22 Friday, September 29, 2017 SPORTS

Malaysian Grand Prix Driver standings

Sepang International Circuit - Kuala Lumpur Oct 1 100 3 Race 15 out of 20 8 205 - Mercedes 310 5 263 245 6 - 235 Vettel won’t 6 235 Start/Finish - Mercedes 330 210 212 90 2 8 5 4 160 - 8 162 85 2 4 170 Teams 98 2 320 Mercedes 6 475 changeSepang, style 260 Ferrari defiant Sebastian Vettel 4 140 kph x Gear 373 Red Bull Avowed yesterday not 230

to change the way he drives 56 laps Lap record: 1 Min. 34.223 Claro 56 = 310.408 km despite his first-lap exit in of 5.543 km (2004) 124 Singapore as he prepares for Sunday’s last-ever . Vettel’s Ferrari started from pole but was involved in a crash heard of at the start that also took out team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and Red Bull’s debut by text message on a rain-soaked Marina Bay Circuit. Sepang that far ahead. It allowed Lewis Hamilton, ormula One rookie “I’m just fully focusing on who avoided the carnage to win Pierre Gasly revealed he the weekend, trying to do my from fifth on the grid, to extend Fonly found out he would best and learn as quickly as his championship lead from a make his Toro Rosso debut possible,” said Gasly. slender three points to 28. at this weekend’s Malaysian “It’s a great opportunity “I’m not too fussed about Grand Prix on Monday -- for me to be alongside the amount of points,” Vettel and via text message. Carlos, who is on top of his told reporters at the Sepang Gasly, the 2016 GP2 game at the moment. It’s a International Circuit. champion from France, has really good benchmark for “Obviously it’s never good replaced in the me. We’ll see what’s going Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel walks in the paddock to be behind, we’d like to be in for at happen in the next few front, but we’re not, so we’ve “I think it would have been “It’s not the first time I’m least the next two grands weeks a bit later.” got to take it from there. more difficult if I had lost the in the situation like this and prix. Gasly said he felt sorry for “Overall it doesn’t change car somewhere in the race, probably will not be the last “I travelled from Tokyo Kvyat, who last season was anything for how we tackle the then it’s obviously different,” time -- not that I’m hoping for on Monday to Malaysia, and displaced at Red Bull by the last six races.” he said. it to happen again.” when I got here I received teenaged Max Verstappen Vettel was exonerated of “The lights went off, we did Raikkonen said there was a text saying that I might Toro Rosso’s French driver and now has seen his Toro blame for the Singapore crash our start. Everyone was trying no point in dwelling on what be driving this weekend,” Pierre Gasly attends a press Rosso seat taken by another by stewards, but many observers to do his start and with the way happened and that Ferrari the 21-year-old Gasly told conference youngster. felt the German four-time it happened it ended up really could still take plenty of reporters yesterday. was going to drive. It was an “Unfortunately that is world champion was at fault bad for all of us. There’s not positives from Singapore. “I got really excited amazing moment and great how it works in this sport,” as he had forced Verstappen much you can do. I think it’s “In Singapore Sebastian about it. I tried to sleep on news. I’m living the dream.” said Gasly. towards Raikkonen. part of racing. was first and I was fourth in Monday night, which was Gasly now has a chance “Of course I feel sorry for But Vettel said that he hadn’t “It certainly didn’t help qualifying so if you compare it a bit difficult, with all the to earn a full-time seat for him, he is a really good driver given the crash much thought Lewis scored a lot of points but with Mercedes we were better,” excitement. 2018, when teammate Carlos and talented. Unfortunately since because it was just “part that’s the way it goes. What’s Raikkonen said. “Then we “On Tuesday morning I Sainz moves to , but it is happening that I am of racing”. done is done. basically didn’t race.” (AFP) had the confirmation that I he said he wasn’t thinking going to take his seat.” (AFP)

Karunaratne leads Sri Lanka fightback Warner ton helps Aussies down India Abu Dhabi Bangalore, India on a positive note as openers Rohit pener Dimuth Karunaratne fell pener David Warner hit a Sharma, who hit 65, and Ajinkya seven runs short of a deserved sparkling century in his 100th Rahane, who made 53, put together centuryO as he anchored Sri Lanka’s one-dayO international to help a 106-run stand. Rahane registered a fightback on the opening day of the Australia down India by 21 runs and hat-trick of half-centuries and in the first Test against Pakistan in Abu pull off a consolation win yesterday. next over Sharma hit two big sixes off Dhabi yesterday. Warner’s blazing 124 and his 231- leg-spinner Adam Zampa to bring up The left-hander was run out for run opening stand with Aaron Finch, his fifty in style. 93 but helped his team recover from who made 94, guided the visitors to Richardson broke the century stand a precarious 61-3 to reach 227-4 at 334-5 in the fourth game of the five- after sending Rahane trudging back to close after Sri Lanka won the toss and match series in Bangalore. the pavilion. batted on a greenish Sheikh Zayed The hosts, who lead the series 3-1, Sharma tried to keep the momentum Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka Stadium pitch. Karunaratne added faltered in their chase to end on 313-8 going with Kohli for company but a celebrates after his half century an invaluable 100-run partnership despite three half-centuries including big mix-up between the two batsmen with skipper Dinesh Chandimal, innings has included six boundaries a gritty 67 off 69 balls from Kedar got him run out. It was Smith’s who was 60 not out at stumps, as while Dickwella hit five fours and a Jadhav. spectacular stop at backward point Pakistan failed to break through with six during his aggressive knock. Fast bowlers Kane Richardson Australian cricketer David Warner jumps that got Sharma stranded with Kohli the second new ball. Shah returned figures of 2-59 but and Nathan Coulter-Nile shared five to celebrate his century (100 runs) at the striker’s end. (AFP) Niroshan Dickwella was unbeaten didn’t get much turn from the pitch wickets between them to snap India’s on 42, having added 66 runs for while seamer Hasan Ali took 1-58. winning streak of nine ODI games. Warner do his thing. His ODI the unbroken fifth-wicket stand It was Karunaratne’s knock that “I thought we were a little bit too form in the last two years has been BRIEF SCORE alongside his captain. brought Sri Lanka back into it in wide with the new ball, could have unbelievable. He continues to grow Australia 334 for 5 (Warner 124, Finch 94, Chandimal was given leg before the last two sessions. He batted for been straighter, but the bowlers pulled and get better as a player which is Handscomb 43, Umesh 4-71) beat India to Yasir Shah on 42, a decision four hours and 40 minutes during it back nicely towards the back end,” what we’re after,” Smith said of his 313 for 8 (Jadhav 67, Rohit 65, Rahane 53, which was overturned on review. His an obdurate stay at the crease. (AFP) said skipper Steve Smith. star opener. Richardson 3-58) by 21 runs “Nice to sit up there and watch Virat Kohli’s India began its reply