SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019 16

Monfils beats Medvedev for return to Rotterdam final Sri Lanka seal thrilling win Kusal Perera scored an unbeaten 153 in the fourth innings, guiding Sri Lanka to a sensational win over South Africa

Steyn, who had Fernando caught Sri Lanka secured at second slip by South African • captain Faf du Plessis. Two balls their second win later he caught Niroshan Dick- Gael Monfils hits a return in 14 Test matches wella off his own bowling. in South Africa Sri Lanka were still a distant AFP | Rotterdam 194 runs short of their target The visitors won the when Perera was joined by De ael Monfils returned to • Silva, Sri Lanka’s last recognised Gthe final at the Rotter- thrilling first Test in batsman. dam Open as he overhauled Durban by one wicket South Africa, who were with- Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-3, out opening bowler Vernon 6-4 yesterday. AFP | Durban, South Africa Philander because of a strained The French showman left left hamstring, struggled for the it late but gave the Ahoy next two hours as Perera and De Arena crowd a thrill as he usal Perera carried Sri Silva brought the target down to broke in the penultimate Lanka to a sensation - single figures. game of the third set and Kal one-wicket win on Left-arm spinner Keshav Ma- served out the win a game the fourth day of the first Test haraj took two wickets off suc- later. against South Africa at King- cessive balls, dismissing De Silva Victory sent the 32-year- smead yesterday as he hit a ca- leg before wicket and having old into the final here for reer-best 153 not out. Suranga Lakmal caught at slip. the second time after reach- Perera and Vishwa Fernan- ing the title match in his last do put on an unbeaten 78 in a South Africa, first innings, 235 Rotterdam appearance in last-wicket partnership to se- Sri Lanka, first innings, 191 2016, when he lost to Martin cure only Sri Lanka’s second Vishwa Fernando (L) and Kusal Perera (R) of Sri Lanka celebrates Sri Lanka’s win South Africa, second innings, 259 Klizan. win in 14 Test matches in South Sri Lanka, second innings Monfils will take on ei- Africa. fours and five sixes. Tests having been made against (overnight 83-3) ther top seed Kei Nishikori Victory seemed unlikely when “It was a superman effort,” Zimbabwe in Harare two sea- D. Karunaratne lbw b Philander 20 or former champion Stan the ninth wicket fell with the said Du Plessis. “He (Perera) sons ago, shared three important L. Thirimanne c Du Plessis b Rabada 21 Wawrinka in today’s final. total on 226, with the tourists deserves all the accolades.” partnerships. O. Fernando c Du Plessis b Steyn 37 Victory was quick re - chasing a target of 304. He put on 58 for the fourth K. Mendis c De Kock b Olivier 0 venge for Monfils, who lost But the left-handed Perera Low previous average wicket with debutant Oshado K. Perera not out 153 to Medvedev a week ago successfully farmed the strike, South Africa took the second KNOW WHAT Fernando (37) and 96 for the N. Dickwella c and b Steyn 0 in the Sofia semi-finals, an with South African captain Faf new ball with the total on 263 sixth wicket with Dhananjaya D. de Silva lbw b Maharaj 48 event which the Russian du Plessis persisting with wide- but still kept most of their field- de Silva (48) before his extraor- S. Lakmal c Du Plessis b Maharaj 0 won. spread fields for the in-form ers on the boundary for Perera, dinary association with Vishwa L. Embuldeniya c Markram b Olivier 4 Medvedev’s defeat was batsman, while Fernando only who hit sixes off both Dale Steyn Sri Lanka’s 304/9 Fernando. K. Rajitha lbw b Maharaj 1 only his third loss of the had to face 27 balls during a 96- and Kagiso Rabada before slash- was the third-highest “I’m a little tired now, I don’t V. Fernando not out 6 season, leaving his record ball partnership. ing Rabada to third man for the successful run chase know what to say,” said Perera Extras (b2, lb11, w1) 14 at 14-3. Perera was on 86 when the winning boundary. in nearly 100 years when he received the man of the Total (9 wkts, 85.3 overs) 304 The contest featured sev- ninth wicket fell but managed to Perera, who came into the of test cricket at the match award. “I did my part but Result: Sri Lanka won by one wicket eral momentum shifts and a keep most of the strike and to hit match with a career batting av- Kingsmead ground in we are winning as a team.” Series: Sri Lanka lead the two-match total of nine breaks of serve some telling blows in an innings erage below 30 and with his only The stand with Oshado Fer- series 1-0 in just over two hours. of 200 balls which included 12 previous century in 14 previous Durban nando was broken by Dale Brighton edge into FA Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to Sala Cup quarter-finals AFP | Progresso, Argentina he death in a plane crash AFP | London a dominant first-half display. Tof Cardiff City striker Brighton opened the scoring Emiliano Sala was a cruel blow righton moved into the FA after 33 minutes when Knoc- to family, friends and supporters BCup quarter-finals for the kaert bent his first-time shot in his home village in Argentina, second successive season as into the bottom corner of Kelle and yesterday they came, griev- goals from Anthony Knockaert Roos’ net after connecting ing, from miles around to pay and Jurgen Locadia clinched a with Yves Bissouma’s cross. their respects. 2-1 win over Derby yesterday. Hughton’s team doubled Through the morning, mourn- Chris Hughton’s side have their advantage when Locadia ers gathered for a public vigil in been sucked into relegation fired home from close-range in a gymnasium in Progreso, the danger in the Premier League first-half stoppage time after small farming town in Santa Fe after six games without a win. Bissouma’s effort hit the post. province which Sala left as a But the Seagulls made the Former Chelsea and Arsenal teenager to play in Europe. most of a welcome break from star Ashley Cole set up a tense He was “loved and admired the grind of the relegation bat- finish when the Derby defend- by all,” a restaurant owner told tle as they saw off Frank Lam- er headed in after 81 minutes. AFP. Sala would come home on pard’s Championship side at It was the 38-year-old’s first breaks and would never fail to the Amex Stadium. goal in England since 2012 and kick the ball around with village Derby had claimed the his first ever in the FA Cup and youngsters, they said. Unlike scalps of Manchester United the landmark strike came in some soccer stars, he would and Southampton in domestic his second game since join- keep a low profile, not flaunting cup competitions this season. ing Derby until the end of the his new wealth. Yellow flowers are displayed in front of the portrait of Argentinian forward Emiliano Sala at the Beaujoire stadium in But the fifth round tie was season following his release by As his heartbroken father, Nantes, France (file photo) tipped in Brighton’s favour by LA Galaxy. mother and sister watched yesterday, a giant poster of the 28-year-old hung behind his sional. to Nantes on January 21 to pay coffin, which was draped in the “He was one of us. He meant farewell to his former team - red and white colors of the San a lot to us.” mates. Martin de Progreso club where More than 3,000 mourners On the return flight across the he began his career. came to pay respects. English Channel, the single-en- People tell me: ‘He Sala’s father, Horacio, was “We all carry Emi in our gine private plane carrying never played for you,’ devastated by his son’s death, hearts,” said Mayor Julio Muller Sala and pilot David Ibbotson but he was my player, I family members said, and re- in an emotional tribute. crashed near the British island fused for days to leave his home. of Guernsey. signed him, we had two Crash in the Channel or three conversations Outside the club, which was Sala reportedly had messaged at the center of the day’s com- Sala had played for Nantes, friends from the plane, flying in and he told me he memorations, was a banner becoming one of the top strikers rough weather, that he was “so would score the goals reading: “Emi, you will never in France, before being traded afraid” and that the craft “seems to keep Cardiff in the walk alone.” in January to Cardiff City in like it’s falling to pieces.” Premier League “He represented a lot for us,” England’s Premier League in a The player’s body was re - NEIL WARNOCK the club’s president, Daniel 15 million pounds (19.3 million covered from the submerged CARDIFF CITY MANAGER Ribero, told AFP. “We’re a small dollars) deal. wreckage on February 7 but Anthony Knockaert of Brighton and Hove Albion celebrates after scoring his village and Emi was a celebrity, Just two days after making 59-year-old Ibbotson remains team’s first goal the only player to turn profes- the move, Sala had flown back missing.