SPORT Wednesday 5 June 2019 PAGE | 18 PAGE | 18 India plan Pakistan keen to pace assault shed ‘unpredictable’ against tag after win South Africa over England Asian Champions Qatar take on global giants Brazil in friendly

CHINTHANA WASALA THE PENINSULA “We“We hadh a d a Qatar will try to test their skills against greatgreat AAsians an CCuCupup Dani Alves-led Brazil in their friendly andand it wwasaass a bbigg meeting in Brasilia, today. 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They defeated Saudi Arabia, Colombia,a, whowho aararee exexceptionallycecepeptioonallyy gogoodd North Korea and Lebanon in the group The World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar Brazil are in Group A alongside performers,ers, whwhetwhetherherr aat WWorldorldo d CupCCuCupsps stage, before running through the are in Group B alongside Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru. or the Copaopa AmAmerica.merica.a. ParPParaguayragaguauaay alsoaalsso knockout stage with wins of South Colombia and Paraguay. They are one “We want to gain more experience boast a pedigreededigreeeed history.histostorory.y So,So,o I believebelbelieveievee Korea and Japan in the final. of two invitee teams to the South and see how close we are to the South these matchesatchees willwill sserveerveve asa an The Brazil friendly will be the American tournament alongside American teams ahead of bigger importantt stagingstaginging popoststtf ffororor meme anandnd ththehe perfect opportunity for coach Felix Japan, making their second opponents and competitions,” players. They’llThey’llll telltetell us wherewhewhhere wewe cur-cuc r- Qatar coach Felix Sanchez’s men, who are making their appearance. Sanchez said during a press con- rently standand and whawwhathat wee neednneeneeeddto toto dodo Sanchez debut appearance in Copa America Qatar will open their campaign ference ahead of the team’s trip to in the nextxt phasphase,”hase,”, thethh SpanSpaSSpanishpanananishishh tactac-acc- which kicks off in another 10 days. against Paraguay on June 16, while South America. tician said.d. Qatar’s Al Ansari China to host ‘launchpad’ 2023 Asian Cup elected Deputy AFP football in Asia and beyond,” said launchpad for the great Chinese Jinping has stated his aim for the Chairperson of AFC PARIS Sheikh Salman, FIFA’s second-in- football teams of the future and more country to stage the showpiece World command, who was reelected to a importantly can place football as the Cup one day, with 2030 and 2034 Appeal Committee Asia’s football chief Sheikh Salman fresh four-year term as AFC president number one sport in the country.” often mentioned as possibilities, and bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said yesterday in April. Last month South Korea aban- wants the country to become a major that China’s staging of the 2023 Asian “Football has the chance to unlock doned their bid to stage the tour- force in the sport. QNA Cup would serve as a “launchpad” for the potential that exists in the world’s nament, leaving China as the sole can- It will mark the second time China PARIS the country’s teams of the future. most populous country. didates with a free run to become hosts. has hosted the quadrennial conti- China was confirmed earlier “We have seen the rise of the Thailand and Indonesia had also nental tournament, after the 2004 Qatar’s Salman A Al Ansari has been elected as Tuesday as host at the AFC’s Extraor- game under the direction and previously expressed interest in edition when they finished runners- Deputy Chairperson of the Asian Football dinary Congress in Paris after all the investment of the Chinese hosting the 2023 event, but had up to Japan. Confederation (AFC) Appeal Committee at the other countries in the running government. dropped out earlier. The bid proposed 12 candidate AFC Extraordinary Congress in Paris, France. dropped their bids, giving the Chinese “Now, we have the chance with This year’s Asian Cup in the UAE cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, The AFC Member Associations have elected a possible dry-run for organising a this Asian Cup to develop a sure was expanded to 24 nations for the Guangzhou and Xian, and there are today the chairpersons, deputy chairpersons future World Cup. legacy for the global game. first time with Qatar winning the final. plans to construct nine new football- and members of the AFCs judicial bodies - AFC “This is an important moment for “The Asian Cup can provide a China’s football fan President Xi only stadiums by the end of 2021. Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, AFC Entry Control Body and the AFC Appeal Committee. All members will now serve for a period of four years based on the recommendation of the Toulon Tournament: Qatar’s Olympic side meets Guatemala AFC Executive Committee. The full list of the AFC’s judicial bodies are as follows: Qatar U23 team players take part in a training AFC APPEAL COMMITTEE: session yesterday, Chairperson: Jahangir Baglari (Iran); Deputy ahead of their second Chairperson: Salman A. Al Ansari (Qatar); match of the Toulon Dong-Ho Lim (Korea Republic); Saaran Nad- Tournament against arajah (Malaysia); Syed Nayyar Hasnain Guatemala which will Haider (Pakistan); and Nguyen Thi My Dzung be played at the Stade (Vietnam) Marcel Roustan Stadium AFC DISCIPLINARY AND ETHIC in Salon-de-Provence, COMMITTEE Southern France, today. Chairperson: Lim Kia Tong (Singapore); Deputy Chairperson: Shen Rui (China); Tim This is the sixth time that Holden (Australia); Yusuf Mohamed Yaqoob Qatar is featuring in the Yaqoobi (Bahrain); Kengo Harima (Japan); tournament. Qatar squad Khaled J Al Zamel (Kuwait); Ismail Zumayl is using the Toulon Rasheed (Maldives); Atty. Guillermo B. Iroy Jr. Tournament to get (Philippines); Yaseer H. Al Misehal (Saudi match practice before Arabia) feature in the AFC Asian AFC ENTRY CONTROL BODY U-23 Cup to be played in Chairperson: Liu Chi (China PR); First Thailand next year. The Deputy: Judge Rauf Soulio (Australia); Second event in Thailand will Deputy: Ahmadreza Barati (Iran); Third act as the qualifier for Deputy: Sheikh Mohd Nasir bin Sheikh Mohd Olympic Games in Tokyo Sharif (Malaysia); and Fourth Deputy: Dr. 2020. Khaled Hassan S. Banaser (Saudi Arabia). WEDNESDAY 5 JUNE 2019 SPORT 17 It’s a great satisfaction to be in TODAY TOMORROW another semi-final, there are lots of emotions. My level has been very Rafael Nadal South Africa vs India Australia vs West Indies 12:30pm (Qatar time) 12:30pm (Qatar time) good throughout the tournament and After beating Nishikori to Bangladesh vs New Zealand Match No: 10 I am happy to be able to come back reach his 31st Slam 3:30pm (Qatar time) At Trent Bridge, West Bridgford and play another day. semi-final yesterday.

Warriors Federer, Nadal set up French battered and bruised in Open semi-final blockbuster NBA Finals AFP AFP FRENCH OPEN OAKLAND, UNITED STATES PARIS RESULTS If the injury-hit Golden State Roger Federer set up a mouthwa- Men - Quarter-finals Warriors manage to win their third tering French Open semi-final clash Roger Federer (SUI x3) bt Stan straight NBA Finals and fourth in five with Rafael Nadal yesterday when Wawrinka (SUI x24) 7-6 (7/4), years, the trainers and medical staff he defeated Stan Wawrinka in four 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 might deserve Most Valuable Player sets to become the oldest men’s consideration. Grand Slam semi-finalist in 28 years. Rafael Nadal (ESP x2) bt Kei The reigning champions are level The 37-year-old Swiss beat his Nishikori (JPN x7) 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 with Toronto at 1-1 entering today’s compatriot 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), third game of the best-of-seven 6-4 to reach his 43rd major semi- Women - Quarter-finals series, but injuries to key players final and eighth at Roland Garros. Johanna Konta (GBR x26) bt have the Warriors uncertain just who Defending champion Nadal, Sloane Stephens (USA x7) 6-1, will suit up against the Raptors. Switzerland’s Roger Federer (right) hugs Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka after winning bidding for a 12th title at the French 6-4 “We’ll see about all the injuries,” during their men’s singles quarter-final match of French Open in Paris, yesterday. Open, blitzed a weary Kei Nishikori Kerr said. “You need your bench, no 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. matter what, but in particular when Federer trails his head-to-head The 37-year-old Swiss star but Federer moved two sets to one you’ve got a lot of injuries.” record with Nadal 23-15 -- despite beat Stan Wawrinka to in front on his fifth set point. Two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin winning their last five matches -- reach his 43rd major After the threat of thunderstorms Durant, Golden State’s top playoff and 13-2 on clay. and dark skies forced the players scorer, has been sidelined for nearly The Spaniard has a 5-0 stran- semi-final and eighth at from the court with the fourth set a month with a right calf injury. glehold over Federer at Roland Roland Garros. level at 3-3, Federer returned Kerr says Durant must take part Garros with Nadal winning their refreshed 80 minutes later and in a practice before playing, but most recent Paris clash in the 2011 20-time Grand Slam sealed a 23rd victory over Wawrinka called it “feasible” that Durant could final. champion is the oldest man in their 26th meeting, despite take part in yesterday’s workout and The 20-time Grand Slam to make the semis at one of needing three match points to get return in game three today. champion is the oldest man to make over the line. Klay Thompson and Kevin the semis at one of the big four tour- the big four tournaments Nadal took his record in Paris to Looney are nursing new injuries from naments since Jimmy Connors at the since Jimmy Connors at the 91 wins and just two defeats in a one- Sunday’s 109-104 victory at Toronto. 1991 US Open aged 39. 1991 US Open aged 39. sided contest with Nishikori to reach The Warriors flight from Canada Wawrinka saved 16 of 18 break his 31st Slam semi-final. arrived later than expected Monday points in a thrilling encounter, but Defending champion Nadal, Yesterday’s win was Nadal’s 11th in California, delaying an MRI exam Federer quickly finished off the bidding for a 12th title at in 13 meetings against Japanese of star guard Thompson and medical match after a rain delay to progress. seventh seed Nishikori who had tests on reserve center Looney. It is the third seed’s first the French Open, blitzed played back-to-back five-setters to Thompson left in the fourth appearance at the French Open since a weary Kei Nishikori to reach his third quarter-final at quarter of Golden State’s game two 2015 after taking time away from book the 39th career clash Roland Garros. triumph with a tight left hamstring. clay to focus on Wimbledon, but he against Federer. As the skies darkened over the “Klay said he’ll be fine, but Klay has been in fine form in Paris and city, so did Nishikori’s mood as he could be half dead and he would say has only lost one set so far -- as has slipped 4-1 down in the third and he would be fine,” Kerr said. “We’ll Nadal. Wawrinka had saved 22 of 27 again needed the trainer to attend to see. He pulled his hamstring. He Nadal, who turned 33 on break points in his epic last-16 his arm. Even the weather delay didn’t thinks it is minor, so I don’t know Monday, is three behind Federer in victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas, help as Nadal needed just another what that means going forward.” the all-time list of Grand Slam singles including all eight in the deciding set, eight minutes to finish the job. Looney was sidelined from game titles heading into their 39th career and he was at it again on Tuesday, Johanna Konta became the first two with what the team called a clash. making it seven from seven to move British woman in 36 years to reach chest contusion but Warriors coach It will be Federer’s first Roland 3-1 in front in the second. the semi-finals by sweeping past Spain’s Rafael Steve Kerr said after the game the Garros semi-final since a defeat by He suffered from a few jitters seventh-seeded Sloane Stephens of Nadal in problem was “something with his Novak Djokovic in 2012. when serving to level the match, but the United States, last year’s runner- action during shoulder.” The 2009 French Open took his fourth set point. The topsy- up, 6-1, 6-4. his quarter- DeMarcus Collins played nearly champion struck 53 winners on turvy nature of the encounter con- The 28-year-old Konta had not final match 28 minutes in game two after going Tuesday, as Wawrinka’s 61 unforced tinued in the third set, as Federer won a match at Roland Garros in any against only eight minutes in game one in errors proved costly. missed two set points before sal- of her previous four visits. Japan’s Kei his return from a torn left quad- In a dramatic opening set on vaging two break points himself after But now she has emulated Jo Nishikori riceps that had sidelined him for six Court Suzanne Lenglen, Federer the players had earlier traded breaks. Durie who was the last British yesterday. weeks. saved four break points before taking Wawrinka held his nerve to force woman to make the French Open “He was fantastic and we needed it in a tie-break. the quarter-final’s second tie-break, semi-finals in 1983. everything he gave out there, his rebounding, his toughness, his physical presence,” Kerr said. PGA Tour “He feels good in there right now Blues beat Bruins to level Stanley Cup Final so we do feel confident we can con- adds Bermuda tinue to get good minutes from him. We’re going to need them with all event to 2019-20 REUTERS outstretched skate of Bruins these injuries.” ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI goaltender Tuukka Rask just Cousins stepped into the pressure schedule 43 seconds into the game. of his first NBA Finals start a pro- Ryan O’Reilly scored twice Boston’s Charlie Coyle tied duced 11 points and 10 rebounds. REUTERS including the game winner as the game later in the period Warriors’ 3-point sharpshooter BERMUDA the St. Louis Blues defeated the after he rebounded a shot Stephen Curry started 0-for-6 and Boston Bruins 4-2 in Game blocked by Blues goalie Jordan felt bad early but sparked a rally with The PGA Tour said yesterday it Four on Monday to level the Binnington and fired it from a late second-quarter surge. will add the island of Bermuda best-of-seven Stanley Cup point blank range into the net. “Just didn’t feel right at the start to its 2019-20 schedule. Finals series. The Blues regained the of the game,” Curry said. “But at the The Bermuda Championship After an embarrassing 7-2 lead on a second chance end of the day nothing’s going to is scheduled for Oct. 31-Nov. 3 blowout in Game Three, the opportunity of their own when keep you from playing in the finals. at Port Royal Golf Course, the Blues responded with their first Vladimir Tarasenko So I have plenty of time to recover PGA Tour said in a statement. ever home victory in a Finals, rebounded a blocked shot by before game three. Don’t really The tournament represents where they have appeared Rask and buried it into the know what the cause was. Just didn’t the PGA Tour’s first official three times before but never back of the net to give the feel right.” annual event on the island. won the trophy. home side a 2-1 lead. Andre Iguodala, the 2015 NBA Port Royal Golf Course held Blues defenseman Colton Early in the second period Finals MVP, ignored a nagging left the now-defunct PGA Grand Parayko said resiliency was Bruins defenseman Zdeno calf injury to sink the winning Slam of Golf, an offseason event nothing new for his squad, Chara blocked a shot and the 3-pointer in the dying seconds. that brought together the which had to battle back from puck jumped off his stick and “We’ve battled injuries. Every winners of the season’s four a 2-1 deficit in the conference hit him in the mouth, leading year throughout a playoff stretch, majors, from 2009-14. finals and being 3-2 down in to heavy bleeding and sending someone went down,” Iguodala said. “Bermuda is an appealing the conference semis to the team out for the “It’s a mindset. You go play. Not year-round destination, and the advance. remainder of the game. saying it’s smart, but you only have players will love visiting in the Staying confident against The Bruins then leveled the about a week left to gut it out and fall, plus we will be hosted by the Bruins, who are looking to game on a short-handed goal see if you can help the team.” an outstanding golf course,” capture their seventh Stanley by Brandon Carlo, his first of said Ty Votaw, Executive Vice Cup, was critical, he said. the playoffs, with 5:41 left in President, International for the “We’re a confident group. the second but O’Reilly struck Two-time NBA Finals MVP PGA Tour. Throughout the playoffs we’ve again on a rebounded shot to Kevin Durant, Golden State’s According to the PGA Tour, been able to rebound after put the Blues ahead 3-2. top playoff scorer, has been the Bermuda Tourism Authority losses and I think that was the An empty net goal by sidelined for nearly a month has signed a five-year biggest part. We had the con- Brayden Schenn in the final with a right calf injury while agreement, through 2023, as the fidence tonight right from the minutes sealed the win for the St. Louis Blues left wing Jaden Schwartz (top right) tries to get the Klay Thompson and Kevin title sponsor of the event. get go. home side. puck between Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (bottom) The tournament will have The Blues struck first with The series shifts back to Looney are nursing new $3 million purse and offer 300 and defenseman Brandon Carlo in game four of the 2019 Stanley a wrap-around goal from Boston for Game Five injuries from Sunday’s 109- FedExCup points to the Cup Finals at Enterprise Center, on Monday. O’Reilly that got past the tomorrow. 104 victory at Toronto. champion. 18 SPORT WEDNESDAY 5 JUNE 2019 India plan pace assault against South Africa AFP “I was just thinking about SOUTHAMPTON the game plan, really, but Virat, India’s captain Virat Kohli he hit me for a boundary and Virat Kohli’s India will unleash then he had a word (during an their formidable pace attack Indian Premier League game). against beleaguered South And then when you give it back Africa when the title contenders to him, he gets angry,” Rabada open their World Cup campaign told cricinfo. today. “I don’t get the guy. Maybe India are the last of the 10 he does it because it gets him teams to launch their challenge going, but that comes across as in England and Wales and they very immature for me. He is a start against a South Africa side phenomenal player but he can’t already in turmoil after losing take the abuse.” their first two matches. Rabada leads South Africa’s The two-time world cham- injury-hit pace attack, with pions plan to push South Africa Lungi Ngidi sidelined after suf- towards elimination in South- fering a hamstring strain in ampton by deploying a feared Sunday’s defeat against line-up led by Jasprit Bangladesh. Bumrah, the top-ranked one-day Veteran paceman Dale international bowler in the Steyn has been ruled out of the world. entire World Cup after missing Bumrah is ably supported by the first two games with a fellow quicks Mohammed Shami, shoulder injury. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik But Faf du Plessis’s side Pandya. expect to be bolstered by the Wrist spinners Kuldeep return of batting star Hashim Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal Amla, who missed the last game lend variety to India’s attack, but after being hit on the head by their primary weapon in seaming a Jofra Archer bouncer against English conditions will be the New Zealand are the dark average of 59.57. The 30-year- England. pace bowlers. horses. The rest are all old’s importance to India is not Thrashed by England in “Bowling is going to be underdogs.” lost on South African pace bowler their tournament opener, the India’s strength,” former Kohli, in his first 50-over Kagiso Rabada, who tried some Proteas’ 21-run defeat against South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis fields during a training session batsman Sanjay Manjrekar said. World Cup as captain, is the key mind games ahead of their poten- Bangladesh at the Oval has at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, southern England, ahead of “India would be favourites to India’s batting, with his 10,843 tially feisty clash when he called put them in a perilous alongside Australia and England. runs in 227 ODI matches at an the skipper “very immature”. position. today’s World Cup match against India.

South Africa Bangladesh look to Shakib can still reach Cup semis to tame New Zealand without Steyn,

AFP New Zealand’s Colin Munro (left) celebrates with team-mate New says Du Plessis LONDON Zealand’s Martin Guptill after victory over in Cardiff, south Wales, on Saturday. AFP Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al SOUTHAMPTON Hasan has set his sights on a memo- rable 200th one-day international as South Africa captain Faf du his side chase a second successive Plessis said his struggling side World Cup win against New Zealand could still reach the World Cup today. semi-finals, even after talisman Shakib was the key man when paceman was ruled Bangladesh upset South Africa by 21 out of the tournament with a runs in their opening match on Sunday. shoulder injury. His composed 75 helped steer The 35-year-old fast bowler Bangladesh to their highest one-day had been battling to be fit in international total of 330 for six before time for today’s crucial clash the spinner took 1-50 to restrict South against fancied India in South- Africa to 309-8. ampton after two defeats in two That made Shakib only the matches for South Africa. fifth player behind Sri Lanka’s Sanath series in New Zealand earlier this year, the tournament.” Shakib will become But the seamer has been Jayasuriya, South African Jacques in which they were routed 3-0 by the only the third Bangladesh player to forced to admit defeat, leaving Kallis, and Pakistan pair Shahid Afridi hosts and the all-rounder hopes Bang- play 200 or more ODIs, behind skipper head coach Ottis Gibson’s side and Abdul Razzaq to reach the ladesh will put up a tougher fight Mashrafe Mortaza (210) and Mushfiqur short of firepower. landmark of 5,000 runs and 250 against New Zealand this time. Rahim (206). “Steyn has suffered a in ODIs. “Building up to this World Cup, we But he remains modest about his second shoulder injury which The 32-year-old’s next challenge knew what challenges we might face. milestone moment. has not responded to treatment comes at the Oval against a New We prepared well, so that gave us a lot “I’m very happy the way I con- and has ruled him out of Zealand side who crushed Sri Lanka of confidence and belief. We came to tributed (in the last game). If I do that bowling for the foreseeable by 10 wickets in their opening match. this World Cup wanting to do well,” he every time, the stats will take care of future,” Cricket South Africa Shakib has experience of upsetting said. themselves,” Shakib said. said in a statement. the Black Caps after inspiring their “We are up for the challenge but “I don’t normally look at it (his sta- South Africa have called up five-wicket win over New Zealand in at the same time we are relaxed. We tistics), but if people are talking about left-arm pace bowler Beuran Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan (right) celebrates the 2017 Champions Trophy with the knew we had the skill to beat big it, I obviously feel happy.” Hendricks as a replacement for with team-mate Mehidy Hasan Miraz after taking most recent of his seven ODI teams. New Zealand showed against Sri the remainder of the tour- the wicket of South Africa’s Aiden Markram during hundreds. “I think that we are in a good place, Lanka that they are a well-rounded nament, with Lungi Ngidi also the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match at Bangladesh missed Shakib when mentally. I think if we can continue in team more than capable of going a long nursing a hamstring problem. The Oval in London on Sunday. a finger injury ruled him out of the ODI this manner, we can go a long way in way in the tournament. Paceman Anrich Nortje was ruled out with a thumb issue before the World Cup even started. But Du Plessis said Pakistan keen to shed ‘unpredictable’ tag despite their injury problems and their poor start to the REUTERS Cup campaign back on track. very good and balanced. tournament, South Africa LONDON “We had an upset against the “After the first match we sat were aiming to reach the last West Indies on Friday but, yes, down and talked about our four of the round-robin After being routed by West Indies the guys bounced back very weaknesses and about our plans event, in which all 10 teams in their World Cup opener and well,” fast bowler Hasan told and execution, all these things. play each other. shocking England on Monday, reporters. One thing is very important, our “Six games is the target, and Pakistan are living up to their “We do a lot of hard work coach (Mickey Arthur) is always there’s seven games left,” the billing as cricket’s most unpre- and we believe in ourselves and backing us.” skipper told reporters during dictable side but quick Hasan Ali we have faith we can win the Man-of-the-match his pre-match press conference says they are determined to find World Cup. People are saying we Mohammad Hafeez, who top- at the Ageas Bowl. a measure of consistency. are unpredictable, but we don’t scored for Pakistan with an 84 “It would be great if we The 1992 champions went like it.” After the humbling off 62 balls and also took the could start that tomorrow. into their opener against West against West Indies, Pakistan’s wicket of England captain Eoin There’s no easy games any Indies on the back of 10 straight batsmen went on the offensive Morgan, said Pakistan were des- more in the World Cup.... losses and did nothing to boost against England, mustering perate to turn things around. Whether it’s winning or losing, their confidence after being 348-8 after being put in to bat “It’s a feeling of total relief. the main thing is getting to the bundled out for 105 inside 22 first. After the game against the West semi-finals.” overs en route to a seven-wicket “We were very disappointed Indies we were really looking South Africa, who have drubbing. we lost 11 ODI games in a row but forward to this match and putting never won the World Cup, have However, Pakistan turned one thing is very important, we things right,” he said. endured a wretched start to the the tables on England, the world’s believed in ourselves,” Hasan “We know this team is very tournament, losing to hosts Pakistan’s captain Sarfaraz Ahmed leads his team off the pitch after top-ranked one-day interna- said. “We needed just a little bit capable we just needed to start England by 104 runs then winning the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match against tional side, with a 14-run victory of a kick, and we got the kick. We converting some matches into slipping to a 21-run loss to at Trent Bridge to get their World are very confident, our team is wins.” England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, central England, on Monday. Bangladesh on Sunday. WEDNESDAY 5 JUNE 2019 SPORT 19

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka Pradeep, Malinga strike as Sri c NZadran b Nabi 30 c Shahzad c Rashid ...... 78 b Nabi ...... 25 c Shah b Nabi ...... 2 c Shah b Nabi ...... 0 Lanka rally to beat Afghanistan c Shahzad b Hassan 0 run out ...... 2 AFP b SZadran ...... 10 CARDIFF ...... 15 b DZadran ...... 4 Nuwan Pradeep and Lasith Nuwan Pradeep b Rashid ...... 0 Malinga starred as Sri Lanka Extras: (10LB, 3NB, 22W) ...... 35 fought back to crush Afghani- Total: (all out) ...... 201 stan’s hopes of a World Cup Fall of wickets: 1-92, 2-144, 3-146, 4-146, victory on Tuesday. 5-149, 6-159, 7-178, 8-180, 9-199 Afghanistan, bidding for just Bowling: Dawlat Zadran 6-0-34-2 (3w), Hamid their second win in a World Cup Hassan 7-0-53-1 (2w), Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3-0-19- match and their first over a Test 0 (1w), Mohammad Nabi 9-0-30-4 (1w), Gulba- nation were in command din Naib 4-0-38-0 (2w, 3nb), Rashid Khan 7.5-1- halfway through a gloomy day in Cardiff after dismissing Sri 17-2 (1w). Lanka for 201 But faced with a rain-revised target of 187 in 41 Afghanistan overs, their batting let them Mohammad Shahzad c Karunaratne b Mal- down again as they were bowled inga ...... 7 out for 152. Hazrat Zazai c T Perera b Pradeep ...... 30 Pradeep took a career-best Rahmat Shah c Mathews b Udana ...... 2 four for 31, while Malinga (three Hashmatullah Shahidi c K Perera b Pra- for 39) struck at both ends of the deep ...... 4 innings, finishing the match with Mohammad Nabi b T Perera ...... 11 a trademark yorker that bowled Gulbadin Naib lbw b Pradeep ...... 23 Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Pradeep Hamid Hassan. Najibullah Zadran run out ...... 43 (second left) celebrates with Victory saw Sri Lanka, Rashid Khan b Pradeep ...... 2 beaten by Afghanistan in last team-mates after taking the wicket of Afghanistan’s Rashid Dawlat Zadran b Malinga ...... 6 year’s Asia Cup, bounce back Mujeeb ur Rahman not out ...... 1 from a 10-wicket thrashing by Khan during the 2019 Cricket Hamid Hassan b Malinga ...... 6 New Zealand in their World Cup World Cup group stage match Extras: (1B, 1NB, 15W) ...... 17 opener in Cardiff. at Sophia Gardens stadium in It was also just their second Cardiff, south Wales, yesterday. Total: (all out) ...... 152 win in 11 one-day international Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-42, 3-44, 4-57, matches this year following a 5-57, 6-121, 7-123, 8-136, 9-145 defeat of non-Test nation runs, with spinner Mohammad negative part but otherwise dismiss Hazratullah Zazai on the twice, having Naib lbw before Bowling: Lasith Malinga 6.4-0-39-3 (3w), Scotland. But Sri Lanka’s batting Nabi taking three in five balls. bowling and fielding was a high hook for 30. Afghanistan captain bowling Rashid Khan to leave Suranga Lakmal 6-0-27-0 (2w), Isuru Udana remains a concern. They were “We had a good start but note.” Afghanistan in turn Gulbadin Naib (23) and Afghanistan 123 for seven. 6-0-28-1 (1nb), Nuwan Pradeep 9-1-31-4 set for a huge total against suddenly we lost a couple of slumped to 57 for five, with Najibullah Zadran (43) started to And when Najibullah was (4w), Thisara Perera 4-0-19-1 (2w), Dhanan- Afghanistan at 144 for one but wickets,” said Sri Lanka captain Thisara Perera holding a brilliant turn the tide with a stand of 64. run out by Karunratne’s direct jaya de Silva 1-0-7-0. lost their last nine wickets for 57 Dimuth Karunaratne. “That’s the running catch in the deep to But paceman Pradeep struck hit, Afghanistan were nine down. Portugal ready to unleash teenager Koeman sees Joao Felix at the Nations League ‘great future’ REUTERS PORTO for Dutch team Portugal are ready to unleash precocious teenager Joao Felix at the Nations League this week REUTERS “We always brought good with coach Fernando Santos PARIS young players through the saying the 19-year-old has not system from what we have in been brought along just for the The Netherlands head into this Holland. We are a country that ride. week’s Nations League semi- will always produce good young The Benfica forward has still finals with one of the best young players. Always. to make his international debut squads the country has “Sometimes in football it’s but has had a remarkable first produced in recent years and like this: talented young players season in professional football Dutch football can once again coming through the system. The with 20 goals and 11 assists for look forward to a bright future, atmosphere around the national his club in 43 games in all manager Ronald Koeman has team has changed and that was competitions. said. down to the players and how we Many of them have been cel- The Dutch failed to qualify started in the Nations League.” ebrated with his younger brother for last year’s World Cup in De Jong and De Ligt were who is a ball boy at Benfica’s Russia but brushed aside part of the Ajax Amsterdam side home matches. Germany and world champions that reached this season’s His market value has France in the Nations League Champions League semi-finals Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and Joao Moutinho in action rocketed to $34.90m, according group stages to qualify for the and Koeman said De Ligt’s part- during a training session ahead of their UEFA Nations League semi-final to the specialist website Trans- semi-finals in Portugal. nership with Liverpool’s Virgil fermarkt, and Benfica are against Switzerland which will be played today. The Netherlands’ resurgence van Dijk in defence had given already struggling to hold on to as a force in Europe has been the Dutch a strong foundation. him with practically every major Portugal face Switzerland in “If he wasn’t ready to play, sparingly by Benfica at the helped by a new generation of “We have the best centre club in Europe having been their Nations League semi-final he wouldn’t be here,” Santos told start of the season but his talent and the emergence of defenders with De Ligt and reported at some point as on Wednesday and coach reporters yesterday. fortune changed when coach players such as Frenkie de Jong Virgil,” the 56-year-old added. showing interest in signing him. Fernando Santos said there was “Regardless of his age, we Rui Vitoria was fired in and Matthijs de Ligt, who “They are top defence players. Although he has a contract no reason why Joao Felix could have seen what he is capable of January and replaced by Koeman says can shape Dutch That’s great because you build until June 2023, it has a 120 not make his international debut. and if he was called up, and is Bruno Lage, who immediately football for years to come. the house, always, from down- million euro release clause and, The winners qualify for the part of the 23-man squad and gave him a run. “We have a great future,” stairs. You don’t start with the according to the rumour mill, final where they will meet either lots of other top quality players “One of the first things I Koeman told The Guardian. “In roof. there are plenty of clubs willing Netherlands or England who missed out, that means we are decided was to give the lad a the last few years it is the best “We are on a good way back to pay up. meet on Thursday in Guimaraes prepared to field him.” chance to play,” said Lage in an generation. But they are just to where we would like to stay European champions in the other semi-final. Joao Felix was used only interview last month. starting. They have great talent. as a country.” Former Spain coach Lopetegui takes over at Sevilla

AFP stepping down. possible.” Lopetegui’s brief and MADRID Sevilla finished sixth in La inglorious reign as Real coach Real Madrid’s Spanish Liga after three defeats in their ended in humiliation, as he was coach Julen Lopetegui Sevilla said yesterday they had final six games ruined their fired by the club following a 5-1 reacts during the Santiago signed Julen Lopetegui, who was chances of qualifying for the loss against arch rivals Bernabeu Trophy football sacked as Spain coach on the Champions League. They were Barcelona. match against AC Milan in eve of the 2018 World Cup, as knocked out of this season’s His time at the Santiago Madrid in theis August 2018 manager for the next three Europa League in the last 16 Bernabeu lasted just 139 days, file picture. seasons. after a surprise 6-5 aggregate with his decision to join the club The 52-year-old, who had defeat by Czech outfit Slavia also costing him his job as Spain been out of work since Real Prague. boss at the 2018 World Cup in Madrid also fired him at the end “I think Julen is completely Russia. of October thanks to a dreadful ready to be with us. He’s a The Spanish football feder- start to the season, will take football man and will be very ation sacked Lopetegui in June over from Joaquin Caparros. involved with the team, the club, 2018 just two days before He will be officially unveiled with everything,” defender Spain’s opening game with Por- as Sevilla’s new coach on Sergio Escudero told the club’s tugal after it emerged that he Wednesday, the club said in a radio station. had signed with Real without statement. “I think we’re going to learn their knowledge. Caparros, who has been a lot with all the time he’ll be The former Real Madrid diagnosed with chronic here. I’m sure he’ll come looking goalkeeper has also coached leukemia, announced at the end to improve, work hard and to Rayo Vallecano and Porto at the of the season that he would be get us as high up the table as club level.