THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016 SPORTS Gavrilova to make Australia Fed Cup debut against US SYDNEY: Russian-born Daria Gavrilova will Casey Dellacqua and Arina Rodionova round “The USA has been dominant in Fed Cup 38 minute marathon in Charleston. break but each time Arruabarrena broke right make her Fed Cup debut for Australia against out the Australia team for the tie against the competition for many decades and we know “First of all, the first rounds are always back, the first time after the Spaniard lost the United States in Brisbane next week after 17-times champions, which will be played on it will be a tough assignment next weekend, tough and Lara played an unbelievable serve in a game that went to 10 deuces before being named in the squad for the world clay at the Pat Rafter Arena from April 16-17. but we’re ready for the challenge and really match,” Kerber said. “After the first set, she was Kerber ended it on her fourth break point. group playoff yesterday. “We’re thrilled for Dasha to make her Fed looking forward to the tie.” fighting. She is a great player and a great clay In another three-set cliffhanger, Mirjana The rising 22-year-old talent, who reached Cup debut for Australia on home soil next Meanwhile, Australian Open champion court player.” Lucic-Baroni of Croatia saved four match the fourth round of the Australian Open in weekend and we know she’ll bring great Angelique Kerber was pushed to a third-set The match-up did not look likely to pro- points before ousting 11th seed Kristina January, has already represented her adopted energy and a fighting spirit to the team,” team tiebreaker by 80th-ranked Spaniard Lara duce such drama as the Spaniard had taken Mladenovic of France 4-6 6-4 7-6, prevail- country after teaming up with Nick Kyrgios to Alicia Molik said in a Tennis Australia Arruabarrena before winning 6-2 5-7 7-6(3) only five games in two previous meetings ing 13-11 in the tie-break to reach the third win the Hopman Cup at the start of the year. statement. and advancing to the third round of the Volvo with top-seeded Kerber, including a 6-3 6-0 round. In first-round matches, 10th seed Despite having received her Australian “Sam is our most experienced Fed Cup Car Open clay court event in South Carolina. loss in the round of 16 here last year. Sam Stosur of Australiawas a 6-4 6-4 win- passport in December, Gavrilova was only player and will really enjoy the opportunity to Defending champion Kerber lost the first But after the opening set, the ground- ner against qualifier Aleksandra Krunic of cleared to play Fed Cup by the International play in front of her home crowd at Pat Rafter point of the decider before running off the stroke battle at the Family Circle Tennis Center Serbia, and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard Tennis Federation (ITF) last month. Arena, and Casey and Arina add great depth next four to seize control as the German was fiercely fought. In a see-saw third set, beat Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-3 Former US Open champion Sam Stosur, to the squad. claimed the tie-break 7-3 to end a two hour, world number two Kerber twice went up a 6-4. — Reuters Australia commits to increasing pay for elite women

MELBOURNE: Australia’s run to the make cricket the sport of choice for women women’s final at the World Twenty20 in in Australia.” India has contributed to a significant pay “We have worked constructively with rise for the country’s elite female cricketers. the Australian Cricketers’ Association to issued a statement yes- reach this point and will continue to do so terday saying the Southern Stars, who lost in our ongoing efforts to improve wages the World T20 final to the West Indies last and workplace conditions for all elite weekend, will be the best paid of any female cricketers.” women’s sports team in the country. He said of the 1.2 million registered The sport’s national governing body cricket players in Australia, almost one- said it would almost double its commit- quarter were women and girls. “That num- ment to elite female cricketers from 2.36 ber continues to grow rapidly and we will million to 4.23 million Australian dollars continue to support females playing the ($1.8 million to $3.2 million), which game from backyard to baggy green,” he includes increases in retainers for interna- said. Cricket Australia released a list of 16 tional and domestic Twenty20 contracted contracted female players for next season, players and comes on top of improved trav- with the likes of 17-year-old Lauren Cheatle el and accommodation benefits, an updat- and 20-year-old Holly Ferling joining estab- ed pregnancy policy, and contributions to lished stars including , who has private health insurance. played soccer and cricket for Australia. The maximum retainers for the women’s Meanwhile, Australia will play its first national team will increase from 49,000 to cricket tests in Sri Lanka in more than five 65,000 Australian dollars ($37,000-$49,000), years when it begins a three-match series and combined with Women’s Big Bash from July 26. retainers, match retainers and tour fees, the Cricket Australia yesterday confirmed best players will earn more than 100,000 dates for a two-month tour beginning on Australian dollars ($76,000). July 11, playing three tests, five one-day Minimum retainers for the Southern internationals and two Twenty20 matches. Stars will double to 40,000 Australian dol- The first test will be played in Kandy, the lars ($30,200), significantly below the mini- second beginning Aug. 4 in Galle and the mum value of a Cricket Australia retainer third in Colombo from Aug. 13. The ODIs are for the top 20 men of 270,000 Australian set for Aug. 21 and 24 in Colombo, Aug. 28 dollars ($204,000). and Aug. 31 in Dambulla and Sept. 4 in Cricket Australia chief executive James Kandy, with the T20s to follow in Kandy on Sutherland said he was “determined to Sept. 6 and Colombo on Sept. 9. — Agencies Ground honour for West Indies captain Sammy

ST JOHN’S: Darren Sammy’s success in cap- Sammy, 32, was also the West Indies’ captain taining the West Indies to the World when they beat then hosts Sri Lanka in the Twenty20 title has been recognised by his 2012 final in Colombo. native St Lucia after it was announced that But immediately after the team’s latest tri- the island’s main cricket ground would be umph at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens ground, the renamed in his honour. all-rounder slammed the WICB for a “disap- MILWAUKEE: Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith, right, passes the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of an NBA basket- The Beausejour Cricket Ground will now pointing” lack of support, saying the team felt ball game Tuesday, in Milwaukee. — AP be known as the Darren Sammy National “disrespected” by their own officials. Sammy’s Cricket Ground, with one of the stands to be comments came on the back of a bitter pay named in honour of fellow St Lucian and dispute that has dogged West Indies cricket Twenty20 winner Johnson Charles. for several years. According to the West Indies Cricket Board, Dave Cameron, the WICB president, Hot-shooting Cavs the announcement was made by the Prime responded by calling Sammy’s remarks “inap- Minister of St Lucia, Kenny D. Anthony, at a propriate”. However, Cameron added the “welcome reception” on the island on board would meet players after the end of the Tuesday. “The West Indies Cricket Board Indian Premier League (IPL) next month to would like to congratulate West Indies cap- persuade them to play for the West Indies, beat Bucks 109-80 tain, Darren Sammy and opener, Johnson rather than opt for lucrative franchise Charles for the honour their home country St Twenty20 leagues. “We want to see how we Lucia has bestowed on them,” the WICB can find common ground in ensuring that the MILWAUKEE: JR Smith scored 21 points and behind Detroit and Indiana for the last playoff teams 2-1 for the first time since 2009-10. added in a statement, issued from their St best players in the region are available for LeBron James and Kevin Love added 17 each as spot in the Eastern Conference and have just John’s, Antigua, headquarters. selection for West Indies teams,” Cameron said. Cleveland cruised to a 109-80 victory over four games left to play. HAWKS 103, SUNS 90 Sunday’s victory over England, in a A pay dispute two years ago led to the team Milwaukee at the Bradley Center, extending its Atlanta overcame a ragged first half and a big thrilling Kolkata final where Carlos Brathwaite flying home in the middle of a tour of India winning streak to four games. Giannis THUNDER 124, NUGGETS 102 game from Phoenix rookie guard Devin Booker hit four successive sixes in the last over, and the players only reluctantly agreed to sign Antetokounmpo flirted with his franchise-record Russell Westbrook had 13 points, 12 assists to stay on top of the Southeast Division. The meant the West Indies became the first team contracts for the World Twenty20 a few weeks sixth triple-double of the season, finishing with a and 14 rebounds for his 17th triple-double of Hawks took advantage of 24 Suns turnovers and to win the World Twenty20 title twice. before the tournament began. — AFP team-high 22 points, 14 rebounds and eight the season, and Oklahoma City routed Denver. pulled away late for a victory despite 34 points assists, but the Bucks never had anything close Westbrook recorded his eighth triple-double from Booker. Paul Millsap had 13 points, 17 to resembling a chance against the Cavaliers, since the beginning of March and the 35th of his rebounds and eight assists in a victory that kept who shot 54.7 percent from the floor and made career. He is the first player to have 17 triple- the Hawks a half-game up on Miami and moved 18 of 36 3-point attempts. doubles in a season since Magic Johnson did it them 1 1/2 games ahead of Charlotte. for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1988-89. TIMBERWOLVES 124, WARRIORS 117 (OT) HEAT 107, PISTONS 89 The Minnesota Timberwolves stalled the SPURS 88, JAZZ 86 Goran Dragic scored 107-99 points to lead Golden State Warriors’ pursuit of history Tuesday Kawhi Leonard hit a late game-winning shot Miami to a victory over Detroit. Dragic shot 9-of- night, riding a fourth-quarter comeback and and San Antonio held off Utah. 15 from the field and was perfect on his four 3- Andrew Wiggins’ nine points in overtime to a Leonard scored 18 points, but none were point attempts for the Heat, which remained in shocking, 124-117 victory. Minnesota, which more clutch than the mid-range jumper he sank fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. trailed by 15 points in the first quarter and 17 to beat the shot clock with four seconds remain- with just 18 minutes to go, held Golden State ing. Tim Duncan only had three points, but he 76ERS 107, PELICANS 93 without a field goal for the final 2:23 of regula- registered his 1,000th career NBA victory. Reserve forward Carl Landry went 9 of 10 tion, then scored the first four points of the over- from the floor and scored 22 points as time session to propel itself to the unlikely win. RAPTORS 96, HORNETS 90 Philadelphia beat depleted New Orleans, ensur- DeMar DeRozan had 26 points, seven ing that the 76ers will not share the mark for the TRAIL BLAZERS 115, KINGS 107 rebounds and six assists and the Toronto worst full-season record in NBA history. Isaiah CJ McCollum scored 30 points, backcourt Raptors held on to defeat the Charlotte Hornets Canaan added 16 points for the Sixers, who mate Damian Lillard added 22, and the Portland 96-90 on Tuesday night. It was the 30th win at snapped a 12-game losing streak and improved Trail Blazers continued their drive toward a home for the Raptors (52-25) this season, equal- to 10-68 with four games remaining in the sea- Western Conference playoff spot with a 115-107 ing the franchise record set in 2006-07. The son. Nik Stauskas and Hollis Thompson had 13 victory over the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Raptors also won the season series between the points apiece. — Reuters Arena on Tuesday. McCollum made 11 of 20 shots and knocked down five 3-pointers, includ- ing one from the left wing arc that capped a 7-0 NBA results/standings run late in the fourth quarter and allowed Portland to put the Kings away. That 3-pointer followed three consecutive offensive rebounds Philadelphia 107, New Orleans 93; Toronto 96, Charlotte 90; Atlanta 103, Phoenix 90; Memphis by the Blazers and put Portland ahead 106-96 108, Chicago 92; Cleveland 109, Milwaukee 80; Miami 107, Detroit 89; Oklahoma City 124, with 2:55 left. Denver 102; San Antonio 88, Utah 86; Portland 115, Sacramento 107; Minnesota 124, Golden State 117 (OT); LA Clippers 103, LA Lakers 81. CLIPPERS 103, LAKERS 81 Eastern Conference Western Conference Chris Paul scored 25 points and handed out Atlantic Division Northwest Division eight assists in three quarters, and the Los W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 54 24 .692 - Angeles Clippers beat the Los Angeles Lakers for Toronto 52 25 .675 - Portland 42 37 .532 12.5 the 10th consecutive time in a 103-81 rout Boston 45 32 .584 7 Utah 39 39 .500 15 Tuesday night at Staples Center. Paul converted NY Knicks 31 47 .397 21.5 Denver 32 47 .405 22.5 10 of 14 shots from the floor as the Clippers (49- Brooklyn 21 56 .273 31 Minnesota 26 52 .333 28 28) captured their sixth win in seven games. Philadelphia 10 68 .128 42.5 Pacific Division Clippers forward Jeff Green delivered 21 points Central Division Golden State 69 9 .885 - off the bench. None of the team’s starters played Cleveland 56 22 .718 - LA Clippers 49 28 .636 19.5 in the fourth quarter, and all 13 Clippers scored. Indiana 41 36 .532 14.5 Sacramento 31 47 .397 38 Detroit 41 37 .526 15 Phoenix 20 58 .256 49 GRIZZLIES 108, BULLS 92 Chicago 39 39 .500 17 Power forward Zach Randolph scored 27 Milwaukee 32 46 .410 24 LA Lakers 16 61 .208 52.5 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Southeast Division Southwest Division Memphis Grizzlies snapped their six-game los- Atlanta 46 32 .590 - San Antonio 65 12 .844 - ing streak with a 108-92 victory over the Chicago Miami 45 32 .584 0.5 Memphis 42 36 .538 23.5 Bulls on Tuesday night at FedExForum. Charlotte 44 33 .571 1.5 Dallas 39 38 .506 26 KOLKATA: West Indies captain Darren Sammy poses with the trophy after they The Bulls saw their dwindling playoff chances Washington 37 40 .481 8.5 Houston 38 39 .494 27 defeated England in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 2016 cricket tournament at grow smaller. They entered Tuesday two games Orlando 33 44 .429 12.5 New Orleans 29 48 .377 36 Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, April 3. — AP