SPORT

Tuesday 29 August 2017

PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Al Attiyah eyes title aass Five-star Shakib Mbappe on verge Overdrive Racing fieldselds puts Bangladesh of stunning strong team in Polandnd on top PSG move Qatar head for Malaysia with eye on 2018 finals

Armstrong Vas QNB Stars The Peninsula

IFA World Cup 2022 League hosts Qatar’s slender hopes of securing a unveils third place in Group A and with it the tricky Fplay-off route for next year’s new logo World Cup finals in Russia be clear in the last two rounds of The Peninsula qualifying over eight days from today. he QNB Stars League The qualifying race for the unveiled their new logo global showpiece event is gath- Tduring a press confer- ering pace and in the coming days ence held at the Torch Hotel dreams will be fulfilled and oth- in Doha yesterday. ers dashed across the continent The event was attended by as a large part of the Asian con- officials from QNB Stars tingent for next year’s World Cup Coach Felix Sanchez reacts League, QNB and Al Kass. finals in Russia is decided. during a practice session prior “The idea for the logo came Along with Qatar, ambitious to Team Qatar’s departure from combining the two China will also be playing in to Malaysia where they will organizations logo into one,” search of a third place finish in play against Syria in the 2018 said Hassan Al Kuwari, the Group A. Football World Cup Qualifiers. Head of Marketing and Com- The Qatari team held their LEFT: Qatari players in action munication at the QNB Stars final training session yesterday during the practice session. League. at the Khalifa International Sta- The new logo was created dium before heading to Malaysia by the Al Kass creative team. in preparation for the Syrian The third placed teams in are three points behind rounds remaining while Iraq and for the sixth successive tourna- QNB Group, the largest qualifier. each group play each other in a Uzbekistan but are still in with a Thailand can no longer advance, ment going back to 1998. financial institution in the Mid- Earlier on Wednesday, two-legged playoff in October shout of automatic qualification but nine countries still have a Their South Korean neigh- dle East and Africa, announced Qatar’s national team defeated with the aggregate winner facing if they beat Qatar in Melaka on chance, however slender, of bours have an even longer the renewal of its sponsorship Turkmenistan 2-1 in a friendly the fourth-placed team from the Thursday. claiming a ticket to Russia for pedigree and can clinch a ninth agreement with Qatar Foot- match. Central and North America (CON- Uzbekistan coach Samvel next year’s finals. straight appearance if they beat ball Association (QFA) and Qatar’s national team CACAF) qualifying in Babayan has promised his team While United Arab Emirates Iran in Seoul on Thursday and Qatar Stars League Manage- returned from England follow- November. will be ruthless against China, and Saudi Arabia kick off just Uzbekistan lose to Marcello Lip- ment (QSLM) for six seasons ing an extensive training camp A defeat would end Qatar’s who need a win to stay alive, as over a week of crunch ties in Al pi’s China in Wuhan. earlier this month. in Birmingham, during which slender hopes of a third-place fin- they look to set up a winner- Ain today, Japan have the best Qualification has not run Following the mega spon- they played three friendly ish and consign them to the takes-all clash against the South chance of being the fourth team smooth for either of the East sorship, Qatar Stars League matches. ignominy of becoming the first Koreans in Tashkent on August to reach the finals when they Asian powers, however, with was re-branded as QNB Stars The first one saw them beat World Cup hosts not to have pre- 31. host Asian champions Australia coach Vahid Halilhodzic under League. Leeds United 2-0. They then viously qualified for a The Uzbeks are third in Group on Thursday. heavy pressure in Japan and QNB Group sponsors all of lost a match to Nottingham tournament. A, a point behind South Korea, A point clear of the Saudis South Korea under the new QFA and QSLM competitions, Forrest 1-2. The final match Syria, who have been play- and targeting a first appearance and Socceroos in Group B, vic- management of Shin Tae-yong including The Emir Cup, Qatar was against Andorra, which ing their home matches in at soccer’s global showpiece tory in Saitama will secure after the sacking of Uli Stielike Cup, U-23 Championship and Qatar won 1-0. Malaysia because of the civil war, Iran qualified with three Samurai Blue a spot at the finals last month. Sheikh Jassim Cup. Barcelona dethrone Füchse Berlin in Doha; Al Sadd finish fourth

The Peninsula A FC Barcelona player prepares to wo years after they were Vardar win bronze knocked out of the trophy shoot at goal during Trace by Füchse Berlin in the their 017 IHF Super penultimate match, FC Barcelona Globe final match The Peninsula 10-minute mark at 4-5. The took revenge against the German against Füchse score remained with a one- side with a four-goal victory in the Berlin at the Duhail C Vardar beat hosts goal advantage for Vardar final to claim the 2017 IHF Super Sports Complex in Al Sadd with a com- midway through the half Globe title. Doha yesterday. Hmanding 18-goal (7-6) before Al Sadd levelled At the Duhail Sports Complex FC Barcelona victory that placed them the score. Keeper Danijel yesterday, their first goals came emerged champions third at their debut IHF Saric saved a penalty against from the team’s Junior players, with yesterday with a Super Globe Championship Ivan Cupic and his team had Dika Mem scoring the opener for 29-25 win against yesterday. the chance to take the lead, FC Barcelona before Kevin Struck the defending HC Vardar had little but they did not capitalise added one for the defending champions. trouble controlling the on the opportunity and from champions. bronze-medal match from there Vardar reopened a Following his goal, Berlin could the first whistle to the last, clear distance. not beat Barcelona’s defence as they held the advantage The Champions League backed by Gonzalo Perez de Var- from the beginning with title holders took a four-goal gas for eight minutes, while the only a brief comeback from advantage into the break, Catalan team scored two more Al Sadd that threatened the and when the match goals before they too were kept European side. resumed showed their dom- quiet by the German side’s keeper Vardar took a 3-0 lead inance as they pushed Silvio Heinevetter. before Amine Guehis added ahead to finish with an In the ninth minute Timothy Vargas scored a long-range shot exceptional performance, making an outside shot from newcomer Jure the first goal for the hosts 18-goal score line in their N’Guessan broke the drought with into the German team’s empty goal two penalty saves, though Berlin Dolenec. As the last 10 minutes after the end of the opening favour. his second goal, after which his – but it soon became clear Barce- still staged a comeback. began the difference stayed at two five minutes. With a 5-1 Vardar’s Daniil French team-mate Mem tallied his lona could not get too comfortable The defending champions lev- for Barcelona (22-20), before Gojun defensive system with Shishkarev finished as top second to pull Barca in front 5-1 as yet. Through the last 10 minutes of elled the score in the 41st with a fast received his third two-minute sus- Timur Dibirov in front, scorer of the match with the clock showed 10 minutes. the first period Berlin recorded a break from Mattias Zachrisson, and pension and therefore a red card. Vardar’s defence was diffi- seven goals, closely fol- Berlin’s Jakov Gojun received 7-4 run that took the margin to the Swedish right wing struck again With the final buzzer drawing cult to break through and lowed by his Russian his second two-minute suspension three by the time the half-time seconds later, pulling the German closer the record EHF Champions even when the Qatari team teammate Dibirov on six. as early as the 14th minute, putting whistle sounded, at which point team in front 18-17. League winners pulled further found their way, ever-reli- In the fifth place play- him in a dangerous position with a Perez de Vargas was clearly a deci- Barcelona coach Xavi Pascual away, leaving little doubt as the able goalkeeper Arpad off, Esporte Clube Pinheiros seemingly inevitable red card wait- sive factor as he finished with a 54% had little choice but to use his final clock ticked down. When Valero Sterbik stood solid in goal. of Brazil beat Tunisia’s ing with just one bad move. save rate for the period. time-out at that point, after which Rivera took Barcelona in front to The hosts managed to Esperance Sportive de Tuni- Barcelona hit 10 goals to Ber- In the second half, Perez de his team found renewed vigour and 27-24 in the 59th, the trophy was close the gap at the sie 32-29. lin’s five in the 19th when Perez de Vargas continued with his reclaimed a two-goal advantage off decided. SPORT TUESDAY 29 AUGUST 2017 25

Chinese duo Al Attiyah eyes title as Overdrive stripped of Beijing Racing fields strong team in Poland 2008 titles

Szczecin Lausanne Poland AP

verdrive Racing is wo Chinese female sending a powerful weightlifters have lost fleet of six Toyota Ttheir appeals against Hiluxes to this week- being stripped of their 2008 end’s Orlen Baja Beijing Olympic gold medals OPoland, round nine of the FIA for doping. World Cup for Cross-Country The Court of Arbitration Rallies. for Sport said Monday that the Based at Szczecin and taking IOC was right to disqualify Cao place on September 1-3, the Lei from the 75-kilogram class three-day event attracts one of and Liu Chunhong in the the largest entries in the cross- 69-kilo event at their home country calendar and 134 cars, Summer Games. bikes, quads and trucks will take Both tested positive for part on this occasion. GHRP-2, which stimulates Overdrive Racing has the production of growth hor- most impressive team in the mone, in reanalysis last year entire field with the Dutch trio of of their samples taken in Bei- Bernhard Ten Brinke, Erik Van jing. Liu also tested positive for Loon and Peter van Merksteijn sibutramine, a banned joining Dane Jes Munk, the host Qatari driver Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah on his way to victory during the Hungarian Baja earlier this month. INSET: Nasser Saleh stimulant. nation’s Aron Domzala and Al Attiyah signing an autograph for a fan. Because the cases were defending FIA World Cup cham- similar, the IOC disciplinary pion Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah in commission urged the Inter- the line-up. “It is not an easy rally and there FIA WORLD CUP FOR seventh in the Dakar with Over- Pomorskie. The action gets national Weightlifting Qatar’s Al Attiyah and French is strong competition, particularly CROSS-COUNTRY drive Racing in 2015, although the underway with the ceremonial Federation to investigate Chi- navigator Matthieu Baumel arrive from the local drivers in Poland.” RALLIES Dutchman teams up with the start on the scenic Lasztownia nese team coaches and in Sczcecin directly from com- Poland’s Aron Domzala holds STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 8: experienced Belgian WRC navi- island and a timed Prologue stage officials. Weightlifting risks peting in the Rally of Lebanon fifth in the championship stand- gator Stéphane Prevot on this of 7.08km on Friday evening being dropped from the 2024 and Al Attiyah currently has a ings after finishing in a similar 1. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (QAT) 210pts occasion. from 18.00hrs. Olympics due to longstanding 72-point lead in the drivers’ position in Hungary earlier this 2. Jakub Przygonski (POL) 138pts Van Merksteijn’s return to There will then two selective doping problems, and the standings. Victory in Poland - to month and claiming victory in topflight action with Overdrive sections of around 215.90km International Olympic Com- 3. Khalid Al-Qassimi (ARE) 105pts follow five previous wins this sea- Russia in February. The talented Racing sees him team up with the apiece on Saturday (September mittee has requested a 4. Yasir Saeidan (SAU) 96pts son in Dubai, Qatar, Kazakhstan, young driver again teams up with former French Dakar Rally-win- 2) at the firing range from “satisfactory report” from the Spain and Hungary - would give Szymon Gospodarczyk after 5. Aron Domzala (POL) 86pts ning co-driver Pascal Maimon, 08.15hrs and 13.45hrs, governing body by Al Attiyah at least an advantage working alongside Maciej Mar- 6. Mohammed Abu Issa (QAT) 84pts who worked with the Belgium- respectively. December. of 81 points to take to the final ton on the last few rallies in a 7. Martin Prokop (CZE) 72pts based team at the recent Silk Way The remaining four timed In retesting of samples two rounds of the series in second Toyota. 8. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE) 47pts Rally. sections take place on Sunday. from the 2008 Beijing Olym- Morocco and Portugal in Octo- The Dutch trio of Ten Brinke, 9. Leeroy Poulter (ZAF) 42pts Munk teams up with Poland’s There will be two passes through pics and 2012 London ber. Al Attiyah claimed his first Van Loon and Van Mersteijn have 10. Mikko Hirvonen (FIN) 37pts Rafal Marton in the sixth team the 18.39km of the Krzekowo Olympics, about 50 doping victory in Poland last season. impressive levels of experience entry with additional support stage at 08.40hrs and 12.30hrs cases have been found and “This is an important rally for in cross-country rallying and Rally back in January with a Toy- from Bewa and M-For Sport. and a pair of runs through the more than 25 medals were me and the whole team and the have worked with Overdrive Rac- ota and sixth in April’s Qatar The seven timed stages are 10.50km of Lubieszyn at 09.35hrs stripped. Most involved ster- outcome could put us in a very ing in the past. Van Loon and Cross-Country Rally. centred around the Dobra and and 13.25hrs before the ceremo- oids used by athletes from the strong position to retain the FIA navigator Wouter Rosegaar fin- Ten Brinke and Belgian nav- Lubieszyn areas and the military nial finish in Szczecin from former Soviet Union World Cup title,” said Al Attiyah. ished 14th overall in the Dakar igator Tom Colsoul finished a fine firing range at nearby Drawsko 14.30hrs. republics. Johnson upsets Spieth in thrilling play-off Semenya smashes New York women’s 600m AFP orld number one Dus- world record tin Johnson hunted Wdown Jordan Spieth with a bogey-free round, and Berlin then beat the reigning British AFP Open champion with a birdie at the first playoff hole of the North- outh Africa’s Caster Semenya brought her glittering season ern Trust on Sunday. to an end on Sunday by smashing the world record in the Johnson, who started the day Srarely-run 600 metres. three shots behind overnight The 26-year-old, Olympic gold medallist and three-time world leader Spieth, set himself up with champion over 800m, clocked a stunning 1min 21.77sec over the a monster drive at the first play- unusual distance at the ISTAF meet in the German capital. off hole and finished off the win She took 0.86sec off the previous best set by Cuba’s Ana Fide- with a three-foot birdie putt. lia Quirot in 1997. He had tucked his approach Semenya has been dogged by gender accusations since shoot- in close for an almost-certain ing to fame at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium when she won the 800m birdie, so the writing was on the title as a teenager at the 2009 world championships. wall when Spieth was unable to In London earlier this month, the South African track ace won make his long birdie attempt the world title over 800m for the third time following on from her from the fringe. 2009 and 2011 triumphs, but failed in an ambitious double bid, The two stars had dueled having to be content with just bronze in the 1,500m. down the back nine at Glen Oaks Semenya said she was delighted to end her season in the Ger- Club in Old Westbury, New York. man capital where she won world gold eight years ago. Johnson drained a 17-foot “I feel at home here, always welcomed and loved. I won my downhill putt for par at the 72nd first world title here, so this city is special for me,” beamed the hole of regulation to force the South African. Dustin Johnson hits out of the sand trap on the 17th hole playoff, and then claimed his first GOLF: WORLD RANKINGS “I wanted to deliver (the world record) to make the people victory since a back injury suf- during the final round of The Northern Trust golf tournament here happy.” at Glen Oaks Club at Old Westbury, USA on Sunday. INSET: fered in a fall forced him out of 1. (1) Dustin Johnson (US) 12.42 Semenya said she asked the organisers to put on the 600m Johnson poses with the trophy after putting for birdie on the the Masters in April. 2. (3) Jordan Spieth (US) 9.65 race to test her speed as she finished 0.62sec ahead of America’s 18th green to defeat Jordan Spieth of the United States (not Until the injury, he’d been on 3. (2) Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 9.24 Ajee Wilson while Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba was third at a roll in 2017, winning three tour- pictured) in a play-off to win The Northern Trust on Sunday. 1.41sec. 4. (4) Rory McIlroy (Britain) 7.10 naments to ascend to the top of “The 600m is a bit easier compared to the 800m,” she said. 5. (8) Jon Rahm (Spain) 7.00 the rankings. front of Venezuela’s Jhonattan to lay up, leaving him his testing “Basically it is only a 400m sprint with the focus on the last “I feel the game’s finally back Vegas, who carded a 65 in the par putt as Spieth two-putted 6. (7) Justin Thomas (US) 6.74 few metres to the finish line. I love speed, so I liked it. in form like it was leading into final round, and Spain’s Jon from 75 feet for par. 7. (5) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 6.71 “The season is over for me now, but I still feel a bit fresh. the Masters,” Johnson said. “I’m Rahm, who signed for a 68. “I thought that was a fun 8. (6) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 6.66 “We started to train only in February so I still feel like I could swinging everything really well, Spieth was in control most of show,” Spieth said of the back- 9. (9) Jason Day (Australia) 6.42 compete for the next three months.” got a lot of control over the golf the day, and led by as many as nine duel. “I was hoping it wasn’t 10. (10) Rickie Fowler (US) 6.02 Elsewhere on the track in Berlin, Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith ball and I’m feeling really good. five on the front nine. going to be that much fun.” 11. (11) Alexander Noren (Sweden) 5.87 took the women’s 200m final by 0.03sec from Marie-Josee Ta Lou “Getting a win here today But he and Johnson were tied Spieth opened the door with 12. (12) Brooks Koepka (US) 5.85 of the Ivory Coast, the world silver-medallist over 100m and 200m gives me a lot of confidence going for the lead heading to the par- a double-bogey five at the par- 13. (13) Matt Kuchar (US) 5.44 in London. into next week and the rest of the three 17th, where both were in a three sixth hole, where he was in 14. (17) Paul Casey (Britain) 4.91 American Sam Kendricks, the men’s world pole vault cham- playoffs.” bunker. Johnson blasted out to the water off the tee. 15. (15) Justin Rose (Britain) 4.72 pion, won the event in Berlin by clearing 5.86m with Poland’s He fired a final round 66 on within four feet of the hole. Spi- He bogeyed the ninth before 16. (16) Tommy Fleetwood (Britain) 4.66 Piotr Lisek second at 5cm and France’s Renaud Lavillenie third Sunday for 13-under 267 in the eth’s shot skipped 18 feet from a blemish-free inward run that 17. (14) Francesco Molinari (Italy) 4.59 (5.71). first of four events in the US PGA the hole -- but he stepped up and included back-to-back birdies at 18. (19) Adam Scott (Australia) 4.44 America’s Aries Merritt, the 2012 Olympic champion, won Tour’s FedEx Cup play-offs. made the putt to stay tied. 13 and 14. 19. (18) Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) 4.38 the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.17, while Jamaica’s Julian Forte Spieth closed with a 69. The At the next, Johnson was in “I didn’t lose the tourna- claimed victory in the 100m thanks to a personal best of 9.91sec 20. (20) Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 4.35 leading duo were four shots in dense rough off the tee and opted ment,” Spieth said. “He won it.” to hold off world 200m champion Ramil Guliyev of Turkey. 26 SPORT TUESDAY 29 AUGUST 2017 West Indies set 322 to win second Test

Leeds SCOREBOARD AFP New Zealand England (I innings): ...... 258 Total (for 8 wkts decl) ...... 490 West Indies (I innings): ...... 427 Fall of : 1-58, 2-81, 3-94, 4-212, 5-303, 6-312, to host its first oeen Ali’s rapid 84 England (II innings): 7-327, 8-444. helped England A Cook c Dowrich b Holder ...... 23 Bowling: Gabriel 26-3-125-2 (10nb, 9w); Roach 24-8- turn the tide on M Stoneman b Gabriel ...... 52 95-0; Holder 33-10-95-2; Chase 32-5-86-3; Bishoo day-night Test the fourth day of T Westley c Dowrich b Holder...... 8 25-1-67-1 (2nb); Brathwaite 1-0-4-0. the second Test J Root c S Hope b Gabriel ...... 72 West Indies (II innings): in March Magainst the West Indies at Head- D Malan b Chase ...... 61 K Brathwaite () ...... 4 ingley yesterday. B Stokes c Brathwaite b Chase ...... 58 K Powell (batting) ...... 1 Wellington J Bairstow b Chase ...... 18 Total (for no loss) ...... 5 Reuters At stumps, the West Indies M Ali c Brathwaite b Bishoo ...... 84 To bat: K Hope, S Hope, R Chase, J Blackwood, S were five without loss in their C Woakes () ...... 61 Dowrich, J Holder, K Roach, D Bishoo, S Gabriel.

second innings, needing a fur- S Broad (not out) ...... 14 Bowling: Anderson 3-2-3-0; Broad 2-1-1-0; Ali 1-0-1- ew Zealand will stage ther 317 runs to reach a Extras (B-13, LB-5, W-9, NB-12) ...... 39 0. its first day-night challenging victory total of 322. Ncricket test next March Only one side have made play represented a remarkable -keeper Shane Dowrich after Auckland City Council more in the fourth innings to turnaround in the match given only for Indian umpire S Ravi to approved the use of Eden Bangladesh cricketer (second left) celebrates win a Test at Headingley, with the West Indies had a first- make a desperately tight no-ball Park for the match against Australia’s celebrated ‘Invinci- innings lead of 169 runs -- a call. with his team-mates after the dismissal of Australian Matt England, the country’s board bles’ scoring 404 for three at the testament to a vastly improved It seemed almost cruel that Renshaw during the second day of the first Test match at the said yesterday. Leeds ground in 1948 thanks batting and bowling, if not field- the West Indies, who had Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, yesterday. The game, the first of a mainly to opener Arthur Mor- ing, display after their dropped several catches this two-match series, will be ris’s 182 and an unbeaten 173 embarrassing innings and 209- Test at a potentially match-los- played from March 22-26, from Donald Bradman, widely run defeat in the first Test at ing cost of 238 runs, should have with the second test in regarded as cricket’s greatest Edgbaston. their best effort of the game Five-star Shakib puts Christchurch from March 30 batsman. Fast bowler Shannon chalked off this way. to April 3. West Indies did make 344 Gabriel proved expensive, how- Ali, whose elegant cover- The owners of Eden Park for one to beat England in a Test ever, on Monday, his 26 overs driven four off Gabriel saw him Bangladesh on top had to seek consent from the at Lord’s in 1984, with opener costing 125 runs -- including to fifty, holed out off Bishoo in council due to restrictions on making 214 nine wides and 10 no-balls. sight of his sixth Test the number of events held at not out, but they will likely need England had started Mon- hundred. Dhaka for five and Shakib drew Glenn night at the venue in subur- a similarly brilliant innings from day’s play just two runs ahead Off-spinner Roston Chase AFP Maxwell forward for a stump- ban Auckland. one of their current top order if and already three wickets down. (three for 86) removed Stokes, ing on 23 to leave Australia New Zealand Cricket they are to level this three- But brisk fifties from Root Malan and Jonny Bairstow in struggling on 144-8. (NZC) Chief Operating Officer match series at 1-1. (72)-- his second of the match quick succession before tea but hakib Al Hasan claimed When he was on 11 Cum- Anthony Crummy said in a It was fresh evidence of on his Yorkshire home ground that simply paved the way for five wickets to help dis- mins survived a dropped catch statement the match would England’s batting strength in -- and Ben Stokes (58), follow- Ali and Woakes’s quickfire Smiss Australia for 217 and by Shafiul Islam at cover off help open up the sport to depth that No 8 Ali top-scored ing up his first-innings score of stand. give Bangladesh the upper hand Shakib and was then reprieved more people. and put on 117 for the eighth exactly 100, plus a painstaking England resumed on 171 for on the second day of the open- by the third umpire after being “NZC has a particular wicket with No 9 Chris Woakes, 61 from Dawid Malan laid the three after the West Indies had ing Test yesterday. given out caught behind. focus on improving access to the recalled all-rounder himself platform for Ali’s late-order made 427 in their first innings Australia, who resumed the Shakib finally bowled Cum- cricket for everyone,” he said. making 61 not out before Eng- assault. following hundreds from Shai day on a precarious 18-3, were mins for 25 in the evening “Being able to stage the land declared Left-handed batsman Ali Hope (147) and Brathwaite bowled out early in the final session and then had Josh test as a day-nighter is a sig- with his side on 490 for eight. faced just 93 balls and hit 14 (134). session for 217 to hand the hosts Hazlewood caught by Imrul nificant step in the right That left the West Indies fours. A dispiriting day for the Root, dropped in the gully a 43-run first-innings lead. Kayes at short leg to end Aus- direction. with a tricky six overs to bat West Indies was summed up on 10, was 45 not out and Malan, By stumps they had tralia’s innings and complete his “This means we can pro- until the close but openers when Ali was reprieved on 32. who had a lucky break on four increased that to an 88-run 16th five-wicket haul in Tests mote cricket in its most Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran He bottom-edged a catch off when the West Indies opted advantage for the loss of one -- at least one against each of modern and vibrant incarna- Powell survived. leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo against reviewing a potential wicket. Shakib, who finished the nine Test teams he faced. tion; we can improve The whole day’s and was superbly caught by catch, was unbeaten on 21. with 5-68 and also top-scored But the left-handed Agar accessibility for new audi- in Bangladesh’s first innings frustrated the Bangladesh ences, and we can showcase with 84, was ably supported by bowlers during a 97-ball stay Eden Park, Auckland and off-spinner Mehedi Hasan. at the crease that included two New Zealand to a truly global Mehedi claimed three wick- fours and a six. audience.” ets for 62 including the prized SCOREBOARD New Zealand played the scalp of skipper Steve Smith for inaugural day-night test eight. The hosts reached 45-1 Bangladesh (I innings): ...... 260 against Australia in Adelaide at stumps in their second Australia (I innings): in November 2015, and after innings,with opener Tamim D Warner lbw Mehedi ...... 8 witnessing the success of that Iqbal on 30 and nightwatchman M Renshaw c Soumya b Shakib ...... 45 match had been hoping to U Khawaja (run out) ...... 1 Taijul Islam yet to score. N Lyon lbw Shakib ...... 0 host their own ‘twilight’ fix- Slow left-armer Ashton S Smith b Mehedi ...... 8 ture. They had originally Agar ended a confident 43-run P Handscomb lbw Taijul ...... 33 planned to face South Africa opening stand when he had G Maxwell st Mushfiqur b Shakib ...... 23 under lights at Seddon Park Soumya Sarkar (15) caught by M Wade lbw Mehedi ...... 5 in Hamilton earlier this year Usman Khawaja at long-on A Agar (not out) ...... 41 but trials in first-class cricket after several attempts. P Cummins b Shakib ...... 25 found the lighting was not J Hazlewood c Imrul b Shakib ...... 5 Australia also had Agar to Extras (B-15, LB-3, W-5) ...... 23 strong enough. Twilight tests thank for helping get them close Total (all out) ...... 217 have proved successful in to Bangladesh’s first innings Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-14, 3-14, 4-33, 5-102, Australia, while England’s total of 260 after their regular 6-117, 7-124, 8-144, 9-193, 10-217. first day-night test between batsmen struggled against spin. Bowling: Shafiul 6-0-21-0; Mehedi 26-6-62-3; the hosts and West Indies ear- Agar, batting at number Shakib 25-7-68-5; Taijul 8-1-32-1; Mustafizur lier this month attracted nine, made an unbeaten 41 and 8-3-13-0; Nzair 1-0-3-0. 70,000 fans over the three Bangladesh (II innings): shared a crucial stand of 49 (batting) ...... 30 days. “This a very important with Pat Cummins, taking Aus- Soumya Sarkar c Khawaja b Agar ...... 15 outcome for lov- tralia past the 200 mark after Taijul Islam (batting) ...... 0 ers in New Zealand simply Shakib and Mehedi had the vis- Total (for 1 wkt) ...... 45 because it allows us the itors on the ropes. Fall of wicket: 1-43. opportunity to play the game

Agar and Cummins came Bowling: Hazlewood 3-1-3-0; Cummins 2-0-5- at a time when more people

England’s Moeen Ali bats on the fourth day of the second international Test match against 0; Lyon 9-3-11-0; Maxwell 3-0-17-0; Agar 5-0-9- together after Mehedi had Mat- can engage with it,” Crummy 1. West Indies at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, northern England, yesterday. thew Wade plumb leg-before added. Muguruza advances as Sharapova awaits US Open spotlight

New York improved to 17-2 since the start Sharapova was set to face Halep enters the Open AFP of her London Grand Slam title Romania’s second-ranked after her third loss in as run, a stretch that also included Simona Halep in the night fea- many months with a chance eigning Wimbledon cham- a crown at Cincinnati in the last ture match, the Russian star’s to claim the world number pion Garbine Muguruza major US Open tuneup. first Grand Slam match since one ranking, falling in the Rwas excited to reach the Muguruza, who won last serving a 15-month doping French Open final and Wim- second round yesterday at the year’s French Open and reached suspension. bledon semi-finals, each US Open while former world this year’s Australian Open quar- “I don’t think any tennis fan time after winning the first number one Maria Sharapova ter-finals for the first time, can in the world is not going to have set, and to Muguruza in the was poised to swipe the Broad- reach the New York third round that match on,” said US 15th seed Cincinnati final. way spotlight. for the first time Wednesday by Madison Keys. German fourth seed Alexan- Spanish third seed Muguruza defeating either US qualifier “We all knew it was inevita- der Zverev, who beat Roger matched her best showing on the Claire Liu or China’s Duan ble she would be back in majors Federer in the Montreal final New York hardcourts in five tries Ying-Ying. and playing. I’m sure this first earlier this month for his fifth by defeating American Varvara After dominating the first set, round is going to be title of the year, faces Slam deb- Lepchenko 6-0, 6-3 for her first Muguruza fought through most interesting.” utant Darian King of triumph in Arthur Ashe Stadium, of the second before breaking Five-time Grand Slam while Croatian fifth seed Marin which celebrated its 20th 64th-ranked Lepchenko at love champion Sharapova is a- ‘A big Cilic, the 2014 US Open cham- anniversary. in the penultimate game. challenge’ for Halep - pion, meets American Tennys “Very happy I’m in the sec- “She started a little bit nerv- “It’s going to be a big chal- Sandgren. ond round,” said Muguruza. “I’ve ous and I started very well. Then lenge, first round of a Grand Seven-time Grand Slam been here so many times and the match equaled and I had a Slam, to face her,” Halep said. champion Venus Williams, this Garbine Muguruza of Spain returns against Varvara Lepchenko I’ve never done very well. I will big fight,” Muguruza said. “I feel better and I feel that year’s Australian Open and try again and hopefully it will “I give everything I have on I’m ready to face her again. I just Wimbledon runner-up, was set of the US during their US Open 2017 Women’s Singles match at happen.” the court. I sweat and work hard want to change something. to face 135th-ranked Viktoria the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, The 23-year-old Spaniard on every point.” Maybe I can win.” Kuzmova. yesterday. TUESDAY 29 AUGUST 2017 SPORT 27 Qatar’s Al Yaefei wins Al Rayyan Cup in SA

The Peninsula Saleh Al Yaefei to victory a the performance of the Qatari length ahead of the runner up. jockeys throughout the training atari jockey Abdulla Saleh Jockey Saleh Salem Al-Marri led course and in Al Rayyan Cup Al Yaefei steered Tropi- the Ms J V Borg & Klawervlei race. Qcal’s Son to land the Stud-owned and Paul Lafferty- “This training course is part QREC-sponsored Al Rayyan Cup saddled Freddie Flint to come of QREC’s vision and strategy to after winning the 1,200-metre second. The Melanie L Roberts- develop the Qatari talent and to handicap race reserved for thor- owned and Michael focus on developing the eques- oughbreds and Qatari Roberts-trained Dale House was trian sport in general and apprentice jockeys at Scottsville, ridden by Khalid Abdulaziz Al- horseracing in particular. This South Africa on Sunday. Kuwari to complete the frame. is part of the QREC’s general Saddled by Paul Lafferty, The Al Rayyan Cup race was approach and strategic plan pri- the A L Williams-owned Trop- run in South Africa by Qatar, orities. I’d like to congratulate ical’s Son was led by Abdulla represented by the Minister of jockey Abdulla Saleh Al Yaefei Culture and on winning the race and all the Sports, support participating Qatari jockeys for and develop- their brilliant performance”. ment of sports 11 Qatari jockeys, aged youth, and as between 15 and 22 years old, are an initiative by participating in the training QREC as part of course in the South African Qatari jockeys who took part in the QREC-sponsored Al Rayyan Cup pose for a picture with their efforts to Jockey Academy in Qatar Racing and Equestrian officials at Scottsville, South Africa on Sunday. develop Qatari KwaZulu-Natal. jockeys to the They are Abdulla Rashid Al- highest levels Adgham, Ali Khalid training is overseen by senior talents”, he said. “They only the QREC-sponsored Al Rayyan and produce a Al-Mosallam, Meteb Ali Al- specialised trainers in South need good preparation accord- Cup race, which has proved, in new generation Marri, Abdulla Mubarak Africa with daily direct follow ing to a structured methodology practice, the progress these of Qatari jock- Al-Maadeed, Saleh Salem Al- up by Mr Ali Mohammed Al to reach the highest levels. jockeys have made so far eys to compete Marri, Abdulla Saleh Alyaefei, Saaq, who has priceless experi- QREC, therefore, launched their through the course.” in the most Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, ence in this field. initiative by sending these jock- Qatar Ambassador to South prestigious rac- Saleh Hamad Al-Marri, Rashid Nasser bin Sherida Al-Kaabi, eys to acquire more talents and Africa Abdulla Hussein Al-Jaber, ing events in Ali Al-Marri, Mohammed Rashid QREC General Manager pointed experience different schools and said that holding a race spon- future. Al-Mosallam and Abdullah out that the training course has methods in horseracing. No sored by QREC for Qatari Issa bin Hozam Al-Marri. proved a success by all means doubt the positive outcome of jockeys at a racecourse in South Mohammed Al- They started the training and has contributed to enhanc- this course will be reflected in Africa is very significant move. Qatari jockey Abdulla Saleh Al Yaefei who Mohannadi, course and performing various ing the skills of the Qatari their participation in the com- “It came at a very appropriate steered Tropical’s Son to land the QREC- QREC Chair- training activities in early July jockeys. ing racing season at QREC Al time during the training camp sponsored Al Rayyan Cup celebrates at man, and will continue their course “We, in QREC and Qatar, are Rayyan Racecourse. Their train- for the Qatari jockeys in South Scottsville, South Africa on Sunday. commended until early September. Their proud to have such young ing course has culminated with Africa.” Mbappe on verge of stunning PSG move

Paris After being left out of the AFP Monaco squad last week, Mbappe was an unused substi- onaco’s teen sensation tute for Sunday night’s game Kylian Mbappe (pic- against Marseille as the reign- Mtured) is expected to ing French champions won 6-1. complete a stunning move to That saw them join PSG at Paris Saint-Germain when he the top of the Ligue 1 table with flies into the French capital on four wins from four games at the Monday, according to wide- start of the season. spread French media reports on Asked after the game about Sunday. Mbappe’s expected departure, Real Madrid defender Marcelo (centre) vies with Valencia’s midfielders Nacho Vidal (left) Radio stations France Info Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim and RMC reported that PSG had said: “I am not confirming any- and Daniel Parejo during the Spanish League match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in agreed to pay 180 million euros thing. It is not my role to discuss Madrid on Sunday. ($215 million) including bonuses that. My role is on the field. for the 18-year-old French “He is a Monaco player. That international striker. is why he was on the bench. But That would make him the on his way to teaming up with after it went 4-0 I didn’t need Real streak halted by second most expensive transfer the French national squad. him. The club’s project is to in football history behind Ney- France will play a World bring through the best mar, who joined PSG from Cup qualifier against the Neth- players.” Barcelona for 222 million euros erlands at the Stade de France Mbappe was outstanding in earlier this month. on Thursday and a game against the second half of last season but 2-2 draw at Valencia However, concerns over Luxembourg in Toulouse next he has not played in any of meeting UEFA’s Financial Fair weekend. Monaco’s last three games as Play (FFP) obligations mean PSG France coach Didier Des- they extended their record win- Madrid after. Valencia stunned the just two games of the La Liga could initially sign Mbappe on champs insisted last week when ning run to 16 league games. AFP Bernabeu when Geoffrey Kon- season. loan, according to sports daily he named his squad that no “Kylian is a star and a top- dogbia, who joined the club this “I can’t be happy with the L’Equipe. player would be allowed to level player. But for six months eal Madrid needed a late week on a season-long loan result, but the performance was “Monaco and PSG on Sun- leave the national team camp at last year we often played with- strike from Marco Asen- from Inter Milan, swept home excellent and we deserved more day reached an agreement for Clairefontaine, around 50 kilo- out him and won,” added Rsio to prevent a shock Rodrigo’s cross from the edge today,” said Madrid boss Zine- a loan move for Kylian Mbappe metres south of Paris, to Jardim. defeat but still saw their relent- of the area. However, like on so dine Zidane. to the Parisian club with an complete a transfer. Mbappe refused to speak to less winning streak ended by many occasions last season, “That’s football, you can’t option to buy for 180 million With the transfer window French television at the end of Valencia in a thrilling 2-2 draw Madrid had a late reply as Asen- always win. Valencia have euros,” said L’Equipe, adding closing on Thursday, that means Sunday’s game. at the Santiago Bernabeu on sio curled home a free-kick endured two dreadful years, fin- that Mbappe would undergo a Mbappe is set to complete the to PSG will leave many won- Sunday. seven minutes from time. ishing 12th for the past two medical by Monday morning. move on Monday, allowing him dering how the Qatar-owned Asensio had got the hosts off A draw ends Real’s eight- seasons, but there were further Mbappe is due to leave the to team up with Neymar and club can avoid sanctions from to the perfect start after just 10 game winning run stretching encouraging signs of a revival principality on Monday morn- Edinson Cavani in a mouthwa- European football’s governing minutes, but Carlos Soler back to May and sees the Euro- under new coach Marcelino ing along with Monaco winger tering PSG attack after the body considering the investment rounded off an excellent Valen- pean champions fall two points Garcia Toral after their opening Thomas Lemar and fly to Paris international break. already made on Neymar. cia team move to level shortly behind rivals Barcelona after day win over Las Palmas. China cash curbs to hit European clubs: Analysts

Shanghai aware earlier this month when spending on players before the on Chinese football. “This impact football power. Wealthy Chinese Wanderers and Birmingham City. AFP China’s State Council, or cabinet, transfer window closes in most could then have a knock-on began investing in or simply buy- In China, clubs that many moved to restrict Chinese com- of Europe on Thursday. effect to the clubs as investment ing up some of the biggest clubs football fans across the world hina’s crackdown on over- panies from investing in foreign “I think it will have an impact dries up. Chinese owners could in football including Atletico had never heard of began seas investments is sports clubs, the latest salvo in a on current ownership. Most of realign their focus and the clubs Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan shelling out huge amounts of Cexpected to herald a slow- wider campaign by Beijing to them will have to make contin- can suffer both on and off the and Manchester City. money to lure the likes of down in splurging on European curb capital outflows. ued significant investment into pitch.” A swathe of teams in the Oscar, who moved from Chel- clubs and impact teams where it But fans of the dozen Euro- playing staff and all other areas Chinese football has been on Midlands area of England fell sea to Shanghai SIPG for 60m hurts fans the most -- on the pean clubs that are of the football club in order to a roller-coaster since President under Chinese control: former euros. pitch. Chinese-owned or part-owned compete,” said Ji Zhe, director at Xi Jinping declared soon after European champions Aston Villa, “But the mood music has It is unlikely that supporters may want to pay attention, espe- London-based sports marketing coming to power in 2012 that he Premier League side West Bro- changed dramatically in the past in Italy, Spain and England were cially if they are expecting lavish firm Red Lantern and an expert wanted to make the country a mwich Albion, Wolverhampton three months,” said Ji.