WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014 SPORTS Afghanistan send Hong Kong Photo of the day packing from World Twenty-20 CHITTAGONG: Mohammad Shahzad well-timed boundary to complete his to get through to the next round. and Shafiqullah Shafiq hit aggressive maiden fifty and seal the win. Shahzad Shahzad said he was happy to con- half-centuries to help Afghanistan beat had his full share of luck. Sloppy Hong tribute after his recent loss of form. “I Hong Kong by seven wickets in the Kong fielding gave him two lives, on 25 didn’t play well in the last few matches World Twenty20 tournament in and 64. so the coach told me to take my time,” Chittagong yesterday. Shahzad notched And when he was finally dismissed he said. “Everybody supported me. It up a fiery 53-ball 68 while Shafiq in the 16th over with 38 still needed, the was a good fifty for me and it was a smashed a career-best 50 not out off Afghans were far from home. But Shafiq good win for us. In T20, everything is possible. We need to see the result of the next match and hopefully we can make it to the next round.” Hong Kong, who chose to bat, got off to a disastrous start when they lost opener Irfan Ahmed to the first ball of the match, bowled by left-arm paceman Shapoor Zadran who finished with 2-27. It was left to Mark Chapman (38), Waqas Barkat (32) and Jamie Atkinson (31) to put the innings back on track with some sensible batting. Barkat and Chapman added 60 for the third wicket and at 102-3 in the 14th over, Hong Kong should have put together a higher total then their 153-8. But spinners Mohammad Nabi (2-27) Filip Polc performs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 13, 2014. and Hamza Hotak (2-32) put the brakes —www.redbullcontentpool.com on Hong Kong’s progress. The top team from each of the two preliminary groups will join the eight seeded teams in the Super-10 stage, starting March 21. Ireland and the Netherlands won Pacers overcome 76ers CHITTAGONG: Afghanistan batsman Mohammad Shahzad acknowledges their opening matches in Group B on the crowd after scoring fifty runs during their ICC Twenty20 Cricket World Monday. INDIANAPOLIS: Lance Stephenson points and 12 rebounds as the MAVERICKS 94, CELTICS 89 Cup match against Hong Kong. — AP scored 25 points as the Indiana Pacers Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Dirk Nowitzki led another balanced Brief scores: came back from an early deficit to Chicago Bulls. Russell Westbrook scoring effort with 19 points as the just 24 balls to help Afghanistan reach hit three sixes off paceman Aizaz Hong Kong 153-8 in 20 overs (M. beat Philadelphia 99-90 on Monday, added 17 points after sitting out the Dallas Mavericks opened a club- their 154-run target with 12 balls to Ahmed’s 17th over to reduce the target Chapman 38, Waqas Barkat 32, Jamie handing the 76ers their franchise- previous day to rest his surgically record eight-game homestand by spare in the Group A match. Shahzad, to 11 runs. Atkinson 31; Shapoor Zadran 2-27, record 21st straight loss. Paul George repaired knee, and the Thunder holding on for a victory over the who was in miserable form in the pre- Hong Kong had lost their first match Mohammad Nabi 2-27; Hamza Hotak had 24 points for the Pacers, who rebounded from their most lopsided Boston Celtics. ceding Asia Cup and was out for nought to Nepal and a second defeat means 2-32) staked the Sixers to a 15-6 lead before loss of the season. They went on a 13- The Celtics trailed by double digits in the first game against Bangladesh, hit they are out of the tournament. Afghanistan 154-3 in 18 overs taking the lead and pulling away. point run after the Bulls scored eight twice in the second half before get- three sixes and six boundaries in a Afghanistan, who went down to hosts (Mohammad Shahzad 68, Shafiqullah George Hill scored 11 points, Ian straight early in the fourth to cut the ting within one in the final minute but chancy knock. Bangladesh in their first game, earned a Shafiq 51 not out). Afghanistan won by Mahinmi had 10 and David West lead to one and pulled this one out couldn’t avoid an 0-15 finish on the Shafiq completed the task with a lifeline with yesterday’s win as they try seven wickets. —AFP grabbed 12 rebounds. Thaddeus after falling by 23 at home to Dallas road against the Western Conference. Young had 23 points to lead the on Sunday. Durant ran his streak of The Mavericks followed their first Sixers, who tied the Detroit Pistons for games with 25 or more points to 32, win in more than two years over pos- Kuwait welcomes Indian the sixth-longest losing streak in NBA the longest in the NBA since Michael sible first-round playoff foe Oklahoma history. The Pistons lost 21 straight bridging the 1979-80 and 1980-81 Master Blaster Sehwag seasons. The Cleveland Cavaliers set NBA results/standings the NBA record for consecutive losses Atlanta 97, Charlotte 83; Indiana 99, Philadelphia 90; Brooklyn 108, Phoenix with 26, in the 2010-11 season. KUWAIT: Kuwait extends its open 95; Oklahoma City 97, Chicago 85; Houston 124, Utah 86; Dallas 94, Boston The Sixers haven’t won since Jan. arms in welcoming the legendry 89; Denver 110, LA Clippers 100. Virendra Sehwag, the charismatic 29 at Boston. Evan Turner, now with cricketer from India who is on a pri- the Pacers, hit the winning shot in Eastern Conference Western Conference vate visit to Kuwait. that 95-94 win by Philadelphia. Turner, Atlantic Division Northwest Division This mega event sponsored by City traded to Indiana with Lavoy Allen on W L PCT GB Oklahoma City49 18 .731 - Clinic, a pioneer medical Institution Feb. 20 for Danny Granger and a draft Toronto 37 28 .569 - Portland 43 24 .642 6 has the full-fledged support and pick, had four points and seven Brooklyn 34 31 .523 3 Minnesota 33 32 .508 15 patronage of Kuwait Cricket, the offi- rebounds against his former team NY Knicks 27 40 .403 11 Denver 30 37 .448 19 cial governing body of cricket in Monday. Boston 22 46 .324 16.5 Utah 22 46 .324 27.5 Kuwait. Philadelphia 15 52 .224 23 Pacific Division Anything said about Sehwag HAWKS 97, BOBCATS 83 Central Division LA Clippers 48 21 .696 - Indiana 50 17 .746 - would be less as there is an air of Paul Millsap scored 28 points as Golden State 42 26 .618 5.5 Chicago 37 30 .552 13 expectancy when Virender Sehwag the Atlanta Hawks ended the Phoenix 38 29 .567 9 Cleveland 26 41 .388 24 takes guard. For the millions of his Charlotte Bobcats’ eight-game home Sacramento 23 44 .343 24 fans across the globe and even per- winning streak. It was Atlanta’s 11th Detroit 25 41 .379 24.5 Milwaukee 13 54 .194 37 LA Lakers 22 44 .333 24.5 haps for the opposition the thrill is straight win over Charlotte. The Hawks Southwest Division have won four straight, pulling within Southeast Division continuous as the excitement of the San Antonio 50 16 .758 - 1 1/2 games of the Bobcats for the Miami 45 19 .703 - previous delivery fuses with that of Houston 45 22 .672 5.5 the next as his fearless and flamboy- seventh spot in the Eastern Washington 35 31 .530 11 Dallas 41 27 .603 10 ant stroke play amplifies the glorious Conference playoff race. Charlotte 33 35 .485 14 uncertainties of cricket. Just about Kemba Walker led the Bobcats with Atlanta 30 35 .462 15.5 Memphis 39 27 .591 11 anything can happen! As Cricinfo 20 points. Al Jefferson, who was Orlando 19 48 .284 27.5 New Orleans 27 39 .409 23 states on his page, the bowlers must selected the Eastern Conference fancy their chances against someone Player of the Week on Monday, had 16 like Sehwag. It is just that he fancies points and 12 rebounds for his 30th Jordan did it in 40 in a row during the City by taking their third straight to the bowlers more! double-double of the season but was 1986-87 season. He also chipped in get a season-high 14 games over .500. His phenomenal international just 6 of 15 from the field. with five assists. Jerryd Bayless had 19 points and record is simply mind boggling for Chicago’s Joakim Noah, who’s been Kris Humphries matched a season one who makes a mockery of tradi- NETS 108, SUNS 95 hearing “MVP!” chants lately, shot 2 of high with 14 rebounds for the Celtics, tional batting technique. Two triple Deron Williams scored 28 points 8 but finished with nine points, 12 who lost their fifth straight game and centuries in Tests and a double in an and even dunked for the first time this rebounds and nine assists. 12th in the past 15. ODI means this is no ordinary talent. season, leading the Brooklyn Nets Add to that his Test match 319 against past the Phoenix Suns and extending ROCKETS 124, JAZZ 86 NUGGETS 110, CLIPPERS 100 South Africa in Chennai in 2008, was their home winning streak to nine. Terrence Jones scored 30 points as Reserve JJ Hickson had 21 points made at a better than a run a ball.