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26 Sports Wednesday, July 17, 2019 N Zealand coach wants rules review after losing final to a technicality ‘There’s many different ways that they’ll probably explore’ WELLINGTON: New Zealand coach Gary Stead has ‘We didn’t lose’ called for the Cricket World Cup’s rules to be overhauled, Skipper Kane Williamson pointed out his team was labeling the showpiece final “hollow” after England defeat- not defeated on the pitch, saying it instead fell victim to ed the Black Caps on a technicality. The teams could not “fine print” in the rules. He said that was a shame but be separated at the end of both regular play and a Super the New Zealanders had signed up to the rules that Over shootout, so England were handed victory because governed the tournament. “At the end of the day noth- they had a superior boundary count. ing separated us, no one lost the final, but there was a “It’s a very, very hollow feeling that you can play 100 crowned winner and there it is,” he told Newstalk ZB. overs and score the same amount of runs and still lose the The New Zealand captain and his teammates have been game, but that’s the technicalities of sport,” Stead told widely praised for the grace with which they accepted reporters in remarks released by New Zealand Cricket the gut-wrenching defeat. “Williamson has shown yesterday. He said such a thrilling match, which has been sports fans and elite athletes alike how to behave with hailed by many experts as the greatest one-day game in humility, how to accept heartbreak,” stuff.co.nz colum- history, deserved a better way to determine the result. nist Kevin Norquay wrote. “There’s going to be many things they look at over the “You don’t need to smash your equipment, yell at the whole tournament — I’m sure when they were writing the umpire, or swear at and threaten rival batsmen, even rules they never expected a World Cup final to happen like with the stress of a World Cup on your mind; this news that,” he said. “I’m sure it’ll be reviewed (and) there’s many will be foreign territory to some.” There have been calls different ways that they’ll probably explore.” in New Zealand to give the team a ticker-tape parade, Stead shrugged off suggestions England had been mis- regardless of the result. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern takenly handed an extra run after a throw from a fielder hit said that was unlikely but she wanted to ensure that the the bat of a diving Ben Stokes’ and deflected to the players received “a heroes’ welcome” when they boundary in the final over of regular play. England were returned to the country. New Zealand Cricket said they awarded six runs but former umpire Simon Taufel said were in discussions with the government about when that they should only have got five as the batsmen had not would take place. “At the moment, however, with some crossed for their second run when the throw was made. “I players arriving back at different times, some not arriving didn’t actually know that,” Stead said. “But at the end of back at all, and others having alternative playing commit- the day the umpires are there to rule. “They’re human as ments, it’s just not practical,” they said. “Hopefully, given well, like players, and sometimes there’s a mistake but the interest surrounding this, we can organise something LONDON: New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson (C) walks with his players ahead of a ‘super over’ during the that’s just the human aspect of sport.” appropriate in the weeks to come.” — AFP 2019 Cricket World Cup ﬁnal between England and New Zealand at Lord’s Cricket Ground. — AFP England hero Archer grieved cousin’s Warriors ready new death during WC basketball stadium, LONDON: England star Jofra Archer was grieving over fueled by tech dollars the death of his cousin in Barbados during his team’s incredible success at the Cricket World Cup. Ashantio Blackman, 24, was shot dead outside his home in St Philip SAN FRANCISCO: The Golden State Warriors are the day after England’s World Cup campaign started with weeks from opening a sleek $1.5 billion sports and a win over South Africa in May. entertainment complex in San Francisco thanks largely Despite the shocking news, Barbados-born Archer fin- to a years-long tech boom that made it financially feasi- ished as England’s leading wicket-taker with 20 wickets in ble, the team’s president said on Monday. The Warriors, 11 innings during the World Cup. He also bowled the Super led by ace shooter Stephen Curry, have appeared in the Over in which Eoin Morgan’s side clinched their victory past five straight NBA finals and won three of them. For against New Zealand in Sunday’s dramatic final at Lord’s. over 40 years, their home was an aging arena across Archer’s father Frank told the Times newspaper: “(His San Francisco Bay in far less glitzy Oakland. cousin) is the same age as Jofra and they were really close, San Francisco has been transformed in recent years he even messaged him in the days before he died. “Jofra by thousands of tech workers streaming into the city. was really affected by his death but had to carry on.” That boom has also pushed housing costs to unprece- Archer qualified for a British passport thanks to his dented levels, creating angst among many longtime Bay father and only became eligible to play for England in Area residents that they will not be able to afford to March. “People have been questioning his Britishness, but stay. For some, the Warriors’ move has come to symbol- him playing for England has shown he will inspire every- ize those changing economics. Team president Rick one to play cricket, because it’s usually seen as an elitist Welts said the new Chase Center facility would not sport,” his father said. Meanwhile, England all-rounder Ben have been possible without hundreds of thousands of Stokes, who was voted man of the match in the final after LONDON: Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May (C) shakes hands with England’s Jofra Archer (R) outside 10 square feet in office space as part of the development. scoring a vital 84 not out, admitted England’s post-match Downing Street as England players arrive for a reception. — AFP Ride-share giant Uber is the major tenant. celebrations led to “the latest night I’ve had for a very, The Warriors did not receive any public financing for very long time”. the project, which the team calls unprecedented in It was a redemptive triumph for Stokes after his sweeter because you are going to have ups and downs, over the moon. “Redemption is a word that people have modern sports. Welts led reporters on a tour of the involvement in a 2017 street brawl in Bristol led to a court but it is how you cope with it that matters,” Stokes wrote been using, but that is not something I’m thinking about. I bright, airy facility on Monday, where the yellow hard- case that saw him acquitted of affray. “After what I’ve in the Daily Mirror. “It was great to eventually get hold of certainly wasn’t thinking about it while I was trying to win wood basketball court was just installed. Construction been through, it does make these moments feel all the mum and dad back in New Zealand as well, they were the game.” — AFP workers put finishing touches on luxury amenities including courtside lounges with their own private wine cellar. Welts said 70 percent of Oakland season ticket holders have renewed their seats. He did not yet know how many security guards and concession staff from Bangladesh to Oakland will ultimately be able to keep their jobs. The Warriors obtained the land for Chase Center rest Shakib for from Salesforce, whose chief executive Marc Benioff had originally planned to use the site for a new corpo- Sri Lanka ODIs rate campus but found it too small. Last year, Benioff backed a successful San Francisco ballot measure to increase funds for homeless services by raising taxes on DHAKA: Bangladesh are resting all-rounder business. The proposal bitterly split the city’s corporate Shakib Al Hasan but have retained skipper community. Welts said the Warriors declined to take a Mashrafe Mortaza for the three-match one- position on the initiative, adding that the team’s major day international series against Sri Lanka charitable focus was on improving education and life later this month, officials said yesterday. outcomes for kids. The team plans to repurpose its for- Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and top-order mer facilities in Oakland to that end. “We’re going to batsman Anamul Haque were also recalled to teach more kids to play basketball there than I’m guess- replace Shakib and batsman Liton Das, who ing any other team in the NBA,” he said. — Reuters has been rested for personal reasons. Medium pace Abu Jayed, who was part of World Cup squad but did not play any games, was the other player to miss out. Australian newspapers “Now that the World Cup chapter is over and we are starting a new season. This series is very important for us,” said Minhajul lose Chris Gayle LONDON: England’s Ben Stokes attends a World Cup victory event at The Oval in London on July 15, 2019, a day after Abedin Nannu.

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