26 Established 1961 Sports Sunday, February 24, 2019 Sri Lanka stun to seal historic series win S Lanka made it four wins in a row against South Africa

PORT ELIZABETH: Sri Lankan Dimuth hours of uninhibited stroke play. Karunaratne hailed his happy, united team after they “When you play like that, South Africa are on the completed an historic series triumph against South back foot,” said Karunaratne. Appointed only as an Africa at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth yesterday. “interim” captain, Karunaratne said he had a simple Oshada Fernando and propelled Sri message for his players when he took over at a time of Lanka to an eight- apparent turmoil in Sri win on the third day of the Lankan . second Test, playing exactly “When I started, I said to the sort of cricket that my boys, ‘whatever happens Karunaratne wanted. you have to keep smiling, “We told them, ‘play your We told them, keep enjoying. If you’re not normal game, if you can hit enjoying you don’t get to a over the fielder go for it’,” play your hundred percent’.” said Karunaratne after the Remarkably, the Lankans unheralded Sri Lankans normal game consistently played positive became the first team from cricket despite having been Asia to win a Test series in away from home for the South Africa. Fernando (75 better part of three months. ) and Mendis (84 not They arrived after two out) attacked the South African bowlers from the start heavy Test defeats in Australia, which led to Dinesh of play on Saturday, taking Sri Lanka from an overnight Chandimal being fired as captain, coach Chandika 60 for two to the victory target of 197 in just over two Hathurusingha having his powers curtailed and major changes in personnel, some caused by injuries. SCOREBOARD The tourists’ attitude clearly flummoxed the South Africans, especially on Saturday morning when the PORT ELIZABETH: Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis (R) is watched by South Africa’s wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock as he Final scoreboard on the third day of the second Test between uninhibited of Fernando, playing in his second South Africa and Sri Lanka at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth plays a shot during the third day of the second match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at St. Test, and man of the match Mendis turned what had George’s Park Stadium in Port Elizabeth yesterday. — AFP yesterday: been expected to be a tense struggle to a romp for South Africa, first innings, 222 the tourists, with South African captain Faf du Plessis Sri Lanka, first innings, 154 South Africa, second innings, 128 having to change his fields and frequently rotate Africa’s batting, which sank to new depths when they come here.” Kusal Perera, whose 153 not out took Sri bowlers who were unable to break through or stop were bowled out for 138 in the second innings, despite Lanka to a dramatic, unexpected one-wicket win in the Sri Lanka, second innings (overnight 60-2) the flow of runs. Sri Lanka being without injured left-arm spinner Lasith first Test in Durban, was named man of the series. Sri D. Karunaratne c De Kock b Olivier 19 L. Thirimanne c De Kock b Rabada 10 Embuldeniya. Du Plessis said he was at a loss to explain Lanka’s series win was one of the biggest upsets in O. Fernando not out 75 ‘MY BIGGEST LOW’ how 31 fell on the first two days. “When I was recent cricket history. K. Mendis not out 84 Karunaratne praised the contribution of his bowlers, batting in both innings I felt it was a really good batting South Africa had won their previous seven series at Extras: (b4, lb5) 9 notably the inexperienced Vishwa Fernando and Kasun pitch,” he said. home and had won 16 out of 19 home Tests, with only Total: (2 wkts, 45.4 overs) 197 Rajitha, who took 12 and nine wickets respectively over “Mentally we were a bit soft in giving wickets away two defeats, before losing in Durban. Sri Lanka, by Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Thirimanne), 2-34 (Karunaratne) the two matches. “Our line-up did a really pretty easily.” Sri Lanka made it four wins in a row contrast, had lost six and drawn one of their previous Bowling: Steyn 8-0-38-0, Rabada 15-2-53-1, Olivier 12-2-46-1, good job, especially the youngsters,” he said. Du against South Africa after winning two matches at seven Tests before arriving in South Africa. South Mulder 4-1-6-0, Maharaj 6.4-0-45-0. Match situation: Sri Lanka won by eight wickets Plessis described the series loss as “my biggest low as home last year. “They have been better than us home Africa had won 19 of 21 previous home series against Series: Sri Lanka won the two-match series 2-0 a player in the Proteas team”. and away,” admitted Du Plessis. “We were outplayed in Asian opponents, with the only exceptions being when He said he was particularly disappointed with South their back yard but there’s no excuse when Sri Lanka India and Pakistan shared one series each. — AFP

Dropped for the curtain-raiser two days earlier ’s unbeaten 104 gave a labouring Cottrell, Hetmyer where the English cantered to a six-wicket win in a West Indies innings late impetus when they batted first high-scoring fixture, the 29-year-old Jamaican left- but it looked to be in vain with England seeming to arm fast bowler returned figures of five for 46 as the have the match well in control at 228 for four in the CAF giants hope lead Windies top-ranked visitors lost their last six wickets for 35 40th over with and Jos Buttler entrenched. runs to be dismissed for 263 in response to what Earlier Cottrell had an immediate impact with the home advantage to victory looked a comparatively modest West Indies total of ball when he removed openers and 289 for six. Jason Roy, man of the match in the first ODI, in his first BRIDGETOWN: marked his return “You need options in this day and age and Cottrell two overs. He also accounted for England captain Eoin can bring luck to the West Indies team with a five-wicket haul as gave us that extra bit of variation with the ball,” said Morgan for a well-played 70, although it seemed at JOHANNESBURG: Misfiring CAF Confederation Cup the home side snatched a series-levelling 26-run vic- West Indies skipper of his match-winning that stage the tourists’ batting depth was more than top group seeds Etoile Sahel, Raja Casablanca and tory over England in the second one-day interna- bowler amid the victory celebrations. “I love his ener- enough to take them to the target. Zamalek will have home advantage today when seeking tional of a five-match series at in gy. His is one for the future. It’s really good to see so For all of Cottrell’s heroics, it was Holder who their first mini-league victories. Etoile have won the on Friday. many of these players stepping up.” turned the match on its head with ten overs left. He had African version of the UEFA Europa League twice, Raja Stokes caught behind for a top score of 79 and then are the trophy-holders and Zamalek can boast of nine SCOREBOARD removed Buttler in his next over. CAF titles. , who had replaced for this match, looked desperately unlucky to be adjudged But the north African trio have not made the expect- Scoreboard of the second one-day international of a five-match series between the West Indies and England at Kensington Oval in ed impact since the four groups kicked off with Raja Barbados yesterday: leg-before to the first he faced from the West Indies captain but he had no recourse to the television drawing twice and Etoile and Zamalek collecting just West Indies J. Root c Hope b Thomas 36 one point each. Raja play fellow Moroccans C. Gayle b Rashid 50 E. Morgan c Hetmyer b Cottrell 70 technology as Stokes had wasted the review just min- Renaissance Berkane in Group A on matchday 3, Etoile J. Campbell c Ali b Plunkett 23 B. Stokes c Hope b Holder 79 utes earlier. face in-form Enugu Rangers of Nigeria in Group B and S. Hope c Bairstow b Stokes 33 J. Buttler c Hetmyer b Holder 34 Cottrell then tightened the West Indies’ grip with Zamalek meet Petro Atletico of Angola in Group D. D. Bravo run out 25 M. Ali b Cottrell 12 the wickets of Adil Rashid and before Liam Zesco United of Zambia are the exception among the S. Hetmyer not out 104 T. Curran lbw b Holder 0 Plunkett found Holder’s bucket-like hands at long-off J. Holder run out 3 A. Rashid c Hope b Cottrell 15 four top seeds having won their Group C opener, but as he attempted to heave beyond C. Brathwaite b Wood 13 L. Plunkett c Holder b Brathwaite 2 the boundary rope. they then lost their firstaway match. AFP Sport pre- A. Nurse not out 13 M. Wood not out 1 views the third series of matches as the 16 contenders Extras: (lb9, nb3, w13) 25 Extras: (lb3, w9) 12 Ealier in the day it was Hetmyer’s impetuous for eight quarter-finals places begin a hectic schedule of Total: (50 overs, 6 wickets) 289 Total: (47.4 overs, all out) 263 aggression which gave the West Indies a measure of playing on four consecutive Sundays. Did not bat: D. Bishoo, S. Cottrell, O. Thomas Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Bairstow), 2-10 (Roy), 3-60 (Root), 4-159 respectability to the final score after they were put in. Fall of wickets: 1-61 (Campbell), 2-98 (Gayle), 3-121 (Hope), 4-197 (Morgan), 5-228 (Stokes), 6-233 (Buttler), 7-233 (Curran), 8-260 His third ODI hundred occupied 83 deliveries and was Group A (Bravo), 5-207 (Holder), 6-237 (Brathwaite) (Rashid), 9-261 (Ali), 10-263 (Plunkett) embellished by four sixes and seven fours, the last of Bowling: M. Wood 10-0-38-1 (2w), T. Curran 10-0-62-0 (1nb, 1w), Bowling: S. Cottrell 9-0-46-5 (3w), J. Holder 10-1-53-3 (2w), O. Recently hired Raja coach Patrice Carteron from the boundary hits taking him to the three-figure land- M. Ali 7-0-51-0 (1w), L. Plunkett 7-0-39-1 (4w), B. Stokes 10-1- Thomas 5-0-32-1, A. Nurse 6-0-28-0, D. Bishoo 10-0-49-0 (1w), mark in the final over bowled by Stokes. France is under pressure as his side have won just one 62-1 (2nb, 4w), A. Rashid 6-0-28-1 (1w). C. Gayle 2-0-15-0 (1w), C. Brathwaite 5.4-0-37-1 (2w). their last five qualifying and group matches, and that After his hundred on Wednesday anchored the West was by a solitary goal. The impressive home and away England Result: West Indies won by 26 runs Indies to 360 for eight, was off to a slow from that took Raja to success in the competition last J. Roy b Cottrell 2 Series: 1-1 start but eventually reached 50 before being bowled year has deserted them and their leading scorer in J. Bairstow lbw b Cottrell 0 by Rashid. — AFP Africa, two-goal Badr Banoun, is a centre-back. Hassania Agadir, the third Moroccan club in the sec- tion, host AS Otoho Oyo of Congo Brazzaville needing game losing streak and reclaimed the lead maximum points to get back into contention for a top- Flames down in the NHL’s Central Division, moving a two finish. point ahead of the Nashville Predators. Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck Group B Ducks, extend made 29 saves. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Enugu are the only unbeaten side left in the Shea Theodore and Jonathan Confederation Cup with six victories and two draws as hot streak Marchessault scored for the Golden they prepare to tackle Etoile in their Mediterranean Knights, who are 3-9-1 in their past 13 fortress of Sousse. Etoile are virtually unbeatable when CALGARY: Andrew Mangiapane games and have won just once in their past the 30,000-seat Stade Olympique is packed so the scored the game-winning goal late in eight home games (1-6-1). Goalie Marc- matchday 1 loss to fellow Tunisians CS Sfaxien came as the third period, and TJ Brodie collected Andre Fleury stopped 23 of 28 shots. a shock. Enugu, hoping to become the first Nigerian a goal and an assist as the host Calgary winners of the 16-year-old competition, forced a match- Flames won their fourth consecutive BLUE JACKETS 3, SENATORS 0 day 2 draw at Sfaxien and will aim to take at least a game, defeating the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves to point away from Sousse. on Friday night. Goalie Mike Smith made record his fourth shutout of the season 25 saves for the Flames, who strength- as Columbus skated to a win over host Group C ened their hold on the top spot in the Ottawa, hours after acquiring pending Zambian contenders Nkana and Zesco will want to Western Conference. Mangiapane broke unrestricted free agent forward Matt continue a trend of home victories in this section when the tie with 3:29 remaining in regulation. Duchene from its opponent. Josh they host Asante Kotoko of Ghana and Al Hilal of Sudan He tried to make a pass on a two-on- Anderson scored his seventh goal in 11 respectively. Captained by striker Walter Bwalya, one rush only to see it blocked, but the games for the Blue Jackets. Cam Nkana aim to extend a 58-match record of never losing puck came back to the speedy rookie, Atkinson netted his team-leading 33rd at home in a CAF competition since their 1983 debut. and he promptly buried a short-side tally and Oliver Bjorkstrand also scored Hilal have appointed Tunisian Nabil al Kouki coach for a offering for his third goal of the season, to help Columbus snap a two-game skid. LAS VEGAS: Blake Wheeler #26 of the Winnipeg Jets tries to get a rebound after a save by third time having sacked his compatriot, Irad Zafouri, all in his past seven games. Brodie and Duchene had three shots on goal against Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights as Nate Schmidt #88 of the Golden after a matchday 2 loss at Nkana this month. Anaheim’s Derek Grant scored in the his former team. Ottawa rookie forward Knights defends in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on Friday in Las second period. Ducks goalie Ryan Miller Brady Tkachuk fell on Bobrovsky late in Vegas, Nevada. The Jets defeated the Golden Knights 6-3. — AFP Group D made 26 saves. the second period to raise tensions Bottom-of-the-table Zamalek last won a CAF title 16 between the teams. The two-time Vezina assist, including a tiebreaking goal on a Colorado. The loss spoiled a historic night years ago and must secure maximum points against JETS 6, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3 Trophy recipient barely was tested the breakaway with 5:22 remaining in the for Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, who Petro in Alexandria to retain a realistic chance of reach- Patrik Laine scored twice to snap a 15- rest of the way en route to his 28th third period as Colorado held on for a win tallied at least one point for the 20th game ing the knockout stage. The White Knights boast an game goalless drought as Winnipeg won in career shutout. —Reuters at Chicago. Carl Soderberg also scored in a row. Kane owns the two longest point impressive squad with several Egyptian stars, Tunisians Las Vegas. Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor, twice for the Avalanche, who won their streaks by a U.S.-born player in NHL his- Hamdi el Nagguez and Ferjani Sassi and Moroccans Adam Lowry and Andrew Copp also AVALANCHE 5, BLACKHAWKS 3 third consecutive game. Gabriel tory, including his 26-game streak during Khalid Boutaib and Hamid Ahaddad. —AFP scored for the Jets, who snapped a three- J.T. Compher had two goals and an Landeskog added a goal and an assist for the 2015-16 season. —Reuters