CCRICKETRICKET | Page 4 RUGBY| Page 6 De Villiers’ Ireland clinch 74 helps SA Six Nations take lead crown by in 2nd Test crushing Scots

Sunday, March 11, 2018 FOOTBALL Jumada II 23, 1439 AH Man United sink GULF TIMES Liverpool, unsavoury scenes at West Ham SPORT Page 2 Qatar’s Adel leads T2 series after solid finish in Dubai

Adel Abdulla’s co-driver Nasser al-Kuwari enjoys a light moment in the desert during the Dubai International Baja yesterday. At bottom, the duo in action.

Qatar’s Adel Abdulla (right) and co-driver Nasser al-Kuwari celebrate after clinching second position in the T2 race at the Dubai International Baja yesterday. They now lead the World Championship.

By Sports Reporter wari had to overcome a 2min 20sec deficit “I thank the Qatar government, the Dubai on the second day if they were to claim Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation maximum T2 points on the second round of (QMMF) and Ooredoo Qatar for their the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. support. atar’s Adel Abdulla finished a Adel won the second of the event’s two “Nasser, my co-driver, did a very good close second overall in the T2 173.69km selective sections by the mar- job. The entire team did a great job here standings at the Dubai Inter- gin of 59 seconds but was not quite able in Dubai. We arrived in the last very last Qnational Baja after the second to overcome the time delays he suffered moment and it was a big challenge to be desert selective section of 173.69km through on day one and finished an agonisingly on the podium and to be leading T2 now. the UAE’s Al-Qudra Desert yesterday. close 1min 21sec behind his Saudi rival This is a fantastic result. I am proud to The result means that the 2016 FIA T2 Ahmed al-Shegawi . be flying our flag at the top of this FIA World Champion now leads the prestig- “Congratulations for everyone in Qatar, championship.” ious series this year after two rounds. to our Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim The FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Punctures had hampered the Nissan Patrol bin Hamed al-Thani, this result is a gift Rallies resumes in less than two weeks Y62 driver’s progress on the first day and he for him and all the Qatari people,” said a with the longer six-day Abu Dhabi Desert and fellow Qatari navigator Nasser al-Ku- delighted Adel Abdulla. Challenge on March 24-29.

FOOTBALL/AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Duhail jet off to Tashkent to face Lokomotiv By Sports Reporter against Al Kharaitiyat on Friday night. Rayyan tomorrow. They drew the fi rst Doha “We have a very fi t set of players and leg 1-1in Riyadh last week, but a home our bench strength is also good, so we victory in the reverse fi xture would can deal with these situations,” he added. leave the Qatari side in a strong posi- confi dent Al Duhail fl ew The team’s defender Mohamed Musa tion with two games left to play. to Tashkent by a chartered also echoed the coach’s sentiments, Last year’s runners-up Al Hilal are fl ight yesterday for their AFC saying Al Duhail will do their best to currently at the foot of the table after Champions League encoun- beat Lokomotiv again and clinch a spot two draws and one loss, but a win over Ater against Uzbek giants Lokomotiv, in the knockouts. Al Rayyan would mean a 10th succes- barely a day after they wrapped up the “Winning the QNB Stars League will sive knockout stage berth would be QNB Stars League title with an em- motivate us for the match against Loko- well within their sights. phatic 5-0 win over Al Kharaitiyat. motiv. We are here to win,” he said. Al Gharafa take on Saudi side Al Ahli Djamel Belmadi’s side have been re- “This is our fi rst time in the AFC on Tuesday when the sides face off once lentless in their pursuit of excellence Champions League and we want to more after their 1-1 draw last week. this season, winning the league with make a good impression. We are an Meanwhile, Al Sadd will be aiming an unbeaten run spanning 20 matches ambitious team and we are also a close to salvage their pride on Tuesday af- and also serving notice to their conti- knit unit. “It’s this team spirit and to- ter suff ering a 1-0 loss to Uzbekistan’s nental rivals with their display in three getherness that will see us through.” Nasaf last week and missing out on the matches of the Champions League. Winger Mohamed Ismail said that QNB Stars League title. Despite their hectic schedule, coach the team will avoid the mistakes which The 2011 champions are tied on six Belmadi exuded confi dence in his team’s allowed Lokomotiv to score two goals points with Nasaf and Persepolis and fi tness levels, saying they had the re- in the second half last week. a victory would surely stand them in sources to beat Lokomotiv a second time “Sure we made mistakes but I am con- good stead as far as their chances of in two weeks, which will put them in the fi dent we won’t repeat them on Monday qualifying for the last 16 are concerned. knockouts of the prestigious event. because Lokomotiv can be a dangerous Persepolis had few problems in over- “Last week we won 3-2 in Doha and team in front of their home fans.” coming the group’s bottom side Al Wasl I can see no reason why we shouldn’t Meanwhile, Saudi giants Al Hilal ar- 2-0 in Tehran and will now look for beat them a second time on Monday,” Duhail captain Youssef Msakni and Mohamed Musa settle down on their flight to Tashkent yesterday. The team arrived to a rived in Doha yesterday for their second back-to-back wins against the Emirati the Algerian said after his team’s win warm welcome in the Uzbek capital a few hours later. leg clash against Michael Laudrup’s Al side with two tough fi xtures still to come. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, March 11, 2018 FOOTBALL Cardiff maintain promotion push with win SPOTLIGHT Pitch invasions AFP in the second half through Craig Gard- to stretch Fulham’s unbeaten run to 15 Kieff er Moore got one back for Barns- London ner’s penalty and Maxime Colin scored a matches. ley but the 3-1 defeat sees them remain a second deep into stoppage time. Preston had equalised 15 minutes from place above the bottom three. add to beaten But Cardiff held on to move back to time through Sean Maguire but they were Bristol City and Sheffi eld United lost ardiff maintained their push within three points of Wolves ahead of unable to halt the Fulham juggernaut as ground on the top six following goalless for promotion to the Premier the leaders’ derby clash at Aston Villa they slipped four points adrift of the top six. draws at Burton and Ipswich respectively. Hammers’ woes League with a 3-2 win over later yesterday. Middlesbrough consolidated their Millwall leapfrogged Brentford and CChampionship strugglers Bir- Aleksandar Mitrovic extended his su- place in the play-off spots with a third stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games mingham yesterday. perb start to life at Fulham with both successive victory to deepen Barnsley’s as George Saville scored in the fi rst minute Neil Warnock’s side were on course for goals as the Cottagers snatched a 2-1 win relegation fears. for the second time this week. a sixth successive win by half-time thanks at play-off rivals Preston. Daniel Ayala set sixth-placed Boro Saville’s previous quick-fi re eff ort to goals from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, The on-loan Newcastle striker opened on their way in the fi rst minute before came on Tuesday against Hull, who eased Craig Bryson and Callum Patterson. the scoring on 69 minutes and made it in-form pair Adama Traore and Patrick their relegation fears in thrilling fashion Birmingham reduced the defi cit early seven goals in fi ve games in stoppage time Bamford put the hosts in full control. with a 4-3 victory over Norwich.

EPL Man United sink

Burnley’s English striker Ashley Barnes trips up a pitch invader Reds, unsavoury at The London Stadium, in east London yesterday.

AFP dreds of fans charging along the London concourse of a stadium they de- test to gather under the directors box and chant “sack the board” remier League strug- and “you destroyed our club”. glers West Ham were Once more the stewards were scenes at West Ham left facing disciplinary seemingly powerless to inter- action after angry fans vene except to ask West Ham United stifled Liverpool’s exhilarating attack early on at Old Traff ord and raced repeatedlyP invaded the pitch joint-owners David Gold and during a 3-0 loss at home to David Sullivan, whose decision into a two-goal lead with 24 minutes on the clock after a double from Rashford Burnley yesterday that left them to quit the east London club’s just three points above the rel- longstanding Upton Park ground egation zone. for a move to what was the 2012 A week that had already seen Olympic Stadium is a source of a planned protest march by fans some fans’ fury, to leave their against the club’s board called seats, seemingly for their own off as West Ham supporters’ safety. groups fell out with each other The fi xture came close to be- descended into chaos at the ing called off but, after a couple London Stadium, with stewards of delays, was played to a fi nish failing to intervene on several and afterwards Hammers man- occasions. ager David Moyes told the BBC: Ashley Barnes had just given “We want the supporters behind Burnley the lead early in the us, since I’ve been here they’ve second half when a fan ran un- been really good. But you can’t challenged onto the pitch before cross the line and come on the Hammers captain Mark Noble pitch. shoved him to the ground. “A lot of my players did well As that supporter ran back to- with the way they acted.” wards the stands two more came The former Everton and Man- on, with home defender James chester United manager added: Collins eventually ushering “We still have plenty of games, them away. we are good enough and we will Burnley’s second goal, scored be out of the bottom three come by Chris Wood, prompted the the end of the season. I’m confi - most furious reaction, with hun- dent we have the players here.”

QNB STARS LEAGUE Qatar SC beat Khor Manchester United’s English striker Marcus Rashford (L) scores the opening goal during his team's English Premier League football match against Liverpool at Old Traff ord yesterday. for sixth win

By Sports Reporter Reuters RESULTS AND STANDINGS Paul Pogba, it was United who started Doha London on the front foot, adopting a more di- Chelsea ...... 2 Crystal Palace ...... 1 Arsenal 29 13 6 10 52 41 45 rect style with Romelu Lukaku the tar- Everton ...... 2 Brighton ...... 0 Burnley 30 11 10 9 27 26 43 get and the Belgium striker was influ- wo goals in the second arcus Rashford scored Huddersfield ...... 0 Swansea ...... 0 Leicester 30 10 10 10 45 43 40 ential in both Rashford goals. half powered visitors twice as Manchester Unit- Manchester Utd ...2 Liverpool ...... 1 Everton 30 10 7 13 35 49 37 Rashford’s double — on his first Qatar SC to a 2-0 win ed beat their arch-rivals Newcastle ...... 3 Southampton ...... 0 Watford 29 10 6 13 39 47 36 Premier League start since Boxing Tover Al Khor in Week 20 Liverpool 2-1 in a high- West Brom...... 1 Leicester ...... 4 Brighton 30 8 10 12 28 40 34 Day — proved decisive, as Liverpool of the QNB Stars League yester- ly-chargedM derby yesterday to con- couldn’t add to the Bailly own goal as day. West Ham ...... 0 Burnley ...... 3 Bournemouth 29 8 9 12 34 44 33 solidate second place in the Premier Newcastle 30 8 8 14 30 40 32 they slipped to a first defeat in eight An easy penalty by Bruno Gal- League table. Playing today Swansea 30 8 7 15 25 42 31 games in all competitions. lo (48th minute) and a slick fi n- “It didn’t go our way because of With runaway leaders Manches- Arsenal v Watford (1330 GMT), Bourne- Huddersfield 30 8 7 15 25 50 31 ish by Osama Omari (58th) saw ter City on course for a third Premier the two goals we conceded,” Liverpool Qatar SC home at the Al Khor mouth v Tottenham (1600 GMT) West Ham 30 7 9 14 36 57 30 League title, second place is the best manager Juergen Klopp said. Stadium. It was Qatar SC’s sixth Playing Monday Southampton30 5 13 12 29 44 28 the chasing pack can hope for and “We have to defend these situa- win of the season. Stoke v Manchester City (2000 GMT) ------United moved five points ahead of tions better. You can always lose a The fi rst 20 minutes of the Liverpool. Crystal Palace 30 6 9 15 28 48 27 header or tackle with (Romelu) Lu- clash saw Qatar SC have ball United stifled Liverpool’s exhila- P W D L GF GA Pts Stoke 29 6 9 14 28 54 27 kaku but you need to close the gap in possession 55 per cent to put rating attack early on at Old Trafford Man City 29 25 3 1 83 20 78 West Brom 30 3 11 16 23 47 20 behind.” pressure on their rivals, but it Qatar Sports Club players and raced into a two-goal lead with Man Utd 30 20 5 5 58 23 65 Top four teams qualify for 2018-19 In the North East, Newcastle United was the referee who was seen celebrate scoring against 24 minutes on the clock after a double Liverpool 30 17 9 4 68 34 60 Champions League; fifth-placed team secured a 3-0 victory over Southamp- cautioning players against reck- Al Khor yesterday. from Rashford. Tottenham 29 17 7 5 55 24 58 qualifies for 2018-19 Europa League; bot- ton to move five points clear of the less tackles. In the 18th minute, Eric Bailly’s bizarre own goal gave ------tom three teams relegated to second- bottom three, piling the pressure on Gallo stepped on the foot of So- picked up a loose ball inside the Liverpool hope in the second half, but Chelsea 30 17 5 8 52 27 56 tier Championship Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino. roush Hossein who had his right box and clipped a curling shot United held on for a first victory over ------Two goals from Kenedy, on loan ankle heavily strapped. The foul towards the goal, but goalkeeper their North West rivals since January, from Chelsea, and a Matt Ritchie caused a long stoppage in play. Jassim al-Hail fl icked the ball 2016. strike were enough for a second suc- Close to the half-hour mark, away just two minutes before the “Perfect result. I wouldn’t go so far Patrick van Aanholt got his side since I’ve been here they’ve been re- cessive Premier League home win for referee Abdulrahman al-Jassim fi rst-half whistle. as saying it was a perfect perform- back in the match in stoppage time, ally good. But you can’t cross the line Rafael Benitez’s side. even cautioned Al Khor coach Despite a goalless fi rst half, ance. In the first half, the game gave but it was too little too late for Palace and come on the pitch,” West Ham West Bromwich Albion’s woes con- Nassif al-Bayawi for gesturing Qatar SC kicked off proceed- us the opportunity to be direct, fast as Chelsea held out for a first win in manager David Moyes said. tinued as they slipped to a 4-1 home towards match offi cials. ings with a quick goal early in the and score goals, more than we did. We four in all competitions. Matters on the pitch added to the defeat by Leicester City. Salomon Mohammad Jassimi of Qatar second. Gallo easily converted were worth the win,” United manager It was an important afternoon at vitriolic mood, with Ashley Barnes Rondon gave West Brom the lead at SC launched a powerful shot a penalty in the 48th minute Jose Mourinho said. the bottom of the table too, with West and a Chris Wood double steering The Hawthorns, but four Leices- close to the Al Khor box, but the after Al Khor’s Reza Najaf was Fifth-placed Chelsea moved to Ham United slipping to a damaging Burnley to a second win in a week, ter goals without reply ensured West ball sailed just above the cross- booked with a yellow for a reck- within four points of Liverpool, two 3-0 home defeat by Burnley to leave closing the gap on sixth-placed Ar- Brom stayed bottom, eight points bar in the 35th minute. less tackle in his own box. In the behind Tottenham Hotspur — who them three points above the relegation senal, who host Watford on Sunday, from safety. Five minutes later, Qatar SC’s 55th minute, Al Khor’s Hossein play Bournemouth on Sunday — in zone. to two points. Swansea City, who had Jordan Under-23 player Omar al-Emadi produced a snap-header, but his fourth, after a nervy 2-1 win over There were unsavoury scenes at Much of the pre-match talk centred Ayew sent off in the 11th minute, held unleashed a right-footed drive defl ection missed the target nar- Crystal Palace in the late kickoff. London Stadium where pitch inva- around how United were going to cope Huddersfield Town to a 0-0 draw that also sailed past the Al Khor rowly. A deflected strike from Willian and sions and mass protests in the stands with Liverpool’s in-form front three at the John Smith’s Stadium while goalpost as the visitors contin- Three minutes later, Qatar SC a Martin Kelly own goal put Chelsea forced owners David Sullivan and of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Wayne Rooney’s penalty miss mat- ued to dominate play. doubled their lead when Omari in control at the break, but they took David Gold to leave the director’s box, the league’s joint-top scorer Moham- tered little as Everton beat Brighton In probably their most dan- dribbled past two defenders be- their foot off the gas in the second with police brought in to restore order. ed Salah. and Hove Albion 2-0 at Goodison gerous move on Qatar SC in the fore easily beating Al Khor keep- half. “We want the supporters behind us, However, even without the injured Park. fi rst half, Al Khor’s Ariel Thierry er for his side’s second goal. Gulf Times Sunday, March 11, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA BUNDESLIGA Lewandowski grabs hat-trick as Bayern Ronaldo is from rout Hamburg 6-0

AFP scorer with 141 from 182 games Berlin in all competitions, overtaking the Brazilian Giovane Elber, who played for the club from 1997 to obert Lewandowski 2003. another galaxy, grabbed a hat-trick as Bayern now hold a 20-point Bayern Munich romped lead at the top of the table over to a 6-0 victory over Schalke, who won 1-0 at Mainz crisis-strickenR Hamburg in the on Friday, while Hamburg re- Bundesliga yesterday. main seven points adrift of The victory keeps Bayern on safety as they seek to avoid a fi rst course to wrap up another Bun- relegation in their history. desliga title – their sixth in a Elsewhere, former Hamburg says coach Zidane row – before the end of March, player Michael Gregoritsch and heaps misery on Hamburg, scored a brace to inspire Augs- ‘He knows that he will score. He is a diff erent, special player. The statistics speak for themselves’ who are now without a win in 13 burg to a 3-1 away win over games. Hanover 96. AFP Bayern have made a habit of Gregoritsch fi red Augsburg in Madrid recording big home wins over front on 26 minutes, heading in Hamburg at the Allianz Arena a deep cross from Caiuby at the in recent years and it took them far post. inedine Zidane labelled less than eight minutes to take Salif Sane levelled the scores Cristiano Ronaldo as the lead this time. with a brilliant volley 10 minutes “from another galaxy” Franck Ribery broke away on later, but Gojko Kacar headed after the striker’s double the left before rounding goal- Augsburg back in front on the Zdragged Real Madrid to a 2-1 win keeper Christian Mathenia to stroke of half-time. over Eibar in La Liga yesterday. slot in the opener. In the 83rd minute, an Augs- Ronaldo headed in an 84th- Just four minutes later, burg counter-attack saw Gre- minute winner at the Ipurua Lewandowski headed in a Josh- goritsch secure victory for the Municipal Stadium, having ua Kimmich cross to double the away side. earlier put Real in front with lead for Bayern. The Polish in- Freiburg held Hertha Berlin to an emphatic near-post fi nish. ternational struck again in the a 0-0 draw, while Bruno Lab- Eibar’s Ivan Ramis had equal- 19th minute, after a pinpoint badia is still without a win as ised in between to give the home long ball from Jerome Boateng Wolfsburg coach after watching side hope. had opened up the Hamburg de- his side lose 3-0 to Hoff enheim. But Ronaldo’s two goals mean fence. Nico Schulz gave Hoff enheim he has now scored in seven con- Arjen Robben fi red in Bayern’s the lead on 19 minutes, sliding secutive games and boasts a re- fourth on 55 minutes, and Ribery home a loose ball at the end of a markable 13 goals overall in that made it fi ve with a mazy solo run smart passing move. period. The 33-year-old’s tally in the 80th minute. The home side continued to for club and country this season Lewandowski blasted one dominate and were rewarded stands at 35 goals in 37 appear- penalty over the bar on 85 min- with two goals in quick succes- ances. utes, before converting a second sion 10 minutes from time. “For me he’s from another spot-kick minutes from time to A well-angled strike from galaxy,” Real coach Zidane said. complete his hat-trick. Serge Gnabry made it 2-0 on 77 “He knows that he will score. His latest exploits in front of minutes, before a calamitous He is a diff erent, special player. goal mean he is now Bayern’s Joshua Guilavogui own-goal se- The statistics speak for them- all-time leading foreign goal- cured victory. selves.” Real move four points behind second-placed Atletico Madrid, who can restore that gap to sev- en with a win over Celta Vigo on Sunday. Eibar stay eighth. After securing a 5-2 aggre- gate victory over Paris Saint- Germain in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, Real swapped the Parc des Princes for the smallest ground in La Liga, with a capacity of just over 7,000. They were below their best and rode their luck late on when Eibar should have converted a pair of excellent chances, before Real Madrid’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league match against Eibar at the Ipurua Stadium Ronaldo made them pay. in Eibar yesterday. (AFP) Gareth Bale started up front alongside the Portuguese, while “He is an important player for quickly picked out Ronaldo. vert an excellent Bale cross and yards out and then Kike Gar- Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, us and what he has done, he has He chested the ball down and from the resulting corner, Bale cia hit the side-netting with fi t enough only to come off the done very well.” slammed it in at the near post. fl ashed a glancing header just only Keylor Navas to beat. They bench in midweek, returned. Raphael Varane had to be re- In front, Real improved but wide of the post. would soon prove costly misses. Modric was excellent through- placed by Nacho early on after fi ve minutes into the second Isco and Kroos made way for In the 84th minute, Pedro out, the Croatian providing a taking a bang to the head but, half and Eibar were level. Sergio Benzema and Lucas Vazquez Leon gave away possession too sublime pass with the outside against the run of play, Real Ramos lost his man at a corner with 19 minutes left but Eibar easily, allowing Modric to feed of his foot for Ronaldo’s opener. edged ahead in the 33rd minute. and Ramis nodded in from six had two golden chances to score Dani Carvajal out wide. His “It’s true that after 15, almost A sloppy pass out from the yards. a second. whipped cross found the leap- Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their third 20 days, Luka came in and made back by Anaitz Arbilla conced- Ronaldo should have restored First, the unmarked Takashi ing Ronaldo and he made no goal against Hamburger SV during their Bundesliga match at Munich a great game,” Zidane said. ed possession to Modric, who the advantage but failed to con- Inui headed over from seven mistake. yesterday. (Reuters)

LIGUE 1 FOCUS Fiorentina coach Paris St Germain thrash struggling pays emotional tribute to Astori Metz 5-0 aft er European exit strength to go on. Reuters Reuters Milan “I would like to thank the Paris whole world of football. The fact that there was such a heartfelt iorentina coach Stefano participation, moving and full of aris St Germain got Pioli paid an emotional solidarity (on Thursday), is down back to business in tribute to Davide Astori to Davide and everything he Ligue 1 after being yesterday as his team transmitted. It shows that there knocked out of the preparedF for their fi rst match are still values and principles in PChampions League by Real since their captain died suddenly the world, even if the opposite Madrid in midweek, hammer- last Sunday. often seems to be the case. It is ing basement club Metz 5-0 at Pioli, whose side host Ben- up to us to follow his example home and stretching their lead evento in Serie A on Sunday, said and carry it forward.” at the top of the standings back he would miss Astori every day Other coaches also comment- to 14 points. and that he wanted to hug each ed on Astori. “It’s not easy to Belgium defender Thomas of the thousands of fans who overcome a moment of pain like Meunier struck the fi rst goal in turned out for the 31-year-old’s this,” said Udinese’s Massimo the fi fth minute, while 20-year- funeral on Thursday. Oddo, whose side had been due old midfi elder Christopher “I had the privilege and the to face Fiorentina last Sunday Nkunku scored twice in quick good fortune to get to know him until the match was postponed. succession to make it three closely in these months, he was a “We are all close to Davide’s goals in two league starts this special person and special cap- family but life goes and we have season. tain,” said Pioli in the pre-match to get on with our work.” France forward Kylian news conference. Inter Milan coach Luciano Mbappe hit PSG’s fourth in “He always found the right Spalletti said the football com- fi rst half stoppage time, while time and the right way to say munity was much more close-knit captain Thiago Silva completed things to me and his team mates. than the public might imagine. the rout with a towering head- He was generous, positive, ready “We are much more connected er from a corner in the 82nd to help and altruistic,” added Pi- than it may appear from the out- minute. oli, his voice trembling at times. side,” said Spalletti, whose side PSG coach Unai Emery was “I miss him every day I go onto host Napoli on Sunday. booed when his name was read Paris Saint-Germain’s French midfielder Christopher Nkunku celebrates his goal during the Ligue 1 match against Metz at the Parc des Princes the training fi eld and I will miss “We are friends with each out before kickoff as the home stadium in Paris yesterday. (AFP) him every time we play a match.” other to a far greater degree than supporters aired their griev- Thanking the fans who turned it seems. Astori was not just the ances at a second consecu- Top scorer Edinson Cavani league start this campaign after minute then struck again in the 77 points after 29 games, 14 out on Thursday, Pioli said: captain of Fiorentina, he was a tive last 16 Champions League was suspended for the game he scored in last week’s 2-0 win 28th with his other foot, placing clear of nearest challengers and “Our fans have a huge heart. I captain of football. He leaves be- elimination under the Spaniard. and Emery made fi ve changes to at Troyes. the ball into the far corner. He champions AS Monaco, who would like to have hugged each hind an example of how behav- They still packed the Parc des the side that lost 2-1 to Real Ma- Nkunku snuck into the box was denied a hat-trick goal be- won 3-1 at Strasbourg on Friday. and every one of them to con- ing with loyalty can reduce the Princes for the visit of rock bot- drid, giving French youngster and slammed the ball into the fore the interval for off side. Metz are bottom with 20 points, sole them and let them console gap between opponents,” added tom Metz. Nkunku a second consecutive net with his left foot in the 20th PSG lead the standings on nine adrift of safety. us, so together we could fi nd the Spalletti. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, March 11, 2018 CRICKET

SECOND TEST T20 TRI-SERIES Mushfi qur leads South Africa lead Bangladesh to record chase aft er de Villiers' 74 AFP timed to commemorate the host Colombo island’s 70 years of independ- ence, stays alive with all three teams having won a game each. Hosts lead by 20 runs with three wickets remaining after Australia made 243 ushfi qur Rahim hit a India take on Sri Lanka next to- blazing half-century morrow. AFP to help Bangladesh Port Elizabeth, South Africa chase down a record SCOREBOARD M215 and beat Sri Lanka by fi ve SRI LANKA INNINGS wickets in a thrilling Twenty20 D. Gunathilaka b Mustafizur 26 ustralia fought back on the international of the tri-series K. Mendis c Sabbir b Mahmudullah 57 second day of the second Test in Colombo yesterday. Rahim K. Perera c Mushfiqur b Mustafizur 74 but could not stop AB de Vil- smashed an unbeaten 72 off 35 D. Shanaka c Sabbir b Mahmudullah 0 liers taking South Africa into a balls as the visitors achieved their D. Chandimal c Sabbir b Taskin 2 slenderA fi rst innings lead at St George’s target with two balls to spare at U. Tharanga not out 32 Park yesterday. South Africa were 263 for the R Premadasa Stadium. T. Perera c Nazmul b Mustafizur 0 seven at the close, a lead of 20 runs after Rahim, who hit 5 fours and 4 J. Mendis not out 6 Australia were bowled out for 243 in their sixes, broke into a dance after Extras (b1, lb3, nb1, w12) 17 fi rst innings. giving Bangladesh their highest- Total (6 wickets, 20 overs) 214 There was a fl urry of wickets after tea ever run chase in the shortest Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Gunathilaka), but De Villiers counter-attacked to hit 74 format, and the fourth biggest 2-141 (Mendis), 3-142 (Shanaka), not out off 81 balls with easily the most ag- overall in international T20s. 4-150 (Chandimal), 5-205 (K. gressive batting of an otherwise slow day. The diminutive wicketkeeper- Perera), 6-206 (T. Perera) “He’s an amazing player,” said Australian batsman built crucial partner- Did not bat: A. Dananjaya, D. all-rounder Mitchell Marsh. “He’s done it ships after openers Tamim Iqbal, Chameera, N. Pradeep for so long. We need to fi nd a way to nullify who hit 47, and Liton Das, who Bowling: Taskin 3-0-40-1 (w6), him as quickly as possible. That’s going to made 43 off 19 balls, set up the Mustafizur 4-0-48-0 (w4), nb1), be a great challenge for us. Hopefully we chase with a brisk start. Rubel 4-0-45-0, Mehidy 4-0-31-0, can fi nd a way to get him out.” Paceman Nuwan Pradeep Nazmul 2-0-20-0, Soumya 1-0-11-0 It was the second outstanding innings struck two crucial blows includ- (w2), Mahmudullah 2-0-15-2 in the series by De Villiers, who made 71 ing Liton’s wicket but Sri Lankan not out in the fi rst innings of the fi rst Test bowlers failed to stop the fl ow of BANGLADESH INNINGS in Durban before being run out for nought runs from Mushfi qur, who was Tamim Iqbal c & b T. Perera 47 in the second innings as South Africa named man of the match. Earlier Liton Das lbw b Pradeep 43 slipped to a 118-run defeat. Sri Lanka opener Kusal Mendis, Soumya Sarkar c & b Pradeep 24 De Villiers’ innings was in complete who made 57, and Kusal Perera, Mushfiqur Rahim not out 72 contrast to the struggles of his teammates who top-scored with 74, put to- Mahmudullah c Mendis b Chameera 20 against superb reverse swing bowling. gether 85 runs for the second Sabbir Rahman run out (T. Perera) 0 Dean Elgar made 57 and Hashim Amla wicket to guide the hosts to 214- Mehidy Hasan not out 0 scored 56, but they took 197 and 143 balls 6, after being put into bat fi rst. Extras (lb3, nb1, w5) 9 respectively to do it. Only one wicket, Bangladesh skipper Mah- Total (5 wickets, 19.4 overs) 215 that of nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada, mudullah got Mendis out with Fall of wickets: 1-74 (Liton), 2-100 fell between the start of play and the af- his off -spin as he struck twice (Tamim), 3-151 (Soumya), 4-193 ternoon tea break. But it was painfully in his very fi rst over to check Sri (Mahmudullah), 5-197 (Sabbir) slow going. Only 43 runs were scored in Lanka’s surge. But Perera contin- Did not bat: Taskin Ahmed, Rubel 26 overs between lunch and tea, before a ued to pulverise the Bangladesh Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, fl urry of wickets and De Villiers’ batting attack to hit his second succes- Nazmul Islam enlivened the evening’s play. sive fi fty. Bowling: Chameera 4-0-44-1 (w1), “I thought the middle session was as He smashed 8 fours and 2 sixes Dananjaya 3-0-36-0 (w1), Pradeep good (an example of) Test cricket as you during his 48-ball blitz. Upul 4-0-37-2, Gunathilaka 2-0-22-0, T. will see. We weren’t taking wickets but South Africa’s batsman AB de Villiers Tharanga also played a useful Perera 3.4-0-36-1 (w3, nb1), Mendis we felt in the game the whole session. plays a shot during second day of cameo during his unbeaten 15- 2-0-25-0, Shanaka 1-0-12-0 South Africa batted extremely well to get the second Test against Australia at ball 32. Bangladesh paceman Toss: Bangladesh through that period when the ball was St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth, Mustafi zur Rahman claimed Result: Bangladesh won by 5 reverse swinging and then we got our re- yesterday. (AFP) three wickets. The tournament, wickets wards later in the day,” added Marsh. Amla also hailed the quality of the cricket. “Today was a tough day of Test cricket and I think those people who are Test match lovers will appreciate the skill of the bowlers and at times, especially when AB was batting, the skill of the bat- swinging yorker from Mitchell Starc can innings, De Villiers looked at ease and A. de Villiers not out 74 ting,” he said. for 56 four balls after tea and Elgar was played strokes to all parts of the ground F. du Plessis lbw b M. Marsh 9 South Africa’s quest for a series-lev- caught behind off Josh Hazlewood for 57 in reaching a half-century off 62 balls T. de Bruyn lbw b M. Marsh 1 elling win was given added impetus by in the next over. Like Amla, Elgar fell to a with ten fours. By the close he had faced Q. de Kock b Lyon 9 a pending disciplinary hearing which full delivery which swung late. 81 balls and hit 14 boundaries. Australia V. Philander not out 14 could result in fast bowler Rabada being Medium-pacer Marsh trapped South delayed taking the second new ball until Extras (lb2, w1) 3 banned for the remaining two Tests after African captain Faf du Plessis and The- the 90th over but De Villiers and Vernon Total (7 wkts, 95 overs) 263 his shoulder made contact with Austral- unis de Bruyn leg before wicket, again Philander survived until the close. Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Markram), 2-67 (Ra- ian captain Steve Smith on Friday. with full, swinging deliveries. De Vil- bada), 3-155 (Amla), 4-155 (Elgar), 5-179 (Du Australia were frustrated for long pe- liers and Quinton de Kock put on 44 for SCOREBOARD Plessis), 6-183 (De Bruyn), 7-227 (De Kock) riods by Elgar and Amla, but the tourists the seventh wicket before De Kock was AUSTRALIA I INNINGS 243 To bat: K. Maharaj, L Ngidi were right back in the game when both bowled by off -spinner Nathan Lyon with SOUTH AFRICA I INNINGS (OVERNIGHT 39-1) Bowling: Starc 26-4-78-1, Hazlewood 24-4-73- batsmen were dismissed in the fi rst two a ball which spun sharply past the outside D. Elgar c Paine b Hazlewood 57 1, Cummins 20-6-55-2 (1w), Lyon 16-5-29-1, M. overs after tea, followed by two more edge of his bat. A. Markram lbw b Cummins 11 Marsh 9-1-26-2 batsmen being dismissed cheaply. While other batsmen had struggled to K. Rabada b Cummins 29 Match situation: South Africa lead by 20 Amla was bowled by a fast, reverse gain any momentum to the South Afri- H. Amla b Starc 56 runs with three wickets remaining

South African bowler Rabada charged aft er Smith incident

Port Elizabeth, South Africa: South Af- later postponed until tonight with the players made contact. It is the second said Rabada would defend the charge rican fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will face delay put down to Chris Gaff aney, one of incident of a bad-tempered series after and argue that the contact with Smith a disciplinary hearing after an incident the on-field umpires who laid a level two Australia’s vice-captain David Warner was accidental. If found guilty Rabada with Australian captain Steve Smith that charge against Rabada, falling ill. was fined 75% of his match fee for an could be fined between 50 and 100% could result in a ban from the third Test Level two off ences are for conduct of altercation in a stairwell with the home of his match fee and could be penalised against Australia. a serious nature. In Rabada’s case the al- side’s wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. three or four demerit points. Cricket South Africa said Rabada, who leged off ence is that of making inappro- The charge against Rabada was As he already has five demerit points, devastated the Australian batting order priate or deliberate contact with another brought by the on-field umpires, Kumar which led to him being suspended for on the first day of the second Test on player. Rabada shouted in celebration Dharmasena and Chris Gaff aney. The a Test match against England last year, Friday, has been charged with a level two and approached Smith aggressively af- hearing will be conducted by match Rabada could be liable to serve another off ence over the altercation. His hearing ter winning a leg before wicket decision referee Jeff Crowe. suspension, which could rule him out of Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim (right) celebrates after hitting was initially set for yesterday, but was against him and the shoulders of the A Cricket South Africa spokesperson the two remaining Tests in the series. the winning runs of Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera (left) during the tri-nation Nidahas Trophy in Colombo yesterday. (AFP)

SPOTLIGHT England romp home, claim series on Bairstow century AFP were 192 for two at the same stage. and Moeen Ali stepped up to decimate Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Munro), 2-26 (William- Christchurch, New Zealand Disappointed New Zealand skip- the middle of the New Zealand innings son), 3-60 (Latham), 4-61 (Chapman), 5-79 per Kane Williamson struggled to fi nd as Tom Latham (10), Chapman, Martin (Guptill), 6-93 (de Grandhomme), 7-177 something positive say about his side Guptill (47) and Colin de Grandhomme (Nicholls), 8-213 (Santner), 9-214 (Southee), masterful century by Jonny apart from “a good showing” by Mitch- (six) fell in quick succession. Santner, 10-223 (Sodhi) Bairstow complemented an ell Santner and Henry Nicholls who put who rescued New Zealand in the fi rst Bowling: Woakes 10-1-32-3 (2w), Wood exceptional bowling spell as on 84 for the seventh wicket. match, hit a personal-best 67 while Ni- 8-0-26-1 (2w), Stokes 4-0-23-0 (2w), Rashid England cruised to a seven- Bairstow toyed with the best of New cholls was out for 55 to give the innings 10-0-42-3, Ali 10-1-39-1, Root 2-0-15-0, Cur- wicketA victory over New Zealand to Zealand’s bowling stocks as he smacked some substance. ran 5.5-0-46-2 (1w) claim the one-day international se- nine fours and six sixes in his 60-ball ries 3-2 in Christchurch yesterday. 104. He eventually brought about his SCOREBOARD ENGLAND INNINGS Bairstow’s heroics with the bat — 104 own downfall by belting the stumps NEW ZEALAND INNINGS J. Bairstow hit wicket b Boult 104 off 60 deliveries — backed by 61 from as he stepped back to cut a wide Trent M. Guptill c Stokes b Rashid 47 A. Hales c Williamson b Santner 61 fellow opener Alex Hales saw England Boult delivery. Both sides were hit with C. Munro c Buttler b Woakes 0 J. Root not out 23 overhaul New Zealand’s 223 with a co- late replacements but with marked dif- K. Williamson b Wood 14 E. Morgan c de Grandhomme b Sodhi 8 lossal 104 balls remaining to wrap up ferences. New Zealand’s batting maes- T. Latham c Stokes b Rashid 10 B. Stokes not out 2 6 the winner-takes-all showdown. tro Ross Taylor failed a late fi tness test M. Chapman b Ali 0 Extras (lb4, w3) 7 Chris Woakes, the man of the series, and was replaced by Mark Chapman H. Nicholls c Morgan b Curran 55 Total: (for 3 wickets; 32.4 overs) 229 lead the way with three for 32 off his 10 who made a three-ball duck. England players pose with the trophy after winning the ODI series. (AFP) C. de Grandhomme c Curran b Rashid 6 Fall of wickets: 1-155 (Bairstow), 2-177 overs while spinner Adil Rashid fi n- England lost Jason Roy to a back M. Santner c Hales b Woakes 67 (Hales), 3-192 (Morgan) ished with three for 42. spasm and his replacement Hales Ben Stokes was 26 not out at the end the second ball he faced, caught behind T. Southee c Bairstow b Woakes 10 Bowling: Southee 5-1-20-0, Boult 6-0-50-1 The stark contrast in performances opened with Bairstow in a 155-run with Joe Root on 23. After the fi rst four off Woakes for the third time in fi ve in- I. Sodhi c Stokes b Curran 5 (3w), de Grandhomme 4-0-33-0, Santner was highlighted in the middle of the stand for the fi rst wicket. Hales was the ODIs, which had the series level at 2-2, nings and for his second consecutive T. Boult not out 2 10-0-44-1, Sodhi 7.4-0-78-1 26th over in each innings when New second wicket to fall with England just England had the New Zealand batsmen duck. Mark Wood bowled Kane Wil- Extras:(w7) 7 Result: England won by seven wickets and Zealand were 93 for six while England 47 runs short of victory. well worked out. Colin Munro went on liamson for 14 before spinners Rashid Total: (all out; 49.5 overs) 223 series 3-2 Gulf Times Sunday, March 11, 2018 5 SPORT

NBA NFL 49ers decline option on DE Dumervil Raptors stave off Raiders, Texans, Buccaneers and Reuters San Francisco Packers were interested in meet- ing with Sherman, who is acting as his own agent. he San Francisco 49ers Seattle plays the 49ers twice will let the man that led every season in the NFC West. the team in sacks last The Seahawks saved $11 million season, defensive end against the 2018 salary cap by rally, snap Rockets’ TElvis Dumervil, become a free releasing Sherman. Seattle also agent next week. traded defensive end Michael The Niners announced Fri- Bennett to the Philadelphia Ea- day that they informed Dumer- gles – the deal isn’t offi cial until vil his contract option for 2018 March 14, when the new league wouldn’t be picked up. Dumervil year begins – and are reportedly had 6.5 sacks in a limited role last all ears if teams want to blow season, 3.5 more than anyone them away with a trade off er for 17-game win streak else on the team. safety Earl Thomas. “I want to thank Elvis for eve- San Francisco started the ‘We shouldn’t have even given him the opportunity to get the shot off , but it worked out’ rything he contributed to our off season with a $137.5 million team last year both on the fi eld pact with impending free agent AFP and throughout our building,” Jimmy Garoppolo. The move, Los Angeles said 49ers general manager John coupled with a six-game win- Lynch in a statement. “Not only ning streak to end the season, did he bring a great deal of veter- has sparked signifi cant interest he Toronto Raptors an leadership to our locker room from free agents, general man- withstood a late surge at a time of signifi cant change, ager John Lynch said at the NFL from Houston to halt but he provided a spark to our Scouting Combine. the Rockets’ 17-game defense. Sherman ended last season TNBA winning streak with a 108- “Although Elvis isn’t in our on injured reserve because of a 105 victory Friday in a clash of current plans, we would never ruptured right Achilles. He had conference leaders. close the door on a potential surgery on his left Achilles to Kyle Lowry scored 30 points return in the future. As a long- remove bone spurs in January. and DeMar DeRozan added 23 time friend, I wish him and his Sherman expects to be ready for for the Eastern Conference- family well.” the regular season but could be leading Raptors, who have al- Dumervil, 34, was set to re- limit in August for training camp ready secured a playoff berth. ceive a $500,000 roster bonus on and parts of the preseason. James Harden scored 40 Tuesday and would have carried The Stanford product is from points for the Rockets, who a $4.25 million cap hit in 2018. Compton, Calif. came into the game with the He has 105.5 career sacks in his best record in the league but 11 NFL seasons. The Niners also NFL tight end were out-scored 32-16 in the announced that they have ten- Gedney, 47, dies fi rst quarter and trailed by as dered a one-year deal to exclu- Former NFL tight end Chris many as 19 in the fi rst half. sive-rights free agent running Gedney died Friday at the age “We were maybe surprised back Raheem Mostert and picked of 47, Syracuse University an- by the intensity or whatever,” up the 2018 contract option nounced in a statement. admitted Houston coach Mike for linebacker Dekoda Watson. No cause of death was imme- D’Antoni, whose Rockets hadn’t Mostert, 25, led the team with diately disclosed. Gedney was lost since January 26. “We eight special-teams tackles last a consensus All-American for didn’t quite come out with what season, while Watson, 30, wasn’t Syracuse in 1992 and then went we had the last three quarters.” far behind him with six tackles on to a pro career with the Chi- Despite the defeat, the Rock- on special teams. cago Bears and Arizona Cardi- ets maintained a half-game Meanwhile, Richard Sherman nals. He made 83 catches for 914 lead over Golden State atop the is spending his fi rst day as a free yards and eight touchdowns in Western Conference after the agent with the San Francisco parts of six seasons from 1993- reigning NBA champion War- 49ers. Sherman, a three-time 2000. riors were beaten 125-108 by the All-Pro cornerback with the “We are shocked and deeply Trail Blazers in Portland. Seattle Seahawks, was released saddened by the passing of Chris Houston trailed by 15 at half- Friday in a cap-related move and Gedney,” Syracuse athletic di- time and were down by 17 with told ESPN he immediately re- rector John Wildhack said in a less than fi ve minutes to play in ceived signifi cant interest. statement. the third quarter. Despite their His fi rst stop is Santa Clara, “Chris was a wonderful co- struggles from three-point Calif., and Adam Schefter of worker, a friend to all and deeply range, Houston chipped away ESPN reported Saturday that loyal to Syracuse University and and knotted the score at 102- it could very well be his only our community.” 102 on a three-pointer by Hard- visit with the expectation the Gedney was named to Syra- en with 2:10 left. 49ers are ready to write a check cuse’s all-century team in 2002. DeRozan put the Raptors back if Sherman’s surgically repaired Gedney was promoted to senior up by two with a jump shot with Achilles passes inspection. associate athletic director for 1:49 remaining and the Rockets Sherman turns 30 on March major gifts at the university in wouldn’t get as close again. Chris Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (right) shoots a three point basket against Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker at the Air Canada Center. 30. In addition to the 49ers, 2011 and served as a radio analyst Paul fi nished with 14 points for Toronto defeated Houston 108-105. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Sherman said the Titans, Lions, on Syracuse football games. Houston but missed a go-ahead three-pointer with 14.5 seconds Short-handed Warriors fall shot to pull the Warriors within points with 10 rebounds and beat the New York Knicks 120- to play. After Jonas Valanciunas With Stephen Curry side- 92-91 early in the fourth quar- six assists for Cleveland, whose 112. Ex-Red Sox closer Uehara returns to made two free throws to stretch lined by a right ankle injury ter, Portland produced a 12-2 lead over Washington and Indi- Milwaukee took charge of the Japan, signs with Yomiuri Giants Toronto’s lead to three points and Andre Iguodala, Jordan Bell scoring run to push their lead to ana for third place in the East is contest with a 19-7 scoring run with 5.4 seconds left, Harden and David West also sidelined, double-digits and the Warriors now just half a game. in the fourth quarter and kept Former MLB closer Koji Uehara, who won a championship in 2013 missed a last-gasp three-point Golden State’s Kevin Durant wouldn’t get the defi cit below James also coughed up fi ve themselves in playoff position with the Boston Red Sox, has returned to Japan and signed with the attempt and the Raptors’ seventh stepped up with a 40-point seven points the rest of the way. turnovers to go with three in the East. Yomiuri Giants. straight win was in the books. performance in Portland, but The Warriors saw their sev- blocks and two steals. DeAndre The 42-year-old agreed to a one-year deal with his former club. “We shouldn’t have even giv- that wasn’t enough to stop the en-game win streak snapped Jordan was a dominant pres- RESULTS Uehara spent last season, his ninth in MLB, with the Chicago Cubs. He en him the opportunity to get red-hot Trail Blazers. and still await word on when ence inside as he scored 20 LA Clippers 116 Cleveland ...... 102 finished the season with a 3-4 record and a 3.98 ERA. the shot off , but it worked out,” Damian Lillard led the Blaz- Curry might return after points and pulled down 23 re- Toronto ...... 108 Houston ...... 105 Signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 2009, Uehara began his career said Lowry, who said the Rap- ers with 28 points and Port- “tweaking” his right ankle bounds for the Clippers. Portland ...... 125 Golden State108 as a No. 2 starter, but was transitioned to the bullpen in his second tors must fi nd a way to maintain land won their ninth straight to on Thursday. Their star point In Milwaukee, Khris Mid- Sacrato ...... 94 Orlando ...... 88 season. the level they showed in the fi rst consolidate their third place in guard will defi nitely miss Sun- dleton led all scorers with 30 Denver ...... 125 LA Lakers ...... 116 In 2011, the Orioles traded Uehara to the Texas Rangers. He initially quarter throughout the game. the West ahead of New Orleans day’s game at Minnesota. points and Giannis Antetok- Memphis .....78 Utah ...... 95 struggled in Texas, but found some consistency in his second season “We can’t be satisfi ed with – who were beaten 116-97 by The Cleveland Cavaliers also ounmpo chipped in 28 points, Milwaukee ..120 New York ...... 112 with the club. In 2013, he joined the Red Sox on a one-year deal and big leads in the fi rst quarter and the Washington Wizards. After lost on the road, beaten 116-102 10 rebounds and a superb block NOrleans .....97 Washington ...116 found himself forced into the closer role after season-ending injuries let them go - we’ve got to fi nd a Golden State’s Klay Thomp- by the Clippers in Los Angeles. of Emmanuel Mudiay’s layup in Detroit ...... 99 Chicago ...... 83 to Andrew Bailey and Joel Hanrahan. way to continue to be strong.” son connected on a short jump LeBron James scored 25 the third quarter as the Bucks Indiana ...... 112 Atlanta ...... 87

NHL Staal stays hot as Wild rout Vancouver Canucks Reuters 8-2-1 in its past 11 games. goal extended Parise’s scoring losses, coming in overtime. Vancouver Coyle scored into an empty net streak to six games. The Canucks Ryan Getzlaf got the Ducks on in the fi nal minute as Vancouver thought they had taken the lead the board with 2:44 to play in the goaltender Anders Nilsson was with 3:24 left in the fi rst period, fi rst period when he skated down ric Staal’s second-period pulled for an extra attacker. After but a video review showed that the right wing and wired a wrist goal stood up as the win- Coyle scored, Foligno put home Sam Gagner directed the puck in shot over the blocker of Dallas ner as the visiting Min- a shot with Nilsson back in net. with his skate. goaltender Kari Lehtonen. Corey nesota Wild downed the Cullen and Coyle each recorded Cullen gave the Wild a 2-1 Perry and Rikard Rakell got as- VancouverE Canucks 5-2 on Fri- an assist as well. advantage at 2:46 of the second sists on the goal. day night. Staal broke a 2-2 tie at Michael Del Zotto and Jussi period as he beat Nilsson on a After a scoreless second pe- 15:38 of the middle frame as he Jokinen, with his second goal in forehand-to-backhand deke riod, Dallas tied the match with got a piece of teammate Mikael two games, replied for the Ca- during a rush. Jokinen created 11:10 to play in the third period Granlund’s shot while tangling nucks, who suff ered their second a 2-2 tie just over fi ve minutes on a power-play goal by Devin with Canucks defenseman Troy straight loss and fi nished 1-2-2 later as he put in Erik Gudbran- Shore, who defl ected a pass by Stecher. on their fi ve-game home stand. son’s rebound, setting the stage Tyler Seguin past Anaheim net- “It was a great shot by Gran- Minnesota netminder Devan for Staal’s heroics. minder Ryan Miller. Benn was ny,” Staal told Sportsnet. “I got Dubnyk saved 30 of 32 shots en granted an assist on the tally. an inside position and got a route to his 30th win of the sea- Big third period lifts Sam Bennett and Matt Stajan lucky bounce. We’ll take it.” son. Nilsson fi nished with 28 Stars over Ducks gave their team much-needed The marker was the 17th in 18 saves on 32 shots. Jamie Benn’s power-play goal secondary scoring and rookie games for the 33-year-old Staal, The Canucks were looking for with 5:37 to play on a redirected goalie David Rittich again sur- who is challenging for the NHL a better eff ort from themselves shot by John Klingberg was the rendered only one goal as visit- goal-scoring lead with 37, three after being embarrassed 2-1 on diff erence as the Dallas Stars ing Calgary beat Ottawa. behind leader Alex Ovechkin of Wednesday by the lowly Ari- came from behind to beat the Rittich made 29 saves at Ca- the Washington Capitals. zona Coyotes in a game that was Anaheim Ducks 2-1 on Friday at nadian Tire Centre to claim his The score was tied 1-1 after the much more one-sided than the the American Airlines Center in second consecutive win with a fi rst period and the Wild led 3-2 score indicated. Del Zotto put downtown Dallas. strong outing. He stopped 25 of after 40 minutes before count- the Canucks on the scoreboard Dallas cemented its hold on 26 shots in a 5-1 win at Buff alo ing two more goals in the game’s fi rst – only 53 seconds into the the fi rst wild card into the play- on Wednesday. fi nal minute. game – as he picked up his own off s from the Western Confer- Zach Parise, Matt Cullen, rebound off the end boards and ence and remained in fourth RESULTS Charlie Coyle and Marcus Fo- put in a wraparound. place in the Central Division. Columbus ...... 3 Detroit ...... 2 ligno also scored for the Wild But Parise drew the Wild even The Stars have won just two Calgary ...... 2 Ottawa ...... 1 Minnesota Wild forward Eric Staal (second right) celebrates his goal with forward Jason Zucker (right) after as Minnesota earned its third less than two minutes later on of their past fi ve, with three of Dallas ...... 2 Anaheim ...... 1 scoring against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Anders Nilsson and defenseman Troy Stecher (left) during straight win and improved to a shot from a sharp angle. The those games, and two of the Minnesota ...... 5 Vancouver ...... 2 the second period at Rogers Arena. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times 6 Sunday, March 11, 2018 SPORT

RUGBY India’s Sharma surges into Ireland crush Scotland, joint lead at home event

New Delhi: India’s emerging star Shubhankar Sharma stormed into a joint lead secure Six Nations title yesterday after rallying to an even-par 72 in the penulti- mate round of the Indian Open golf. After a double- Ireland's Jacob Stockdale scores two tries; England loss to France hands Ireland the championship bogey at the 17th, 21-year-old Sharma hit a birdie on the Reuters next to share the lead with Dublin England’s Matt Wallace on seven-under 209. Wallace, who won his wo tries by Jacob Stockdale set maiden European Tour title up Ireland’s dominant 28-8 last year in Portugal, showed victory over Scotland yester- his mettle, finishing the day day which a few hours later on two-under 70. “The course Tproved to be enough for them to clinch played really tough and I’m the Six Nations title. Ireland’s 11th suc- very happy with my 72,” said cessive win, crucially with a four-try Sharma. “I holed out on the bonus point, turned the screws on Eng- second, made a few good land who knew they would have to beat birdies and got a bad bounce France with a bonus point to keep the on the 17th. I’m very pleased title race alive for the fi nal weekend. with the birdie at the last England’s 22-16 defeat in Paris meant which allowed me to grab a Ireland’s celebrations could begin, al- share of the lead.” though Joe Schmidt’s side will go to Sharma’s eff ort has put him Twickenham next weekend with only in contention to become the their third ever grand slam tantalisingly first Indian to win three Euro- within reach. “It’s special because we pean Tour titles in a season. won it at home,” Schmidt said. “It’s bi- The youngster has delighted zarre again because we won it watching home fans by rocketing from a game over which we didn’t have any 462nd to 66th place in just control over but we managed to control three months following two enough of the things that we were in- European Tour wins and a volved with to get the 19 points on the strong showing at the WGC- table that we needed. Mexico Championships last “It was a great performance for weekend. France. They made it really tough for Scotsman Stephen Gallach- England to get any fl uidity. We’ll have er (67) was one shot behind a look at England now and try to strike the leaders in third place. “It’s out again next week.” getting tougher now. The A day that ended so joyously for the wind has picked up and they Irish had begun nervously as Scotland, put a few tee back today so buoyed by a victory over England last it was playing its full length,” time out, matched their hosts for much said Gallacher. “Anything of a high-tempo fi rst half. Ulster fl yer under par was brilliant and I Stockdale went over twice, however, the had a good finish there so it second on the stroke of halftime as Ire- sets me up for tomorrow.” land went in 14-3 ahead. Argentina's Emiliano Grillo, Scrumhalf Conor Murray wriggled Ireland’s wing Keith Earls (centre) vies with Scotland’s scrum-half Greig Laidlaw during the Six Nations rugby union match in Dublin yesterday. (AFP) who entered the weekend over early in the second half to widen with a four-shot lead, had a Ireland’s advantage but it was replace- Scotland showed glimpses of the score under the posts with Johnny Sex- player to deliver a half dozen in a single Schmidt said the focus was now on round to forget after card- ment Sean Cronin’s try in the 68th form that saw them beat England in the ton converting. Scotland wasted a glo- campaign. the grand slam. “Have they earned it? ing a six-over 78 to drop minute that drew the biggest cheers as previous round of matches but left too rious chance to score when Huw Jones When Murray scored and Sexton I really think they have. They’ve done to joint-fourth alongside it secured the bonus point. Ireland will many points out on the fi eld through chipped over Keith Earls, picked up and converted to put Ireland 21-3 ahead in everything that you can possibly do,” he Briton Andrew Johnston and be wary of their visit to Twickenham, sloppy passing and poor decision- burst clear with Stuart Hogg inside. the 46th minute, victory looked assured said of his team. “They’ve beaten every Austrian Matthias Schwab at especially as it was they who denied making. They were deep into Ireland A simple pass would have resulted in and it was all about taking the bonus tier one nation, they’ve put 11 consecu- five-under. Spaniard Pablo England the grand slam last season in territory and leading 3-0 through Greig a Hogg try but Jones made a mess of it point. Blair Kinghorn’s try did narrow tive test match wins together, more than Larrazabal and American identical circumstances. “It’s been in Laidlaw’s penalty when they off ered the and the chance went begging. Ireland the lead to 21-8 with a well-worked we’ve done before. They have fought Kim Sihwan are joint-seventh the back of our minds and it’s some- hosts the fi rst of several gifts during the looked nervous but Scotland failed to try in the 51st minute, but Ireland were out incredibly tough fi nishes. But you at four-under while Paul thing you always dream of,” Murray said afternoon. capitalise on promising positions and simply more clinical and there was a get nothing at the start of the game next Peterson, Portugal's Ricardo of the possibility of emulating the 1948 Centre Peter Horne’s pass was care- Stockdale punished them again when sense of elation when a lineout move in week at Twickenham, you have to start Gouveia and Briton Aaron Rai and 2009 feats. “It’s taken a lot of hard less and Stockdale intercepted before Garry Ringrose put him in for his sixth the corner resulted in Cronin, almost on all over again and win it and these play- are a further shot behind. work to get to this point.” scorching across acres of empty turf to try of the tournament, the fi rst Irish his knees, going over. ers will try to do that.”

SPOTLIGHT GOLF Asia-Pacifi c claim Bonallack Trophy ‘Good day’ leaves Woods two By Sports Reporter strokes off lead at Valspar Doha Reuters and four-times major cham- Woods was joined on four- Palm Harbor, Florida pion Rory McIlroy (73) missing under 138 by fellow Americans sia-Pacifi c turned the the cut, both bowing out at fi ve- Brandt Snedeker (68), Ryan tables on Europe to win over 147. For Woods, however, Palmer (66) and Kelly Kraft (70) the Bonallack Trophy, iger Woods moved into Friday was “a good day,” despite and Englishman Paul Casey one of the symbols of a tie for second place at the 42-year-old carding his lone (68). “We’ve got a long way to golfiA ng supremacy among ama- the halfway point of the bogey of the round at his fi nal go,” Woods said. “Wind’s going teur men players, at the Doha Valspar Championship hole, the par-four ninth, where to be totally diff erent, coming Golf Club yesterday. Tin Florida on Friday and said his six-foot par putt grazed the out of the south this weekend. This is the fi rst time since 2004 his game was tracking nicely in hole after his birdie chip had It will be a completely diff er- that the Asia-Pacifi c team have time for the year’s fi rst major struck the fl agstick. ent test than we’ve had the last been crowned champions in the championship, the US Masters. This week, his fourth start of couple of days. This is a very prestigious biennial event and it Woods, who underwent spi- the year, is likely to be his pe- diffi cult golf course.” came after three days of intense nal fusion surgery last April, nultimate event before the April Woods returned to the PGA competitions under sweltering shot a three-under-par 68 that 5-8 Masters at Augusta Nation- Tour in January, fi nishing equal conditions. left him two strokes behind al, and Friday’s round marked 23rd at Torrey Pines in San Di- Asia-Pacifi c held a narrow lead leader Corey Conners after the another encouraging outing by ego. He subsequently missed after the fi rst day fourball and second round at the Innisbrook a player whose previous come- the cut at Riviera in Los Angeles foursomes matches, but trailed Resort in Palm Harbor. back attempts have been short- but enjoyed his most promising by two points after day two. PGA Tour rookie Conners lived due to recurring back in- result since 2015 when he fi n- In the singles on the third day, only got into the event as an juries. ished 12th at the Honda Classic Asia-Pacifi c won fi ve of the fi rst Asia-Pacific players celebrate at the Intercontinental hotel after winning the Bonallack Trophy and Patsy alternate but leads the way af- “I keep getting a little bit in Florida two weeks ago. seven matches to take a one- Hankins Trophy (below) at the Doha Golf Club yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram ter carding a 69 for a six-under better, here and there mak- “I thought I had a shot (of point lead. At this point, Europe 136 total. The Canadian would ing little subtle tweaks and I’ve winning) at Honda with a few needed three more points to re- have been further ahead but for done that from tournament holes to go and instead of mak- tain the trophy and were up in a double-bogey on his 13th hole, to tournament,” the 14-times ing birdies coming in I made two and down in three of the re- where he three-putted from major champion told report- some mistakes but to play my- maining matches. short range. ers. “I’m fi nding the rhythm of self into contention this early Angel Hidalgo fought back The tournament lost two of the round, hitting shots, I don’t into (my return) was nice,” he from two down with four holes its biggest names with world have a problem posting scores. said. “I feel comfortable out to play to secure half a point and number four Jordan Spieth (71) I’m able to play more feel golf.” there.” Oliver Gillberg overturned a two hole defi cit with six to play to win by one hole. Tiger Woods plays a shot from the bunker during Valspar Kristoff er Reitan won by one Championship golf tournament. (USA TODAY Sports) hole but Frederic Lacroix lost 3&2, meaning the outcome of the match would come down to Mat- thew Jordan and Osawa Kazuya. Jordan needed to win the 18th hole to score the half-point Eu- rope needed to retain the tro- phy, and had a two-metre putt to do so. Unfortunatley, the putt missed and the hole was halved, meaning Asia-Pacifi c took the match. Kristoff er Reitan was the highest scorer of the European team. cided early. Asia-Pacifi c secured dies were more successful in the and fourball partner, Yuka Saso, The Norwegian won a fourball victory at the end of day two singles matches; Blanca Fernan- both won all fi ve of the matches and foursomes match alongside after winning eight of the day’s dez, Annabell Fuller, Isobel War- they played. Rasmus Hojgaard in addition to ten matches. Europe only man- dle, Zhen Bontan and Paula Grant The highest scorer on the Eu- his win in the singles. aged one victory over the fi rst all won their matches. ropean team was England’s An- Although the men’s match two days, which was delivered by Atthaya Thitikul, winner of nabell Fuller, who halved three was very close, the second edi- Bianca Fabrizio and Blanca Fern- the inaugural Women’s Amateur matches alongside Puk Lyng tion of the ladies’ match for the andez. Despite the match already Asia-Pacifi c Championship ear- Thomsen in addition to her 7&6 Patsy Hankins Trophy was de- being decided, the European la- lier this year, and her foursomes win in the singles. Gulf Times Sunday, March 11, 2018 7 SPORT

ITTF QATAR OPEN Manyu knocks out defending champion Meng to enter fi nal The men’s final will be contested between top seed Fan Zhendong of China and 13th seed Hugo Calderano of Brazil

By Sports Reporter Doha

op seed and defending champi- on Chen Meng lost to last year’s fi nalist Wang Manyu in the semi-fi nals of the ITTF World TTour Platinum Qatar Open. At the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah arena yesterday, China’s Manyu took her revenge by beating her countrywoman Meng 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7. The No 5 seed Manyu will take on another Chinese compatriot Liu Shi- wen in the women’s fi nal today. Shiwen overcame Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa, the No 4 seed, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 in another semi-fi nal. Manyu was im- pressive in her win over Meng, as she played from a very central position which enabled her to cover the angles and play her favoured forehand shot. Manyu established a 3-1 lead, be- fore winning the fi rst four points of the fi fth game. Meng called for time out but Manyu extended the lead to 10-4 for six match points. Meng saved two match points but Manyu won the next point to seal her place in the fi nal. “It seemed an easy match when you look at the result, but I had a lot of dif- fi culties to overcome. I was able to take my chances and when I lost two or three points in a row, I was able to re- cover,” said Manyu In the second semis, throughout the fi rst three games, Ishikawa matched Shiwen in every department. But in the fourth game, Shiwen established a Brazil’s Hugo Calderano celebrates after reaching the men’s final. 4-1 lead. Ishikawa closed the defi cit to make it 8-7 but her opponent closed second game, there was little to choose. Earlier, in the quarterfi nals, also out the game and ran away with the But at 8-all, the Brazilian won the next played yesterday, Gaoyuan beat Hong fi fth game and match. three points to take a 2-0 lead. Kong’s Wong Chun Ting, the No 6 seed, The men’s fi nal will be contested be- China’s Wang Manyu in action en route to her win over compatriot Chen Meng in the semi-finals of the ITTF World Tour Gaoyuan experienced problems 11-7, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7. Calderan had over- tween top seed Fan Zhendong of China Platinum Qatar Open at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah arena yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil while returning serves and Calderano come Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, the and 13th seed Hugo Calderano of Bra- dominated from there on to clinch the No 8 seed, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7. zil. In the semi-fi nals, Zhendong beat Zhendong made the best start pos- three games went down to wire and unfancied Brazilian thrashed China’s match. “I’m so happy to reach the fi nal, Zhendong accounted for Denmark’s fourth seed and doubles partner Xu Xin sible; he won the fi rst seven points of Zhendong was able to convert crucial third seed Lin Gaoyuan 11-9, 11-8, 11-3, I feel that all the hours of training are is Jonathan Groth 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3, in fi ve games 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9. the opening game. Xu Xin responded points into winners. 11-6 to reach the fi nal. bringing results now. It’s never easy to 14-12 in the last eight, while Xu Xin Xu Xin was gunning for a record fourth in style, as he secured the second game Meanwhile, Calderano continued Calderano secured a close fi rst game beat a Chinese player and that too not beat colleague Zhou Yu 11-5, 10-12, 11- men’s singles title in Doha. but was not able to capitalise. The next with the form of his life yesterday as the after having held an 8-4 lead. In the four-nil,” said a delighted Calderano. 5, 13-11, 6-11, 10-12, 11-8.

CRICKET WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS PSL Powell ton sees Windies past Denly, Afridi star in Karachi win Agencies Earlier, Karachi, after a slow petitive total mainly because of Dubai start, recovered through Denly Dwayne Smith’s 33-ball 49. But and Babar Azam’s partnership. they lost momentum after losing Ireland and into Super Six Together they put on 118 in 13.2 wickets at regular intervals. They oe Denly’s 55-ball 78 overs. Azam fi nished with a 39- only managed to get to above 150 AFP helped Karachi Kings ball 58, including six fours and a thanks to a brilliant rearguard Harare thrash Multan Sultans by six. In the late overs, some fear- from captain Daren Sammy, who 63 runs in the Pakistan less striking from Colin Ingram made 19-ball 36. SuperJ League in Dubai yesterday. (29) helped Karachi post a huge ovman Powell’s maiden one-day Put in to bat, Karachi over- total. international hundred dragged came a slow start to amass 188 In the second match, Quetta the West Indies from a diffi cult - this season’s highest total - be- Gladiators beat Peshawar Zalmi position to beat Ireland in Harare fore the leg-spin of Shahid Af- by six wickets. Gladiators chased yesterdayR and reach the Super Six stage of ridi damaged Multan’s pursuit down Zalmi’s 157 thanks to a 74- World Cup qualifying. Hosts Zimbabwe with. Afridi took three wickets, run partnership between their also booked their spot in the next round by conceding just 18 runs and also captain Sarfraz Ahmed (45) and making it three wins from three in Group B bowled a maiden over. Rilee Rossouw (30). with a comfortable victory over Hong Kong, Despite beginning the chase Shane Watson, whose out- while Afghanistan saw off Nepal to keep positively, scoring 53 for 2 in standing form has seen him be- their slim hopes alive. the Powerplay, Multan lost fi ve come the top scorer in the tour- Powell helped the West Indies reach 257- wickets in the next seven overs, nament, made a 25-ball 37 to get 8 off their 50 overs, before the two-time including those of Ahmed She- Quetta’s chase going. World Cup winners took regular wickets to hzad (24) and Kieron Pollard in However, Peshawar clawed secure a 52-run victory, with Kemar Roach successive overs, for merely 34 their way back in with regular claiming 4-27. runs. With heavyweights such wickets, and reduced Quetta to The Caribbean outfi t can seal the maxi- as Kumar Sangakkara (18) and 84 for 4. But Rossouw and Sar- mum four points to carry into the Super Six captain Shoaib Malik also having fraz rose to the occasion to see round when they play the Netherlands in departed, Multan had no hope of their team home. Karachi Kings’ Shahid Afridi took their fi nal Group A game tomorrow, when coming back into the game. Peshawar had piled up a com- three wickets for just 18 runs. Ireland will have to beat the United Arab Emirates to be sure of progression. Only two teams from the qualifi ers will join the world’s top eight ODI nations at next year’s World Cup in England and Wales. Af- FIFA World Cup referee candidates ter losing the toss and being put in to bat, the Windies slipped to 83-5 as veteran seamer complete screening programme at Aspetar Tim Murtagh took the crucial early wickets of Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. Doha: Candidates to become such as the Body Mass Index feel physically]and how they’re But captain Jason Holder, who hit a off icial referees at the 2018 (BMI) and percentage of body preparing for the tournament match-winning 99 not out in Thursday’s FIFA World Cup Russia have fat. Tests included echography, and that’s very important for win over Papua New Guinea, combined with Rovman Powell of the West Indies plays a shot during the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers each successfully completed blood tests, Achilles tendon, us FIFA. Aspetar is a very good Powell in a sixth-wicket stand of 86 before against Ireland in Harare yesterday. (ICC) a two-hour screening session DEXA scans, and a general hospital with incredible special- falling to Murtagh for 54. The 24-year-old at Aspetar, which took place health analysis to check for any ists. The referees are really Powell took his time to get in as he reached pal tomorrow after stunning Afghanistan, BRIEF SCORES recently. underlying physical problems happy about their tests. For nine off only 34 balls, but exploded into life bowled well to restrict Zimbabwe to 263-9 Group A (At Harare) In all, 48 referees took part, and diseases. Such processes that, we’re very thankful for the late in his innings, muscling seven fours and in Bulawayo. West Indies 257-8 in 50 overs (Rovman Powell including 35 referees and 13 help foresee and prevent any relationship between FIFA and as many maximums before being caught be- But all-rounder Sikandar Raza continued 101, Jason Holder 54; Tim Murtagh 4-41) v Video Assistant Referees (VAR). possible injuries that may result Aspetar.” hind off Murtagh for a run-a-ball 101. his excellent form by taking 3-30 with his Ireland 205 all out in 46.2 overs (Ed Joyce 63; The referees travelled to Doha during a game. In 2009, Aspetar became Roach impressed with the ball in Ireland’s off -spin as Hong Kong fell well short. Kemar Roach 4-27, Kesrick Williams 4-43) — to take part in a series of FIFA Speaking about the impor- the first hospital in the Middle reply as William Porterfi eld’s men strug- Afghanistan need an unlikely run of re- West Indies won by 52 runs workshops hosted by the Qatar tance of the referees’ medical East to be accredited by FIFA gled to 32-3, but a well-compiled 63 from sults in their favour to stay in contention for Netherlands 216-8 in 50 overs (Sikander Football Association (QFA). assessments, Head of FIFA as a FIFA Medical Centre of Ed Joyce gave the Irish hope. The former a World Cup place, but at least fi nished their Zulfiqar 53) v Papua New Guinea 159 all out in Aspetar provided each of Refereeing Massimo Busacca, Excellence. Currently, there are England opener holed out to Roach, though, Group B campaign with a six-wicket win 42.1 overs (Roelof van der Merwe 4-46) the referees with a comprehen- said: “We’re very happy we did only 41 FIFA-accredited medical and medium-pacer Kesrick Williams ran over Nepal. Stand-in skipper Rashid Khan — Netherlands won by 57 runs sive screening. The medical medical checks for the referees centres worldwide. through the tail to fi nish with fi gures of took 3-45 and Mohammad Nabi 4-33 as Ne- Group B At Bulawayo assessments comprised various ahead of a very important Aspetar previously pro- 4-43, as Ireland fell short in their attempt pal were bowled out for just 194, and an un- Nepal 194 all out in 49.5 overs (Paras Khadka elements and were specifically competition. It’s important to vided medical support to the to replicate their win over the West Indies in beaten 52 from Najibullah Zadran fi nally got 75; Mohamed Nabi 4-33, Rashid Khan 3-45) v tailored to meet the needs of know how physically fit the ref- Ivory Coast and Algeria national the 2015 World Cup. Afghanistan their fi rst points at the fourth Afghanistan 195-4 in 38.4 overs (Najibullah Z 52 each referee. erees are and assess the shape football teams that took part at Zimbabwe were seen as outsiders to reach time of asking. not out) — Afghanistan won by six wickets The screening assessed they’re in. We did the same for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, the World Cup before qualifying got under- The other game saw the Netherlands beat Zimbabwe 263-9 in 50 overs (Hamilton Ma- the referees’ cardiovascular, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and and has recently screened the way, but Hamilton Masakadza struck 84 as Papua New Guinea by 57 runs, but the Dutch sakadza 84; Ehsan Nawaz 4-47) v Hong Kong respiratory, muscle and tendon had excellent results. Today we Tunisian national football team they thrashed Hong Kong by 89 runs for a need to beat the Windies and hope Ireland 174 all out in 46.5 overs (Anshuman Rath 85; conditions, along with bone have to work on prevention, and that will compete at the 2018 third straight triumph. Hong Kong, who will lose to the UAE to have any chance of going Sikandar Raza 3-30) density, body compositions know exactly how the referees FIFA World Cup Russia. reach the Super Six with victory over Ne- through. — Zimbabwe won by 89 runs

Sunday, March 11, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

FIVB WORLD TOUR TENNIS Halep and Pliskova advance; Vickery Qatar’s Younousse stuns Muguruza

AFP Indian Wells, United States

orld number one and Tijan clinch Simona Halep and fi fth seed Karolina Pliskova Weased through their WTA Indi- an Wells openers on Friday but reigning Wimbledon champ Sachia Vickery celebrates her Garbine Muguruza bit the dust victory over Garbine Muguruza in the California desert. during the BNP Paribas Open in Katara Cup bronze Halep beat Karolina’s sis- Indian Wells, California. ter Kristyna Pliskova 6-4, (Getty Images/AFP) Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen of the Netherlands claim gold medal 6-4 while Karolina eased past Irina-Camelia Begu 7-6 (7/4), line Dolehide who beat Do- By Sports Reporter 6-1 to reach the third round of minika Cibulkova, of Slovakia, Doha the combined WTA/ATP hard- 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. “I was ready to court tournament. play. I was ready to work and Muguruza became the fi rst ready to fi ght,” Halep said. “It atar’s Cherif You- major casualty of the event, wasn’t an easy match. But I nousse and Ahmed suff ering a shock 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 am really happy I won my fi rst Tijan stunned the top defeat to world number 100 match here and I get a chance seeds Philip Dalhauss- Sachia Vickery. “It slipped to play again.” erQ and Nicholas Lucena of the US away a little bit from me,” said Halep and Caroline Wozni- 2-1 in a thriller to fi nish third at Muguruza. “I’m going to learn acki have been taking turns at the FIVB World Tour Katara Cup a lot from this match. I’m go- No 1 this year. Beach Volleyball yesterday. ing to watch it and I’m going to Denmark’s Wozniacki took In the third place play-off at see what went wrong.” the world number one rank- the magnifi cent Katara Amphi- Muguruza, who was seeded ing after beating Halep in three theatre, Younousse and Tijan third here, was named WTA sets in the Australian Open put up a fi ne show to win 21-19, player of the year last year after fi nal, but Halep reclaimed it 19–21, 15-13 and in the process winning titles in Wimbledon from her just prior to Indian they delighted the home crowd and Cincinnati. The 24-year- Wells. Wozniacki will play her by becoming the fi rst Qatari team old also reached number one fi rst match of the tournament to win a World Tour medal on in the world in September and on Saturday against qualifi er home sand. was ranked third heading into Lara Arruabarrena. “This is a fantastic result for Indian Wells. Halep won three out of the us. The game was not really easy This the Spaniard’s fi rst loss fi nal four games in the second and we had to fi ght to the end,” to a player ranked in the 100s set, claiming victory when her Younousse said. since she was beaten by Jana opponent sailed a forehand The Qatari pair was disap- Cepelova (124) at Wimbledon long on the fi rst match point. pointed after their defeat to Al- in 2016. Muguruza had fi ve Fifth-ranked Karolina exander Brouwer and Robert Gold medal winners Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen (centre) of the Netherlands, silver medal winners Oleg Stoyanovskiy and Igor Velichko double faults and had her serve Pliskova smashed four aces Meeuwsen of the Netherlands in (left) of Russia and bronze medal winners Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan of Qatar pose on the podium of the FIVB World Tour Katara Cup Beach broken fi ve times in the two and won 76 percent of her fi rst the semi-fi nals, but they pulled Volleyball with Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) first vice president Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman al-Kuwari and secretary-general Jassim al-Buenain hour, 11 minute night match. serve points in her 92 minute up their socks to register an yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram Crowd favourite Vickery victory over Begu. important victory. posted her fi rst career win over The Czech, who turns 26 on The pair played two tourna- improve, get more confi dent and a top 10 player as she served March 22, is hoping to improve ments together in 2014 before bring more titles and medals masterfully and controlled the on her semi-fi nal fi nish here in they went their separate ways, home in future,” Younousse said. rallies with her ground strokes. 2017, part of a stellar campaign but since they reunited at the Tijan was also delighted with Vickery said the partisan that saw her win titles in Bris- end of 2017 their combination of win as he said, “Our opponents crowd motivated her. bane, Doha, and Eastbourne Younousse’s prowess at the net were one of the best teams in the “The atmosphere really and rise as high as number one and Tijan’s agility at the back has world. We’re really thrilled to se- helped me even though I was in the world last July. allowed them to develop into a cure the bronze medal and we’ll feeling it a bit physically. I kept Elsewhere, ninth seeded Pet- competitive pairing. cherish it long. Nobody expected telling myself ‘just do your ra Kvitova won her 14th straight “We were playing against two us to rise to this level in the tour- best’,” said the 22-year-old match to equal the longest win- of the best players in the world, nament but we’ve proved that we who is making her second ap- ning streak of her career by but we had the energy and didn’t mean business.” pearance in Indian Wells. outlasting Yulia Putintseva 6-7 give up and fought till the end. Alexander Brouwer and Robert Halep roared into the (4/7), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4. They are a big team as Phil has Meeuwsen of the Netherlands third round by overpowering Rising star Jelena Ostapenko been world and Olympic cham- won their fi rst FIVB Beach Vol- Kristyna in straight sets. battled her way into the third pion, besides winning many big leyball World Tour gold of 2018 The 26-year-old Romanian round by outlasting Swiss Be- titles on the tour,” the 22-year- when they defeated Oleg Stoy- will meet US wildcard Caro- linda Bencic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. old said. anovskiy and Igor Velichko of “We just wanted to go out and Russia 2-1. Struggling Sharapova splits with coach put up our best. We just focused Brouwer and Meeuwsen rallied on each point and tried to force to beat Russians Stoyanovskiy Former world number one Maria Sharapova said she had split with errors. This worked and we’re so and Velichko 20-22, 21-14, 15-11. her coach Sven Groeneveld, two days after losing a third consecu- proud of the bronze medal at the “We’ve known them since last tive match for the first time since 2003. The news comes after fi rst 4-Star home tournament,” week when we played them in Sharapova, who said the decision to end their four-year partnership he said. Fort Lauderdale, they are a new Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan of Qatar in action during their bronze medal match yesterday. was “mutually agreed”, was beaten by 44th-ranked Naomi Osaka in “This is a fantastic result for team and a young team and they the first round of the BNP Paribas Open in California on Wednesday. us. This was a really tough match. played amazingly this whole medal, having last topped the stayed cool even if it was a fi nal the bar high for success in future After losing in the third round of the Australian Open to Angelique They are a big team as Phil has tournament,” Brouwer said. podium at the 3-Star Xiamen and I’m really happy with how we tournaments. Kerber she was then beaten in the first round of the Qatar Open been world and Olympic cham- Brouwer and Meeuwsen be- tournament in April 2017. played.” “We are very happy because by Romanian qualifier Monica Niculescu. Sharapova has strug- pion, besides winning many big gan the year by winning bronze “We started off really well in Stoyanovskiy and Velichko we played very well this week,” gled to recapture top form since her 15-month ban for taking the titles on the Tour. in front of their home fans at the the start of the fi rst set, but we let were playing in their fi rst World Stoyanovskiy said. “We had to banned drug meldonium ended last April. “After four successful and “I’d told you after the semi- 4-star Dela Beach Open in The them back at the end of the fi rst Tour gold medal match since play a very high level of volleyball challenging years of collaboration together, I would like to thank fi nals that we’d go all out for the Hague. set with our mistakes,” Meeu- they teamed up as a pair at the because of the teams that were Sven for his incredible loyalty, work ethic and most importantly the podium. We’re young but we’ve Now the 2013 world champi- wsen said. start of the year. They had both here, and that is the key for us to friendship that we have formed that will go beyond this working quality. That is what we showed ons have ended their wait for a “We kept going forward and won Tour medals with previous play well and then we can worry partnership,” Sharapova said in a statement on her website. today. Hopefully with time, we’ll tour gold with their 10th Tour going for the next point. We partners, and they have now set about the medals.”

SPOTLIGHT ‘Unite for progress and challenge beyond expectation’ By Sports Reporter was Sheikha Asma al-Thani, work for the bettering of all hu- Purposefully held on Interna- Doha Director of Marketing and Com- man kind. It all starts with you!” tional Women’s Day, an annual munications at the Qatar Ol- Sport, and how to encour- global date to celebrate the social, ympic Committee and devoted age more Qatari women to get economic, cultural and politi- veryone in Qatar and adventurer along with youth healthy and active, formed the cal achievements of women, the across the world should advocate Dana al-Anazy, who basis of lively contributions from session saw fascinating discus- ‘unite for progress and together with Sheikha Asma was the panel, which sparked open sion about the responsibility of challenge beyond ex- one of the fi rst female Qataris to and passionate dialogue with an the whole of society in making pectation’E , say Qatar’s most ex- reach the summit of Mount Kili- audience keen to contribute with progress to achieve gender parity. traordinary women in sport after manjaro in 2014, Qatar’s fi rst fe- actionable ways of accelerating Speaking on the importance sharing their inspirational sto- male two-time Olympian Nada gender parity. of the mutual support between ries at an event hosted by the Qa- Mohamed and talented young Speaking during the session, males and females in all fi elds, tar Olympic Committee to mark member of Qatar’s athletics Sheikha Asma al-Thani who is Mariam Farid, one of Qatar’s International Women’s Day. team, Mariam Farid, who is hop- aiming to become the fi rst Qatari most talented female athletes “Achieving progress is all ing to compete in the Doha 2019 to ski to the North Pole in April said: “My family support me a about the dialogue and com- IAAF World Championships in this year, whilst also directing lot in my sporting journey. My munication between and within Athletics when the world’s third the Marketing and Communica- father and my brother are always us. Determination is the key to largest sporting event comes to tions function at the Qatar Ol- there for me and without them I achieving your goals and creating Qatar next year. ympic Committee said: “Chal- wouldn’t be a member in Team the reality that you want to see.” Dana al-Anazy who delivered lenges inspire me to achieve my Qatar now. Men and women com- Those were the words of Ja- a strong keynote speech to the goals, and achieve greatness. plete each other and they should waher Alfardan, co-founder of audience before the start of the They are also an opportunity always support each other.” Qatar’s fi rst-ever vegan cafe and panel session, said: “Women in for people to communicate and Following the panel session, fi rst-ever Qatari-owned yoga Qatar have found their voices be inspired so that they can set female guests at the event were studio, who was one of fi ve on and places in multiple sectors their goals and go for it. We can encouraged to take part in a the esteemed panel. such as sports politics arts and all challenge beyond expecta- range of sporting activities or- Staged in the Aspire Zone last fi lm however we still have a long tion, pushing the boundaries of ganised on site, including boxing Thursday and organised by the way to go in supporting the de- what is possible and achieving and spinning classes. Qatar Olympic Committee, rep- velopment of our nation with more than we think we can or resentatives from a wide variety an equitable access granted to what others think we can.” of Qatari sectors were brought women and men alike. I chal- Sheikha Asma’s journey to Jawaher Alfardan, Dana together with dignitaries and lenge you, dare to dream of a bet- the pole will see her join an all- al-Anazy, Sheikha Asma al-Thani, athletes as well as members of ter you, dare to manifest the so- female international team from Mariam Farid and Nada the public to accelerate dialogue ciety that off ers equal access and European and Arabian countries Mohamed with the panel on what it will take to empower opportunities for women and in an expedition which aims to moderator Noha Issawy during women in a setting that cele- men, dare to be women that sup- foster greater dialogue and un- a panel discussion organised brated the achievements of those port one another, dare to be men derstanding between cultures, by Qatar Olympic Committee to leading the charge. that support women and dare to by having them come together to mark International Women’s Day. Joining Alfardan on the panel be above all human beings that achieve a staggering shared goal. at the Aspire Zone.