17 MONDAY, JULY 30, 2018 sports Rabada, Shamsi set up S Africa’s big win AFP | Dambulla, Sri Lanka owlers Kagiso Rabada and Tabraiz Shamsi starred Wayne Rooney(L) and Andy Murray(R) play in the court Byesterday in South Afri- ca’s five-wicket hammering of Sri Lanka in the first one-day international, some consolation Murray hits with Rooney, for a disappointing tour. They claimed four wickets gets set for return each to help bowl out Sri Lan- ka for 193, a total the visitors AFP | Washington the US Open hoping for a deep passed in just 31 overs to take a run to build match fitness, hav- 1-0 lead in the five-match series. ndy Murray has practiced ing played only three matches South Africa’s chase depend- Awell but the former world in the past year. ed on an 86-run third-wicket number one admits to some “That’s what I need just stand between Quinton de Kock anxiety as he returns to hard- now,” Murray said. “I’ve not and skipper Faf du Plessis, who court competition for the first played a hardcourt match for a both hit 47. time in nearly 17 months. very long time. A lot of anxiety Off spinner Akila Dananjaya The 31-year-old Scotsman, about that. I’m sure after the struck at crucial moments to now ranked 838th in the world, first few games out there I’ll get three wickets but Jean-Paul will play his first hardcourt be fine.” Duminy ensured a swift chase match since right hip surgery Murray, who would meet with his 32-ball unbeaten 53. in January when he meets fellow Briton and fourth seed But it was a superb opening 77th-ranked American Mac- Kyle Edmund if he wins his pace spell from Rabada and kenzie McDonald in a first- opener, withdrew from Wim- Shamsi’s career-best figures of round match at the Washing- bledon last month, saying it 4-33 that led South Africa to South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (L) plays a shot as Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella (R) looks on ton Open. was too soon after surgery for their first victory of the tour “That’s a long time,” Murray five-set matches. after being swept aside in a two- now looking forward to the rest tacked to hit the South Afri - said Saturday after enjoying a Murray returned last month Test series. Scorecard of the tour. can bowlers to all parts of the hit with English football star with a loss to Australia’s Nick “Feels much better to be chat- Sri Lanka’s innings lasted just ground as Sri Lanka reached 100 Wayne Rooney who now plays Kyrgios at Queens, then beat ting as a winning captain,” du South Africa 196 for 5 34.3 overs but batsman Kusal in the 16th over. in the city. Stan Wawrinka and lost to Ed- Plessis said afterwards. Perera hit a gritty 81 to lift the The left-handed batting duo “I have to see how the body mund at Eastbourne -- all on “In the Test series we didn’t (Duminy 53*, de Kock 47, du hosts from a precarious 36-5 fol- cashed in on the inexperience of responds to that, not just the grass. play well. There is a new group Plessis 47, Dananjaya 3-50) lowing their decision to bat first. rookie pacemen Willem Mulder hip. It felt pretty good in prac- “It takes a long time after of players for the ODIs. I also beat Sri Lanka 193 (Kusal Kusal, whose 72-ball stay in- and Andile Phehlukwayo as tice. It’s feeling better all the you have been out to get the thought we’ve learnt lessons, Perera 81, Thisara Perera cluded 11 fours and a six, put on they plundered runs. time.” match fitness back,” Murray had good discussions and put 49, Shamsi 4-33, Rabada a crucial 92 for the sixth wicket But the introduction of spin Murray has not played in a said. “I need to get back on pressure on their spinners by 4-41) by five wickets stand with Thisara Perera, who in the 18th over put Sri Lanka hardcourt event since Indian the match court and see how I taking a few risks.” made 49 to give the total a mod- in trouble again. Shamsi broke Wells last year when he lost his come through two, three, four, After the recent defeats, du icum of respect. the dangerous partnership by first match to Canada’s Vasek five matches in a week. I’ve Plessis said South Africa were Kusal and Thisara counter-at- getting Thisara caught behind. Pospisil but starts his run-up to done pretty well in practice.” Major global partnerships Hamza Kooheji soon set to return to action secured by Brave CF TDT | Manama pearances in Brave Combat TDT | Manama cluding USA, Russia, France, Federation out of which he had Italy, Netherlands, Brazil, Phil- amza Kooheji is steadily emerged victorious thrice. oyal Tulip City Center, ippines, Syria, Sweden, Mexico Hprogressing his training in The bantamweight fighter RTangier partners with and Canada to Morocco. Texas, USA. from Bahrain had been a key Brave Combat Federation as Royal Tulip will also be the The first Bahraini mixed presence in the KHK MMA Fight the official hospitality partner venue for conducting high lev- martial artist had previously Team who inspired a generation for Brave 14 hosted on 18th el meetings involving media, competed at Brave 12 hosted of Bahraini fighters. August in Morocco. business and high level dig- in Jakarta, Indonesia which After Brave 12, Kooheji had The five star hotel will nitaries. witnessed the largest conti - embarked to set a camp in the accommodate the athletes, Brave 14 is the first mixed nent of athletes from KHK MMA USA close to the Middle Eastern officials, media and staff martial arts event which is Bahrain being represented in Lightweight sensation, Abdul from Brave Combat Feder- hosted under the patronage of an edition of Brave Combat Kareem Al Selwady. ation and will be the venue His Majesty King Mohammed Federation. With training undergoing in for the official media day for VI of Morocco. The event was personally at- Extreme Studio Performance, Brave 14. Ticket.ma have partnered tended by HH Shaikh Khalid bin Kooheji is expected to return Brave 14 will bring together for online ticket sales and tick- Hamad Al Khalifa. to Brave Combat Federation in athletes from 11 nations in - eting database for Brave 14. Kooheji had made four ap - Hamza Kooheji a way to create an impact. F1 scraps Bahrain winter testing plans for 2019 F1i | Barcelona lunya’s abrasive new surface led to Pirelli subsequently introducing a ormula 1 has dropped its plans to special version of its tyres for Bar- Fhold 2019 winter testing in Bah- celona and also for Paul Ricard and rain, with Barcelona and possibly Silverstone, further undermining the Jerez suggested has probable pre-sea- relevance of the pre-season test. son venues. Formula 1 therefore pondered the at Seef District too Winter testing conducted in late idea of running under the more fa- February at the Circuit de Catalunya vourable skies of Bahrain in early 2019. Um al Hassan +973 17728699 was disrupted by freezing weather According to Motorsport.com, Seef District +973 17364999 and snow, conditions very untypical Barcelona, which generates revenue of the Barcelona region that limited F1 from F1’s pre-season activities, has teams’ running during the first week expressed its discontent with the po- of pre-season testing. tential loss of income should teams Bahrain International Circuit Furthermore, the Circuit de Cata- steer clear of Spain next winter.