SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2015 SPORTS Pujara’s ton lifts India

COLOMBO: Cheteshwar Pujara marked his recall with an unbeaten century after Sri Lanka’s Dhammika Prasad ripped through India’s batting in the decisive third and final Test in Colombo yesterday. The tourists, who resumed at 50-2 after a rain-curtailed opening day, moved to 292-8 by stumps on the second day at the Sinhalese Sports Club with Pujara holding fort on a watchful 135 not out. Pujara, who had been dropped for India’s last four Tests across Australia, Bangladesh and the ongoing series, may not have played this match too if both regular openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan had been fit. The 27-year-old grabbed the chance to notch up his seventh Test century that has so far included 13 boundaries. Fast bowler Prasad bowled superbly to take four wickets in the innings, including two off successive balls on either side of the lunch break that reduced India to 119-5. Number nine batsman Amit Mishra came SPAIN: Trek’s Belgian cyclist Jasper Stuyven celebrates winning the eighth stage of to India’s rescue with a defiant 59 during an the 2015 Vuelta Espana cycling tour. — AFP eighth wicket stand of 104 with Pujara which boosted the total. Stuyven wins crash “This is definitely one of the toughest wick- ets I have played on,” said Pujara. “It’s a chal- lenge to bat on it because you have to keep dominated 8th stage defending to survive and wait for the loose ball. “I tried to keep things simple and play my MURCIA: Belgian Jasper Stuyven took vic- was at least able to finish the stage despite natural game. It was important to play the ball tory on the eighth stage of Spain’s Vuelta suffering significant cuts and bruises to his from close to the body because a few guys on a day dominated by high-profile crash- left leg. got out playing it away from the body.” es. Ireland’s Dan Martin, who was lying Stuyven and Chaves were also affected Pujara said encouraging words from Indian third in the overall classification overnight, by the major crash as the peloton split just batting great Rahul Dravid motivated him and American Tejay van Garderen were before the first of two climbs of the catego- when he was out of the playing XI. “Rahul told forced to withdraw from the race after suf- ry three Alto de la Cresta del Gallo. me there was nothing wrong with my tech- fering a heavy crash 50km from the finish. “I didn’t stay clear of the crashes. I was in nique and that I was batting well,” said Pujara. Stuyven edged a sprint finish to the line the big one which Chaves was also in “He told me to stay calm and a big one could from Spain’s Pello Bilbao and Frenchman before the first big climb. I hit my wrist some soon.” Kevin Reza to claim the 182.5km stage from pretty bad, but I jumped on the bike again Just 15 overs had been bowled in the 75 Puebla de Don Fadrique to Murcia in a time and climbed back,” said Stuyven. minutes of play possible due to rain on the of 4hr 06min 06sec. “I suffered a lot on the first climb and opening day after India had been sent in to Colombian Esteban Chaves finished in then the second time I knew I had to start bat on a greenish pitch under overcast condi- the leading group to maintain his overall at the front so I could drift a little bit back if tions. When play resumed under bright skies lead by 10 seconds from Tom Dumoulin it was going to be hard. “In the sprint I felt on the second day, the tourists were restricted with Irishman Nicholas Roche a further 26 ‘I’ll go at 300 (metres from the finish)’ and it to 22 runs in the first 15 overs by some accu- seconds behind in third. was for me today.” Britain’s Chris Froome, who is aiming to Chaves was led back into the peloton by rate bowling by the Sri Lankans. become just the third man to win the Tour his Orica GreenEdge team to ensure his Indian skipper Virat Kohli survived a torrid de France and the Vuelta in the same year, hopes of landing a surprising first Grand opening over from Prasad in which he was moves into 11th overall, 1min 22sec behind Tour victory among a stellar field remained lucky to escape a loud shout for leg-before off Chaves. intact. “Normally when you look on the race the second ball and was beaten by the final One of the favourites for the stage, book it is an easy day, but it was really hard, ball of the over. France’s Nacer Bouhanni, also had to with- really fast, dangerous and with a lot of Kohli added four runs to his overnight draw due to injuries suffered in the crash crashes,” he said. “The team stayed with me score of 14 when Sri Lankan captain Angelo involving Martin and Van Garderen. to put me back in the peloton. It was really Mathews, who replaced Prasad at the bowling Stage three winner Peter Sagan’s hopes fast with a small dangerous climb and crease, had his counterpart caught behind by of another victory were ruined by a crash descent, but I am happy to again be in the Kusal Perera. with a support vehicle, but the Slovakian red jersey.” — AFP Pujara added 55 for the fourth wicket with Rohit Sharma (26) and 54 for the sixth with debutant wicket-keeper Naman Ojha (21). Prasad had Rohit Sharma caught in the slips COLOMBO: India’s Cheteshwar Pujara, bats on the second day of their third Test cricket match off what became the final delivery of the morn- against Sri Lanka. — AP ing session and then trapped Stuart Binny leg- before with the first ball on resumption. Prasad said it was a delight to be able to bowl on a helpful surface. “I am enjoying SCOREBOARD bowling on it, but you have to make sure you don’t get carried away,” he said. Prasad con- COLOMBO: Scoreboard at stumps on the second day of the third and final Test between Sri ceded Sri Lanka had let the advantage slip, Lanka and India at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo yesterday: but hoped India’s innings will end early today. India 1st innings (overnight 50-2): I. Sharma not out 2 “We had them seven down for 180, but then L. Rahul b Prasad 2 Extras: (lb2, w3, nb6, pen5) 16 came the century stand between Pujara and C. Pujara not out 135 Total (for eight wickets, 95.3 overs) 292 Mishra,” he said. “That put us back a little, but I A. Rahane lbw b Pradeep 8 think we can get back into a good position if Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Rahul), 2-14 (Rahane), 3-64 V. Kohli c Perera b Mathews 18 (Kohli), 4-119 (R. Sharma), 5-119 (Binny), 6-173 we take the remaining wickets early.” The R. Sharma c Tharanga b Prasad 26 (Ojha), 7-180 (Ashwin), 8-284 (Mishra). series is locked at 1-1 after Sri Lanka won the S. Binny lbw b Prasad 0 opening Test in Galle by 63 runs and India N. Ojha c Tharanga b Kaushal 21 Bowling: Prasad 23.3-4-83-4 (nb3), Pradeep 22- drew level with a 278-run win in the second R. Ashwin c Perera b Prasad 5 6-52-1 (w3), Mathews 13-6-24-1, Herath 25-3- match at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on A. Mishra st Perera b Herath 59 81-1, Kaushal 12-2-45-1 (nb3). Monday. — AFP Wales spoil O’Connell’s farewell

DUBLIN: Wales landed a psychological blow drive that saw backs join forwards and back- The second half was a far tighter affair that on World Cup contenders Ireland and spoilt row Tipuric got the crucial touch in the 25th was marred by injuries for both teams. Jamie Paul O’Connell’s Dublin send-off with a dra- minute for the game’s first try, converted by Roberts suffered a heavy knock in a mid-air matic 16-10 warm-up victory at Lansdowne Halfpenny. collision with Rob Kearney and was forced off Road yesterday. Having been swept aside 35- Johnny Sexton clawed back three points 10 minutes later. 21 by Ireland in Cardiff just three weeks ago, just moments later but it was not until the Sean O’Brien was then ruled to have been Justin Tipuric’s try and the boot of Leigh stroke of half-time that Ireland levelled the held up over the try-line by Hughes. There Halfpenny saw Wales defeat the Six Nations scores. Wales appeared to have cleared the was more bad news for Ireland when Earls champions on home soil. danger when the outstanding Tipurc claimed was carried off with his neck in a brace on 64 However, the victory came down to a last- another turnover. But his back-row colleague minutes. Halfpenny scored with a second gasp decision by video official Graham Taulupe Faletau lost possession to allow penalty when play resumed and added a third CHARLOTTE: Carolina Panthers’ Fozzy Whittaker (43) is upended by New England Hughes, who ruled Ireland hooker Sean Ireland another chance as the half ticked into but only after Wales survived an injury scare Patriots’ Robert McClain (22) during the first second of a preseason NFL football Cronin was held up between the posts. additional time. of their own when Alun Wyn Jones twisted his game. — AP Aaron Jarvis and Leigh Halfpenny, who Peter O’Mahony made the initial burst and knee. Jones recovered and Wales held out for kicked 11 points, combined to deny Cronin in lock Iain Henderson was on-hand, crashing a telling result. Ireland conclude their warm- Patriots down Panthers injury time to secure the win. A first home through Dan Biggar and Scott Williams before up programme away to England at defeat in 10 games, a run stretching back to stretching out to score despite the challenge Twickenham a week, when Wales face Italy at CHARLOTTE: Tom Brady overcame two secondary in a half of work. November 2013, was hardly the send-off of Owens. Sexton converted to tie the scores. Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. — AFP early interceptions to lead his first touch- Stafford threw a perfect deep ball to Ireland had hoped to give captain O’Connell down drive of the preseason as the New Golden Tate for a 62-yarder in the second in his last home Test before he retires from England Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers quarter and then hooked up with Corey international duty after the World Cup in 17-16 on Friday night. Fuller for a 4-yard score. Zenner had a 41- England, which starts next month. Ireland The preseason has been a titanic strug- yard scamper that set up Fuller’s score. He were alo left with a major injury concern gle for Brady, who is awaiting word on his finished with 85 yards on eight carries. regarding wing Keith Earls, taken off on a appeal of a four-game suspension for his Blake Bortles was the story again for stretcher in the second half with a neck injury. role in “Deflategate.” Jacksonville (1-2). He completed 20 of 29 Wales, though, will be delighted to claim After managing just three first downs in passes for 245 yards and a touchdown. He the scalp of a team second in the world rank- his first 11 preseason possessions, Brady also ran for 38 yards, including two third- ings, especially as they have been drawn in a finally got on track, leading an 80-yard down scrambles that kept scoring drives scoring drive before halftime running the alive. tough World Cup pool that includes the hosts hurry-up offense. He capped the drive with and Australia. a well-placed 18-yard touchdown pass to CHIEFS 34, TITANS 10 Warren Gatland, the Wales coach, will have tight end Scott Chandler. The Patriots Alex Smith threw for 171 yards and two been pleased with the start made by new played again without tight end Rob touchdowns in less than a half, and the prop Tomas Francis, who began his Test debut Gronkowski and wide receivers Brandon Chiefs’ offense looked the sharpest it has all with a series of strong displays in the scrums. LaFell and Julian Edelman. Carolina man- preseason in a weather-shortened game. Just as when these sides met at the aged just two field goals in the first half The game was called with 3 minutes, 50 Millennium Stadium earlier this month, it was behind Cam Newton and trailed 7-6 at half- seconds remaining after thunder rumbled the away team that seized the initiative as time. Corey Brown bobbled away an easy and lightning streaked across the sky. Wales powered into a 10-0 lead after 26 min- TD pass from Newton - one of four Carolina Heavy rains had turned one end zone into a utes. On the back of a solid set-piece, Wales drops in the first half. lake. Smith was 16 of 18 before giving way mounted a series of attacks and Ireland’s usu- to third-string quarterback Aaron Murray al discipline abandoned them. LIONS 22, JAGUARS 17 just before halftime. Murray played the rest Halfpenny opened the scoring with an Matthew Stafford completed 11 of 15 of the game for the Chiefs (3-0), throwing 18th-minute penalty before Tipuric scored for passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. for 146 yards with two touchdown passes the second game in a row against Ireland. The Lions (2-1) trailed most of the night, and an interception as backup Chase Lock forward O’Connell was warned by ref- but rookie Zach Zenner’s 3-yard touch- Daniel got the night off. Marcus Mariota eree Craig Joubert for his team’s mounting down run with 1:41 remaining was the win- got off to a slow start for Tennessee (1-2), penalty count and Ken Owens twice went ner. Detroit played without star receiver misfiring on his first three throws. But the close as Wales maintained the pressure. Calvin Johnson for the third consecutive first-round pick out of Oregon was 7 of 8 DUBLIN: Ireland’s Dave Kearney (centre) wins the ball after a high catch against Wales (right) game, but Stafford carved up Jacksonville’s for 99 yards the rest of the half. — AP Their persistence paid off at a third line-out during their international rugby union match. — AP