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Monday, July 1, 2019 FORMULA 1 Shawwal 28, 1440 AH Verstappen cleared GULF TIMES as Austria winner aft er stewards’ probe SPORT Page 8

SHOWJUMPING Qatar’s Bassem second in Global Champions Tour thriller in Monaco Agencies he had to settle for second, but ville Z) here as fi rst horse but it Monaco was delighted nonetheless and happens sometimes. When I saw the Qatari rider said: “Gunder is Julien on the screen, I could bet always very good in the jump- on it that he should win; he went atar’s Bassem Mo- off and today he jumped really full out everywhere. I was just a hamed fi nished sec- amazing. With all these top rid- bit faster and I gave it everything ond with Gunder at ers it is never over until the end.” today. I had some nice forward the Global Champi- Bassem and Gunder pivoted distances and the horse really onsQ Tour Grand Prix du Prince round the opening few roll- worked for me.” de Monaco on Saturday night. backs. The Qatari rider pushed The Dutchman, who becomes Maikel van der Vleuten won the every button and, accelerating the 10th rider to qualify for the event in a tight fi nish where the round the latter fences, the bril- GCT Super Grand Prix at the GC top four in the elite show jump- liant pair scorched home and into Prague Playoff s in November, ing event were separated by a lit- the lead, clear in 33.12, to appre- said: “A few times I’ve come very tle over a second. ciative cheers. close to qualifying, but that was The Dutchman and Beauville Z However, Maikel van der Vleu- really my goal to be one of the put in a fl awless performance in ten increased the pace further riders to take part in the Super the 10-way jump off and clocked still with the magnifi cent nine- Grand Prix this year, so now it’s in at 33.06 seconds, 0.06 seconds year-old Beauvuille Z and the done it feels good.” faster than Bassem and Gunder. pair clearly had the magic touch. There is no change at the top The lightning-quick combina- A breathtaking shot to the last of the leader board in the Cham- tion of Julien Epaillard and Usual rocketed them into the lead with pionship race, with Pieter De- Suspect d’Auge could only man- a clear in 33.06. vos still leading the way but Ben age a third place fi nish. A thrilled van der Vleuten said: Maher jumped ahead of Daniel Bassem had made history in “It’s incredible – this horse really Deusser and this win in Monaco Monaco in 2014 by taking Qatar’s fi ghts for me. I spoke with my dad pushed Maikel van der Vleuten fi rst ever GCT Grand Prix win earlier this week as to whether it up to fourth position with nine Runner-up Bassem Mohamed (left), winner Maikel van der Vleuten and third-placed Julien Epaillard pose on the podium after the Global with his horse Victoria. This year was too early to bring him (Beau- events left. Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco on Saturday.

ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP England end India’s unbeaten run to revive semi-fi nal hopes Hosts leapfrog Pakistan to fourth place with 10 points from eight games, India remain second on 11 from seven matches Reuters Scorecard Birmingham, United Kingdom ENGLAND INDIA spirited England ended J. Roy c sub (Jadeja) b Yadav 66 KL Rahul c and b Woakes 0 India’s unbeaten run in J. Bairstow c Pant b Shami 111 R. Sharma c Buttler b Woakes 102 the Cricket World Cup with a 31-run victory J. Root c Pandya b Shami 44 V. Kohli c sub (Vince) b Plunkett 66 inA a high-scoring group match to E. Morgan c Jadhav b Shami 1R. Pant c Wood b Plunkett 32 boost their semi-fi nal prospects B. Stokes c sub (Jadeja) b Bumrah 79 H. Pandya c sub (Vince) b Plunkett yesterday. J. Buttler c and b Shami 20 45 Jonny Bairstow smashed a bel- MS Dhoni not out 42 ligerent 111, Jason Roy returned C. Woakes c Sharma b Shami 7 from a hamstring injury to make L. Plunkett not out 1K. Jadhav not out 12 66 and Ben Stokes (79) provided J. Archer not out 0 Extras (lb1, w6) 7 the late burst in England’s com- Total (five wickets, 50 overs) 306 manding 337-7 after electing to Extras (b2, lb2, w4) 8 bat on an Edgbaston featherbed. Total (seven wickets, 50 overs) 337 Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Rahul), 2-146 Rohit Sharma smashed his (Kohli), 3-198 (Sharma), 4-226 Fall of wickets: 1-160 (Roy), (Pant), 5-267 (Pandya) third hundred of the tournament 2-205 (Bairstow), 3-207 (Morgan), and Virat Kohli his fi fth succes- 4-277 (Root), 5-310 (Buttler), Bowling: Woakes 10-3-58-2, sive half-century but India did 6-319 (Woakes), 7-336 (Stokes) Archer 10-0-45-0, Plunkett 10-0- 55-3 (4w), Wood 10-0-73-0 (1w), not get another signifi cant part- Bowling: Shami 10-1-69-5 (1w), nership and fi nished on 306-5. Rashid 6-0-40-0 (1w), Stokes Bumrah 10-1-44-1, Chahal 10-0- 4-0-34-0 England leapfrog Pakistan to 88-0 (2w), Pandya 10-0-60-0 fourth place with 10 points from (1w), Yadav 10-0-72-1 RESULT: England won by 31 runs eight games, while India remain second on 11 from seven matches. England, who came into this match on the back of successive Points table defeats by Sri Lanka and Aus- Team P W L NR Pts Team P W L NR Pts tralia, will be assured of a place 1. Australia (Q) 8 7 1 0 14 6. Bangladesh 7 3 3 1 7 in the last four if they beat New 2. India 7 5 1 1 11 7. Sri Lanka 7 2 3 2 6 Zealand in their last group match 3. New Zealand 8 5 2 1 11 8. South Africa 8 2 5 1 5 on Wednesday. 4. England 8 5 3 0 10 9. West Indies 7 1 5 1 3 India can reach the knockout 5. Pakistan 8 4 3 1 9 10. Afghanistan 8 0 8 0 0 phase by beating Bangladesh Note: Top four teams qualify for semi-finals. (Q) qualified when they return to Edgbaston tomorrow. “It’s been frustrating a little deeper crisis but Root, who made cameo but Mahendra Singh Dho- bit for the guys, we know how 44 with the bat, spilled Rohit, ni, who made 42 not out, failed well we can play,” Bairstow said then on four, at slip off Jofra to do justice to his reputation as after collecting his man-of-the- Archer. a ‘fi nisher’. match award. Rohit went on to stitch a 138- “Every team has lost a game or “But today we were pretty England’s Jonny Bairstow (right) hits a six on his way to a century during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup match against India at Edgbaston in run partnership with Kohli, the two here and there. No-one likes good with bat, ball and in the Birmingham, United Kingdom, yesterday. (Reuters) duo frustrating the English at- to lose but we have to take it in fi eld. tack with their risk-free accu- our stride,” Kohli said. “It was the closest to a com- the tournament’s highest opening ated for a while before deciding ODI century off 90 balls, cel- Stokes clobbered three sixes mulation. “We have to accept it. We are plete performance we’ve had in stand with Bairstow and both sur- against reviewing the decision in ebrating by dropping his helmet, and six boundaries in his blister- Kohli duly brought up his half- still playing good cricket. The the competition but we also know vived some torrid moments before front of an anxious crowd of pre- stretching out his arms and soak- ing knock before Jasprit Bumrah century but once again fell short mood is the same in the changing we’ve got three must-win games tearing into the Indian attack dur- dominantly India fans. ing in the applause. dismissed him in the fi nal over. of a hundred, slicing Liam Plun- room. We will learn from it and in this World Cup up next.” ing their 160-run stand. England reached the 150 mark Mohamed Shami (5-69) re- India, clad in their away or- kett (3-55) to backward point. move forward.” The hosts missed opener Roy Bairstow nearly defl ected a in the 21st over and it took a stun- turned to end Bairstow’s 109- ange-and-blue jerseys, wobbled Rohit could not be denied his Asked about their slow fi nish particularly in their back-to- couple of inside edges on to the ning catch by substitute fi elder ball blitz which included six sixes early in their chase. 25th ODI century but he fell to with Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav in back defeats by Sri Lanka and stump and Roy got a caught- Ravindra Jadeja in the deep to and 10 boundaries. India man- Chris Woakes began with Woakes after making 102 which the middle, Kohli said, “It was Australia which had jeopardised behind reprieve on 21 when he send back Roy. aged to stem the boundary fl ow three maiden overs, catching the included 15 boundaries. just not coming off . England were their semi-fi nal prospects. gloved Hardik Pandya. in the 30-40 over period, when scoreless KL Rahul off his own Rishabh Pant made 32 in his bowling good areas. It was not The 28-year-old made an in- The umpire, however, declared APPLAUSE FOR BAIRSTOW they conceded only 43 runs while bowling in his second. World Cup debut and Hardik easy get to boundaries. We will stant impact on his return, forging it wide and the Indians deliber- Bairstow brought up his eighth claiming two wickets. India could have been in a Pandya chipped in with a 45-run have to sit down and assess.” Gulf Times 2 Monday, July 1, 2019 CRICKET WORLD CUP

REPORT Karunaratne won’t give up ‘Only we can control the matches we are going to on Sri Lanka’s hopes play, the two matches’ Reifer reveals West Indies’ soul-searching

AFP important for the fans in the “I think we didn’t seize the key Durham, United Kingdom Caribbean as well, for us to put moments in games. You look up the performances, even at back at our tournament, we the back end of the World Cup. played well against Pakistan. est Indies head coach “Yes, we are out of the World We had Australia on the ropes. Floyd Reifer has re- Cup, but there is still a lot of New Zealand as well, you Wvealed his team tried cricket to play after the World know,” he said. to process their disappointing Cup. “I thought we need to seize the World Cup campaign with a “It’s important for us to find the key moments in the game. At lengthy soul-searching session. winning ways and find the win- crucial times we, you know, we Reifer’s side were off icially ning formula going forward, so dropped a few crucial chances eliminated from the race to it is important for us to play this as well. qualify for the semi-finals after game as hard as possible. “And then collectively, you losing to India on Thursday. “We want to create that win- know, we didn’t bat properly. With two matches still to play, ning culture. It has to start from So it’s just small things that starting against Sri Lanka in somewhere. The guys are still we didn’t do, the one percent- Durham today, Reifer was keen up for it. We’re good to go.” ers that didn’t we do well. So to avoid his team losing their Since beating Pakistan in their these are the sort of things we motivation. first match, the West Indies discussed as a team.” So he held a team meeting have lost five times with one Adamant that the future of in the Old Traff ord changing wash-out. West Indies cricket is still rooms that lasted over an hour Bowled out for just 143 in their bright, Reifer added: “The play- as the squad looked to come to 125-run defeat against India, ers are not comfortable with terms with their failure to live the West Indies looked ready to their performances, responsi- up to pre-tournament hype. head for home. bility, those sort of conversa- “We had a long conversation in It was their latest failure to rise tions that we had in that team the dressing room, so we did to the occasion in the tourna- meeting. a lot of soul-searching,” Reifer ment and Reifer conceded “So going forward, I’m looking told reporters yesterday. they haven’t coped well when forward to seeing how the guys “It is important for us and games are up for grabs. play in the next two games.”

Sri Lanka’s captain Dimuth Karunaratne (right) reacts to a misfield during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup match against South Africa at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, United Kingdom, on Friday. (AFP)

AFP tournament going into their last give our best and try to win these “If you want to compete with Durham, United Kingdom match against India. two matches and, hopefully, if we the good sides, you defi nitely got They will need help from other have a chance, we defi nitely can to have a good batting line-up and results, but Karunaratne is confi - be in the top four teams.” you have to put runs on the board.” ri Lanka captain Dimuth dent his team’s batsmen are ready Sri Lanka’s World Cup cam- Karunaratne has resisted the Karunaratne is refus- to power them to a strong fi nish paign has been undermined by temptation to bring in an extra ing to give up on his in their last two group games. poor batting, with their surprise batsmen after Nuwan Pradeep team’s World Cup hopes “We can’t control the other win over hosts England largely suff ered chickenpox, calling up aheadS of today’s must-win clash games, you know. Sometimes achieved due to fi ne bowling. bowler Kasun Rajitha instead. against the West Indies. they were playing really well, Karunaratne and Kusal Perera “If some fast bowler gets in- Karunaratne’s side no longer sometimes they couldn’t,” Karu- have both made half-centuries, jured, there is no fast bowler, so have control of their World Cup naratne told reporters yesterday. but no Sri Lankan has reached you want to take a fast bowler fate after losing to already-elimi- “I think we had a good chance. three fi gures yet. into the squad in case if someone nated South Africa on Friday. Still we have a chance, I think, “I think the batting is the main get injured,” he added. A victory in Durham against but we have to win these two collapse, you know. We couldn’t “We have enough batsmen. the West Indies, who are also games and wait to see what will get a hundred,” Karunaratne said. They have capabilities to score about to head home, could keep happen in the other games. “We played like six, fi ve match- runs, but the only thing is they 1996 champions Sri Lanka in “Only we can control the es, so we couldn’t get a hundred, were scoring but as a unit we West Indies’ players celebrate the wicket of India’s Kedar Jadhav during the 2019 ICC Cricket World with a slender chance of making matches we are going to play, the only a couple of 50s in our team, so couldn’t perform really well in Cup match at Old Traff ord in Manchester, United Kingdom, on Thursday. (AFP) the semi-fi nals of the 10-team two matches, so we are trying to that is the only major thing. these matches.”

BOTTOMLINE Starc reprises 2015 role to fuel Australia’s title defence

Reuters London Australia have look of champions, says Border s Australia stand two “After a gentle start, Australia wins away from a suc- 01 - 07 - 2019 AFP cessful World Cup ti- London now look the real deal and the tle defence, they owe win against New Zealand has muchA of their serene progress brought back that old familiar to the red-hot form of paceman llan Border says Aus- feeling that often leads to a Mitchell Starc, who also spear- tralia have the look of World Cup trophy,” Border said headed their triumph on home Apotential World Cup in an ICC Media column. “This soil four years ago. winners once again as the was a very impressive win be- The left-arm quick’s 22 wick- holders head towards the cause they did it the hard way. ets earned him the player of the semi-finals in fine form. “In this tournament, they have tournament award when Aus- Australia beat top four rivals relied on Aaron Finch, David tralia won their fi fth World Cup New Zealand by 86 runs at Warner and Steve Smith at the in 2015, beating New Zealand in a Lord’s on Saturday. top of the order to get runs one-sided fi nal. Their only defeat so far came but all of a sudden, they had to Rather fi ttingly, Starc sur- against fellow title contenders dig deep, and to come through passed that wicket tally in a re- India in the early stages of the that is a very good sign. match of that fi nal at Lord’s on tournament. “I am really confident with Saturday to consolidate his po- Aaron Finch’s side are already where this team is at. India sition as this edition’s leading assured of a semi-final place and England demand massive wicket-taker with 24 victims. and former Australia captain respect too and you can never His match-winning 5-26 was a Border believes his country are count your chickens — but that record third fi ve-wicket haul for rounding into peak form at just old familiar feeling is definitely any bowler in World Cup annals, the right time. back.” following his 5-46 against West Indies at Nottingham earlier in the tournament and his 6-28 also much part of my game plan,” be peaking at the right time. against New Zealand in Auckland Starc told reporters, crediting the “We’ve always spoken about in 2015. whole bowling unit for routing peaking towards the back end of Starc now has 46 wickets from their trans-Tasman rivals. the tournament, and we’re still 16 matches across the last two “The guys that were picked to- searching for that perfect per- World Cups at an average of just day did another fantastic job. I formance. We’re not quite there under 13. don’t think we’ve quite played the yet,” he said. Among the competition’s top perfect game, especially as a bowl- “We’re showing glimpses of 50 wicket takers of all-time, he ing group, I guess I could say. what we are capable of with the has now jumped to sixth and has “But yeah, we’re fi nding ways ball and with the bat and in the both the best average and best to scrap and to restrict teams, and fi eld, but we have still got room strike rate, taking a wicket on av- we keep improving every game.” to improve, and that’s exciting erage every 18 balls. Table-toppers Australia went for this group. Among the active bowlers, “Mitchell Starc came into this Zealand captain Kane William- Starc’s yorker to England all- trumped fellow New Zealand left- into the match already assured of “We’ve got to play our best only Sri Lankan veteran Lasith tournament as one of the leading son conceded after his team’s rounder Ben Stokes has already armer Trent Boult’s hat-trick. their place in the semi-fi nals. game in the semi now and hope- Malinga has more — 52 wickets wicket takers and he has shown 86-run defeat. become one of the highlights of “I guess that fuller length and Their only loss in eight match- fully better that in the fi nal, and from 27 matches — but with an his skills on diff erent surfaces “He is bowling very well at the this year’s tournament and the that straighter line for me, at- es came against India but Starc that’s what tournament play is all average of 22. through the tournament,” New moment.” paceman’s latest ‘fi ve-for’ even tacking those stumps, it is pretty was happy how the team seem to about.” Gulf Times Monday, July 1, 2019 3 CRICKET

FOCUS ODDBALL Bangladesh doctor says he was moved Williamson urges aft er criticising cricket captain

AFP went viral on social media. NZ to ‘move on’ aft er Dhaka Karim said he was one of six doctors served notice by the country’s health ministry after top Bangladesh pae- writing a Facebook post criticis- diatric doctor said ing Mashrafe for “taking pleasure yesterday he had been in bowling Bangladeshi doctors”. transferred to a remote Two months later he was or- ruralA clinic after criticising the dered to remote Rangamati, Australia defeat country’s cricket captain on so- where a low-intensity tribal in- cial media. surgency has simmered for dec- ‘There are so many variables in this sport... It’s about moving on to the next game’ Rezaul Karim, a child can- ades. cer specialist, was posted to the Karim’s sudden transfer from AFP southeastern district of Rangama- a cancer facility in Chittagong London ti weeks after criticising skipper — where he was treating over Mashrafe Mortaza on Facebook. 100 young patients — has also “I have been transferred to grabbed local media headlines. ew Zealand captain Rangamati Medical College Bengali daily Manabjamin said Kane Williamson which doesn’t have any cancer the transfer was a consequence urged his side to move treatment facilities. This seems of Karim’s “disrespectful” Face- on after an 86-run de- to me an unnatural process,” he book remark against Mashrafe, Nfeat by champions Australia at told AFP. who enjoys enormous popularity Lord’s on Saturday condemned Mohsin Uddin, a deputy sec- in cricket-mad Bangladesh. the Black Caps to their second retary of the country’s health Mashrafe is currently in Eng- straight loss of the World Cup. ministry who signed the trans- land taking part in the World Williamson’s side will guar- fer order, said it was “only an Cup. antee their place alongside Aus- administrative decision”, and Mashrafe hails from the south- tralia — the team that beat them rejected any suggestion it was a western Narail district, where his in the 2015 fi nal — in the last punishment. charity Narail Express — also the four if they defeat tournament A social media row started af- fast bowler’s nickname — has hosts England in their conclud- ter Mashrafe, the country’s most donated ambulances to hospitals ing group match at Chester-le- popular sportsman and a mem- and rice seed to farmers. Street on July 3. ber of parliament for the ruling Turning to politics after re- “It’s about moving on and go- party, visited a state-run hospital tirement is not unusual for South ing to Durham,” said Williamson in his rural constituency and be- Asian cricketers, but Mashrafe after a heavy loss just days after came infuriated when he found is still playing, captains Bang- a six-wicket defeat by Pakistan. several doctors absent. ladesh in the one-day format of New Zealand, who lost the A video of Mashrafe criticising the game, and intends to lead the toss on a used pitch that made one senior doctor by telephone team even after the World Cup. conditions tough for batsmen, were right in the game when they reduced Australia to 92-5. COMMENT But a century stand between Usman Khawaja (88) and player of the match Alex Carey, whose fl uent 71 included 11 fours, took ICC chief happy with Australia to 243-9. That proved more than enough, despite a last over hat-trick from ‘sporting’ pitches New Zealand’s Trent Boult. The Black Caps could only AFP matches have gone deep and manage 157 in reply, with left- Birmingham, United Kingdom that’s important.” arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc Defending champions Aus- taking a tournament best 5-26. tralia were the fi rst team to book “We were one wicket away if nternational Cricket Coun- their semi-fi nals berth and now you look at the positives in our cil chief executive David have seven wins from their eight bowling, it wasn’t to be today,” Richardson yesterday said league matches. said Williamson. Ihe is happy with the World The semi-fi nal race opened up “Rather than digging too Cup’s “sporting pitches”, insist- after England’s shock loss to Sri deep, you’re analysing the past ing they have provided good bal- Lanka last week, with six of the when the challenge coming up ance between bat and ball. 10 teams fi ghting for the remain- can be quite diff erent. Hosts England posted a tour- ing three spots. “There are so many variables nament high of 397 for six “Even during the South Afri- in this sport and World Cup. against Afghanistan on June 18, ca-India game, I believed for a It’s about moving on to the next but teams have struggled to get while the Proteas will get a few game,” added the star batsman, New Zealand’s Trent Boult (centre) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Australia’s Jason Behrendorff during the 2019 ICC past 250 in the second innings of more wickets but it didn’t hap- who for once at this tournament Cricket World Cup match against Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Saturday. (AFP) matches. pen,” he said. was unable to bail his side out The 10-team competition has “So that’s what I mean when I of trouble after match-wining seen sublime hundreds by the say that the tournament has lived hundreds against both South world’s top batsmen including up to expectations and only im- Africa and the West Indies. Vettori urges Black Caps not to panic aft er World Cup blow Australia’s David Warner, New proved over the years.” Williamson, who fell to Starc AFP But Vettori remains confident should still put them into the still think they will walk into the Zealand skipper Kane William- Fan violence in Leeds on Sat- for 40 on Saturday, acknowl- London the 2015 World Cup runners- semi-finals. semi-finals thinking they can son and Joe Root of England. urday marred a World Cup match edged that the defeats could lead up will stay calm ahead of the “The nature of this New Zealand beat anyone on their day.” But the bowlers have made between Pakistan and Afghani- to “a dent in momentum”. England clash and should be team for an extended period of Vettori’s main concern is New their presence felt with Australia stan as police were forced to in- “But then at the end of the ormer New Zealand star capable of advancing to the time now has been to stay pretty Zealand’s ability to score paceman Mitchell Starc leading tervene after fi ghting broke out day, it is coming back to the Daniel Vettori insists his knockout stages. constant, to not panic.” enough runs to put opponents the wicket-takers chart with 24 between supporters of the two cricket that we want to play. Fcountry are still World “I still definitely feel that this Vettori says New Zealand have in trouble on slow pitches, with scalps in eight matches. teams. Playing with those smarts, I Cup contenders despite their New Zealand side can make his- been playing well enough not the Black Caps yet to reach 300 Richardson said the ICC’s only Richardson said that incidents think cricket smarts throughout recent stumbles. tory and win it all,” Vettori said to lose faith in their game-plan. in the tournament. direction to the pitch curators like these only make the ICC this tournament has been per- New Zealand suff ered their in an ICC Media column. “They will understand that they “The only question mark for was to prepare sporting tracks. more “aware” and “prepared”. haps the most important thing. second defeat of the tourna- “Two losses at this stage will have played some really good them will be the surfaces they “During our playing days a Meanwhile, Richardson lauded “On these surfaces that have ment against Australia at Lord’s be tough to take but they have cricket in this tournament,” he were playing on. It looks like score of between 220 and 260 the ICC’s work in spreading the varied a bit...you do need to be on Saturday, losing by 86 runs been so good for so long and said. across the board the surfaces was a good score but not now. So game to diff erent parts of the world smart and adapt really quickly against the holders after a have so many experienced “They will need to call on all are getting lower and slower,” our only direction to the curators and also contributing to society as on them to give yourselves the defeat to Pakistan in their previ- players that I am sure they will their nous to get through he said. was to prepare sporting tracks,” they partnered with Unicef to raise best chance of success.” ous game. pull through. against the hosts. “That makes it more diff icult for the former South African wick- money for children. Williamson was encouraged The Black Caps are not assured “It is a bit tighter now, but I still “But even if they don’t win batting and those partnerships etkeeper-batsman told reporters ICC and Unicef got together by the form of fast bowler Lock- of a semi-final berth with one think they will feel pretty confi- against England and go are going to become more in Edgbaston. for the ‘One Day for Children’ ie Ferguson (2-49) as well as ex- game left against title rivals dent. Even if every result goes through via net run rate, or important, I am sure that will be “And what’s heartening to see campaign in Birmingham with perienced left-arm spearhead England next week. against them, their net run rate other results going their way, I a big focus against England.” in this tournament is how the a special celebration at the Eng- Boult, saying Ferguson has “got bowlers have had a say and we land against India match. the ability to pick up wickets at have seen some exciting cricket. The money raised will sup- any stage of the innings.” fi eld when Martin Guptill held off Ferguson after fl ooring two wasn’t it?,” said Williamson. “I he took the third one, didn’t he, “Of course in ODIs you will port Unicef’s work for children New Zealand also enjoyed a stunning catch at leg gully to easier chances guess he had a couple of prac- which was good,” he said with a not see as many close games in cricket-playing nations across a memorable moment in the dismiss Steve Smith for just fi ve “That was an epic catch, tises at some toughies and then laugh. as in Twenty20 cricket but the the world.

SPOTLIGHT BOTTOMLINE Afghanistan’s Hassan emotional No talk of 1992 parallels: Pakistan’s Riaz aft er ending career with injury AFP Amir and Shaheen Afridi to form London one of the most potent bowling AFP ken inside of my hamstring. I was attacks in the tournament. London very excited and pumped up.” Afridi has taken seven wickets With Hassan out of the attack, ahab Riaz insists Pa- in his team’s last three wins and Naib decided to bring himself on kistan already have the senior partner is all praise fghanistan’s Hamid in the fi nal stages, only to give enough motivation for the 19-year-old. Hassan felt he could away 18 runs to Pakistan batsman to win the World “Shaheen was under pressure have stopped Paki- Imad Wasim. WCup without the remarkable par- after his fi rst game against Aus- stan from getting over “I felt very emotional because allels to their 1992 title triumph. tralia but he has come back and theA line in a thrilling World Cup the team missed me a lot and the Cricketer-turned-prime taken some important wickets match if his one-day career ball was also reversing. The situ- minister Imran Khan led Paki- for us,” Riaz said. hadn’t come to an end with a ation would have changed,” said stan to their fi rst and only World “Amir we already know is one painful injury. Hassan, who also played in the Cup victory 27 years ago and the Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz (second from right) celebrates after taking of the best bowlers in the world Paceman Hassan, 32, could World Cup, said it was disap- 2015 World Cup. exact pattern of wins, losses and a wicket during the match against Afghanistan at Headingley in who swings the ball both ways. only bowl two overs before in- pointing to hobble off the fi eld Right-arm seamer Hassan, washouts is being followed in Leeds, United Kingdom, on Saturday. (AFP) That puts pressure on the bats- juring his hamstring as Pakistan and see his team lose again. who has claimed 59 wickets in this year’s tournament. men to play him. overcame a tense chase to beat “Of course I was looking for- 38 ODI matches since making his Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side looked Riaz played his part in the talk about 1992 that much. “It’s a good combination right the minnows on Saturday. ward to winning the game for debut in 2009 for the war-torn down and out after defeat to team’s narrow win over min- “The turnaround is due to the now, we are trying to take wick- Gulbadin Naib’s side, play- the team. I was playing my last nation, said he will continue to arch rivals India but bounced nows Afghanistan on Saturday motivation and the ambition of ets and that is putting the team ing in their second World Cup, ODI and in a very good mood,” play Twenty20 cricket for an- back with three successive vic- with his bowling fi gures of 2-29 the team to win this World Cup. in a great position.” are winless in the 10-team group he said. other two years. tories in the group stage. and an unbeaten 15 with the bat. Everybody is giving their 100 Pakistan need to win their fi - stage with one match to play. “I bowled very well in the fi rst Afghanistan end their World Pakistan have won four, Asked if the players talked per cent” nal group game against Bangla- But Hassan, who is slated to over and wanted to keep going Cup campaign against West In- lost three in their eight group about emulating the 1992 cham- The 34-year-old has combined desh on Friday to have a chance sign off his ODI career after the but. I feel like it’s something bro- dies on July 4 in Leeds. matches with one washout. pions, Riaz said: “We don’t really with fellow pacemen Mohamed of making the semi-fi nals. Gulf Times 4 Monday, July 1, 2019 TENNIS

PREVIEW SPOTLIGHT Teenager Gauff set for ‘dream’ debut Djokovic, Federer against idol Venus and Nadal primed to strengthen grip Federer, chasing a 21st major, first played Wimbledon in 1999 Garros-Wimbledon double for the third time. Spain’s Rafael Nadal during a practice Nadal was desperately close to Cori Gauff of the US gestures as she arrives for a practice session at session at Wimbledon yesterday. a third title in 2018. Wimbledon yesterday. Having failed to get past the last-eight since 2011, the Span- Reuters Even 23-time Grand Slam iard was only defeated in an epic London champion Serena, who usually semi-fi nal by Djokovic, 10-8 in gets too nervous watching sister the fi nal set. Venus, is intrigued. “I won here in 2010 after a f all the matches spread “She’s so cool. She’s a great very, very tough fi rst couple of across the All England girl. I love her dad. They’re just rounds. Sometimes that helps, Club when Wimble- really cool people,” Williams said especially in this event, that you don begins today none on Saturday. arrive here without playing much isO more intriguing than the one “It’s a great moment for her on this surface,” said Nadal, who scheduled for late afternoon on and for Venus. She’s playing starts his campaign against Ja- Court One between fi ve-times against a player that actually pan’s world number 258 Yuichi champion Venus Williams and reminds me of Venus. I think I Sugita. Cori Gauff . might, might watch. I always get After that looms a possible Williams, at 39, is the oldest nervous watching Venus.” titanic clash with Nick Kyrgios, woman in the singles while fel- Swiss great Roger Federer, who shocked him in 2014, in the low American Gauff , at 15, is the whose management company second round. youngest ever to come through Team 8 also looks after Gauff , is It’s been 17 years since any- the qualifying tournament. excited. body not named Djokovic, Fed- Gauff describes the draw as “a “I’m super happy for her. I saw erer, Nadal or Andy Murray cap- dream” and she might well wake the last couple of games when tured the Wimbledon title. up today morning pinching her- she qualifi ed. Obviously every- That long-distant honour self, as this time last week she body was waiting to see what the went to Lleyton Hewitt in 2002. had no idea she would receive draw was going to be like. I think The problem for the chasing a wildcard into the qualifying that’s fascinating, that she plays pack in 2019 is their record at the tournament and was preoccu- Venus now,” he said. tournament as well as various pied with schoolwork. “It’s a great story. Coco is a frailties in body and spirit. After winning her third quali- nice girl, works really hard. I Thiem, Alexander Zverev and fying match to book her place in think she’s got a wonderful fu- Stefanos Tsitsipas, who occupy the draw, she revealed that her ture ahead of her.” the next three spots in the world fi rst memory of watching tennis Gauff , who won the French rankings, have yet to get past the on television was of Serena and Open junior title aged 14, is last 16 on Wimbledon’s grass. Venus Williams who had won 10 coached by her father Corey who Kei Nishikori, the world Grand Slam titles before she was once played college basketball AFP Twelve months ago, Djokovic ended his attempt to become just the infl uence of Djokovic and number seven, was a quarter- born. Now ‘Coco’ as she is known for Georgia State. Her mother London arrived at Wimbledon with his the second man to hold all four Nadal — between them, the trio fi nalist in 2018 while eighth- will play against her idol in front Candi was a college gymnast. career threatening to spiral into Slams at the same time twice. have won 53 of the last 64 Slams. ranked Kevin Anderson, seeded of a packed showcourt crowd in a “I feel blessed because my decline. “Coming off from the surgery, “I think we defi nitely became fourth this year, was runner-up clash of the generations. parents never put limitations ovak Djokovic, Roger Unable to shake off the eff ects being unable to have consist- better because of one another,” 12 months ago. The level-headed teenager on my goals,” Gauff said at Roe- Federer and Rafael of right elbow surgery, the Serb ency with results, this was a huge he said. Federer starts tomor- Anderson saved a match point was taking it all in her stride hampton this week. “My parents Nadal are set to tighten was ranked at 21, his lowest posi- springboard for me, the win at row against South Africa’s Lloyd to beat Federer in the quarter- though and if there were nerves always told me to shoot as high as their private stran- tion for over a decade. Wimbledon last year,” said Djok- Harris, who is making his Wim- fi nals. as she practised at the weekend, I wanted to.” gleholdN on Wimbledon as rivals But two weeks later, Djokovic ovic, who will take a 10-2 career bledon debut. His challenge to Djokovic in she was hiding them well. Venus could be excused for struggle to keep afl oat as they had captured the 2018 title to add record over Philipp Kohlschreib- Nadal, meanwhile, arrives in the fi nal, however, was com- “I kind of felt like I was going feeling her age a little as she bid to dethrone the sport’s A-list to his 2011, 2014 and 2015 wins, er into their fi rst-round clash on London on the back of a 12th Ro- promised by playing a six-hour to play one of them,” Gauff said. walks out to face a player 24 years stars. becoming the lowest-seeded Monday. land Garros title. 36-minute semi-fi nal to beat “Many people have been like ‘do her junior but Gauff does not re- World number one Djokovic player to take the Wimbledon Federer, chasing a 21st major, His 18th career major also John Isner. you like your draw?’ — I love my gard her as old. is the defending champion and trophy since Andre Agassi in fi rst played Wimbledon in 1999. meant he moved within two It was the second longest draw. Playing one of the greatest “I don’t think of Venus as chasing a fi fth title at the All 1992. Pushing 38, he would be the Slams of Federer’s all-time mark match in the history of Wimble- players of all time is a dream — old — she’s still killing the game England Club. Since then, he has been reju- oldest ever Grand Slam cham- for the fi rst time. don and decided by a 26-24 fi nal I’m excited to see how I do.” right now,” she said. Federer, promoted to second venated, going on to claim a third pion if he were to lift a ninth title. The Spaniard, ranked two but set. seed, can win a ninth crown US Open and seventh Australian The Swiss star is also just fi ve — much to his irritation — seed- There will be no repeat of such while two-time champion Nad- Open title. wins from becoming the fi rst ed three was champion in 2008 lung-busting epics this year as FOCUS al is seeking to complete a rare The only blip was a rain-hit man to register 100 victories at and 2010. Wimbledon has introduced a fi - back-to-back Roland Garros- semi-fi nal exit to Dominic Thiem the same Slam. He is now trying to join Bjorn nal set tiebreaker — at 12-12 — for Wimbledon double. at Roland Garros, a loss which But Federer is quick to praise Borg by achieving the Roland the fi rst time. Aft er 17 years of BOTTOMLINE anonymity, Italian late bloomer ready Barty seeks to end long to face Serena Aussie Wimbledon drought AFP know what else the draw held mind she was when she won the London for her, Williams claimed not to Australian Open earlier this year even know the Australian was than the stressed-out player number one. who exited the French Open in shleigh Barty goes The American legend could the third round. into Wimbledon bu- perhaps be forgiven her igno- The 21-year-old says the oyed, unlike her pred- rance given how often the top number one spot she held earlier ecessor Naomi Osaka, spot has changed since her era of this year had been a millstone byA being world number one and dominance ended. round her neck: “Mentally it was with several of her major rivals Nevertheless Williams — way more stress and pressure struggling. who claims she is over the knee than I could have imagined.” AFP American. Gatto-Monticone The engaging 23-year-old woes that saw her pull out of Despite a second-round de- London qualifi ed for Roland Garros this Australian — who emulated her match with sister Venus at feat at the Birmingham tourna- year, becoming the oldest Grand compatriot Evonne Goolagong the Italian Open and then make ment she insists she is in good Slam debutant since 43-year-old Cawley by becoming number an early French Open exit — be- shape going into Wimbledon, here are late bloomers Renee Richards at the 1977 US one last weekend — has yet to lieves Barty could be in for a long where she has yet to get past the in tennis and then there Open. get beyond the third round at run as number one. third round. is Italy’s Giulia Gatto- Then, in qualifying for Wim- Wimbledon. “I think so,” said Williams. “I “Actually in Australia I felt Monticone who is mak- bledon, she recovered from being However, by winning the think she has a great game. like normal,” she said. “I felt like ingT her Wimbledon debut at the 6-3, 4-1 down to France’s Oceane Birmingham tournament last “I think she’s really even- how I am now. age of 31. Dodin in the fi nal round. weekend Barty showed she has tempered. She’s just really chill. “I feel like it (grass) should Win or lose, it will be a Grand Gatto-Monticone has credited the strengths to add the grass She’s had a really good year.” be good for me because it’s Slam bow to remember after the her late-career boom with “well- court Grand Slam to the French Williams is still chasing the very heavily reliant on the fi rst world number 162 was drawn to ness and taking up martial arts”. Open she won on clay and be- elusive 24th Grand Slam title serves, being the fi rst person to face Serena Williams in the fi rst She also points to a love aff air come the fi rst Australian wom- tional route to becoming world Wimbledon is unique among the that would put her alongside be aggressive.” round. with Japan which she visits regu- en’s champion since Goolag- number one by taking a time off Grand Slam events in having so Australian Margaret Court, Kerber may have lost in the In 16 years on the circuit, Gat- larly. ong Cawley’s second success in to play cricket, insists she feels few lead-up events on the sur- but she was not talking up her Eastbourne fi nal to Karolina to-Monticone has banked just “It’s the third year now that 1980. no pressure. face. chances. Pliskova but the German will be over $300,000 compared to 24- I’ve gone to Japan, usually the With 37-year-old seven-time “The only pressure is that that “Wimbledon isn’t a normal “I just haven’t had enough delighted if like last year that is time majors winner Williams’ goal is to raise the level by playing champion Serena Williams fi - I put on myself,” she said. “To event,” she said. match play, quite frankly,” she the launching pad to winning at $88mn. very fast tennis,” she explained. nally showing signs of age, Osa- make sure that I do everything “It’s a little bit bizarre com- said. the All England club. Last year “I’ve made a lot of sacrifi ces, “After the fi rst week I was in ka looking exposed through poor correctly and prepare as best ing into Wimbledon having only “I fi nally feel like I found some she lost in the Eastbourne semi- I can selfi shly say that I deserve pieces, but after recovering I form and two-time Wimbledon that I can to try and play a good played one grass court tourna- good results in Paris. fi nal only to go on and win Wim- all this, then my staff has always picked up some excellent results. singles champion Petra Kvitova tennis match, try and play well, ment. “I’m just going to do the best bledon. supported me and I cannot but “I’m always eager to to back to still easing back to top form after to enjoy myself.” “We feel like we’ve been strik- that I can now that I’m here,” “I will try to take the positive thank them for that,” she told Japan. I discovered a wonderful an arm injury, defending cham- Barty, who says the arm prob- ing the ball really well, we’re she said, adding with a smile: “I things from the whole week, Spaziotennis blog. nation and in these years I have pion Angelique Kerber may be lem that forced her withdrawal comfortable with the grass un- know how to play tennis.” from the last two weeks before Her patience has paid off had the opportunity to discover the biggest threat to Barty. from the Eastbourne tourna- der our feet.” Osaka, for her part, says she going to Wimbledon now,” said and a Tuesday date on Centre customs and traditions diff erent Barty, who took an unconven- ment has cleared up, admits Whilst Barty says she did not is much more in the frame of the 31-year-old German. Court beckons against the great from ours.” Gulf Times Monday, July 1, 2019 5 SPORT

MLB NBA Walker to sign four-year, Yankees, Red Sox stage $141mn deal with Celtics Reuters Boston run blitz as baseball hree-time All-Star Kemba Walker will be in Boston today to confi rm his agreement to join the TCeltics on a four-year, $141mn deal, according to multiple re- ports. Walker, who spent eight makes history in London seasons with the Charlotte Hor- nets, will become a free agent but cannot sign his contract un- til July 6. Yankees are playing two regular-season games against their arch-rivals Boston in the English capital He has informed the Hornets of his decision, The Charlotte AFP Observer reported. The Celt- London ics have prioritised Walker as a replacement at point guard for Kyrie Irving, whom the Celtics he New York Yankees and the did not expect to re-sign. Boston Red Sox made Ma- Boston will renounce its rights jor League Baseball history as to restricted free agent point they marked the fi rst game ever guard Terry Rozier to clear cap Tplayed in Europe with a home run bar- space, making him an unre- rage at the London Stadium on Satur- stricted free agent. day. The Yankees are playing two reg- Just a few weeks ago, Walker ular-season games against their arch said he would take less than the rivals Boston in the English capital and fi ve-year, $221mn “supermax” the opening night was a smash hit. contract only the Hornets could Records tumbled in the Yankees’ 17- off er him to stay in Charlotte. A 13 win, a four hour, 42 minute marathon report said, however, that team that was just three minutes short of the offi cials were set on paying less longest nine-inning game in MLB his- than $170mn because of con- tory. There was even a royal fl avour to cerns about the NBA luxury tax baseball’s maiden voyage in England, in the future. with Prince Harry and his wife Meghan In Boston, Walker will be presented with gifts from both teams counted on to bring veteran for their newborn son Archie while pro- leadership to a team that suf- moting the Invictus Games Foundation. fered from dissension in the The royal couple were among a 59,659 locker room in the 2018-19 sea- sell-out crowd who watched the Yan- son. The 29-year-old Connecti- kees and Red Sox produce a remarkable cut product averaged 25.6 points score more suited to an NFL game at and 5.9 assists while starting all the home of Premier League club West 82 games for the Hornets last Ham. The run explosion was caused by season. the temporary astro-turf pitch play- Those numbers are above his ing fast, with a scorching hot evening eight-year career averages of and terrible pitching making it a hitters’ 19.8 points and 5.5 assists. Walk- paradise as both teams scored six runs er could anchor a starting lineup in the opening inning of an MLB game featuring Gordon Hayward, for the fi rst time in 30 years. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. For the fi rst time in the history of the The Hornets are now particu- Red Sox-Yankees’ famous rivalry, both larly hurting for point guards. starting pitchers — Boston’s Rick Por- Future Hall of Famer Tony Park- cello and New York’s Masahiro Tanaka er, who played last season for — were replaced in the fi rst inning in a the Hornets as Walker’s backup, game that ranked as the second highest announced he’s retiring. The scoring clash between the clubs. It was only point guard on the roster only the third game in MLB history in currently is Devonte Graham, a which both starters allowed six or more second-round pick out of Kan- earned runs and didn’t get out of the sas a year ago. fi rst inning. General view during the Major League Baseball match between New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at the London Stadium on Saturday. (Reuters) Walker signing with the Celt- In total, there were six home runs and ics would open the free-agency 37 hits on a memorable night that will or not we do it in 2021 will be a product — and the Red Sox — the reigning World to pick up on baseball (in England) and back in the States, the London run blitz of another Boston point guard, encourage MLB to believe baseball can of how the next two years go,” Manfred Series champions — to spearhead their it’s only going to get bigger after this.” provided baseball with a welcome jolt of Terry Rozier. But it’s unclear how gain a foothold in the UK market. Al- told a pre-match press conference on European venture. With camera fl ashes all around the adrenaline. the Hornets will look to fi ll the though the league has previously staged Saturday. “We would like to have sus- Tickets sold out in 45 minutes and in stadium, the Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu roster. Walker’s departure will matches in Japan, Australia, Mexico and tained play in Europe. I’m thrilled to be the same way NFL fans treat the London drilled MLB’s fi rst hit in Europe and RESULTS likely set off a radical rebuild of Puerto Rico, MLB commissioner Rob in London. I’m glad to be coming back games as a festival for the sport, the en- Luke Voit delivered the fi rst run with New York Yankees bt Boston Red the Hornets’ roster, the second Manfred hopes the ‘London Series’ will next year. I am interested in playing in thusiastic crowd in Stratford was made an RBI double. Aaron Hicks hit the fi rst Sox 17-13; Astros 6 bt Mariners 5 (10 in the decade Michael Jordan has grow the sport’s profi le and open up a other cities in Europe too. That will up of more than just Yankees and Red home run, blasting Porcello to centre- innings); Blue Jays 7 bt Royals 5 Braves owned the team. lucrative revenue stream already ex- have to be worked out with the MLB Sox supporters. fi eld for a two-run shot. 5 bt Mets 4; Marlins 9 bt Phillies 6; The team went 7-59 in 2011-12 ploited by American Football’s NFL and Players Association. We had a number One of those was Peter Rusbridge, A three-run homer from Michael Rockies 5 bt Dodgers 3; Cubs 6 bt Reds season, the worst winning per- Chavis helped Boston draw level at 6-6. Basketball’s NBA. of teams in addition to the Cubs and who had travelled from Manchester re- 0; Padres 12 bt Cardinals 2; Brewers 3 bt centage in NBA history. With or Cardinals that were very interested in splendent in his Chicago Cubs shirt. Homers from Brett Gardner and Aaron without Walker, the Hornets are MLB has signed off on a two-game Pirates 1; Twins 10 bt White Sox 3; Rays series between the St Louis Cardinals playing next year.” “I’ve stayed up until three in the Judge put the Yankees up 17-6 before hamstrung by their player pay- 5 bt Rangers 2; Diamondbacks 4 bt Gi- and Chicago Cubs back in London next Manfred had picked wisely with the morning watching games on TV, so to Jackie Bradley Jr’s homer and Chavis’s roll. They are already committed ants 3; Tigers 7 bt Nationals 5; Athletics July and Manfred would like to make it Yankees — 27-time World Series win- fi nally see one in the fl esh is incredible,” second three-run shot closed the gap. to about 101mn dollars in guar- 4 bt Angels 0; Orioles 13 bt Indians 0 a longer-term arrangement. “Whether ners and baseball’s most famous team he said. “There’s a real hardcore starting For a sport criticised for being too dull anteed salaries.

GOLF PGA TOUR Park, Ciganda share lead Lashley cards 63 to move six clear Reuters AFP Detroit Los Angeles ate Lashley galloped orld number two to a six-stroke third Park Sung-hyun round lead at the shook off a late bogey Rocket Mortgage Clas- to close with back- Nsic in Detroit on Saturday after Wto-back birdies on Saturday and carding his second nine-un- join Spain’s Carlota Ciganda atop der-par 63 of the tournament. the leaderboard of the LPGA NW The 36-year-old, whose career Arkansas Championship. fi nally seems ready to blossom South Korea’s Park, who cap- after a family tragedy and early tured her sixth LPGA title at the struggles as a professional saw HSBC Women’s World Cham- him almost walk away from golf pionship in Singapore in March completely, leads on 23-under and fi nished runner-up to Han- 193 ahead of JT Poston (66). nah Greene at the Women’s PGA Cameron Tringale moved into Championship last week, fi red an a third place with a 65 that left eight-under par 63 at Pinnacle him seven adrift. Lashley’s par- Country Club in Rogers, Arkan- ents and girlfriend were killed 15 sas, for her share of the lead on years ago in a light plane crash 13-under par 129. while fl ying home to Nebraska “I only have one win this sea- Sung Hyun Park of South Korea plays a shot on the 18th hole during after watching him play in a col- son, but overall I think I have the second round of the NW Arkansas Championship. (AFP) legiate tournament. been doing a good job,” Park said. He then struggled in his fi rst “Last week I did pretty well, too. send her into the fi nal round of and 18th holes, and I made a few years after turning pro and Tomorrow, I hope to focus on the 54-hole tournament tied for birdie on the last hole yesterday, briefl y quit the game in 2012 to each shot.” the lead. “There’s still lots of too, so I knew that I won’t have to sell real estate but is now on the Nate Lashley lines up a putt on the 17th green during round three of the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Ciganda fi red a 66 and the golf to play tomorrow and it can worry after that bogey.” brink of his maiden PGA Tour Detroit Country Club in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday. (AFP) leading duo had a two-stroke go very low here,” said Ciganda, Park In-bee, coming off an im- win in his second season on the lead over a group of seven players a two-time winner on the LPGA pressive nine-under fi rst round Tour. Lashley says it was hard to While his thoughts were not over long-hitting Cameron rewards, victory would earn that included overnight leader Tour. “I think it’s nice to be up of 62, moved as low as 11-under play in a positive frame of mind always on golf on Saturday, he Champ, who slid down the lea- Lashley a spot in next month’s Park In-bee and world number there, but I think there are some with two birdies in her fi rst seven for several years after the ac- still managed to get through the derboard with an error-strewn British Open at Royal Portrush. one Ko Jin-young. Ciganda, who great players there.” holes. But the seven-time major cident and acknowledged that day without a bogey while pick- 75. “It was nice to get off to a He knows maintaining focus started the day one off the lead, Park Sung-hyun was climbing champion faded with back-to- his parents and girlfriend were ing up nine birdies at Detroit good start, kind of calmed my will be key. “I’ll try to block out blasted out of the gate with an steadily, with four birdies on the back bogeys at 10 and 11. never far from his thoughts. Golf Club, the same as his open- nerves a little bit,” said Lashley, all the distractions, all the ex- eagle at the par-four fi rst, where front nine and two more at the She was joined on 131 by fel- “It defi nitely crosses your ing round. “It was just one of who had four birdies on the out- emptions and everything that she holed out from 60 yards out. 11th and 12th to reach 12-under. low South Koreans Ko (66) and mind,” Lashley said. “It came those days were it seemed noth- ward half. comes along with winning, be- Ciganda added birdies at the She dropped out of the lead with Kim Hyo-joo (64), along with through my mind at one point ing could go wrong. Even when I Lashley was the last player cause it’s a life-changing event,” fi fth and seventh to take the solo a bogey at 16, but responded with Americans Danielle Kang (63) today. At some points it’s not didn’t hit great shots they ended to get into this week’s fi eld, and he said. “I’m hitting my irons lead at 12-under but she wouldn’t two birdies to fi nish. “I wasn’t and Brittany Altomare (65), Ec- easy, but it goes through your up OK,” he said. only then after three withdraw- great, driving it well. I’m just fi nd another birdie until the par- really worried when I made that uador’s Daniela Darquea (65) and mind and it’s something that’s Lashley started the third als, the fi nal one on the eve of going to continue that tomor- fi ve 18th which was enough to bogey,” Park said. “I like the 17th Sweden’s Linnea Strom (65). always going to be there.” round with a one-stroke lead the tournament. Among other row and see what happens.” Gulf Times 6 Monday, July 1, 2019 FOOTBALL

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS WOMEN’S WORLD CUP Morgan happy to Madagascar shock sacrifi ce Golden Boot for team glory AFP saying the USA had such a deep Lyon squad they had the best and sec- ond best team in the world, she said: “I don’t think it’s in any way Nigeria to extend lex Morgan says she an arrogant team. would be happy to forgo “They know they have to earn the Golden Boot for top everything,” she added. “(They scorer at the women’s know) that we’ve got tough op- WorldA Cup if it meant the Unit- ponents as we did the other night ed States retained their title in and we have to earn every right to France, as she prepares for to- win this tournament.” morrow’s semi-fi nal showdown fairytale run with England. FRANCE HOPING FOR Striker Morgan is the tour- ENGLAND WORLD CUP VIC- nament’s joint leading scorer TORY AGAINST USA: NEVILLE alongside in-form teammate Meanwhile, Phil Neville said that Guinea hope to progress as one of four best third-place finishers after win over Burundi Megan Rapinoe, England’s Ellen England will have backing from White and the already-eliminat- the unlikely source of France ed Australia’s Sam Kerr with fi ve as they prepare for face the all- goals, but has not found the net conquering United States in the since hitting fi ve in the Ameri- semi-fi nals. England are gun- cans’ record 13-0 thrashing of ning for their fi rst ever fi nal in Thailand. “I’d like someone the competition after making the on our team to win the Golden last four for the third time in a Boot,” Morgan said. row, and Neville says he expects “It would be a great accolade the crowd at the Groupama Sta- but that’s not my goal, my goal dium in Lyon to get behind the is to help this team win a World Lionesses when they take on the Cup, so as long as the goals con- team that dumped the French out tinue to come then I’m happy. in the quarter-fi nals. And that’s not goals continuing “I think we are the French to come for me, but this team.” people’s second team now, the Rapinoe has joined Morgan at support from France has been in- the top of the charts after car- credible down in Nice and in Va- rying the USA to the last-four lenciennes, so I think we’ll have meeting with Phil Neville’s side, the crowd on our side tomorrow scoring all four goals in their night,” Neville said. “I think the tense 2-1 wins over Spain and whole of the French people have France in the previous rounds. got behind our story, our football Morgan was substituted at and I do believe that we are now half-time of the USA’s fi nal the team that the French public group game with Sweden and has wants us to win the World Cup.” not looked on top form, although England come into tomorrow’s she played a key role in Rapinoe’s clash keen to lay to rest the ghost brace at the Parc des Princes on of 2015, when they were elimi- Friday. She won the free-kick nated by Japan at the semi-fi nal from which Rapinoe gave her stage following a crushing 92nd side a fi fth minute lead, and set minute own goal from Laura Bas- Madagascar’s players celebrate after their win over Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations Group B match at the Alexandria Stadium yesterday. (AFP) Tobin Heath through to lay on sett, and Neville says he has tried the 33-year-old for her decisive emulate the Americans’ winning AFP eroon or four-time winners Ghana in the fi nishing above Equatorial Guinea and BENIN WAIT GOES ON AFTER second. mentality. Alexandria, Egypt next round, while Madagascar will take Sudan. GUINEA-BISSAU STALEMATE “Megan Rapinoe has put this “No-one cares who loses in on a team that fi nishes third from either They doubled their lead early in the Benin’s long wait for a fi rst win at the Af- team on her back from Spain to the semi-fi nal... If we don’t get Group A, C or D. second half here when Andriamatsinoro’s rica Cup of Nations was extended on Sat- France and it’s going to take play- the right result we will be dis- frica Cup of Nations newcomers Having already qualifi ed after back-to- set-piece fl icked off substitute Wilfred urday night by Guinea-Bissau following ers like that and a couple of indi- appointed. We will see it as a Madagascar pulled off a stun- back 1-0 victories, Nigeria coach Gernot Ndidi and left Ezenwa stranded as the ball an attritional goalless draw in Ismailia, viduals to step up and help carry failure, and that’s not me being ning upset of Nigeria yesterday Rohr made fi ve changes to the side that sailed into the net. Ndidi belatedly regis- the tournament’s third in a row. this team,” Morgan added. negative but just our expecta- with a 2-0 win over the three- overcame Guinea in their second game tered Nigeria’s fi rst shot on target just be- After a creditable 2-2 draw with Ghana USA coach Jill Ellis insisted tions,” he added. timeA former champions to clinch a place with Samuel Kalu handed his fi rst start of fore the hour with a curling eff ort straight in their fi rst game in Egypt, Benin have that her team is not an arrogant “Elite sport is about winning, in the last 16. Lalaina Nomenjanahary the tournament following last week’s col- at Adrien, although Anicet Andrianan- now gone 11 matches without a victory in one after her staff were seen no-one cares about getting sil- gave Madagascar a shock 12th-minute lapse in training due to severe hydration. tenaina nearly bagged a third as Ezenwa the competition dating back to their de- checking out England’s team ver or bronze, it’s the gold medal lead in Alexandria after pouncing on pon- Yet after a comfortable start Nigeria smothered on the line after an inviting but in 2004. Only Mozambique, with 12, hotel in Lyon to use for the fi nal that everybody wants. I’ve got to derous defending, jolting a side ranked 63 gifted their opponents a goal completely Andriamatsinoro cross. have played more games in the competi- should they win tomorrow. Re- say that America has the ruthless places above them in the world. against the run of play when a poor pass While Madagascar became the fi rst tion without recording a win. minded of defender Ali Krieger streak of wanting to win.” Charles Andriamatsinoro sealed the from John Ogu put Leon Balogun in trou- debutants to advance beyond the group Guinea-Bissau, who appeared for the victory in front of CAF president and ble, with Nomenjanahary pinching the stage since Cape Verde in 2013, they will fi rst time in this competition in 2017, Madagascar native Ahmad Ahmad with ball on the edge of the area and coolly be without midfi elder Marco Ilaimahari- picked up their fi rst point in Group F as a heavily defl ected free-kick on 53 min- dancing round Ikechukwu Ezenwa to slot tra for their next game after he collected both sides remained in contention for a utes for his second goal in three games in home. Kalu bent a shot wide of the far a late yellow card, his second in three place in the last 16. Egypt. The Indian Ocean islanders had to post in response for Nigeria, whose pen- matches. In contrast, fellow newcomers Defending champions Cameroon come through a preliminary round just to alty appeals were ignored when Ahmed Burundi bowed out without a single goal are top of the section on four points, reach the qualifying competition but will Musa tumbled to the ground after trying or point after a 2-0 loss to Guinea. with Benin and four-time champions advance as winners of Group B ahead of to skip past goalkeeper Melvin Adrien on Burundi’s hopes suff ered a huge blow Ghana level on two. Nigeria, with Guinea hoping to progress the half-hour. when Christophe Nduwarugira was sent Angola and Mauritania started the day as one of four best third-place fi nish- French coach Nicolas Dupuis, who off on 12 minutes in the capital after a with a 0-0 draw in Suez after the previous ers following a 2-0 win over Burundi in combines the role with his job at a lower- foul as last man, and Mohamed Yattara 21 matches produced 43 goals. Cameroon Cairo. league club in his homeland, has worked stepped up for Guinea with both goals and Ghana then played out a goalless Defeat for Nigeria likely sets up an eye- wonders with a Madagascar side that to leave them facing a nervous wait for a stalemate in the fi rst game of the double- catching clash with either holders Cam- qualifi ed for a fi rst Cup of Nations by spot in the last 16. header in the northern city of Ismailia.

GOLD CUP Mexico advance to semis, Haiti shock Canada AFP Mexico will now face Haiti in the semi- riguez inside the area. Television replays Duckens Nazon got the comeback Los Angeles fi nals tomorrow in Glendale, Arizona. later showed that the foul was outside started by scoring in the 50th minute and Costa Rica goalkeeper Leonel Moreira the box. Mexico manager Gerardo “Tata” Herve Bazile brought the sides level from saved Raul Jimenez’s fi rst penalty in the Martino will be suspended from the the penalty spot in the 70th, with both oalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa shoot-out, but Randall Leal smashed touchlines for the semis against Haiti af- goals coming courtesy of some sloppy de- saved a sudden death penalty Costa Rica’s third penalty wide, set- ter he was slapped with his second yellow fensive play by Canadian defender Mar- as Mexico edged Costa Rica 5-4 ting the stage for Ochoa to send Mexico card of the tournament. cus Godinho. on penalties to reach the CON- through by stopping Fuller. In the other fi xture, Haiti — one of the And six minutes later Wilde-Donald GCACAF Gold Cup semi-fi nals in Houston, Jimenez handed Mexico the lead in the biggest surprises of the tournament after Guerrier sealed victory for Haiti with a Texas on Saturday. Ochoa stopped Costa 44th minute, with Bryan Ruiz levelling winning all its games in the group stage spectacular individual eff ort, sneaking Rica’s Keysher Fuller after the teams from the spot for Costa Rica eight min- — scored three second-half goals to stun past the Canadian defence then bouncing played to a 1-1 draw following extra time utes later after Joel Campbell was judged former champions Canada 3-2 and ad- the ball twice in the air before tapping it United States’ forward Alex Morgan (left) and midfielder Allie Long in front of 70,788 fans at NRG Stadium. to have been brought down by Luis Rod- vance to the last four for the fi rst time. past goalkeeper Milan Borjan. train at the Groupama stadium in Lyon, France, yesterday. (AFP)

TRANSFER ROUND-UP PSG midfi elder Rabiot arrives in Turin ahead of Juventus move aris Saint-Germain midfi elder join their Ligue 1 rivals Lille, the clubs fi rst senior signing in more than a year all season. His progress was inhibited Adrien Rabiot arrived in said Saturday. Weah, the 19-year-old after agreeing to buy the teenage wing- partly by illness, as he was out of fi rst- Turin yesterday ahead of his son of former African footballer of the er Jack Clarke from Leeds. The clubs team action for a month after collaps- move to Juventus, the Italian year and current Liberian President are putting the fi nishing touches to a ing on the pitch during the 1-1 draw at Pchampions have confi rmed. “Adrien George Weah, has signed a fi ve-year transfer for which Spurs will pay an Middlesbrough in February. Rabiot has arrived in Turin ahead of a contract with the northern French initial fee of £10mn, rising to £11.5mn Leeds expect him to play a bigger proposed move to Juventus,” the Serie club. The deal is reportedly worth depending on achievements. role next season and help the club to A club posted on Twitter along with a around 10mn euros ($11.4mn). Having As they completed the construction reach the Premier League automatical- video and photos of the French player struggled to break into PSG’s star- of their new stadium Spurs let the last ly after they lost to Derby in the play- arriving at the northern Italian city’s studded fi rst team, Weah spent last two transfer windows pass without any off semi-fi nals in May. Spurs trust the airport by private jet. season on loan to Celtic, where he won major recruitment, so the purchase of player will gain from another campaign The 24-year-old is reported to have the Scottish title. PSG have already Clarke is evidence of loosening purse in the Championship under the guid- agreed a four-year deal worth 7mn sold 19-year-old Moussa Diaby to strings at the north London club. ance of Pochettino’s former mentor, euros ($7.9mn) a year plus another German club Bayer Leverkusen this However, Clarke will not strengthen Bielsa. Spurs are still pursuing players 10mn euro ($11.3mn) bonus on signing. summer. Lille fi nished runners-up to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad immedi- they expect to make a more instant Rabiot has fallen out of favour with the PSG last season. New York-born Weah, ately, as he will be loaned straight back impact as Pochettino aims to bolster French champions since December as who joined PSG from New York Red to Leeds to continue his development a squad that reached last season’s he refused to renew his contract which PSG’s Champions League exit to Man- brief loan spell with Toulouse, and has Bulls in 2014, has made eight appear- there next season. Champions League fi nal. Fulham’s expired yesterday. chester United. won fi ve Ligue 1 titles and four French ances for the US national team, scoring The player enjoyed a breakthrough Ryan Sessegnon is a target and talks From today he will be free to choose In Turin he will play alongside fi ve- Cup trophies with the capital side. once. His father made 138 appearances campaign with Marcelo Bielsa’s side continue with Lyon for the midfi elder the club he wants to play for, with time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ro- for PSG from 1992 to 1995. last season, showing himself to be a Tanguy Ndombele, with Spurs confi - reports he will undergo a medical with naldo in a Juventus side now coached US FORWARD TIMOTHY WEAH bold and skilful dribbler with useful dent despite reports of Juventus trying Juventus immediately. Rabiot was also by former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri. LEAVES PSG FOR LILLE SPURS SET TO SIGN CLARKE end-product. to muscle in on a deal. Ndombele is un- suspended by PSG last March after Rabiot has played his entire senior ca- US international forward Timothy THEN LOAN HIM BACK TO LEEDS Most of his contributions came off derstood to have indicated that Spurs partying in a nightclub hours after reer with PSG since 2012 apart from a Weah has left Paris Saint-Germain to Tottenham are poised to make their the bench, as he only made four starts are his preferred choice. Gulf Times Monday, July 1, 2019 7 FOOTBALL

COPA AMERICA Unfancied Peru beat Uruguay on penalties to reach semis Suarez breaks down in tears after his shootout miss saw Uruguay dumped out of the Copa America by Peru

AFP Salvador, Brazil

oalkeeper Pedro Gallese saved Luis Suarez’s spot-kick as Peru beat Uruguay on penal- ties on Saturday to reach the GCopa America semi-fi nals, where they will face Chile. Edison Flores scored the decisive penalty as Peru, who were thrashed 5-0 by Brazil in their previous match, qualifi ed for the semi-fi nals for the third time in the last four editions of the Copa. It was a remarkable turnaround for Gallese, who was the villain of that thumping by the hosts, gifting Bra- zil their second goal by clearing the ball straight to Roberto Firmino, while he was also partially at fault for the fi rst and third scores. But in Salvador he guessed the right way for the fi rst shoot-out penalty to deny Barcelona forward Suarez, after which Peru’s own penalty-takers were faultless. “I’m very proud of our team, I can’t really put it into words,” said Peru cap- tain Paolo Guerrero. “A lot of people said we don’t have the fortitude and guts. But we showed today on the pitch that we could take them on head-on. Peru has hunger, Peru is a warrior, Peru has guts.” It was the third Copa quarter-fi nal Peru’s goalkeeper Pedro Gallese (right) stops the penalty taken by Uruguay’s Luis Suarez during the shoot-out in the Copa America quarter-final match in Salvador, Brazil, on Saturday night. (AFP) to fi nish goalless and head to penalties after Uruguay had three goals ruled out on Thursday and champions Chile did into life on 15 minutes when Federi- ballooned the ball into the sky from late in the fi rst half but Jose Gimenez picked out by Suarez. Cavani appeared for off side during normal time. Gior- likewise to knock-out Colombia on Fri- co Valverde surged onto a loose Peru six yards after Gallese parried Sua- made a stunning recovery tackle to to have broken the deadlock just before gian de Arrascaeta, Edinson Cavani and day. In the only match to feature any pass in their own half and picked out rez’s shot, although it wouldn’t have deny Guerrero a goalscoring chance. the hour mark as he latched onto a Sua- Suarez had all put the ball in the net, goals, Argentina defeated Venezuela an unmarked Luis Suarez on the pen- counted as the Barcelona forward was Up the other end, Gallese made himself rez through ball and chipped Gallese, only to be denied by a linesman’s fl ag. 2-0 on Friday. alty spot, but the Barcelona forward retroactively deemed off side when he big to block Cavani’s shot on the turn. but he was pulled up for off side. “It’s a bitter and sad feeling. We Peru will face Chile in the second couldn’t keep down his header. Two received the ball. Gallese was called into action early in Suarez poked home a Martin Cac- had high hopes to qualify, but simply semi-fi nal in Porto Alegre on Wednes- minutes later Nahitan Nandez broke Moments later Nandez headed over the second period to punch out a dip- eres cross inside the six yard box on 73 couldn’t,” said Uruguay’s captain Diego day, a day after hosts Brazil take on Ar- into the box from the fl ank but his shot from six yards. De Arrascaeta had the ping Valverde free-kick. minutes, but that too was ruled off side. Godin. “We lacked a goal. We tried, we gentina in Belo Horizonte. Copa win- was blocked by a sliding defender. ball in the net on 28 minutes but that Center-back Godin, up for a throw- Uruguay pushed hard late on but Peru looked for it...(But) three were disal- ners in 1939 and 1975, Peru lost to Chile In pouring rain, Uruguay looked set was chalked off for an off side against in deep in Peruvian territory, emulated held out as Suarez failed to make con- lowed.” in the semi-fi nals four years ago. to take the lead on 24 minutes with Nandez. Cavani’s fi rst-half howler, spoon- tact with the ball when trying to lob Brazil beat Paraguay on spot-kicks After a slow opening, Uruguay burst a rapier counter-attack, but Cavani Peru fi nally created a worthy chance ing over from seven yards after he was Gallese in the clearest chance.

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Argentina waiting for Messi Brazil focusing on positives ahead of magic to make an appearance Argentina semi at traumatic venue AFP Belo Horizonte, Brazil AFP Belo Horizonte, Brazil Brazil’s defender Thiago or the last dozen years, Silva speaks in Belo Argentina has been wait- razil centre-back Thiago Silva says Horizonte, Brazil. (AFP) ing for global superstar the hosts are concentrating on pos- Lionel Messi to lead itive thoughts ahead of their Copa theirF football team to a major in- America semi-fi nal against Argen- ternational trophy. But when the tina,B at the scene of one of their most disas- the country needed the fi ve-time trous experiences on a football fi eld. Ballon d’Or winner most, Messi The Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, failed to emulate the feats of Di- where the two South American giants will ego Maradona in 1986 — when face off tomorrow for a place in the Copa for some he almost single-hand- America fi nal, was where Brazil collapsed edly won the World Cup. spectacularly in the World Cup semi-fi nal Four times Messi has lined up against Germany in 2014. with Argentina in a major fi nal They lost 7-1 in a match that went down — the 2014 World Cup and Copa in history as a defeat at least as, if not more, America in 2007, 2015 and 2016 painful than their infamous Maracanazo — — but every time they have lost. the 2-1 loss to Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro’s He has often come under criti- Maracana stadium that denied Brazil a fi rst cism for failing to reproduce his World Cup success in 1950. “No-one here Barcelona form when wearing has amnesia, nor will they forget what hap- the sky blue and white jersey of pened, but that’s life, we can’t get stuck in the national team. the bad things from the past. We have to against fi erce rivals boasting the best player suffi cient qualities to ensure a great game,” Now, ahead of a mouth-water- Messi turned 32 during the following the Venezuela vic- think about good things,” said Silva. in the world in Lionel Messi, according to he said. “The fans will see a great spectacle.” ing Copa semi-fi nal against hosts tournament and while he doesn’t tory, which he described as a Brazil have to a certain extent already Silva. The Paris Saint-Germain defender Silva said his side will not take their eyes Brazil in Belo Horizonte, Argen- appear close to retirement, it “complete” performance. And overcome their Mineirao demons by beat- said Brazil are “more aware that we’re up off Messi for a minute. “He is the best player tines are simply waiting for Messi cannot be too many years away. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni ing Argentina 3-0 in a World Cup qualifi er against an Argentina that is on a par with us in the world and he still could spring to life,” to turn up. “This is the match for His game has changed over the acknowledges that Messi brings in that stadium in 2016, but this will be their technically and tactically.” Silva said. Messi to appear,” screamed Ole years and he no longer produces much more than just brilliance fi rst return to the theatre of horrors in a ma- While three of the four Copa quarter- “We will have to be especially focused newspaper’s online edition after the same kind of, or quantity of, on the fi eld. jor competition. “We played well in the last fi nals fi nished goalless — and were decided on him when we have the ball and when we Argentina beat Venezuela 2-0 to darting runs at the heart of op- “For me he gives an essential match against Argentina here, and most of on penalties — Silva insists the semi-fi nal don’t. Sometimes he can be at walking pace secure the Brazil semi-fi nal. position defences. contribution on the pitch, and if all for the upcoming match we need to focus against Argentina will provide better at- during a game but he’s always looking for Ironically, at this tournament, He plays deeper than he used you saw everything he brings in on that positive aspect.” tacking entertainment. “You can expect space to launch a counterattack. It’s a privi- while Argentina’s performances to, passes more and is more se- the dressing room...” said Scalo- The stadium and painful memories are dedication, force of will, responsibility but lege to be able to face him again and we’ll have been improving steadily, lective with his runs. He also ni. “Messi is Messi, he’s the best.” less signifi cant than the task of playing with joyful football, attacking players with have to try and put the brakes on him.” Messi has, if anything, become rests more than he used to and Before the tournament be- less infl uential. Argentina were took an eight-month break from gan, much of the talk was about all at sea in their opening 2-0 the national team following the whether Messi could ever land defeat to Colombia and needed World Cup in Russia, only re- the one thing missing from his a Messi penalty to salvage a 1-1 turning in March in a 3-1 friendly impressive list of accolades: an Swiss women's player missing aft er swimming accident draw with Paraguay. defeat to Venezuela. international trophy. He’s won But in the 2-0 win over Qa- But he is more than just the the Champions League four Geneva: A player on Switzer- was “in close contact with fam- tar that qualifi ed Argentina for star of the team these days, he is times, La Liga 10 times and the land’s national women’s football ily members”. the knock-out rounds, and the the leader and captains both club Copa del Rey six times with Bar- team, Florijana Ismaili, has Ismaili, who is captain of the quarter-fi nal victory over Ven- and country. celona, but nothing major with been declared missing after a Young Boys team, has been on ezuela by the same score, Messi During the club season, Mes- Argentina, who haven’t won an- swimming accident on Lake Switzerland’s national team became an increasingly periph- si took the lead in defending ything since 1993. Como in northern Italy, her since 2014. According to the eral fi gure. He admitted as much Philippe Coutinho, whom he will Tomorrow’s semi-fi nal in Belo professional club announced Italian daily Corriere della Sera, after the Venezuela match, say- line up opposite tomorrow, from Horizonte looks tailor made for Sunday. The BSC Young Boys Ismaili had decided to spend a ing: “I’m not at my best level, I’m criticism levelled at the Brazilian the Messi of old. Brazil have yet club said in a statement that relaxing day at the lake with a not playing how I hoped I would. playmaker in the Catalan press. to concede a goal in the com- they had “been informed that teammate, and they had rented I’m not having my best Copa Messi also defended Barcelona petition but despite victories of our player Florijana Ismaili has an inflatable boat near Musso. America.” boss Ernesto Valverde against the 5-0 over Peru and 3-0 against been missing since Saturday “She jumped in to the water, Brazil centre-back Thiago Sil- brickbats. And here, while his Bolivia, they looked ponderous afternoon on Lake Como after a but never surfaced again,” va is not so convinced, though. and Argentina’s attacking per- and lacking imagination in the swimming accident”. the paper said. The alarm was “For me, Messi is the best play- formances have been nothing to 0-0 draws against Venezuela and “Searches by the police reportedly sounded at 4:30pm er in history, the best I’ve ever enthuse about, Messi took the Paraguay. The semi-fi nal prom- continue,” the statement (1430 GMT), and divers began seen play. It’s a privilege to play time to praise the team’s defen- ises to be a tight aff air, in which a said, adding that “we are very searching the area, with no re- against him,” said a player who sive eff orts. moment of Messi magic could be concerned and have not given sults. The search was suspend- hails from the country that pro- “Defensively we didn’t have enough to settle it. Argentina is up the hope that everything will ed overnight, but reportedly duced Pele, Garincha, Socrates, any problems and the team was waiting and praying for just such turn out well”.The club said it resumed yesterday morning. Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. very solid at all times,” he said a moment.

Monday, July 1, 2019 GULF TIMES SPORT

PAKISTAN WIN ASIAN TEAM SNOOKER

Pakistan (2) players Babar Masih and Zulfiqar Qadir receive the winners’ trophy from ACBS president Mohamed Salem al-Nuaimi Qatar’s Mohsen Bukshaisha in action during the IBSF World Team Cup 2019 quarter-final against China at the after beating India (1) 3-2 in the final of the ACBS Asian Team Snooker Championship in Doha. Pakistan (2) outplayed India in the first Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation Academy hall in Doha yesterday. Bukshaisha and Ahmed Saif beat the two matches with Masih beating Pankaj Advani 79-1 and Qadri easing past Laxman Rawat 71-1. The Indian duo won the next match Chinese duo of Gao Yang and Xing Zi Hao 3-2 for a spot in the semifinal against Pakistan’s Mohamed Bilal and against the Pakistani pair 58-18 before Advani got past Qadir 67-39. But Pakistan had the last laugh with Masih overcoming Rawat Asjad Iqbal. The Pakistani duo blanked Thailand’s Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon and Noppadon Sangnil 3-0 in 69-9 in the deciding fifth match. their quarter-final. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

FORMULA 1 MOTORCYCLING Verstappen cleared Vinales triumphs as Austria GP winner in Assen aft er stewards’ probe Hamilton fifth, lead cut to 31 points; Mercedes run of wins ends at 10 in a row

Reuters Spielberg

ed Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Austrian Grand Prix, and ended Formula One champions Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales celebrates in Mercedes’s streak of success, af- Assen yesterday. terR beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in a wheel-banging battle of the 21-year-olds AFP tle hurting” in reference to yesterday. Assen, Netherlands the surgery he required at The Dutchman’s victory, confi rmed by the start of June. stewards some three hours after the race Vinales’s teammate, vet- following an investigation, was his second averick Vinal- eran Italian Valentino Rossi, successive triumph at Spielberg. es cruised to failed to finish after crash- Verstappen seized the lead from Leclerc, his first win of ing out with Takaaki Nak- who had led from pole position, two laps the season at agami in the early stages. from the end with the duelling pair making theM Dutch MotoGP in As- Despite missing out on contact into the tight uphill turn three as sen yesterday, comfortably the win Marquez left Assen the crowd roared. seeing off world champion in good spirits as he pulled He crossed the line, acclaimed by thou- Marc Marquez who extend- 44 points clear of Andrea sands of orange-shirted Dutch fans at a ed his lead at the top of the Dovizioso, who took fourth circuit owned by Red Bull, 2.7 seconds championship table. on Sunday, in the MotoGP ahead of the Monegasque but with stew- Yamaha’s 24-year-old rider’s title race. ards summoning both to an enquiry. rider took control at the Earlier, Augusto Fernan- The decision, after a review of video ‘Cathedral of Speed’ with a dez capitalised on Lorenzo evidence, was to take no further action and dozen laps to go, soon pull- Baldassarri wiping out Alex confi rm the sport’s youngest ever top-two ing clear for his sixth career Marquez to claim the Dutch fi nish. MotoGP win in his 80th Moto2 Grand Prix. Valtteri Bottas was third for Mercedes, race, but his first since Aus- The 21-year-old Spaniard who were powerless to extend their streak tralia last year. was left out in front to cel- of successive wins to 11 and add a ninth for The mustachioed Vinales, ebrate his debut win in the the season. Championship-leading team who crossed the line almost category after Baldassarri mate Lewis Hamilton, winner of the pre- five seconds clear of Mar- crashed into the champi- vious four races, fi nished fi fth and behind quez, told BT Sport: “This onship leader in the clos- Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. is honestly one of the tracks ing laps. The pair ended Five-times world champion Hamilton I like most in the calender. up in a heap on the gravel, remains well in front in the standings, 31 “I want to congratulate my Marquez’s hopes of a fourth clear of Finland’s Bottas after nine of 21 team, they did a great job. consecutive win dashed. races. I’m living my dream, it’s Swiss rider Thomas Luthi The victory was the fi rst for a Honda- been such a long time since who took fourth at Assen powered car since Britain’s Jenson Button my last victory!” now leads the Moto2 stand- won in Hungary in 2006 for the Japanese Marquez, who extended ings on 117 points from manufacturer’s own team, and a welcome his championship lead de- Marquez on 111, with Fern- antidote to last weekend’s dull French spite finishing second, said: andez in third on 92. Grand Prix. Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen (also below) after winning the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg yesterday. “I knew Yamaha were very Honda’s Italian rider Verstappen, now with six career wins, very strong in practice, so Tony Arbolino overtook was also the last driver to beat Mercedes Red Bull team boss Christian Horner wing at his pitstop and then manage his this is like a victory. Vinales Lorenzo Dalla Porta in the -- in the Mexican Grand Prix last October. said Verstappen had given Leclerc enough pace as the Mercedes struggled in the heat. — he deserves the win.” closing laps to claim the “For Honda to win again here is incred- room. “Today exposed our Achilles heel,” said Pole sitter Fabio Quar- Moto3 race. ible,” said the youngster, who had to fi ght “These are two guys of the future and if team boss Toto Wolff . “We couldn’t really tararo had to settle for third Jakub Kornfeil had led back from eighth at the end of the fi rst lap they take this victory away from Max that’s race with our car. We were just trying to after appearing to have dif- until a penalty for cutting after getting bogged down on the front row stealing from Formula One,” he said. “We keep it alive and cool it properly.” ficulties on his Yamaha, a chicane saw him eventu- at the start. need drivers going wheel-to-wheel and British rookie Lando Norris fi nished prolonging his wait for a ally finish third in a race The Red Bull came into a league of its fi ghting with each other.” sixth for McLaren, who also had Span- first win in the top category. marked by a three-bike own after the pitstops with Verstappen Leclerc also led from pole in Bahrain in iard Carlos Sainz eighth after the Spaniard But he refused to blame crash involving Japanese scything through the fi eld one car at a time March before losing out with an engine started at the back of the fi eld. his machine, telling BT duo Kaito Toba and Tatsuki and then chasing down Leclerc. problem. Verstappen’s under-fi re French team Sport: “I was leading the Suzuki and Raul Fernandez “After that start, I thought the race was Vettel made two pitstops, the fi rst catch- mate Pierre Gasly was seventh, while Alfa race for the first time, so of Spain. over,” said Verstappen. ing the mechanics by surprise, and used his Romeo had a double points fi nish with I’m happy, can’t wait for Arbolino’s second win of “It’s hard racing, otherwise we have to fresher tyres to put a late move on Hamil- Raikkonen ninth and Antonio Giovinazzi Germany (next weekend).” the season lifted him into stay at home. If those things are not al- ton, who had qualifi ed second but started 10th. The point was the Italian’s fi rst in The Frenchman, who fourth in the Moto3 stand- lowed in racing, then what’s the point of fourth after collecting a penalty for imped- Formula One. had set a new track record ings, 31 points behind leader being in Formula One,” he added when ing Kimi Raikkonen in qualifying. Yesterday’s race saw no crashes, with all in qualifying on Saturday, Aron Canet who had to set- asked about the summons. The Briton had to take on a new front of the 20 cars making it to the fl ag. added that his “arm is a lit- tle for 12th.