FFOOTBALL|OOTBALL Page 3 BASEBALL | Page 5 City stumble Buehler again as Utd propels and Chelsea Dodgers play out draw into lead
Sunday, October 25, 2020 FORMULA 1 Rabia I 8, 1442 AH Hamilton poised for GULF TIMES record aft er grabbing Portugal GP pole SPORT Page 7 HORSE RACING BASKETBALL Jalela and HM Al Wakrah storm into Jalfane do Qatar semis of Amir Cup
By Sports Reporter they were comfortably placed proud in France with a 22-point advantage (70- Doha 48) with the fi nal quarter re- maining. Jalela is from the first crop of Al Shaqab Purebred Arabian sire Mister Ginoux ewly-crowned Qa- Julius V Coles was the lead- tar Cup champions Al ing scorer for Al Wakrah with 24 By a correspondent Mahabb mare, Nefertarie, who Wakrah stormed into points, while Erfan Ali Saeed was Toulouse, France is from the direct family of the Nthe semi-fi nals of the also impressive with 19. foundation French Purebred 2019-20 Amir Cup with a re- Nicholas Stover with 17 points Arabian mare Mandore. sounding 90-66 win over Al and Abdullah Matalkeh with 13 l Shaqab Racing’s Later, the fi nish of the Prix Gharafa yesterday. ensured Al Wakrah were never off Jalela and Abdullah Cheri Bibi (Group 3 PA) was The match was a one-sided the pace. For Al Gharafa, Abdul- bin Fahad al-Attiyah’s hotly contested. With just aff air from the word go as Al rahman Sadd scored 29 points, HM Jalfane registered 400m to the fi nal post, the sev- Wakrah led for almost 38-and- his match-high eff ort eventually Ablack-type victories in Toulouse en runners were still all togeth- a-half minutes, hardly giving going in vain. yesterday. er making it nearly impossible their rivals any hope of causing Earlier, Al Sadd beat Qatar While Jalela demolished the to call the winner. In the fi nal an upset. Sports Club 72-65 in a play-off opposition in the Prix Nevada II, strides, HM Jalfane came with Al Wakrah were 28-18 ahead to qualify for the quarter-fi nals. a Group 3 race for Purebred Ara- a late run, with Julien Augé in at the end of the fi rst quarter and It was a close encounter, with bian fi llies, HM Jalfane topped the saddle, to snatch victory by never looked back. By the time Al Sadd’s fi nal quarter tally of 21 Prix Cheri Bibi (Group 3 PA) in a quarter of a length. the match was 30 minutes old, points proving decisive. thrilling fashion. Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh In the fi rst race of the card al-Thani’s homebred A’them yesterday, quickly up to the lead, Bahar fi nished runner-up for Jalela settled in behind the lead- trainer Mrs F Bernard and er, Guiness D’vialettes, by jockey jockey Ioritz Mendizabal. Al Jerome Cabre in the mile race Shaqab Racing’s homebred Al- on the turf track which read 3.3 hafar came in third by further (good to soft) on the going-stick. one-and-a-quarter lengths for Moving up to join the leader the same trainer of the runner- coming out of the fi nal turn, Julien Auge (left) rides Abdullah bin Fahad al-Attiyah’s HM Jalfane to victory in the Prix Cheri Bibi up and jockey Jean-Bernard Jalela quickly asserted her su- (Group 3 PA) in Toulouse yesterday. PICTURE: Robert Polin Eyquem. periority, going six lengths off Winning trainer Fourcy said, her rivals by the 200m post. “He gave me a scare on his de- The offi cial winning distance but as he sat in last position for was fi ve and a half lengths, with a long time. He gave me a bit of Guiness D’vialettes holding on a scare today too despite hav- to second place her trainer Mrs ing a better position in running. JF. Bernard with Antoine Werle At one point in the straight, I in the saddle. thought he was going to be last, HM Al Mamika fi nished a but when Julien Augé asked him, further half-length behind in he responded well like a good third under Julien Auge. Tho- horse. In the future, he will be mas Fourcy was the trainer of better over 2,000m. It’s a good both the winner and the third result for his new owner.” placed fi lly. Bred by Hassan Mousli and Jalela is from the fi rst crop Nada Mousalli, HM Jalfane is of Al Shaqab Purebred Arabian a son of Dahess and out of Al sire Mister Ginoux. She debuted Musck. Flamme De Syrah, the in the Group 3 PA Prix Razzia III second dam, produced two in July for second place before a Group winners, Al Jalfane, win- fourth place in the Group 2 PA Jerome Cabre (left) rides Al Shaqab Racing’s Jalela to Prix Nevada II (Group 3 PA) victory in Toulouse ner of three Al Maktoum Chal- French Arabian Breeders’ Chal- yesterday. PICTURE: Robert Polin lenges (Group 1 PA), and Jawad lenge Pouliches. On her previ- Al Kheir, winner of the Jumeyrah ous run, in the Gr 1 PA Qatar on October 2 at Saint-Cloud, hind Al Shaqab Racing’s Alaw- her fi rst Group victory in domi- International Stakes (Group 2 Erfan Ali Saeed of Al Wakrah scores against Al Gharafa during their Arabian Trophy des Pouliches she fi nished a good second be- sj. Yesterday, she fi nally earned nant fashion. She is out of the PA). Amir Cup quarter-final yesterday.
FOOTBALL Real boost Zidane with rousing Clasico victory AFP ther evidence of two heavyweights in pressure Zidane would have felt from a lona were beaten by Getafe. Barcelona decline. loss is now transferred to the Dutch- Yet a dip in quality does not have to “You always have bad spells in a sea- man, who has overseen only three wins mean a drop in drama and any doubts son and hopefully this one only lasted from his fi rst six games in charge. about the thrill of this fi xture were an- eal Madrid averted a crisis in a week,” said Ramos. “To win in the Barcelona face Juventus on Wednes- swered in eight minutes, as both teams the best possible way yester- home of your oldest rivals is always day in the Champions League, without had scored. day by beating Barcelona 3-1 satisfying.” the suspended Gerard Pique. Madrid made the start they dreamed in the fi rst empty Clasico, Barcelona might feel hard done Every Barca setback now refl ects of when Karim Benzema drifted deep landingR an early blow in La Liga’s title by, especially as Ramos’ penalty was on the future of Messi, for whom this into the right channel and was allowed race. awarded after a check by VAR and a could even have been the last Clasico to turn, with the sprinting Valverde go- Barca had the chance to infl ict a hugely exaggerated fall by Madrid’s at Camp Nou. The Argentinian, who ing beyond him. third consecutive defeat on their rivals captain after Clement Lenglet tugged failed in his attempt to leave last sum- Valverde pierced the gap before lift- and increase the pressure on Zinedine his shirt. mer, has still to score from open play ing a curved shot past Neto and into the Zidane. “Maybe one day you can explain this season. far corner. Instead, Madrid’s win earns them a how VAR works here in Spain,” said Mundo Deportivo had declared the But within three minutes, Barcelona six-point lead over the Catalans, hav- Koeman. “We’ve had fi ve games in the match “The least Clasico of Clasicos” were level. Messi, from almost left- ing played one game more. league and VAR has only intervened on its front page yesterday morning. back, chipped a ball over the top free- “They are only three points but we against Barca.” The coronavirus pandemic meant ing Jordi Alba, who fi red into the front have to enjoy them, especially after But aside from an impressive spell the biggest football stadium in Europe post where Fati had nipped ahead of everything that has been said about the in the fi rst half, when Lionel Messi was silent for the game that La Liga Ramos and turned in. squad,” said Zidane. threatened to win the game on his president Javier Tebas had claimed is It was fast and open for the rest of Sergio Ramos’ penalty and a late own, Madrid were dominant for longer “still the biggest football match in the the half, with Messi enjoying a golden Luka Modric goal fi nished Barcelona spells and pulled away when it mat- world”. spell. He glided past Casemiro and off after Federico Valverde and Ansu tered. In the previous week, Real Madrid then swerved around Ramos, but onto Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Luka Modric (C) celebrates with teammates Fati had traded early strikes in a frantic This was Ronald Koeman’s fi rst Cla- had lost to Shakhtar Donestsk and his right foot, the fi nish stabbed into after scoring against Barcelona at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. game that defi ed those expecting fur- sico as Barcelona coach and some of the newly promoted Cadiz, while Barce- Thibaut Courtois at the near post. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, October 25, 2020 FOOTBALL
QNB STARS LEAGUE Football is not without surprises, says Jovovic as Ahli face Sadd Ahli have been the surprise package so far this season, winning four out of four matches to lead the table
By Sports Reporter and focus on ensuring that the team ful team with distinguished players, es- Doha is one unit in all its matches. It plays pecially their overseas recruits such as every match diff erent from the other, (Mohamed) Diame, (Shane) Lowri, Na- given that the competitors on the pitch bil (El Zahr), Hernan (Perez) and Omid lockbuster day is in store at the are diff erent. Every match has diff er- (Ebrahimi). Therefore, facing them will QNB Stars League with leaders ent preparations. We have great respect be very diffi cult, but we are Al Sadd and Al Ahli taking on Al Sadd while for Al Sadd. In my opinion, they are the we always aspire to win,” Xavi added. reigning champions Al Duhail best in Qatar, if not in Asia. At the same Meanwhile, Duhail will look to faceB Al Rayyan today. time, I have great confi dence in my bounce back from their defeat to Sadd Ahli have been the surprise package team,” Jovovic added. when they take on Rayyan at the Ghara- so far, winning four out of four matches Meanwhile, Sadd oozed class as they fa Stadium. Duhail are fi fth in the ta- to take lead at the top. Their title cre- dismantled Duhail on Wednesday. Xavi ble with six points, while last season’s dentials, though, will be put to test Hernandez’s men will look too carry on runners-up Al Rayyan are placed fourth today against Sadd, who outplayed Al that momentum. Xavi paid credit to Jo- with seven points. Duhail last week. A Sadd victory today vovic for Ahli’s surprise start and said Sabri Lamouchi, who replaced Walid will put them top of the table and that their opponent will be diffi cult to beat Regragui last week, conceded the play- should spice up the clash. as they are high on confi dence. ers performance have dipped and their Al Ahli coach Nebosha Jovovic while “Al Ahli have not lost any points so confi dence need to be restored. “We admitting it would be a diffi cult contest far. They are showing a good level and played a match against Al Sadd a few against Sadd, also said ‘football is not that is because of the wonderful work days ago and did not have enough time without surprises’. that their coach does. to prepare for this match, but the play- “We won against Al Sailiya last week “We consider this match as fi nal be- ers know that they have a big match and and that result is an important motiva- cause if we win the three points, we go also know the amount of responsibility tion for us ahead of the match against to the top of the league and therefore it entrusted to them, which is a good mo- Al Sadd, who are one of the strongest is a very important match for us. It will tivation for us,” he said. teams in Asia. Therefore, it is consid- be diffi cult because they have confi - “We are now dealing with a team that ered as a diffi cult match for us in the dence and are having their best time in exited the AFC Champions League, competition and we believe that foot- recent years. All the upcoming matches which certainly has a psychological im- ball is not without surprises,” he said. are fi nals. We want to win this tourna- pact on the players, and we are work- Jovovic said the team unity has been ment, which is our fi rst goal this sea- ing hard to restore the players’ usual strong so far, one of the reasons why son,” said Xavi. level and win the upcoming matches. I Ahli has done will so far. “The for- The Barcelona great said there would am still new to the team and I deal with tunes of any team remain in place in all be no complacency from his side. “We the negative issues and I also talk to the matches, as is the case with Al Ahli, one are feeling good after our victory over players. Within the next two months, of the surprise packages of the current Al Duhail and there is no room for com- the impact of our work will refl ect on season. Our players play as one group Al Ahli coach Nebosha Jovovic is all smiles as he attends a press conference yesterday. placency because Al Ahli are a wonder- the team,” added Lamouchi.
MATCH REPORT SPOTLIGHT Mohammadi’s late strike rescues Arabi Dreama becomes By Sports Reporter time when Benyettou placed home a re- offi cial partner of Al Doha bound from the left post following Omar Ali’s shot. When it looked like Wakrah were winning came Arabi’s second equal- Arabi Sports Club ehrdad Mohammadi last- iser, with Mehrdad converting from the gasp goal rescued Al Arabi a spot. reama Orphan Care Al-Misnad extended her grati- point against Al Wakrah after Centre has become the tude and appreciation to Al Arabi a 2-2 draw in the QNB Stars MAHMOUD’S GOAL GIVES offi cial partner of Al Sports Club for the continuous MLeague at the Qatar SC Stadium yester- UMM SALAL FIRST WIN Arabi Sports Club. The co-operation and support of day. Later, Ismail Mahmoud netted the all- Dpartnership includes Dreama Dreama Orphan Care Center, and Al Wakrah were helped by an own goal important goal in the 57th minute as logo to be displayed on the offi - their full support to Qatar Foun- by Al Arabi’s Khalaf Sadd in the 59th Umm Salal beat Qatar SC 1-0. It was cial sports kit of Al Arabi for the dation for Social Work and to all minute, before Mohammadi scored in the Umm Salal’s fi rst victory and took their 2020/2021, and Dreama ben- the affi liated centres. She added: 73rd minute. Wakrah again took the lead points tally to four. efi ciary categories may use the “In Dreama, We are pleased and through Mohamed Benyettou in the 88th Going into the match, Umm Salal, un- club’s services, Sports and social honoured to sign the partnership minute, but Mohammadi’s strike in the der the tutelage of their former defender facilities. note that strengthens the coop- 90+5 minute ensured Arabi walked away Aziz Ben Askar, had only one point, The club will provide a per- eration links between Dreama with a point. Wakrah and Arabi now have whereas Qatar SC, coached by former manent card for the children to and Al Arabi Sports Club.” seven and fi ve points respectively. Qatar international midfi elder Younis Ali, attend all matches of Al Arabi at Ahmed Hussein al-Ajeel, Di- Just like they pulled off a 2-1 victory remained on three points. A revamped the club’s stadium. On the Qa- rector General of Al Arabi Sports over Umm Salal right at the death last Umm Salal side put up an improved per- tar’s sports day, the facilities of Club, and CEO of Al-Arabi Foot- week, Arabi this time earned a well- formance. Al Arabi will be reserved for the ball Club said: “ We are very hap- fought draw with a stoppage-time goal Brazilian forward Kayke Rodriguez benefi t of Dreama sons. Ten per- py to conclude a note of partner- that came in the form of a penalty. Arabi made his debut for Umm Salal, that too cent of sales proceeds of the third ship with Dreama Orphan Care were without their key players, such as against his former team Qatar SC. And kit of Al Arabi will be allocated Centre, and we value the joint Hamdi Harbaoui, Mohamed Salah El he was instrumental in their goal as he to Dreama, in addition to club’s cooperation. We will provide Neel, Sebastian Soria and Mahdi Torabi crossed the ball from the right for Ismail participation in awareness cam- all support that would help the who all were nursing injuries. to glide it in. The fi rst half saw both teams paigns organised by Dreama. centre achieve its goals for all its In the fi rst half, Benyettou had his create chances, but for a goal. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser members”. header off Murad Naji cross hit the cross- Umm Salal’s Abdennour Belhocini al-Misnad, Acting Executive Di- He added: “We, in Al Arabi, as bar, while Arabi struggled to make inroads skied the ball in the 22nd minute with rector of the Orphan Care Center a public sports institution, pro- without their mainstays. The match came only goalkeeper Motasem Majed in front. Dreama said the organisation vide our services in the fi eld of to life in the second half. Arabi went into Ismail too made his contribution. At the has signed a partnership agree- sports, in addition to other cul- defi cit when Khalaf’s clearance of a Beny- other end, attempts by Qatar SC’s Hamed ment with Al Arabi Sports Club tural, social, humanitarian and ettou cross from the right landed in his Ismail and Abdulaziz Adel did not fetch out of our desire to provide a other fi elds. The club also pro- own net. results. Both teams upped their ante in sports environment for the Cen- vides a number of services that The Dream Team drew parity when the second half and Umm Salal took the tre’s members. She said that this benefi t society and the devel- Wakrah goalkeeper Saoud al-Khater lead close to the hour mark. partnership will help children in opment of the environment, by fumbled with collection of Mehrdad’s Stung by the defi cit, The Kings desper- terms of refi ning their sporting providing programs and policies angular shot and the ball rolled into the ately tried for an equaliser, but The Or- talents, which helps Dreama to that contribute to preparing spe- goal. Al Wakrah surged ahead for a second ange Fortress held fort. open more horizons for its em- cialised cadres and activating the ployees at the sports level. fi eld of social responsibility”.
Al Arabi’s Mehrdad Mohammadi celebrates after scoring against Al Wakrah in the Off icials of Dreama Orphan Care Centre and Al Arabi Sports Club Ismail Mahmoud (left) netted the all-important goal as Umm Salal beat Qatar SC 1-0. QNB Stars League at the Qatar SC Stadium yesterday. after signing a partnership agreement.
FOCUS French Ligue 1 game called off as Lens report 11 coronavirus cases AFP that “noting the certain absence of 11 priority but this changes a lot of things for the same reason. After that, and Lens and its surrounding region, in Lorient yesterday. Argentine defender Paris Lens players from a list of 30 because for the league itself,” said the Nantes fearing an avalanche of postpone- far northern France, are currently under Leonardo Balerdi headed in from a tight of positive RT-PCR tests...it has de- coach, Christian Gourcuff , whose ments, the LFP relaxed its health pro- a nighttime curfew along with much of angle for the only goal in the second cided to postpone the game between squad had already travelled to Lens for tocol to ensure games could go ahead as the country as part of eff orts to reduce half after home goalkeeper Paul Nardi he French Ligue 1 game be- Lens and Nantes scheduled for Sunday the game. “I think that what we have long as at least 20 players from a list of the spread of the virus. France has re- was caught underneath a hanging Flo- tween Lens and Nantes due to to a later date”. Lens did not confi rm experienced is going to happen again.” 30 on each team tested negative. corded more than one mn cases and rian Thauvin free-kick. Marseille host be played today has been post- the identity of the players concerned, It is not the fi rst time this season a The Ligue 2 game between Grenoble close to 35,000 deaths from Covid-19. Manchester City in the Champions poned after 11 members of the but local newspaper La Voix du Nord Ligue 1 game has been postponed due and Nancy scheduled for last night was Elsewhere, Marseille bounced back League on Tuesday. Thome squad tested positive for corona- reported that two staff members, in- to Covid-19. Marseille’s meeting with also postponed after 13 Grenoble play- from their 1-0 midweek loss away to Reigning champions Paris Saint- virus, offi cials have confi rmed. cluding coach Franck Haise, were also Bordeaux on the opening night of the ers tested positive along with fi ve staff Olympiakos in the Champions League Germain were playing Dijon late last In a statement, the league (LFP) said positive. “The health situation takes campaign in August was rescheduled members. with a victory by the same margin at night at the Parc des Princes. Gulf Times Sunday, October 25, 2020 3 FOOTBALL
PREMIER LEAGUE SERIE A Lukaku gets Inter back winning in City stumble again Genoa, Sampdoria shock Atalanta AFP lanta scored 13 goals in their fi rst Milan three matches, but have now as Man United conceded seven in two games after losing 4-1 at Napoli last omelu Lukaku and weekend. “Today I did a bit of Danilo D’Ambrosio’s experimenting, it was a sort of second half goals got In- construction site,” said Gasp- ter Milan back winning erini. “You want to bring in new 2-0R at Genoa yesterday to move players but when you play at high third in Serie A ahead of Atalanta levels you can’t do too many ex- draw with Chelsea who fell 3-1 to Sampdoria. Anto- periments.” nio Conte’s Inter bounced back After their loss in Naples, Ata- after a 2-1 derby defeat to AC Mi- lanta had opened their Champi- Goals from Riedewald and Zaha help Crystal Palace beat promoted Fulham lan and a 2-2 Champions League ons League campaign with a 4-0 stalemate at home against win at Danish club Midtjylland. Borussia Moenchengladbach. Gasperini made seven changes to After being pegged back in his side with Sam Lammers and the fi rst half, Conte brought re- Josip Ilicic starting, the latter inforcements off the bench with playing at home for the fi rst time Nicolo Barella coming on for in three months. Christian Eriksen and Achraf Atalanta captain Papu Gomez Hakimi replacing Ivan Perisic, was denied an early goal, be- just hours after the Moroccan fore Mikkel Damsgaard set up defender tested negative for Quagliarella to score. coronavirus. A Johan Mojica handball gave Barella set up Lukaku to open Sampdoria the chance for a sec- the scoring after 64 minutes, ond but Marco Sportiello kept his fi fth league goal this season. out Quagliarella’s eff ort from the D’Ambrosio nodded in the sec- spot. ond with ten minutes to go. Inter Thorsby got his head to a Jank- move up to third, two points be- to cross for Sampdoria’s sec- hind leaders AC Milan, who host ond before Zapata revived home Roma on Monday, and one-point hopes, converting his penalty ahead of Atalanta, fourth after a after Keita Balde fouled the Co- second straight defeat. lombian. Senegalese Keita made Atalanta are level on points up for his error, sending Jankto with Claudio Ranieri’s Sampdo- through on goal to net a third ria who followed up wins over two minutes into injury time. Fiorentina and Lazio. “Last year Lazio play at home against Bolo- we were in a full battle to avoid gna with champions Juventus at relegation and it was diffi cult to home against Veron today. challenge Atalanta,” said Ranieri. “I told the lads I wanted to see SERIE A RESULTS courage against Lazio and Ata- Genoa 0 Inter Milan 2 (Lukaku lanta. We gradually gained con- 64, D’Ambrosio 80); Atalanta fi dence and were ready when the 1 (Zapata 80-pen) Sampdoria opportunities came.” 3 (Quagliarella 13, Thorsby 59, Fabio Quagliarella opened the Jankto 90+2) scoring after a quarter of an hour with his fourth goal in as many Playing today (all times GMT): Cagliari v Crotone (1130), Ben- games, but the veteran striker evento v Napoli (1400), Parma was denied a second from the v Spezia (1400), Fiorentina v penalty spot. Danish midfi elder Udinese (1700), Juventus v Morten Thorsby added a second Verona (1945) before the hour mark, with Ja- West Ham United’s Michail Antonio (centre) scores against Manchester City during the English Premier League match at The London Stadium yesterday. (AFP) kub Jankto sealing the points in Tomorrow: AC Milan v Roma injury time. Colombian striker (1945) AFP trolling Joao Cancelo’s cross before slot- ing to take advantage of sluggish starts by in their past two games. Duvan Zapata pulled a goal back Played Friday: Sassuolo 3 London ting home. But the visitors could not turn City and Liverpool but have themselves On Friday night, Marcelo Bielsa in- for Atalanta with 10 minutes to (Djuricic 71, Chiriches 84, Caputo their dominance into goals, with West struggled to fi nd their rhythm. sisted Patrick Bamford deserves all the go from the penalty spot. 85) Torino 3 (Linetty 33, Belotti Ham indebted to Lukasz Fabianski, who United’s previous two Premier League credit for transforming his career after Gian Piero Gasperini’s Ata- 77, Lukic 79) anchester City squandered produced some vital late saves. home games this season resulted in a the striker’s hat-trick inspired a 3-0 win more points against West A frustrated Guardiola said City were 9-2 aggregate scoreline against them in over Aston Villa. Bielsa’s side moved into Ham yesterday to leave them struggling with injuries and a hectic defeats by Crystal Palace and Spurs. Ole third in the Premier League thanks to languishing in the lower half schedule. “I would prefer to have results Gunnar Solskjaer threw on Paul Pogba Bamford’s 19-minute treble in the second Mof the Premier League table as Manches- but we have to analyse where we are,” he and Cavani with just over half an hour to half at Villa Park. ter United and Chelsea played out a soggy said. “Many injuries, a lack of prepara- go and the Uruguayan nearly scored with Bamford had one goal in 27 Premier stalemate. Substitute Phil Foden rescued tion, no recovery time, and tough games his fi rst touch. Teenage forward Mason League appearances prior to this season, a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium but the we’ve played so far. But the players gave Greenwood entered the fray in the 83rd but he already has six in six games this disappointing result means Pep Guardio- everything on the pitch. Now we recover minute as United went for the win but term. The hat-trick provided a sweet la’s team have taken just fi ve points from and think about the next game.” neither side could break the deadlock, moment for the 27-year-old, who en- their past four matches. There could be more grim injury news with Edouard Mendy making a fi ne late dured a long and winding road to the top City remain favourites to snatch the for Guardiola, who said Argentine for- save to deny Marcus Rashford. The result enduring long-running criticism of his Premier League title back from Liverpool ward Sergio Aguero, who has only re- means United have failed to win any of fi nishing. Bamford had seven loan spells but there are growing doubts over their cently returned after a long lay-off , had their opening three home league games in during his time as a Chelsea youth acad- ability to establish momentum in a top- picked up a suspected hamstring injury. a season for the fi rst time since 1972/73. emy graduate before moving to Middles- sy-turvy season for the ‘big six’. Injury- West Ham manager David Moyes was Earlier, goals from Jairo Riedewald and brough, then fi nally fi nding his feet under hit City, without Fernandinho, Aymeric delighted his side had hung on for a draw Wilfried Zaha for Crystal Palace con- Bielsa’s tutelage at Leeds. Laporte, Nathan Ake and Gabriel Jesus, after their spectacular comeback against demned promoted Fulham to their fi fth dominated possession but rarely found Tottenham last week, where three late defeat in six matches. Tom Cairney pulled PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS top gear against West Ham in the early goals secured a 3-3 draw. a goal back for 10-man Fulham in the fi nal West Ham 1 (antonio 18) Manchester City kick-off . “It was diff erent to Tottenham last seconds but Roy Hodgson’s side held on 1 (Foden 51); Fulham 1 (Cairney 90+5) They are already fi ve points behind week because they had to try and hang on to win 2-1 and climb to fi fth in the table. Crystal Palace 2 (Riedewald 8, Zaha 64); leaders Everton, who play Southampton and keep something, and they did,” said Champions Liverpool face Sheffi eld Manchester United 0 Chelsea 0 today, and look more vulnerable than at Moyes. “We’re improving as a team, our United in the late-evening game, in their any time since Guardiola’s fi rst season football is getting better and I’m really fi rst Premier League encounter without Playing today: Southampton v Everton in charge. West Ham went ahead against pleased with the way things are going.” Virgil van Dijk, who suff ered a knee injury (1400), Wolves v Newcastle (1630), Arse- nal v Leicester (1915) the run of play in the fi rst half through Edinson Cavani made his debut for against Everton last week that could rule Michail Antonio’s superb overhead kick Manchester United against big-spending him out for the rest of the season. Tomorrow: Brighton v West Brom (1730), from Vladimir Coufal’s cross. Chelsea but the sides cancelled each other Jurgen Klopp’s side, who won 1-0 away Burnley v Tottenham (2000) Foden, who came on at half-time, re- out in a 0-0 draw on a night of torrential to Ajax in midweek, began their title de- Played Friday: Aston Villa 0 Leeds 3 Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku (right) celebrates after scoring against stored parity minutes later, coolly con- rain at Old Traff ord. Both teams are hop- fence in style but have dropped fi ve points (Bamford 55, 67, 74) Genoa in the Serie A at the Luigi-Ferraris Stadium in Genoa. (AFP)
BUNDESLIGA Lewandowski hits hat-trick as Bayern Munich rout Frankfurt AFP opened the scoring on 10 minutes when goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow on 61 time after French striker Jean-Philippe Berlin he fi red home, then beat Frankfurt minutes after staying on his feet despite Mateta scored twice for Mainz. goalkeeper Kevin Trapp with a power- a defender’s lunging challenge. Hum- Gladbach midfi elder Jonas Hofmann ful header in the 26th minute. mels struck with a powerful header converted a penalty on 76 minutes be- obert Lewandowski took his Bayern had a penalty appeal turned from a corner 12 minutes from time. fore Matthias Ginter headed the win- Bundesliga tally to a record down when Douglas Costa’s cross Earlier, Leipzig came from behind in ner as Gladbach climbed to fi fth. Un- 10 goals in the fi rst fi ve games clipped the hand of Frankfurt’s Makoto a 2-1 win over Hertha, whose Colom- ion Berlin drew 1-1 at home against this season with a hat-trick Hasebe. Lewandowski wrapped up his bian striker Jhon Cordoba scored in the Freiburg as Vincenzo Grifo’s fi rst-half asR Bayern Munich thumped Eintracht hat-trick on the hour mark with a clini- eighth minute. Leipzig drew level when goal was cancelled out two minutes lat- Frankfurt 5-0 yesterday, then issued a cal fi nish from another Costa cross. defender Dayot Upamecano fi red home er by Union midfi elder Robert Andrich. warning to the European champions’ Sane then came on to ghost past a from a free-kick on 11 minutes. future opponents. “I hope that we will defender and drive his shot into the Berlin were reduced to 10 men after BUNDESLIGA RESULTS keep this form for a very long time — it bottom corner with 18 minutes left be- the break when substitute Deyovaisio Bayern Munich 5 (Lewandowski 10, doesn’t matter against who we play, we fore Musiala grabbed the fi nal goal as Zeefuik was shown two yellow cards 26, 60, Sane 72, Musiala 90) Eintracht always want to show our best football, Frankfurt suff ered their fi rst league de- within four minutes of coming on. Frankfurt 0; RB Leipzig 2 (Upamecano we always want to win,” Lewandowski feat of the season. Leipzig made the man advantage count 11, Sabitzer 77-pen) Hertha Berlin 1 (Cor- said. Lewandowski has scored nine Later, Haaland, 20, netted his 23rd when Marcel Sabitzer converted a pen- doba 8); Union Berlin 1 (Andrich 36) goals in his last three league games and goal in 26 games since his January alty with 13 minutes left. Freiburg 1 (Grifo 34); Mainz 2 (Mateta wrapped up his treble within an hour at transfer to Dortmund as they extended Hertha were lucky not to fi nish 23 36) Borussia Moenchengladbach 3 the Allianz Arena. Schalke’s miserable record to 21 Bun- with nine men when another sub, Jes- (Stindl 15, Hofmann 76-pen, Ginter 83); Defending champions Bayern have Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski reacts after scoring a hat-trick against desliga games without a win. Dort- sic Ngankam, scythed down Leipzig Borussia Dortmund 3 (Akanji 55, Haa- scored 22 goals this term — 10 more Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga in Munich yesterday. (AFP) mund bounced back from their 3-1 left-back Angelino and the referee land 61, Hummels 78) Schalke 04 0 than league leaders RB Leipzig who Champions League defeat in mid-week changed his decision to a yellow card Playing today: Wolfsburg v Bielefeld at Lazio with an impressive display. having initially shown a red. Borus- stayed top with a 2-1 win over 10-man In Munich, Leroy Sane marked his so Davies out for up to eight weeks with (1430 GMT), Werder Bremen v Hof- Hertha Berlin. Bayern sit one point be- return from injury with the fourth goal torn ankle ligaments. Dortmund centre-back Akanji, back sia Moenchengladbach warmed up for fenheim (1700) hind in second place, level on 12 points during a brief cameo, before England Lewandowski underlined his sta- in the side after recovering from the Tuesday’s Champions League game at with third-placed Dortmund who later Under-17 midfi elder Jamal Musiala tus as one of the world’s best strikers coronavirus, opened the scoring on home to Real Madrid with a 3-2 come- Tomorrow: Bayer Leverkusen v Augs- saw off Schalke 3-0 at home in the Ruhr also came off the bench to net the fth.fi last season by scoring a career-best 55 55 minutes when he rifl ed home a re- back win at Mainz. Germany midfi elder burg (1930) derby with goals by Manuel Akanji, Er- However, Bayern’s victory came at a goals in 47 games, including 34 in the bound. Haaland put the result beyond Lars Stindl gave Gladbach an early lead, Played Friday: Stuttgart 1 (Mangala 1) ling Braut Haaland and Mats Hummels. price with Canadian left-back Alphon- Bundesliga. The Polish international doubt with a superb chip over Schalke but the visitors were 2-1 down at half- Cologne 1 (Andersson 23-pen) Gulf Times 4 Sunday, October 25, 2020 SPORT
FOCUS ‘Games cannot be marketplace of demonstrations’ AFP London Tokyo opens 15,000-seat Olympic aquatics centre lympic chief Thomas Bach warned against al- Tokyo opened a 15,000-seat swimming venue for lowing the Games to “de- the Olympic Games next year yesterday, with a scend into a marketplace swimming star diagnosed with leukaemia last year ofO demonstrations” yesterday after demonstrating freestyle at the ceremony. criticism of a rule banning protests The $542 million Aquatics Centre for swimming, by athletes. diving and artistic swimming was completed The International Olympic Com- in February, but its grand opening ceremony mittee president has come under scheduled for March was postponed due to the fi re for the ruling, announced in a coronavirus. year which has seen widespread “I hope top athletes in the world will compete at support by athletes for the Black this venue... I’m already excited,” Tokyo Governor Lives Matter movement. Yuriko Koike told reporters. But Bach, who won a team fenc- Koike said the city hopes to welcome more ath- ing gold medal at the 1976 Olym- letes, promising to host a “successful” Olympics pics, said he had learned fi rst-hand through implementing anti-virus safety measures. about the “political impotence of At the ceremony, Japanese swimming star Rikako sport” when West Germany boy- Ikee joined three other athletes in a relay. cotted the 1980 Games over the So- The 20-year-old had been a strong favourite for the viet invasion of Afghanistan. 100-metre butterfly gold at the now-postponed Ol- “The athletes personify the val- ympic Games before revealing she had leukaemia ues of excellence, solidarity and last year. peace. They express this inclusive- After being discharged from hospital in December ness and mutual respect also by be- following ten months of treatment, she resumed ing politically neutral on the fi eld training in March, and competitions in August. of play and during the ceremonies,” The main pool at the Aquatics Centre features a Bach wrote in British newspaper movable wall allowing the 50-metre (164 ft) facility The Guardian. to be converted into two 25-metre (82 ft) pools, “At times, this focus on sport with the depth also adjustable. needs to be reconciled with the The building cost 56.7 billion yen ($542 million) but freedom of speech that all athletes Tokyo hopes to make the most of the facility after also enjoy at the Olympic Games. the 2020 Games, aiming to attract one million us- This is the reason there are rules for ers a year – 850,000 through swimming competi- the fi eld of play and the ceremonies Earlier this month, World Athlet- he began kneeling during the US FIFA has urged leagues to use “com- “Athletes will no longer be si- tions and roughly 150,000 casual punters. protecting this spirit of sport. ics chief and newly enshrined IOC national anthem in 2016 to pro- mon sense” when deciding whether lenced,” they wrote. The 2020 Games were delayed as Covid-19 spread “The unifying power of the member Sebastian Coe backed ath- test police brutality against Black to discipline political activism. Last month, hundreds of human globally, and are now set to open on July 23, 2021. Games can only unfold if everyone letes’ right to “take the knee” on the Americans and other minorities. In June, US athletes and 1968 rights and civil society groups urged With many countries experiencing second or even shows respect for and solidarity to Olympic podium, as long as it was He was ostracised by the league Mexico Games icon John Carlos, fa- the IOC to strip China of the 2022 third waves of infection, there have been doubts one another. Otherwise, the Games done with “complete respect” for and criticised by US President Don- mously kicked out of the event for Beijing Winter Olympics following about whether the event can be staged at all, but will descend into a marketplace of other competitors. ald Trump, but in June the NFL raising his fi st in a black power sa- its clampdown in Hong Kong and organisers and Olympic off icials insist it can be demonstrations of all kinds, divid- Former NFL quarterback Colin sanctioned “peaceful protests” and lute, called on the IOC to scrap the mass internment of Uighur Mus- done safely. ing and not uniting the world.” Kaepernick made headlines when world football’s governing body ban on protests. lims in Xinjiang.
CYCLING Wellens wins stage fi ve of Vuelta, Roglic keeps race lead Sabinánigo, Spain: Belgian rider Tim Wellens outsprinted Frenchman Guil- laume Martin to take the fifth stage of the Hart claims stage 20 Vuelta a Espana yesterday, as defending champion Primoz Roglic finished fourth to retain the overall lead. Wellens of Lotto- Soudal and Martin of Cofidis were part of a long breakaway on the 184.4km ride from Huesca to Sabinanigo. Jumbo-Visma’s Roglic outkicked the rest of the chasing pack on the short climb to to set up fi nal battle the finish. “Feels supergood,” said Wellens, who was forced out of the Tour de France after a training crash in late August. “I had a diff icult period with a big crash and I needed to find for a long, long time my good legs,” he said. “I was a little scared before I came to the with Hindley for Giro Vuelta.” Martin and Wellens were part of a three man break with Dutchman Thymen Arens- ‘From an early age I dreamed of wearing the Maglia Rosa, it’s a huge honour for me, I still don’t believe it’ man of Sunweb. “We went away with three we were all supergood together,” said Wellens. Reuters Wellens launched his sprint early on the Sestriere, Italy short climb to the finish. Martin gave chase but, as he closed in, Wellens went again. “That kick at the end brought me to vic- ustralian Jai Hindley took tory,” he said. the overall lead of the Giro “The goal of the team was to have a mini- d’Italia on the penultimate mum of one victory in the Vuelta and its day but has less than a one- super nice that it comes so early. So now secondA advantage over stage 20 win- the nest two weeks are a without stress.” ner Tao Geoghegan Hart, setting the Roglic avoided a crash on a corner on the race up for a nail-biting fi nale today. final climb in which points leader Irishman Hindley narrowly lost to Geoghe- Dan Martin went down and then powered gan Hart on Saturday, but he leads away from the pack. the Briton by 0.86 second ahead of Roglic retains a five-second lead over the fi nal time trial, which is expected Dan Martin, of Israel Start-Up Nation, with to favour the Ineos-Grenadiers rider. Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz of Ineos 13 The smallest winning margin ever seconds off first. on a grand tour was in 1984 when Today’s sixth stage is a mountain ous 146. France’s Eric Caritoux won the Vuelta km ride from Biescas which ends with a a Espana by just six seconds over Al- category one climb to the Aramon Formi- berto Fernandez. gal ski resort. “I’m very happy for myself, for my team and for the Giro: today was a RESULTS AND STANDINGS beautiful day! Tomorrow’s time trial will be a matter of legs, the route is Stage short, I hope to have a good day and a 1. Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR/Ineos) 4hr 52min 45sec, bit of luck, then we will see,” said Ge- 2. Jai Hindley (AUS/SUN) s.t, 3. Rohan Dennis (AUS/INE) oghegan Hart. at 25sec, 4. Joao Almeida (POR/DEC) 1:01, 5. Andrea The Londoner was only Ineos- Vendrame (ITA/ALM) 1:34, 6. Einer Rubio (COL/MOV) 1:35, Grenadiers’s plan B when the Giro 7. Pello Bilbao (ESP/BAH) 1:35, 8. Wilco Kelderman (NED/ started, but then-team leader Ge- SUN) 1:35, 9. Attila Valter (HUN/CCC) 1:48, 10. James Knox raint Thomas was forced to abandon (GBR/DEC) 2:00, 11. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/TRE) 2:02, 12. early in the race following a crash, Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/NTT) 2:09. and the 24-year-old Geoghegan Hart quietly moved up the general classi- Selected fi cation. 18. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/AST) 2:36. Hindley was equally excited to have the race leader’s pink jersey on his Overall back ahead of the fi nal day. 1. Jai Hindley (AUS/Sunweb) 85hr 22min 07sec, 2. Tao “Incredible, I have no words. From Geoghegan Hart (GBR/INE) s.t., 3. Wilco Kelderman (NED/ an early age I dreamed of wearing the SUN) at 1min 32sec, 4. Pello Bilbao (ESP/BAH) 2:51, 5. Joao Maglia Rosa, it’s a huge honour for Almeida (POR/DEC) 3:14, 6. Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/AST) me, I still don’t believe it. Tomorrow 6:32, 7. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/TRE) 7:46, 8. Patrick Konrad I’ll give my best in the individual time (AUT/BOR) 8:05, 9. Fausto Masnada (ITA/DEC) 9:24, 10. trial,” he said. Hermann Pernsteiner (AUT/BAH) 10:08. Hindley’s Sunweb team mate Wil- co Kelderman, who started the 190- km ride from Alba in the race leader’s Team Ineos rider Great Britain’s Tao Geoghegan Hart (right) sprints to win the 20th stage of the Giro d’Italia 2020 ahead of Team Sunweb rider Australia’s Jai Maglia Rosa jersey, fi nished 1:35 be- Hindley yesterday. (AFP) hind and now lies 1:32 off the pace after dropping out when Geoghegan man and double champion Vincenzo climb up to Sestriere twice. where Hindley attacked repeatedly will be the second grand tour in a row Hart’s team mate Rohan Dennis set a Nibali in the fi nale, to end the stage in Kelderman and most of the big but failed to drop Geoghegan Hart. in which a rider has won the race on high tempo in the fi rst ascent to Ses- fourth place behind Dennis. guns were dropped in the fi rst ascent Today’s time trial is a 15.7km eff ort the last competitive day, after Tadej triere. The stage had been due to go to the ski resort as Dennis accelerat- from Cernusco sul Naviglio to Milan. Pogacar blew away fellow Slovenian Joao Almeida, who lost the over- through the punishing Col d’Agnel ed, taking Geoghegan Hart and Hind- It will be the fi rst time a grand tour Primoz Roglic on the fi nal time trial of Team Lotto rider Belgium’s Tim Wellens all lead on the 18th stage across the and Col d’Izoard in France, but re- ley in his slipstream. is decided between a race leader and the Tour de France in September, one celebrates as he crosses the finish-line snow-covered Stelvio pass on Thurs- strictions due to the Covid-19 crisis The Dutchman was hovering 40 second-placed rider separated by less day before the largely processional fi - of the 5th stage of the 2020 La Vuelta day, attacked from the group of chas- meant the organisers were forced to seconds behind at the top and lost than a second before the fi nal stage. nal ride to Paris. yesterday. (AFP) ers that featured Dutchman Kelder- change the route and have the peloton even more time on the last ascent, Should Geoghegan Hart prevail, it Gulf Times Sunday, October 25, 2020 5 SPORT
NFL Report: Free agent Brown set to join Buccaneers AFP home game against the New Or- Los Angeles leans Saints. No new positives, Saints-Panthers and He must also pass the league’s Covid-19 exam. Buccaneers-Raiders games on ree agent Antonio Before joining the Patriots Brown, who is still un- and then becoming a free agent, No new positive results were returned in the contact tracing. “He wasn’t feeling well,” Pay- der suspension by the Brown had a brief stint with the latest round of Covid-19 testing for players ton said. “Right away (Lowery) sent him to NFL, is poised to sign Oakland Raiders. and personnel of the Las Vegas Raiders, our doctors for one of our tests. That came aF one-year contract to join the He has not played a full season New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, back positive. After that happened, we traced Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Bucca- in the league since 2018. according to multiple reports. those players he was around, and coaches. neers, the US media reported on In June 2020, Brown was sen- If no new positives are returned from “We actually tested about 20 more people Friday. tenced to two years’ probation, Saturday testing on Sunday morning, the that might have been near him, and those all Brown was quarterback ordered to undergo a psycho- Saints-Panthers and Raiders-Tampa Bay Buc- came back negative.” Brady’s teammate last season in logical evaluation and enrol in an caneers games are cleared to be played. The Payton said cornerback Ken Crawley will be New England for just one game anger management course by a NFL said in a memo to teams late Friday that added to the Covid-19 list as a precaution due after which Brown was cut due US judge after pleading no con- high-risk players, including four off ensive to close contact with Sanders. Wide receiver to allegations of sexual assault test to an assault charge unre- linemen for the Raiders, would be eligible Michael Thomas is already listed as out for and trying to intimidate the al- lated to the allegations of sexual to return on Sunday after distancing during Sunday’s game with ankle and hamstring leged victim through social me- assault. the week. There was alarm in New Orleans injuries. dia. As part of the discipline, the and Carolina when the Saints placed wide Thomas hasn’t played since Week 1. He suf- The 32-year-old Brown is a league directed Brown to con- receiver Emmanuel Sanders on the Reserve/ fered the ankle injury in the opener and later free agent and was reportedly tinue his counseling and treat- Covid-19 list on Friday. Sanders practised missed a game due to disciplinary reasons also talking to the Seattle Sea- ment program. with the team on Thursday but was not seen when it appeared he was ready to return. hawks, US broadcaster ESPN re- The seven-time Pro Bowl Friday during the part of practice open to Sanders is coming off a huge game against ported Friday. selection, had 104 catches for reporters. Saints head coach Payton said the the Los Angeles Chargers recording a career- He is suspended through week 1,297 yards and a league-best 15 team learned of Sanders’ positive Covid-19 high 12 receptions for 122 yards in Week 5. eight but if the deal becomes of- touchdown receptions for the test on Thursday and team director of sports Overall, he has 26 catches for 304 yards and fi cial Brown could join the Buc- Pittsburgh Steelers two years medicine Beau Lowery began setting up two touchdowns this season. caneers for their November 8 ago.
MLB FOCUS NBA fell $1.5bn short of revenue Buehler’s big night projection propels Dodgers to World Series lead ‘He was outstanding. You could see the fastball just popping through the zone’ Reuters fan attendance and possibly New York a shortened schedule., with a push to start the 2020-21 NBA season by Christmas appar- he NBA, which was ently gaining momentum. the fi rst pro league to The Athletic reported Fri- suspend play amid the day that the NBA is target- Covid-19 pandemic, ing a Dec. 22 start date and a Tmade $1.5 billion less than it 72-game regular season that projected last season due to would fi nish before the start the pandemic and other fac- of the 2021 Summer Olympics, tors, according to an Associ- which are set to begin on July ated Press report. 23 in Tokyo. The league shut down March 11, then returned to fi nish a NETS HIRING STOUDEMIRE shortened season at the ESPN AS ASSISTANT COACH Wide World of Sports Complex Six-time All-Star Amar’e near Orlando. Stoudemire is joining former That restricted access, all- teammate Steve Nash’s coach- inclusive bubble, which was ing staff with the Brooklyn run at an estimated cost of Nets, The Athletic reported $200 million, was one of the Friday. factors that hit the NBA’s bot- Nash, who was hired to tom line. coach the Nets in September, Other factors were the ini- starred alongside Stoudemire tial shutdown, the loss of 171 with the Phoenix Suns for six regular-season games, the lack seasons from 2004-10. of attendance for games in the Stoudemire, 37, will focus on bubble and China’s decision to player development in his role not show games after an Octo- as an assistant coach, per the ber tweet by former Houston report. Rockets GM Daryl Morey in Stoudemire last played in support of Hong Kong. the NBA during the 2015- The league’s Board of Gov- 16 season. He scored 15,994 ernors is currently meeting points in 846 games with the to discuss the start date for Suns, New York Knicks, Dallas the 2020-21 season, potential Mavericks and Miami Heat.
LOSS Vikings Pro Bowl
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of game three of the 2020 World Series at Globe Life Field in LB Blair dies at 70 Arlington, Texas, USA. (USA TODAY Sports) Reuters said in a statement, “Matt Reuters ask for more than that.” eight in a postseason. Game 4 in innings. He struck out six and pushed a run across with a stel- Los Angeles Blair was a great presence at Arlington, United States Turner’s blast was his 11th the best-of-seven series is Sat- walked one. lar safety squeeze bunt to make Vikings events and a tremen- postseason homer with the urday night. Morton, whose career posts- it 4-0, and Betts followed with a dous teammate long after Dodgers, tying the franchise Tampa Bay manager Kevin eason record fell to 7-3, was run-scoring single to centre. ormer linebacker Matt playing. He embodied the best alker Buehler fi red record held by Hall of Famer Cash said his batters had the shaky from the outset. “When you execute it like Blair, the second-lead- of what it means to be a Viking. his way to World Duke Snider. Turner was com- right approach against Buehler “I just never got into a groove, they did, it’s really tough to de- ing tackler in Minne- Matt is a Ring of Honor player Series strikeout his- peting in his 69th playoff game but were simply overmatched. I just never got comfortable out fend,” Cash said of Barnes’ safety sota Vikings history, whose legacy will live on for- tory, Justin Turner in seven seasons with the club. “He was outstanding. You there,” Morton said. “Just com- squeeze. diedF Thursday at age 70, the ever with the franchise and in Wblasted himself into Dodgers Snider played in 36 postseason could see the fastball just pop- bine that with who they are with Buehler held the Rays with- team announced Friday. the community he loved.” homer history, and Los Angeles games, all in the World Series, ping through the zone,” Cash the bats, and it made for a rough out a hit for 4 1/3 innings until His death was believed to be Blair, a Hawaii native, took a two-games-to-one lead during his 16 years (1947-62) said. night.” Manuel Margot laced a double caused by complications from starred at Iowa State before in the World Series. with the organisation. “Other than a few breaking The Dodgers got started with inside the third base line. One chronic traumatic encepha- the Vikings selected him in the Turner and Austin Barnes “It doesn’t mean a whole lot balls here and there, it was very two outs in the top of the fi rst out later, Willy Adames ripped a lopathy (CTE), according to second round of the 1974 draft. homered while Buehler struck until we fi nish this thing off and much a ‘here it is, hit it’ approach inning when Turner slammed a double into the left fi eld corner the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. He played all 12 of his NFL sea- out 10 in six innings as the Dodg- win two more games,” Turner and you totally understand and Morton fastball 397 feet over the to get Tampa Bay on the board. The neurodegenerative dis- sons in Minnesota, earning six ers notched a 6-2 victory over said of matching the record. appreciate why he is so talented fence in left. Barnes got the run back with ease, caused by repeated brain Pro Bowl appearances and All- the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday Max Muncy went 2-for-4 and destined for a lot of success.” Los Angeles added two runs in two outs in the top of the sixth injuries, cannot be diagnosed Pro honours in 1980. night at Arlington, Texas. with a two-run single while After Buehler exited, three the third inning, an uprising that inning when he jumped on an while a person is alive. He was credited with 1,452 Buehler (1-0) became the fi rst Turner and Mookie Betts each Dodgers right-handed reliev- began with two outs when Corey 0-2 slider from right-hander The Star-Tribune reported tackles, trailing only Stud- pitcher to fan 10-plus in a World went 2-for-5. Betts stole two ers completed the team’s four- Seager was hit by a pitch on the John Curtiss and hit a 425-foot that Blair had been in hospice well’s 1,981 in club history. Series game while pitching six bases, giving him four thefts in hitter. Blake Treinen struck out right foot. Turner followed with homer to left-centre to make it care. Blair also had 16 interceptions innings or fewer. He gave up one the series. two in a perfect seventh, Brusdar a double into the left fi eld corner, 6-1. By that point, it was clear Ex-teammate Scott Stud- and 20 fumble recoveries in his run, three hits and one walk be- Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena Graterol threw seven pitches in and Muncy came up and ripped a only a bullpen collapse would well told the Star-Tribune of 160 career games (130 starts). fore being removed after throw- clubbed his eighth homer of the a fl awless eighth, and Kenley two-run single to centre to make prevent the Dodgers from mov- Blair’s death, “He’d been suf- An All-American at Iowa ing 93 pitches. playoff s in the ninth inning to Jansen allowed Arozarena’s blast it 3-0. ing into the series lead. fering for a while, so I guess State in 1973, Blair was voted “I felt good out there and ob- match the all-time record for a before getting the fi nal out. Cody Bellinger and Joc Peder- “The bottom line is we have maybe it’s a blessing in dis- into the school’s Athletics viously our team gave me a cush- single postseason. Barry Bonds Rays right-hander Charlie son singled to give the Dodgers really good players and they’re guise, but it’s still too young. Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2012, ion early so I could be aggres- (2002), Carlos Beltran (2004) Morton (0-1) was roughed up for runners on fi rst and third with executing,” Los Angeles manager It’s a sad day.” the Vikings added him to their sive,” Buehler said. “You can’t and Nelson Cruz (2011) also hit fi ve runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 one out in the fourth. Barnes Dave Roberts said. Vikings owner Mark Wilf Ring of Honor. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, October 25, 2020 SPORT
AMIR CUP VOLLEYBALL: AL RAYYAN, POLICE REGISTER WINS
Al Rayyan players celebrate after their hard-fought 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 18-25, 25-19, 15-11) victory over Al Arabi in their Amir Cup volleyball semi-final at the Qatar Volleyball Association (QVA) Hall yesterday. (Right) Police beat Qatar SC 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-21) in the first semi-final yesterday.
RUGBY TENNIS Azarenka and Sabalenka set up Ireland set up ‘Super all-Belarusian fi nal AFP Swiatek to Prague quarantine aft er ictoria Azarenka and meeting Polish Saturday’ decider as Aryna Sabalenka set president up an all-Belarusian fi nal at the Ostrava French Open winner Iga VOpen after winning their Swiatek said yesterday she semi-fi nals yesterday. feels good, but will quaran- Former world number one tine, after she met Polish Azarenka strolled past Maria president Andrzej Duda Sakkari of Greece 6-1, 6-3 and who subsequently tested Six Nations returns Sabalenka then beat Jennifer positive for coronavirus. Brady of the United States 6-4, “Neither I nor members of 6-4. my team have symptoms ‘WE GOT OUT OF IT WHAT WE WANTED TO, A BONUS POINT WIN’ Azarenka, the world number of coronavirus. We carry 14 and the tournament’s fourth out tests regularly. We will seed, fought off four break quarantine ourselves in points in the opening game but accordance with current then eased through the fi rst set, procedures,” the 19-year- leaning on a superb fi rst serve. old tennis star said in a Her magic waned slightly Twitter post. when she was 4-0 up in the sec- Fresh from winning the ond as she let the 23rd-ranked French Open earlier this Greek snatch a break and come month and gaining na- within a game. But Azarenka, tional hero status for doing this year’s US Open fi nalist, so, Swiatek met with Duda managed to hold on to her serve on Friday, when she was in a tight eighth game and then awarded the Gold Cross of converted her fi rst match point Merit for her achievements on Sakkari’s serve. in sports and promotion of “I was able to handle the mo- the country internationally. mentum shift well,” Azarenka In winning her first Grand said. Slam title, Swiatek was also “She started to play more the youngest woman to freely and go for really, re- win the French Open since ally big shots and that dynamic Monica Seles in 1992. She switched a bit in the second set was the first Polish woman so I’m happy that I was able to to reach the final of the turn that around.” Roland Garros tournament “The important thing was in 81 years. to stay strong and fi nish the Polish off icials said on match,” added the 31-year-old. Saturday that Duda had “The whole point is to enjoy tested positive for corona- your work and process, and I virus and was subject to think that’s a very simple thing quarantine but was feeling to say, but when you actually well. The country is grap- feel that and you live that, that’s pling with a surge in the the most fun part,” Azarenka epidemic. stated. “What I’m really happy with is that I play every point like it’s my last point, and I think that points in game eight of the sec- makes a diff erence for my op- ond set and then held serve, ponent,” the former World No which was all she needed to 1 said. make the fi nal. “I think I’m making it very “I’m so happy with this win hard for them to earn anything because she played really well. on the court, and that’s what She’s a really aggressive player I’m going to continue to do.” and her forehand and her serve Third seed Sabalenka took no are really dangerous,” said risks against Brady after having Sabalenka. Looking at today’s to come back from a set down in fi nal, Sabalenka said the chanc- Italy’s Gianmarco Lucchesi (centre) tackle Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne during their Six Nations Championship match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, yesterday. (Reuters) her previous two matches. es were 50-50. The big-hitting world “She’s fi ghting for each point Reuters now,” said captain Johnny Sexton, one did the fi rst, and the visitors got the re- aspects of our game. They’re a formidable number 12 could rely on her and it’s going to be really inter- Dublin of six diff erent try scorers that included ward their improved performance de- side, especially over there in Paris so we’ll serve and fi erce groundstrokes, esting,” she said. “It will all de- debutants Hugo Keenan and Will Con- served when winger Edoardo Padovani need to do better across the board.” cruising to an easy fi rst set. pend on our mental game. We’ll nors, with winger Keenan grabbing two of perfectly read a Sexton miss pass to touch While Farrell was frustrated his side Sabalenka saved two break see, I’m ready.” reland overwhelmed Italy 50-17 in them in the fi rst half. down under the posts. Once man-of-the- gave up a potentially crucial last gasp try an empty Aviva Stadium yesterday to “Now we might have to go over and match Connors grabbed the bonus-point in their bid to pile the pressure on his na- bring the long-delayed 2020 Six Na- score four (tries), you never know. We just try on 60 minutes, it was a question of tive England, he praised their defensive tions championship back with a late have to try and win the game, how may how many more as Sexton, Dave Heff ern- performance and the contributions of Humbert saves four match points to Irush of tries that set up a “Super Satur- wins have we had in Paris over the years, an and Bundee Aki - assisted by an un- four debutants. reach Antwerp fi nal day” last-day shootout with title rivals not too many. We’re going to have our characteristically silky Peter O’Mahony Winger Hugo Keenan got two tries and France and England. work cut out.” offl oad - pushed Ireland past 50 points. Will Connors the man of the match award France’s world number 38 much pace and suddenly he The originally scheduled clash in March While Ireland were slow to get going in Yet in their bid to pile the pressure on as their Leinster team mates Ed Byrne and Ugo Humbert saved four accelerated,” said Humbert. was one of the fi rst major Covid-19 sport- attack, had Conor Murray sin binned after England, they gave up seven points at the Jamison Gibson-Park also tasted their match points to beat Britain’s “I need to find a solution and ing casualties and with the country under just three minutes and conceded an early death as fl yhalf Paolo Garbisi marked his fi rst international action off the bench in Dan Evans 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 came to the net more. I was tough restrictions again, the hosts secured three points, they easily dominated the debut with a potentially crucial try. the empty Aviva Stadium. and reach the final of the four match points down, but the bonus-point win needed to give their breakdown and never gave the young Ital- Ireland coach Andy Farrell said after a “I’m delighted for all four of the lads, European Open yesterday. I was mentally strong and I fans hope of a fourth title in seven years. ians a sniff after CJ Stander’s opening try. bonus point victory gave them a shot of they turned up, weren’t frightened of the Humbert had been 3/6 and took my opportunities. I re- Ireland move one point ahead of Eng- They began to fi nd their groove half winning the championship next week. occasion at all and they played exception- 6/7 down in the second set mained aggressive and when land and France and while the big ask of an hour in when the versatile Keenan, “We got out of it what we wanted to, a ally well,” Farrell said. tie-break before going on to I won the second set, I knew a bonus point win in Paris will guarantee who has only scored one try for Leinster, bonus point win. We’re in the hunt next “I’m just gutted that their parents secure victory in three hours I’d regained the momentum. them the championship, a narrower vic- grabbed two in his fi rst 37 minutes of in- week. A tall order to go to Paris and win couldn’t be here to see the game, they’ve and 14 minutes. I’m very pleased to have tory may not cut it as England go to Rome ternational rugby, the second a length of over there,” Farrell told Irish broadcaster worked so hard, taken them around the “The start of the match wasn’t reached the second ATP Tour trailing by a points diff erence of 23. the park team eff ort. Virgin Media. country and they deserved to be here but easy as he didn’t give me final of my career.” “Points diff erence might not be enough Ireland started the second half as they “We’re going to have to be better in all it is what it is, unfortunately.” Gulf Times Sunday, October 25, 2020 7 SPORT
FORMULA 1 GOLF Thomas seizes PGA Zozo lead as Tiger Record-seeking follows 76 with 66
AFP fi rst six holes and two of the last Los Angeles three but still shared 66th in a fi eld of 77. He had four birdies and a par on the par-5 holes after merican Justin Tho- going 3-over on them Thursday. Hamilton grabs mas, seeking his third “Yesterday was not very US PGA title of the year, good,” Woods said. “I really fi red a seven-under par didn’t swing the club that poor- 65A to grab a one-stroke lead af- ly. I was just a fraction off and ter Friday’s second round of the I got out of position a couple Zozo Championship. times. It just snowballed into a The 2017 PGA Championship high number. Was never really winner birdied seven of the fi rst able to get any kind of momen- dramatic late pole 12 holes in a bogey-free round to tum going. stand on 14-under 130 after 36 “Today was diff erent. Got off holes at Sherwood Country Club. to a much better start and kept HE REELED OFF A STUNNING BEST LAP AT THE NEW ALGARVE INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT “Got off to a hot start today rolling.” and kind of coasted coming in,” Woods, who will defend his Thomas said. “If you are get- 15th major title at next month’s ting the ball in play off the tee Masters, says he feels much bet- there are so many scoring clubs. ter than he did at last month’s You can attack it if you are really US Open, when he missed the playing well.” cut and battled a sore back. South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli “I am moving a lot better,” and American Lanto Griffi n each Woods said. “Having four weeks closed with a bogey to settle for off was good. Training sessions 65 and sharing second on 131 have been good so everything has with Americans Patrick Cantlay kind of turned around.” and Scottie Scheffl er sharing Thomas, who began on the fourth on 132 after 65s. back nine, tapped in for birdie A pack on 133 included Bubba at the par-5 11th to start of run Watson and Patrick Reed, who of four consecutive birdies that each shot 63, and fellow Ameri- included a putt from just inside can Richy Werenski, who set a 17 feet at the par-3 12th and just course record with a 61. outside 17 feet at the par-4 14th. He made six birdies on both He added birdies at the par-5 the front and back nine against a 16th, par-4 fi rst and par-3 third lone bogey at the par-4 sixth to but closed with six pars, includ- break the old mark of 62 set by ing a 15-foot rescue eff ort at the Tiger Woods. par-3 eighth. Defending Zozo champion “That was great,” Thomas Woods, who won last year in Ja- said. “I hit a nice bunker shot. pan before the event was moved That was big. When you are to suburban Los Angeles due to bogey-free that late in a round, the Covid-19 pandemic, opened that’s always nice.” with a 76 but bounced back with Thomas has won four US PGA a 66, matching his best since titles from the seven prior times last year’s Zozo. he shot 130 for 36 holes. “I hit the ball so much better,” “Just continue to attack,” Woods said. “Today was a lot Thomas said. “You can go low. more sharp and a lot more crisp You need to have the gas pedal and clean.” down if you want to be around Woods birdied four of the that lead.”
Justin Thomas of the United States walks on the eighth hole during the second round of the Zozo Championship in Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton waves to spectators after taking the pole position at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao yesterday. Thousand Oaks, California.
AFP the two opening parts of quali- the nuts off it to pull out a lap.” ing to fi nd that extra time,” add- tricky to get really clear laps. Portimao, Portugal fying, reeled off a stunning best After a delay for repairs to ed Hamilton. “The lap was good, but ulti- lap in one minute and 16.652 drain covers around the circuit, “At the end, I chose to do mately I should have gone for seconds at the new Algarve In- the session began in warm sun- three laps to give me a chance two timed laps.” ewis Hamilton claimed ternational Circuit. shine and near-perfect condi- to have a stab and beat his time Verstappen fi nished ahead a thrilling last-gasp It was enough to outpace the tions on the slippery, newly- and I think he decided to do one of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and pole position yesterday Finn by 0.102 seconds and, as so surfaced track. so I was like ‘ok, this could pro- Sergio Perez of Racing Point Lto give him the perfect often this year, to deliver heart- The Mercedes pair did bat- vide me with an opportunity’ with Alex Albon sixth in the sec- launchpad for his bid to win a break again after the pair had tle throughout while Max Ver- and it worked. “Bottas, who is ond Red Bull and the McLaren record 92nd Formula One race swapped from soft to medium stappen, who ended up in third 69 points adrift of Hamilton in pair of Carlos Sainz and Lando in today’s Portuguese Grand tyres for their fi nal runs. for Red Bull, tried and failed to the drivers’ title race, retained Norris in seventh and eighth Prix. Hamilton’s ninth pole of the break up the F1 duopoly. his optimism after another late places. In denying his Mercedes season sets him up to move Hamilton had gone out ahead disappointment. Pierre Gasly was ninth for Al- teammate Valtteri Bottas in clear of Michael Schumacher’s of Bottas for the fi nal session “Obviously, at the end we de- pha Tauri and Daniel Ricciardo the fi nal seconds of qualifying, 14-year-old record of 91 race and took advantage by tak- cided to go for the mediums,” 10th for Renault. Hamilton moved to within three wins which he equalled in the ing two fl ying laps, the second said Bottas. “The mediums felt Verstappen, who pushed the of his 100th career pole as his Eifel Grand Prix at Nurburgring completed after the fl ag fell a tiny bit quicker than the softs. two ‘black arrows’ to the limit, team claimed its 12th pole from last time out. producing his clincher. “It was my decision to go for said he had struggled with his as many races this season. “It’s amazing, I can’t tell you “Valtteri has been so quick one timed lap, but it seems like tyres. The six-time world cham- how hard that was today,” said this weekend. He’s topped every doing two laps for Lewis was “It was so diffi cult to get the pion, who had trailed the Finn in Hamilton. “I guess we have a session so I’ve just been digging better. Mine was a decent lap front and rear to match, but we all three practice sessions and in great car, but you have to drive and digging and digging — try- — not perfect — and it has been were close — not too far behind.”
SPOTLIGHT BOTTOMLINE McDonald chases Japan’s Nakagami takes fi rst fi rst LPGA victory AFP recently at last year’s ShopRite Washington Classic. “It’s really easy as a per- son who has never won to get ahead of yourself,” McDonald MotoGP pole position in Spain merican Ally McDon- said. “We all really, really want to ald, chasing her fi rst win. That’s why we do this, that’s AFP The Yamaha man will start LPGA title, reeled off why we compete, to put ourself in Alcañiz, Spain the race on the second row Afi ve consecutive bird- contention as much as we can. after qualifying fourth, 0.359 ies to grab a one-stroke lead after “The next two days I’m just go- seconds slower than Nak- Friday’s second round of the Drive ing to try to execute my game plan, apanese rider Takaaki agami. On Championship. stick to one shot at a time. If I fi nd Nakagami grabbed his Frenchman Fabio Qua- McDonald, who turns 28 today, myself getting ahead, I need to re- maiden MotoGP pole tararo, who trails Mir by six fi red a four-under-par 68 to stand group, back off , and be right in the Jposition for today’s points at the top of the riders’ on 10-under 134 after 36 holes at moment, be present, and try to Teruel Grand Prix, while standings, will also start on Reynolds Lake Oconee in Greens- execute the shot I have.” championship leader Joan the second row, in sixth. boro, Georgia. That’s even tougher with her Mir could only qualify in 12th Vinales sits third in the That was good enough for a parents at the resort, bringing a place yesterday. championship, a further six one-stroke lead over fi fth-ranked birthday cake to celebrate Sunday The 28-year-old Nakag- points behind, with Ducati’s compatriot Danielle Kang and that would taste sweeter after a ami, who signed a new deal Andrea Dovizioso 15 points Filipino standout Bianca Pagdan- breakthrough victory. with Honda’s satellite team adrift of Mir in fourth. ganan with Thailand’s Ariya Jut- “It would be pretty special. earlier this week, posted a It was a miserable day for anugarn another shot adrift. It would be a great birthday fastest lap of one minute and Mir, who has never won a “Feel really good,” McDonald present,” said McDonald. 46.882 seconds. MotoGP race, though, as he said. “I put myself in a great posi- McDonald, who started on the “It’s an incredible feeling,” qualifi ed last of the riders in tion to hit some really good shots back nine, birdied the par-4 11th he said. “Everything is going second qualifying. and it was really solid.” then ran off fi ve birdies in a row pretty well so far. Dovizioso, who has fi n- The tournament was created to starting at the par-3 17th. “I’m very proud but the ished second to Marc Mar- fi ll in a gap between US events af- After reaching 12-under with most important thing is to- quez in the world champion- ter the LPGA’s usual Asian swing six holes remaining, McDonald morrow (Sunday).” ship in each of the last three was wiped out by the coronavirus suff ered bogeys at the par-4 fi fth Italian Franco Morbidelli, years, did not even make it pandemic. While no spectators and par-5 sixth before three pars who was quickest in practice, to Q2 and will start the race were allowed on the course due to to reach the clubhouse. qualifi ed second, just 0.063 from 14th place on the grid. Covid-19 safety issues, a lakeside Pagdanganan birdied three of seconds slower, as Alex Rins There are four races re- back nine allowed viewers aboard the fi rst six holes, took her only rounded out the front row. maining in the coronavirus- more than 20 boats to watch the bogey at the par-3 eighth, then Of the four likely world truncated season which was action. birdied the 11th and par-5 12th title contenders, Spaniard blown wide open by Mar- World number 62 McDonald’s and closed with another birdie to Maverick Vinales qualifi ed quez’s injury in the opening Takaaki Nakagami celebrates after securing the pole position for the MotoGP Grand Prix of Teruel at the best LPGA results have been a shoot 67 with a birdie sweep of best. Spanish Grand Prix. Motorland circuit in Alcaniz yesterday. pair of third-place fi nishes, most four par-5 holes. Sunday, October 25, 2020 GULF TIMES SPORT
SPOTLIGHT Kohli ‘most complete player’ Al-Attiyah leads Aslan 69 around, says England’s Root New Delhi: England’s Test captain Joe Root considers India’s Virat Kohli as currently the most complete player around and said he expects to Big Tour win at Hathab England teammate Jos Buttler to soon replicate his limited- overs dominance in Test cricket. The pair was faultless in the jump off as they completed their round in 28.90 seconds to top the 140cm class Root himself is consid- ered one of the four best By Sports Reporter batsmen in contemporary Doha cricket, alongside the prolific Kohli, Australian run-machine Steve Smith and New Zealand amad Ali al-Attiyah led captain Kane Williamson. 9-year-old gelding Aslan 69 “You’re looking at three of the to a dominating Big Tour win greatest players the game has during the second round of seen,” Root told The Analyst’s Hthe Longines Hathab – Qatar Eques- Virtual Cricket Club. “They’re trian Tour yesterday. three brilliant people to watch The pair was faultless in the jump off play and learn from. I’m not as they completed their round in 28.90 sure I’d put myself in their seconds to top the 140cm class at the bracket, to be honest.” Qatar Equestrian Federation’s Indoor While he admired Smith’s Arena. Saeed Nasser al-Qadi was sec- hunger for big scores and ond astride Andreas SPB Z in 31.32 sec- Williamson’s all-surface onds. defence, Root was particularly Nasser al-Ghazali and Quel Homme impressed by Kohli’s versatil- had registered the fastest time, but ity. “Virat is probably the most a four-second penalty derailed their complete player out of the hopes of a top-place fi nish and they had three of them across formats. to settle for third spot. His ability to chase things Meanwhile, reigning Big Tour cham- down in the limited-overs pion Hamad Nasser al-Qadi had a dis- format and to pace it as well appointing day as he failed to make it as he does as often as he does to the jump off . Hamad was fthfi overall and be not out at the end is with his trusted 15-year-old SIEC Lon- extraordinary. He’s got a very nie off -colour on the day. good all-round game but Earlier, Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi you wouldn’t say he’s weaker astride Happy Tina won the Open Class against spin or pace.” event. The duo timed 52.65 seconds. Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi astride Happy Tina won the Open Class event. Root, meanwhile, has high Hussain Saeed Haidan was a close sec- expectations from England’s ond with Kannada as the pair came 130/140cm | Prize money: QR45,000 Open Class: 115/120cm | Prize money: limited-overs stalwarts Buttler home in 53.31. Haidan and Kannada had 1. Hamad Ali al-Attiyah; Horse: Aslan 69; QR25,000 who is yet to reach the same fi nished runner-up in the Small Tour as Time: 72.79 secs, jump-off time: 28.90 1. Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi; Horse: Happy high in Test cricket. “Jos has well on Friday. Nasser al-Ghazali was Hamad Ali al-Attiyah clears a hurdle with nine-year-old gelding Aslan 69 during the secs; Prize money: QR12,600 Tina; Time: 52.65 secs; QR6,250 been the most complete third with Hurry Up in 53.77 seconds. Big Tour class at the Longines Hathab – Qatar Equestrian Tour yesterday. white-ball batsman we’ve had 2. Saeed Nasser al-Qadi; Andreas SPB Z; 2. Hussain Saeed Haidan; Kannada; Meanwhile, the dressage events of ever,” Root said. the second round will be held next Sat- RESULTS 78.88 and 31.32 secs; QR10,350 53.31; QR5,000 “I think he’s a phenomenal urday. The annual 12-round equestrian supported by The Social & Sport Con- Big Tour: Table A, One round against 3. Nasser al-Ghazali; Quel Homme; 3. Nasser al-Ghazali; Hurry Up; 53.77; player and I still don’t think series, which is in its fourth season, is tribution Fund. the clock with jump off , Art. 238.2.2 | 78.37 and 27.38 secs; QR7,875 QR3,750 we’ve seen the best of him yet. Hopefully this summer in test cricket can unlock doors CRICKET for him. I saw a piece about (South Africa great) AB de Villiers and he said it took him 50 tests to work out his Test Chakravarthy fi ve-for keeps Kolkata in IPL play-off race game. I think it’s very similar to Jos, to be honest.” AFP of having a suspect bowling action. It the fi rst ball of the innings. Cummins Dubai was his team’s sixth win in 11 games to Kolkata Knight Riders’ Varun — the most expensive foreign player for stay fourth in the eight-team table. Chakaravarthy bowls during the 2020 season with a $2.17mn fee — “Great of Sunil to come back and the IPL match against Delhi returned fi gures of 3-17. pinner Varun Chakravarthy play as a proper all-rounder. And Nitish Capitals in Abu Dhabi yesterday. It was an impressive bounce-back claimed this Indian Premier Rana and him adding all the runs,” said (Sportzpics for BCCI) victory for KKR, after struggling to 84-8 League season’s fi rst fi ve-wicket Morgan. “The decision to bat Narine in an eight-wicket thrashing by Royal haul as Kolkata Knight Riders there (at number fi ve) is all the coach Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday. gaveS their play-off hopes a boost with a (Brendon McCullum). He likes to play Narine bowled four overs after being 59-run win over Delhi Capitals yester- his cards. It is all Brendon.” taken off the warning list for suspect day. Chakravarthy took 5-20 from four On Chakravarthy’s mystery spin, bowlers following his action being re- overs to help Eoin Morgan’s KKR re- Morgan told reporters: “He has been ported in a game on October 10. He con- strict Delhi to 135 for nine in their chase one of the positive stories out of our ceded 37 runs without taking a wicket. of 195 in Abu Dhabi. campaign so far. Up until today we felt Nitish Rana, who top-scored with 81, we haven’t played our best cricket but BRIEF SCORES and returning all-rounder Sunil Nar- today I think we were close to that.” Kolkata Knight Riders: 194/6 in 20 ine, who hit a 32-ball 64, put on a key The 29-year-old Chakravarthy ran overs (Nitish Rana 81, Sunil Narine 64; 115-run fourth-wicket stand to guide through high-fl ying Delhi, who stay on Anrich Nortje 2/27) beat Delhi Capi- Kolkata to 194 for six after being put in 14 points, behind table-toppers Mum- Pant. Chakravarthy broke the stand Hetmyer and Iyer, for 47, to dent Delhi’s to bat fi rst. bai Indians on net run-rate, despite a with the wicket of Pant, for 27, in his chase. tals: 135/9 in 20 overs (Shreyas Iyer 47, Morgan was all praise for Narine, who threatening 63-run partnership be- fi rst over and then struck twice in suc- Kolkata’s pace spearhead Pat Cum- Rishabh Pant 27; Varun Chakravarthy played his fi rst game after being cleared tween skipper Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh cessive deliveries to send back Shimron mins dismissed Ajinkya Rahane with 5/20) by 59 runs
FOCUS IPL Dhoni vows changes aft er season of IPL ‘failures’ Punjab defend 127 AFP Dubai to beat Hyderabad IANS their fourth consecutive win of hree-time Indian Premier League Dubai the season and continue their champions Chennai Super Kings pursuit of a playoff spot. will be forced into major changes “Winning is a habit, which we after a humiliating defeat to their ings XI Punjab yester- didn’t fi nd in the fi rst half. Hon- Tarch-rivals Mumbai Indians, their vet- day successfully de- estly, I’m speechless,” said skip- eran captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni fended a measly target per K L Rahul who made 27 in his said. Dhoni’s team suff ered a crushing of 127 and pulled off an team’s 126 for seven. 10-wicket loss in Friday’s clash that is Kextraordinary 12-run win over Hyderabad captain David widely considered Indian cricket’s El Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Du- Warner admitted that the team Clasico drawing a huge TV audience. bai International Stadium. did not show enough urgency Mumbai and Chennai, both huge spend- With Hyderabad taking their while chasing. “Our bowlers ers on international stars, are now at op- time chasing down the low tar- did a fantastic job to restrict posite ends of the eight team table. get, Punjab kept the pressure on them. After the start we got, we Mumbai are strong candidates for a them and turned the screws in took our foot off the pedal,” said fi fth title while Dhoni’s side are virtually the death overs. Warner after the match. certain to miss the playoff s. And he ad- They took as many as seven “We felt on that wicket it was mitted after an eighth defeat in 11 games wickets in the last four overs and going to get tougher once the that this “hurt”. Chennai could manage conceded just 15 runs. Chris Jor- spin came into it. For us it was only 114 for nine, a total four-time cham- dan and Arshdeep Singh bowled about trying to apply pressure pions Mumbai chased down in 12.2 overs the last two overs in which they upfront, negate the swing bowl- without losing a wicket. got two wickets each. ing, but obviously we didn’t get “Whenever you’re not doing well, there With Arshdeep dismissing across the line. They bowled well can be a hundred reasons, but one of the Priyam Garg to claim his second with the new ball,” he added. main things you ask yourself is whether consecutive wicket in the 20th The Aussie opener praised his you’ve played to the potential you’ve got, over, Khaleel Ahmed puzzlingly bowlers for the work they did no matter the conditions,” Dhoni said. defended the hat-trick ball to earlier. “We didn’t get all the “And this year we haven’t. Cumulatively off -side with Hyderabad needing wickets upfront but we brought there have been batting failures.” 13 to win off the last three balls. it back well. Today our bowl- Chennai have been dubbed “Dad’s He then dabbed the next ball to ers executed the plans well, very Army” by the media because of their point and started strolling to- happy with them. Just have to use of over-35 players including Dhoni, wards the non-striker’s end. forget this game and move for- Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis. That He sped up only when he spot- ward,” he said. will now change. Dhoni, 39, who retired ted the fi elder sprinting towards from international cricket in August, said forms,” said Dhoni. bai game but South African Imran Tahir, next three games and give guys opportu- the ball but by then it was too late BRIEF SCORES young players will be blooded for the re- “See some of the youngsters in prepa- 41, played his fi rst match of the season. nities to press case for retention next year and he was run out. KXIP 126/7 wkts in 20 overs maining three games. ration for next year, see who will bat “We had a problem of balance all the way or for opportunities for other teams.” Earlier, Hyderabad turned (Nicholas Pooran 32, KL Rahul “I think it’s important for us to have a and who bowls at the death and soaks through” with the spin bowling “inef- Dhoni, once of the game’s best fi nish- the screws in the last fi ve overs, 27; Rashid Khan 2/14) beat SRH clear picture of next year. There are lots the pressure. A few more who are on the fective”, said coach Stephen Fleming ex- ers but who took more than a year off conceding just 38 runs and tak- of ifs and buts — the auction, where the bench will get games in the coming three plaining the introduction of the IPL’s old- after India’s elimination from the World ing two wickets. Punjab ended 114 in 19.5 overs (David Warner venues will be. The coming three games games.” est player. Cup, has been slammed for his go-slow their innings on 126/7 in their 35, Vijay Shankar 26; Chris Jor- will be an ideal opportunity to give plat- Watson was dropped for the Mum- “We have got to fi nd a way to win the approach this season. 20 overs. Punjab have thus won dan 3/17) by 12 runs