SPORT Tuesday 25 December 2018 PAGE | 01 PAGE | 02 Curry, Durant Langer backs lift ‘attractive over Clippers commodity’ Marsh

Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Bin Al Thani Arabian Camel Festival

Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Chairman H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani crowns the winners at the camel races held at Al Shahaniya Racetrack yesterday. The Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Bin Al Thani Arabian Camel Festival for the 2018-2019 season will end on January 2. Races are held in morning and afternoon sessions.

India’s batsmen must help bowlers, says Rahane

REUTERS fifties, told reporters ahead of tomor- Adelaide,” he said. “I think I will get MELBOURNE row’s third Test. two hundreds but it will be important “When we discuss the unit, for me not to think about it and con- India’s batsmen must step up and help that point is very important. Especially tinue the way I am batting. If I can read their bowlers if the world’s top-ranked when we are abroad, the bowlers have the situation well and bat accordingly test side are to win more consistently been taking 20 wickets since South it will be better for the team. Personal away from home, vice- Ajinkya Africa, so if the batsmen help the milestones can come later.” Rahane said yesterday ahead of the bowlers the results will be favouring The touring side’s players took a third Test against Australia. us.” three-day break leading up to the India, who last lost a Test series at India scored 250 and 307 on a dif- at the Melbourne home in late 2012 against England, suf- ficult pitch in their victory in the Ground and Rahane said India fered defeats in and opening Test at Adelaide but surren- would look to make a fresh start. England this year due to a lack of dered meekly in their second innings “We will now look at it as a two- batting support. at Perth, where they were all out for test series going ahead,” said the Their openers have struggled in 140 chasing 287 for a 2-0 series lead. 30-year-old. “We got a break after the Australia in the first two tests and the Rahane, who has played 54 Tests, first two Tests, which was very lack of runs at the top has intensified hopes he can convert his half-centuries important because sometimes the pressure on the middle order of a team into hundreds and contribute more intensity of the test match is too much. which has a lengthy tail. with the bat. “Break can be good or bad, but for “The batsmen definitely need to “It () will definitely come. our team it is a good thing and we will India’s captain (right) applauds during a meet the fans event in Melbourne step up,” Rahane, who has scored 164 I’m really sure it will come in this test have a fresh start in the Melbourne yeserday, ahead of the third Test match against Australia. from his four innings including two match with the way I am batting since Test.” Mbappe, Modric enjoy 2018 spotlight AFP This was to a large extent memorable matches. But it was of past years, and instead it was Nations League has been an and July, with the USA the PARIS Mbappe’s year, as the teenage much more than that. “Maybe this the impish playmaker Modric instant hit. It will conclude defending champions. superstar exploded on the world is one of the weirdest World who won the Ballon d’Or, and with the four-team finals And a decision is expected One of the enduring images from stage by scoring twice in that Cups,” said Croatia coach Zlatko FIFA’s best player award, on the in Portugal in June, with soon on 2018 will remain Kylian Mbappe game, the first World Cup brace Dalic. strength of his role in Madrid’s the hosts facing Swit- consoling Lionel Messi in the by a teenager since Pele in 1958. His team’s remarkable run to Champions League triumph and zerland and England Russian city of Kazan, just after Still just 19 at the time, Paris the final and the premature exits Croatia’s World Cup run. He was playing the Nether- the final whistle in France’s 4-3 Saint-Germain forward Mbappe of Germany, Spain and Argentina also the best player in Russia. lands in the last win over Argentina in the last 16 also became the first teenager to showed that international Ronaldo and Messi had four. o f the score in a World Cup final since football can still be shared the Ballon d’Or between “We want to World Pele as France won the trophy unpredictable. them for the last decade, winning go beyond Cup. for the second time by It will also probably be five each. Ronaldo was second where we beating Luka Modric’s remembered as this time, while Messi was fifth, went last Croatia 4-2 in the final on the tour- behind Antoine Griezmann and summer, a dark and damp nament Mbappe. a n d we’re Kylian Sunday in Moscow. that “Nobody has the right to in the mix for Mbappe The World marked compare themselves to them. what is a really Cup itself the end of They are among the best in the important Messi and history of the sport,” Modric told staging post in our was Ronaldo’s France Football. “To follow on devel- opment,” a joy to dreams of from them is incredible, and I am said England watch, a lifting the proud of it.” manager Gareth Southgate of whether richly World Cup. Crowned the best young that competition. Egypt or entertaining They were eliminated on the player, Mbappe will hope the However, the main inter- South tournament full of memo- same day in the last 16, and 2018 future belongs to him. At club national events in 2019 are Africa host rable games and concluding could be remembered as the year level, his PSG side are among the elsewhere. The first 24-team the with the highest-scoring when the Messi-Ronaldo era teams desperate to end Real’s run Asian Cup takes place in the UAE 24-nation final since 1966. ended. of three straight Champions in January and February, before Africa Cup of From Spain’s 3-3 draw Both enjoyed prolific years, League titles.The Spaniards beat Brazil hosts the Copa America Nations in June with Portugal in the group with the Argentine driving Bar- Liverpool in this year’s final in and the United States defend the and July after the stage, featuring a Cristiano celona to a Spanish league and Kiev with Gareth Bale scoring CONCACAF Gold Cup. Confederation of Luka Ronaldo hat-trick, to Bel- cup double and Ronaldo winning twice, and will hope to retain the France are African Football Modric gium’s 2-1 quarter-final win another Champions League with trophy next year with the final in hoping to win stripped Cam- over Brazil and Croatia’s Real Madrid before moving to Madrid. another World Cup, eroon of the tour- epic semi-final defeat of Juventus in the transfer of the Meanwhile, there is lots to as they host the nament due to England in extra time, it year. However, their numbers are look forward to at international 24-team women’s delays in their was studded with down on the phenomenal figures level in 2019. The new UEFA tournament in June preparations. 06 SPORT TUESDAY 25 DECEMBER 2018 Langer backs ‘attractive commodity’ Marsh ahead of Boxing Day clash

REUTERS MELBOURNE Skipper Paine loving Mitchell Marsh is likely to be recalled for the Boxing Day Test against India after coach Justin heated Kohli battle Langer endorsed the all- AFP rounder’s potential value on a MELBOURNE pitch which tends to test the bowlers. The hosts are yet to Australia skipper Tim Paine said yesterday he is relishing his some- announce their playing XI but times heated battle with animated Indian counterpart Virat Kohli, Peter Handscomb’s middle order and promised “intense, hard” cricket in the crunch Boxing Day Test position looked in jeopardy after at Melbourne. Langer backed Marsh who The pair had some testy exchanges in the second Test at Perth, missed the first two Tests of the which at one point needed the umpire to intervene. four-match series currently level And Kohli offered only a frosty handshake at the end of the at 1-1. game, which Australia won to level the four-Test series 1-1, refusing “In a perfectly balanced side, to meet Paine’s eye in a move blasted by some as disrespectful. you’ve got someone who can But Paine said he appreciated that Kohli never liked to lose. bowl some overs,” Langer told “A lot was made of my battle with Virat in the second Test, and reporters yesterday. for the past few years when I haven’t been playing international Australia’s all-rounder Mitch Marsh (right) shares a light moment with team-mate Nathan Lyon during “And Mitch becomes an cricket, he was one guy I loved watching,” he said in a column for training in Melbourne yesterday. attractive commodity on a Melbourne’s Herald Sun. wicket unlike Adelaide and “Now to be out in the middle going head-to-head with him in Perth... although there’s a bit of part of the series,” Langer said. we think about it. It’s a bit sad, said, likening the 29-year-old to a Test series is something I’m really relishing.” moisture in it, we also know the “We’re always looking at how really; I’m not thinking about India’s talismanic captain and Paine said he was not annoyed “in the slightest” by Kohli looking history of it.” we’re trying to manage it. what Christmas present I’m batting mainstay. straight past him at the handshake. Number five Handscomb has “In this instance, this is the going to give to my kids, I’m “I think he’s (Smith) in a very “Virat is someone who is prepared to wear his heart on his sleeve managed 68 runs in four innings only Test we’re thinking about. thinking about who plays spin determined place,” Langer said. and like all professional athletes, hates to lose,” he said. against India. But we’re always aware that better, whether we’ll play the “Obviously it’s been a really “I like the way Virat plays. I don’t know him personally but I’ve Forecast for warm weather there’s two back-to-back Test extra bowler, how many overs tough time for him, but we can’t always admired -- not only his obvious skill as a player -- but the and only three days’ gap before matches, which is tough.” have the fast bowlers bowled. It’s wait to have him back. He’s the passion and aggression he plays with. People like to see that and he the final Test in Sydney also Langer joked the selection sad.” Virat Kohli of the Australian gets fans through the gates.” means Australia would be extra dilemma had taken his mind off Langer also said he could not cricket team. That’s the truth of Kohli’s antics in Perth, where he also failed to acknowledge the careful about managing the everything else. wait to welcome it. He’s an outstanding player, crowd’s applause after he was controversially given out in the first workload of their frontline “Pete’s a very good player of back in the side once the former he’s been our captain. He’s a fan- innings for 123, brought a stunning rebuke from veteran Bollywood pacemen. spin bowling... and Mitch is a captain has served out his ball- tastic young bloke. star Naseeruddin Shah. “Our fast bowlers have been pretty good player of spin tampering ban, which ends in “I know how determined he He described him as “not only the world’s best batsman but also lucky, we’ve bowled less overs bowling too,” he said. March. is to get back and play for Aus- the world’s worst behaved player”, with the mass-circulation Hin- than India’s bowlers at the “We’ll weigh up all those “We can’t wait to have him tralia. That makes me feel warm dustan Times saying it articulated what many Indian cricket fans moment, particularly (Jasprit) things, and they’re the hard deci- back. He’s the Virat Kohli of the and fuzzy, knowing Steve Smith had been thinking. Bumrah, and that’s an important sions. All those factors, trust me, Australian cricket team,” Langer is determined.” His behaviour when the Melbourne Test begins tomorrow will closely watched, but he has the backing of coach who on Sunday called Kohli “an absolute gentleman”. Australian coach Justin Langer said Monday his biggest selection headache was whether to persist with middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb or recall all-rounder Mitch Marsh to ease the pressure on pace spearheads Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins. “In a perfectly balanced side you’ll have someone who can bowl some overs so Mitch becomes an attractive commodity on a wicket probably unlike Adelaide and Perth,” he said, where the surface offered fast bowlers plenty of opportunities. On the other hand, Handscomb would be an asset if the visitors opt for two spinners. India are sweating on the fitness of key spinner , who was sidelined with an abdominal strain for the Perth Test. Left-arm off-spinning all-rounder is also car- rying a niggle but is expected to be fit, as is experienced batsman , who also missed the second Test. India’s main concern is the form of openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay, who have struggled for runs, putting an extra burden on Kohli and number three . Shastri made clear on Sunday more was expected from them in Melbourne. “It’s obvious and that responsibility and accounta- bility has to be taken by the top order,” he said. Australian cricketers pose for a mock photograph during training “They’ve got the experience, they’ve got the exposure over in Melbourne ahead of the third cricket Test match against India. these last few years to get out there and deliver.” Keeper Pant out as Karthik returns to India’s ODI fold

REUTERS the ODI squad after India’s all- MUMBAI warming the bench rounder against West Indies. Experienced has Ravindra With the return of pipped young Rishabh Pant for Jadeja frontline seamers Jasprit the spot of second wicket- catches a Bumrah and Bhuv- keeper-batsman in India’s ball during neshwar Kumar, Umesh one-day international squad for a training Yadav found himself out their matches against Australia session in of favour. Mohammed and New Zealand. Melbourne Shami and Khaleel The 21-year-old Pant was yesterday. Ahmed were the other the backup to former captain quicks in the squad and regular stumper Mahendra while all-rounder Singh Dhoni during India’s home also five-match series against West returned to the squad Indies. after recovering from Pant played three of the five injury. matches as a specialist batsman India also named and scored 17 and 24 in the their squad for the second and third ODIs. three-match Twenty20 Karthik, 33, has played 86 series in New Zealand ODIs and was part of India’s Asia which was highlighted Cup squad but was left out for opportunity to secure the three-match one-day interna- by the return of Dhoni the West Indies matches. number four spot India have tional series in January. after the long-serving cricketer “After returning from Aus- been looking to fill ahead of the That will be followed by a was left out of their shortest India’s Rishabh Pant (left) talks to the coaching staff during a tralia post the Test series, 50-over World Cup next year. five-match ODI series in New format matches against West training session in Melbourne yesterday. Rishabh Pant will play for India But Karthik could well have Zealand before India return Indies and Australia. A in the five-match one-day sealed the spot with captain home for another five-match Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), “After returning from Australia post the series at home against England Virat Kohli and coach Ravi ODI series against Australia. Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul, Lions,” the Indian cricket board Shastri confirming recently that India’s top players will then , Ambati Test series, Rishabh Pant will play for said in their statement while India’s period of experimenting be involved in the Indian Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar India A in the five-match one-day series at announcing the squad. with their ODI side is over with Premier League Twenty20 tour- Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wicket- home against England Lions,” the Indian Karthik was inconsistent and five months left before the World nament before the World Cup keeper), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep cricket board said in their statement while could not convert starts into big Cup in England. begins on May 30 in England. Yadav, , scores at the Asia Cup and fin- After the conclusion of the Manish Pandey, who has Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar announcing the squad. ished with a total of 146 in six ongoing four-Test series against also auditioned for the middle- Kumar, , Khaleel matches, missing the Australia, India will play a order spots, was also axed from Ahmed, TUESDAY 25 DECEMBER 2018 SPORT 07 2018 sporting highlights - Mbappe’s big day, the ball-tampering scandal, Serena’s outburst

AFP PARIS

It was a memorable year for sport in 2018, with the World Cup in Russia, a cricketing controversy and Serena Williams’ bizarre outburst grabbing the headlines. Here, AFP Sport takes a look at 10 sporting high- lights from the last 12 months:

FRANCE WIN WORLD CUPP France won the World Cupp on July 15 in Moscow, beatingg Croatia 4-2 in the highest-t- In this file photo taken on September 8, 2018, Serena Williams scoring final for 52 years.s. of the US argues with chair umpire Carlos Ramos while playing Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogbaba Naomi Osaka of Japan during their 2018 US Open women’s and Antoine Griezmann all hhitit singles final match in New York. the target. Mbappe was notot even born when Francece claimed the World Cup onon themselves as genuine World Winter Games. The snowboard home soil in 1998, their onlynly Cup contenders in 2019. world champion and favourite previous win. performed brilliantly to win LEDECKA’S OLYMPIC FIRST the women’s snowboard par- THOMAS TAKES TOUR DE France’s forward Kylian Mbappe kisses the trophy after winning the Russia 2018 World Cup final Ester Ledecka of the Czech allel giant slalom on February FRANCE Welshman Geraint against Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in this July 15, 2018,KOREAN file OLYMPICphoto. THAW The Republic sealed the first ski- 24, a week after stunning the Thomas savoured the sweetest FIFTH IN A ROW FOR HAM- Winter Olympics in snowboard double in Olympic alpine skiing world by cap- of Tour de France victories on Carlos Ramos in the US Open ILTON Lewis Hamilton domi- Pyeongchang, South Korea, in history at the Pyeongchang turing gold in the Super-G. July 29, eclipsing all chal- final on September 8. Williams nated the 2018 Formula One February produced a thaw in lengers including Sky team- called him a thief after he season, winning 11 Grands Prix ties with nuclear-armed North mate Chris Froome, the four- docked her a point for two in a fault-free year and taking Korea, who sent a team to take time former winner, in the code violations. Her explosion his fifth drivers’ championship part in the Games as well as showcase Champs-Elysees then earned her a game as the challenge from cheerleaders and the highest- finish to win his maiden Grand penalty, prompting a further Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari ranking diplomatic delegation Tour title. outburst and putting Japan’s faded in the second half of the ever to venture south of the Naomi Osaka within one game year. The 33-year-old Briton, heavily defended inter-Korean MOURINHO’S THIRD-SEASON of victory. Osaka went on to who drives for Mercedes, says . JINX Jose Mourinho’s third- win her first Grand Slam 6-2, he is now eyeing a sixth title. season jinx struck again when 6-4. IRELAND BEAT ALL BLACKS he was fired by Manchester CRICKET IN CRISIS Australian Less than one year out from United on December 18 after REAL MADRID’S TRIPLE Real cricket was engulfed in a the World Cup, Ireland ended a lengthy slump in fortunes at Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in cheating scandal that triggered a 100-year wait on November Old Trafford. He was sacked Kiev on May 26 to win the national soul-searching about 17, beating world champions from his two previous jobs, at Champions League for the sport and fair play. Test captain New Zealand for the first time Chelsea and Real Madrid, fol- third time in a row under Steve Smith, vice-captain David on Irish soil. The 16-9 victory lowing similar third-season coach Zinedine Zidane and the Warner and opening batsman marked a memorable end to slumps. 13th in total for the Spanish Cameron Bancroft were banned, an outstanding year for the giants. It proved to be Zidane’s while coach Darren Lehmann Irish who won 11 out of 12 In this file photo taken on March 26, 2018, Australian cricket captain SERENA’S US OPEN TIRADE last game at the club who were resigned after ball-tampering Tests, claiming the Six Nations Steve Smith is on the front pages of the major newspapers in Serena Williams’ bid for a 24th also weakened by the was caught by cameras during Grand Slam, winning their Sydney after he admitted cheating by hatching a plot to tamper Grand Slam title imploded in departure of star striker Cris- the third Test against South three-Test series against Aus- with the ball during the third Test against South Africa in Cape a furious tirade against umpire tiano Ronaldo to Juventus. Africa in Cape Town. tralia 2-1 and establishing Town on March 24, 2018. All Blacks stumble with Runs key as top South Africa, eye on Rugby World Cup Pakistan bowlers square up AFP lack of what had been antici- wicket-taker, bowled with good AFP a 37-18 win over Australia, the losing finalists three CENTURION pated as an intriguing match- pace and rhythm in a recent PARIS years ago, at Twickenham. up of exceptionally accurate Twenty20 tournament, as did It meant they had won three of their four Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur seamers between South Africa’s fellow bowler . Double defending champions New Zealand will November Tests, the lone loss an agonising 16-15 identified the need for his Vernon Philander and Pakistan’s , who will be head into the 2019 World Cup in Japan as defeat by New Zealand. batsmen to post good totals as rising star Mohammad Abbas. South Africa’s third seamer, was favourites, but Six Nations Grand Slam champions That was all far removed from a run of five a key factor in their three-Test Philander has a broken the top wicket-taker in the T20 Ireland have proven there are chinks in the All shocking straight defeats earlier this year that series against South Africa, finger, while Abbas is recovering league and had match figures of Black armour. spanned the Six Nations and a 2-1 series loss in starting at SuperSport Park in from a shoulder injury. seven for 54 in a losing cause in Steve Hansen’s team suffered a major bump South Africa. Centurion tomorrow. Abbas did not bowl in Paki- a franchise match last week. on their run-in to the World Cup when they went “We’ve got great competition (for places),” said “The one thing we do know stan’s win against a South South Africa have some down to a second defeat in three games by a England coach Eddie Jones, whose side still have is that we can get 20 wickets African Invitation XI last week batting problems, exacerbated Johnny Sexton-inspired Ireland, whose provincial problems over their often high penalty count. comfortably. Our challenge is to but Arthur did not rule him out by the retirement of AB de Vil- side Leinster won the European Champions Cup, “To be the best in the world you’ve got to push get to 350-400 (runs),” Arthur of contention for Test selection. liers. Opening batsmen Dean Munster also making the last four. hard.” said in a pre-tour interview. Even without Abbas, a pace Elgar and , con- That followed the Springboks’ 36-34 victory It was also a case of role reversal for two-time It is a refrain that could be attack of Mohammad Amir, sistent performers in home wins in Wellington in September that ended a 15-match World Cup champions South Africa, a side reju- echoed by Ottis Gibson, his and Shaheen Afridi, against India and Australia last winning streak for the All Blacks, who have dom- venated under new coach Rassie Erasmus and South African counterpart, backed by the leg-spin of Yasir season, have yet to find top form inated world rugby since securing their second dynamic captain Siya Kolisi after a disastrous ahead of a series which pits two Shah, will pose a challenge for this season. World Cup title in England in 2015 after previous couple of seasons. strong sets of bowlers against the home batsmen. , 35, may be success on home turf in 2011. “We’ve shown on the day when everything’s potentially fragile batting line- South Africa will also be nearing the end of a distin- Excluding the 24-21 defeat by the British and aligned and the guys are all in the same frame of ups in a country where condi- without fast bowler Lungi Ngidi guished career. In 10 Tests since Irish Lions in the drawn series in 2017, it was New mind, we can beat the All Blacks away and win a tions usually offer bowlers because of a long-term knee his most recent century, against Zealand’s first defeat at home since 2009. series against England,” said Erasmus. plenty of encouragement. injury but veteran , Bangladesh in October 2017, Ireland’s 16-9 victory over the All Blacks in “It’s wide open,” he said of the World Cup. The bowling strength of both needing just one wicket to Amla has hit just four fifties and Dublin in November was built on a teak-tough “I’ve been involved in World Cups since 1995, but teams is formidable, despite the become his country’s leading averaged a below-par 23.36. defence organised by former England assistant really this one I couldn’t put money on who’s going coach and dual code international Andy Farrell to be in the semi-finals.” Factbox on the first Test of the three-match series between South Africa and -- the father of England fly-half Owen -- who will The Springboks’ final November game saw Pakistan, which starts tomorrow: take over the reins from current coach Joe Schmidt them lose 20-11 to a Wales side hoping to go to post-World Cup. Japan “under the radar” despite having completed VENUE: Centurion Park - Capacity: 22,000 Coach: Mickey Arthur “As of now they are the number-one team in their first ever November clean sweep and DATE: December 26-30. Play starts at 1000 local MATCH OFFICIALS the world,” Hansen said. “So if you want to make extended their winning Test streak to nine time (0800 GMT) Umpires: Sundaram Ravi (India), Bruce Oxenford them World Cup favourites, go ahead. I guess they matches. SOUTH AFRICA (World ranking: third) (Australia) are favourites.” “We want to keep doing what we’re doing, Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba TV umpire: Joel Wilson (West Indies) The bookies say not, however, with New slip under the radar as much as possible,” said Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Match referee: David Boon (Australia) Zealand installed above Ireland, England, South Wales coach Warren Gatland. Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden HISTORY Africa and Wales. France’s largely miserable 2018 ended with Markram, Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Previous South Africa v Pakistan tests in New Zealand top the world rankings, followed their first defeat by Fiji, who won 21-14 in Paris. Rabada, Dale Steyn Matches: 2; South Africa wins: 2 Pakistan wins: 0 by Ireland, Wales and England and it is hard to But both France and Australia, who also had Coach: Ottis Gibson YEAR WINNER MARGIN envisage a World Cup like the last one when the a year to forget, have often put poor results behind PAKISTAN (World ranking: seven) 2007 South Africa Seven wickets southern hemisphere provided all four come a World Cup. Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Imam-ul-Haq, 2013 South Africa Innings & 18 runs semi-finalists. Tier-Two nation Fiji’s win augurs well for the Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, SERIES England, who had a catastrophic 2015 World competitiveness of the group stage in Japan and Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Yasir Second Test (Cape Town): Jan. 3-7 - Newlands Cup on home soil as they failed to advance from will have been noted by pool opponents Wales -- Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Third Test (Johannesburg): Jan. 11-15 - The their pool, finished 2018 with an impressive mix a team they knocked out of the 2007 tournament Mohammad Amir, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi Wanderers of forward power and stylish back-line play during -- and Australia. TUESDAY 25 DECEMBER 2018 SPORT 05

I’m very happy with what I’ve CRICKET CRICKET got, but you don’t know. Australia vs India South Africa vs Pakistan That’s why I always keep Juergen Klopp 3rd Test - Day 1 1st Test - Day 1 the door open, Liverpool manager on ACTION at Melbourne at Centurion in case something happens. new transfers BOXING DAY BOXING Stage set for Qatar ExxonMobil Open THE PENINSULA DOHA

The countdown to the 27th edition of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, to be held at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha from December 31, 2018 to January 5, 2019, has begun. The impressive ATP World Tour 250 series tournament will attract a host of the world’s top players including World’s No. 1 Novak Djokovic, a two-time- champion, as well as world No. 8 Dominic Thiem, Nikolov Basi- lashvili, David Goffin, Karen Khachanov and this year’s Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex is ready to host the 27th edition French Open semifinalist Marco of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, from December 31, 2018 to January 5, 2019. Cecchinato. The tournament, which has featured some of the biggest time having won it also in 2015. tournament’s history, the best in the and we are totally committed to as we host a special competition. large numbers to enjoy this name in tennis down the years Meanwhile, the tournament’s 250 points category in terms of fulfilling that promise come what Once again, fans will have amazing experience,” said Tour- is seen as the curtain raiser for draw ceremony will be held at player rankings and level of organ- may. The fans are in for a tre- another opportunity of watching nament Director Karim Alami. the ATP tour. the Four Seasons Hotel on ization,” said Tareq Zainal, General mendous week-long fiesta of the world’s best players play live Tickets for the event are cur- The event picked up the December 29. Coordinator of the tournament. tennis.” during this week-long festival of rently on sale online at www.qatart- prestigious ATP 250 Tournament “We are more than ready to “We’ve promised ourselves “We are excited once again tennis. We are looking forward ennis.org or onsite at the City Centre, of the Year in 2017 for the second host the best so far in the to keep raising the bar each year to welcome the world to Doha to seeing the fans troop out in Landmark and Villaggio malls. Curry, Durant lift Warriors Patrick helps Flyers over Clippers in thriller down Rangers 3-2 AP NEW YORK AFP Los Angeles Lakers forward LOS ANGELES LeBron James (23) attempts After firing their general a shot past Memphis Grizzlies manager and coach in recent Stephen Curry scored the last of center Marc Gasol (33) during the weeks, the Philadelphia Flyers his 42 points on a driving layup fourth quarter of their NBA game have responded to a midseason with a half-second remaining on at Staples Center on Sunday. shake-up. Sunday and reigning NBA Nolan Patrick scored the champion Golden State edged lone goal against Henrik Lun- the Los Angeles Clippers 129-127. dqvist in a shootout that lasted Kevin Durant added 35 four rounds and Philadelphia points and 12 rebounds for the beat the scuffling New York Warriors (23-11), who won for Rangers 3-2 on Sunday night. the eighth time in 10 games “I had a plan,” Patrick said. despite the Clippers hitting “I watched the first couple of 18-of-23 three-point attempts. guys go in (and) he was pretty Curry did not play when the deep in his net. That’s a move Clippers beat the Warriors in that I like to do. I have done it overtime earlier this season but quite a bit throughout my life the two-time NBA Most Valuable so far.” Niklas Kronwall (55) of the Player lifted Golden State on his Michael Raffl and Wayne Detroit Red Wings fires a shot shoulders in the rematch and Simmonds scored in regulation, closed out the victory with his and Michal Neuvirth made 32 against the Toronto Maple dramatic winning shot. saves as the Flyers won for the Leafs during an NHL game at “Just got to make a play and third time in four games since Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, not rush and beat them downhill changing coaches. Ontario, Canada on Sunday. and I made the play,” Curry said. Scott Gordon was named “It was a great way to finish.” interim coach after replacing The Rangers were short a man The Warriors are 15-3 at Dave Hakstol behind the bench due to a too-many-men home but have stumbled early on December 17. Chuck Fletcher penalty. Sean Couturier and and are in a fight for the Western took over as general manager Jakub Voracek assisted on the Conference lead. in early December after Ron play. “Teams get hot and we have Hextall was fired on November But the lead was short-lived some slip-ups,” Curry said. 26. Chris Kreider and Boo as Nieves tied it 22 seconds “We just have to figure out Nieves scored for the Rangers, later. Rangers rookie Lias how to weather the storm and who lost their fifth in six games. Andersson forced a turnover get the win.” Lundqvist stopped 28 shots in behind the Flyers net to set up Durant was powerful defen- his first game since last Sun- the fourth-line center. Nieves, sively, blocking three shots, and day’s overtime loss to Vegas. playing in his fourth game of all his rebounds came on the “I looked this morning at the season, scored his second defensive end. “We buckled the standings and the sepa- NHL goal. Raffl evened the down in the third and fourth ration is getting bigger,” game 1-all at 1:46 of the second quarter and it was good to make Lundqvist said after his when he scored his first of the them have to make some tough team lost in extra time at season. The veteran forward shots,” Durant said. Madison Square Garden for the kept the puck himself on an “Steph got it going. We fourth time this month. odd-man rush and beat Lun- wanted to keep feeding him and “We’ve got to start winning dqvist to the glove side. Phila- make it easy for us. The last play here if we want to be a part of delphia defenseman Travis was phenomenal.” that (playoff) race. Take this Sanheim assisted on the play. Durant said being tested break, regroup and realize how “You feel a difference now, early will toughen the Warriors desperate we need to be coming confidence-wise, in the locker for games later in the season as back.” room,” Raffl said. they chase a fourth NBA crown The 30-year-old Neuvirth “We played pretty good in five seasons. played in only his third game ever since we came back from “I like the groove we’re in,” of the season and is one of six that road trip. We’ve got to keep Durant said. “We’ve won some Flyers goalies to see action pushing in that direction.” tight games. That experience of during the tumultuous season The Rangers struck first playing in some tight games. in Philadelphia. when Kreider snapped a wrist That’s going to help us down the “This was one of the biggest shot under Neuvirth’s blocker stretch.” In another dramatic 31 points and 11 rebounds. of his 25 points in the third rebounds and seven assists by wins in my career,” he said. at 10:05 of the opening period. finish, Oklahoma City’s Paul Russell Westbrook had a triple quarter of Miami’s 115-91 win at LeBron James. Bahamas big man “First win of the season is Kevin Hayes made a clever play George missed a three-point double in a losing cause with 23 Orlando. Deandre Ayton, the top pick in always huge. I have to keep to exit the zone, dancing around shot at the buzzer and Minnesota points, 11 rebounds and 10 Jaren Jackson scored a June’s NBA Draft by Phoenix, moving forward.” Flyers defenseman Ivan held off the Thunder to win 114- assists. Kyrie Irving scored 25 game-high 27 points to lead vis- scored 26 points and grabbed 18 Simmonds gave the Flyers Provorov before making a 112. Andrew Wiggins scored 30 points to lead the Boston Celtics iting Memphis over the Los rebounds in a losing cause as a one-goal advantage 5:01 into spinning pass to lead a points to lead the Timberwolves over visiting Charlotte 119-103 Angeles Lakers 107-99 despite Brooklyn ripped the visiting Suns the third period when he buried streaking Kreider into the while George had a game-high while Tyler Johnson scored 20 22 points, a game-high 14 111-103. a rebound on the power play. offensive zone all alone.