Hogg when the ball was swung left. cured their fi rst win over France in 10 years. in at centre for the injured Matt Scott and Josh noses in front at 6-5 and it brought a period of sides in at 18-12 for Scotland. The Scots had a 26-18 lead with 10 minutes A win over Ireland in Dublin next week could Strauss adding some bulk to the back row. sustained pressure from the home side. Duncan A long-range Hogg penalty eased Scotland to go and another Laidlaw penalty gave his side give the Scots a creditable third place fi nish Scotland charged into the French 22 from the Taylor fi rst punched a hole in French defence and ahead 21-12 fi ve minutes into the second half some breathing space at 29-18. while the French will host England in Paris with off , but on the counter attack the visitors broke then Richie Grey powered to just short of the line. only for scrum-half Maxime Machenaud to re- Fickou sped over for a desperate France, but their championship hopes in tatters. clear through the middle. The ball was worked Laidlaw spun the ball out from the breakdown ply in kind three minutes later. he was called back by the referee allowing Hogg France came into the match needing to win out to winger Virimi Vakatawa, who fed inside and Stuart Hogg jinked his way over. France turned down another penalty award to clear the danger and secure a famous win.

Qatar International Arabian Horse Show PINOY BASKETBALL OF QATAR Team Nissan triumph Doha: Nissan showed more fo- players carry out balance team never wore out even with the cus and coherence in the tight play was the key for their win as tiring 10 minute game extension ballgame, as they beat a fi ght- Mendoza led with 20 points and while Alfardan’s Aristotle Fern- ing AAB Toyota 62-58 to cap- supported by Allan Mallari with andez single-handedly carried ture the crown at the Inter-Car 16 points, Darwin Talastas with his team to fi ght till the end Division of Pinoy Basketball of nine points and Thirdie Bazan but his best was not really good Qatar’s 19th Season. with eight points. enough. Nissan’s Benzon Mendoza, “Both teams played with “Porsche give their best they who was chosen as Most Valua- pride to carry their company’s can even if they have under- ble Player of the season, reigned banner that they deserved to manned line-up and that what supreme in most of the game bring home the bacon but in the matter most for their big win,” even as his teammates gave him end there is only one champi- said Hernand Flores, SBP na- the much needed support to on,” said coach Francis Merca- tional referee and co-game clinch the hard-earned victory do, PIBAQ Game Commissioner commissioner. Nissan received in the midst of loud cheers from and PYC Youth Director. the championship trophy while the crowd. The battle for third place in the entire team received each AAB Toyota tried to inch the tournament turned out to gold medals. The PIBAQ 19th closer to the 12 point edge of be more intense as the game Season was presented by Ali- Nissan which refused to budge ended with double overtime as cafe with the support of Phil- with their consistent focus on Porsche earned the dramatic ippine embassy in Qatar and Al Shaqab’s Hariry Al Shaqab was adjudged winner of the Class 10B of 4-6-year-old stallions during the Qatar International Arabian Horse the game that they maintained win to gain the second runner Qatar Basketball Federation and Show at Al Shaqab Arena yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim until the fi nal buzzer. up plum. sponsored by Ooredoo and Di- A game plan to let Nissan key Porsche’s Allan Mac Lloremia ana Jewellery & Watches.

Al Muawd Stud owner Saad al-Muawd al-Subae presents the winner’s trophy after Najd AM won the Class 6B for three-year-old colts for owner HH Prince Abdullah bin Fahad bin Abdulla al-Saud. Nissan players celebrate with the trophy after their triumph. Monday, March 14, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Mixed night for Hurricanes at the Qatar Rugby Sevens Hurricanes captain Banks was instrumental in his side's win over Camels 2, scoring two tries

In the opening match, the Hurricanes were outclassed by Camels 1 70-0. But the Hurricanes bounced back to beat Camels 2.

By Sports Reporter eight tries (8) to one (1). Lead by Captain Issac displayed skills beyond his years. The Camels 2 After every try we scored, we just kept on push- ard of rugby as evident by tonight is certainly Doha Banks, the Hurricanes posted fi rst points and only try came from powerhouse Rakan Muta- ing and were never satisfi ed until the fi nal whis- improving.” never looked back. Banks was instrumental waa. Mutawaa rarely saw the ball but when he tle. We are very happy that we still can secure Qatar’s new rugby sevens league is organised throughout the entire match scoring two tries got it he showed his teammates what to do with second place in the standings”. by the Qatar Rugby Federation as part of a move he Hurricanes had a night of a mixed one which was in spectacular diving fashion. it. He walked over his would be defenders and Banks played tribute to his young guns, say- to widen the appeal of what is becoming one of emotions at the Qatar Rugby Sevens He could have added another when he came raced 50 meters to score a great solo try. Final ing: “Tom Ayling and Sam Higgs, coming back the world’s most popular sports. league losing to the top seeded team be- within a whisker before being pulled down score was Hurricanes 46 Camels 2 7. from Qatar National Sevens duty, they have The inaugural league includes seven teams fore holding their own against the Cam- short of the line. Speaking about both matches, Hurricanes shown that they relished the National environ- that will play against each other twice over nine Tels 2 on Saturday night at the Aspire warm up Banks and his Hurricanes starved the opposi- captain Issac Banks said: “Camels 1 are just a ment, and their play was very polished after in- weeks to try to take the title of league champi- and purpose built rugby track. tion of ball possession and capitalised on every class apart, we are amateurs playing profession- ternational experience.” ons. The league has been set up following suc- In the opening match, the Hurricanes were lose ball. He worked tirelessly all night chasing als. We dismissed that performance after the In another match, Camels 1 blocked out the cessful events in Dubai and the Qatar National out classed by the undefeated Camels 1 losing high kicks and defending well. His sterling per- game was fi nished, and concentrated solely on College of North Atlantic 57 to nil. Speaking the Day rugby sevens, which served as a tester for 70-0. The Camels 1 ran in ten unanswered con- formance won him the man of the match. the Camels 2 game.” matches QRF General Secretary Ali al-Malki the new league. verted tries to nil. Banks had a helping hand from youngster and An upbeat Banks continued: “To take apart a said: “We have reached the half way mark of our The teams competing in the league are: Al However, the Hurricanes bounced back in Qatar national rugby sevens debutant Samuel much vaunted Camels 2 team, featuring many sevens rugby season. It’s hard to believe it has Khor, Blue Falcons, Camels 1, Camels 2, CNAQ, their second match against Camels 2 when Higgs who also bagged two tries. The 18-year- national players in the aggressive fashion that gone so quick. It is a tremendous feeling to see Doha Rugby Football Club (DRFC) Hurricanes they started with strong fi eld position scoring old played a fundamental supporting role and we did really shows our never-say-die attitude. player’s progress week in week out. The stand- and Doha Lions.

FOCUS Al-Rajhi extends overall lead in Ha’il Nissan Rally

By Sports Reporter Ha’il, Saudi Arabia

audi Arabia’s Yazeed al-Rajhi and German navigator Timo Gottschalk hammered home their advantage on the third selectiveS section of the Ha’il Nis- san International Rally yesterday and will take an outright lead of 1 hour 01 minute 46 seconds into today’s fi nal competitive section. The Hummer driver carded a time of 2hr 22min 56sec for the desert stage, run to the north and west of the city of Ha’il, and beat nearest rival Ahmed al- Shegawi by 19min 24sec. “I am enjoying the rally and able to extend my lead each day and I am on course to score a fi fth win in Ha’il and the second in succession,” said al- Rajhi. “I had no problems at all today. Everything went smoothly, but I didn’t drive on the limit. I took things easily. This is not my usual nature to do this, but I have a big gap to manage to the fi nish. I just hope that everyone can now fi nish the rally safely tomorrow.” Rajah-Fahan al-Shammeri moved into second place overall in his Nissan after clocking the fi fth quickest time. Ahmed-Abdullah al-Shehail moved up to an unoffi cial third, Faris al-Mashna was fourth and Nissan Middle East- backed Lebanese driver Emil Khneisser Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed al-Rajhi and German navigator Timo Gottschalk in action at the Ha’il Nissan International Rally. Rajah Farhan al-Shammeri of Saudi was at second spot. was fi fth. There were also useful moves up the leader board for Ahmed al-Sab- who began the day in eighth overall of Abdul-Majeed al-Khulaifi headed the patronage of His Royal Highness from Al-Farhaniyah and fi nishes at 5. Emil Khneisser (LEB)/Alexei Kuzmich ban and Owaid Mansi into eighth and the surviving 32 cars. into the penultimate selective section Prince Saud bin Abdul Mohsen bin Ab- Qana. A liaison section of 54.91m then (RUS) Nissan 8hr 05min 23sec 11th in the unoffi cial results. Qatar’s Sheikh Hamed bin Eid al- with a lead of 6min 15sec over Heshay- dul Aziz, Governor of Ha’il, President guides teams back to the fi nish in Ha’il. 6. Khalaf-Jouan al-Shammeri (SAU)/Jouan Al-Rajhi began the day’s selective Thani, former T3 front-running Emi- an al-Heshayan’s Yamaha in the quad of the Supreme Commission for Ha’il al-Shammeri (SAU) Toyota 8hr 5min 44sec section of 206.40km with an over- rati Khalid al-Jafl ah and Saudi’s Sami category. Both al-Khulaifi and Ahmed Development and the Head of the Su- LEADING POSITIONS AFTER LEG 3 7. Meshaal al-Saeedi (SAU)/Bandar al- all lead over Khalid al-Fraihi of 37min al-Shammeri failed to start the stage al-Nasser maintained their respective preme Commission of the Ha’il Rally. 1. Yazeed al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk Saeedi (SAU) Nissan 8hr 06min 25sec 17sec. The competitive route began after suff ering technical issues on Sat- quad and motorcycle leads to take into The SAMF runs under the chairman- (DEU) Hummer 6hr 37min 03sec 8. Ahmed al-Sabban (SAU)/Adel Abdullah from Shot and wound its way through urday. today’s fi nal selective section and look ship of His Royal Highness Prince Sul- 2. Rajah Farhan al-Shammeri (SAU)/ (QAT) Ford Raptor 8hr 08min 48sec the An Nafud desert to a fi nish, near Khalid al-Fraihi lost second in the on course to repeat last year’s success- tan Bin Bandar Al-Faisal and the event Mubarak al-Shammeri (SAU) Nissan 7hr 9. Khalid al-Fraihi (SAU)/Ali Obaid (ARE) Jubbah. overall standings after beginning the es. Al-Khulaifi extended his advantage is being organised in conjunction with 38min 49sec Nissan 8hr 14min 54sec Al-Rajhi started to carve out a lead stage late; the Saudi realised that he over al-Heshayan to 10min 21sec in the the High Authority for the Develop- 3. Ahmed Abdullah al-Shehail (SAU)/Rash- 10. Munif al-Salmani (SAU)/Ali al-Sayari from the start and reached the third had left his crash helmet at rally head- quads. Abdulsalem Hamam is third of ment of Ha’il. eed Mslet (SAU) Nissan 7hr 44min 18sec (SAU) Nissan 8hr 24min 32sec checkpoint with a 4min 50sec advan- quarters and had to wait for it to be col- the seven survivors. Today’s fourth and fi nal selective 4. Faris al-Mashna (SAU)/Saud al-Zayed 11. Owaid Mansi (SAU)/Fahad-Obaid al- tage over Ahmed-Abdullah al-Shehail, lected before he could start. The rally is being staged under section of 176.50 starts at 09.30hrs (SAU) Nissan 7hr 47min 08sec Shammeri (SAU) Toyota 8hr 24min 55sec