Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 43 Donald keen on long-term role with Australia MELBOURNE: Former South Africa fast his team, without a shadow of doubt.” gular limited overs series against West “He brings a wealth of experience with bowler Allan Donald will join Australia as Former Australia fast bowler Indies and South Africa in the Caribbean in him and our guys will benefit greatly from their bowling coach for their tour of Sri McDermott stepped down after the World June. Donald, however, will join the team having him around,” Lehmann added. “His Lanka, Cricket Australia (CA) said yester- Twenty20 tournament in India and the for the three tests, five one day interna- test record speaks for itself and he was day. The appointment was not perma- team is still searching for a permanent tionals and two Twenty20 matches in Sri without a doubt one of the most formida- nent, the organization added, though replacement. Local media reported last Lanka from July 26-Sept 9. “When Boof ble bowlers of his generation. “He has Donald, who captured 330 test wickets in week that Lehmann had sounded out asked me I didn’t expect that at all,” also had considerable success in sub-con- his 10-year career for the Proteas, said he Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie, a former Donald added. “For me as an international tinent conditions and will bring a fresh would be keen to succeed former coach Australia fast bowler, about joining his cricketer playing against Australia, there perspective, and challenge some of our Craig McDermott on a long-term basis. “If group. Cricket Australia have said they was a lot of respect for the way they thinking.” Lehmann added that former it does happen to be a long-term thing, hope to make a decision on a permanent played their cricket.” The 49-year-old, who Australia player Stuart Law would join the then I would absolutely love to do that,” appointment before Australia’s interna- has also spent time as bowling coach for team for the tour as batting coach. Donald told Cricket Australia’s website tional program at home, which starts in New Zealand and then for his native South Current batting coach Greg Blewett had (www.cricket.com.au). “There’s no ques- early November, against South Africa. Africa from 2011-15, is currently with the been excused to spend time with his fam- tion about it. I would love to work with West Australia bowling coach Adam Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian ily, with his second child due to be born Boof (head coach Darren Lehmann) and Griffith is joining the team for their trian- Premier League (IPL). during the tour, CA said. — Reuters Ducks down and out as Predators advance LOS ANGELES: After winning Game 6 of their sting. “With the way the score was and the way Western Conference quarter-final series on we were pushing, I’d say yes, especially with Monday, the Nashville Predators saw a mes- how hard we had to push from November just sage in their locker room: “Noon flight to to get to where we were,” Boudreau said. “We Anaheim. Pack for six days.” Colin Wilson, Paul did everything the hard way.” Rinne prevented Gaustad and Pekka Rinne ensured those the hosts from taking the lead about four min- instructions would remain relevant. Wilson utes after the opening face-off, when he did the and Gaustad scored in the first period as the splits while making a lunging catch of Cam Predators eliminated the Anaheim Ducks from Fowler’s slap shot from the blue line. the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 2-1 victory in Wilson put Nashville ahead 6:19 into the the seventh game of the series on Wednesday game with his second goal of the playoffs. at the Honda Center. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm flipped a high pass Rinne stopped 36 shots for the Predators, from the left boards in the Predators’ zone to who will face the San Jose Sharks on Friday in Wilson at the Ducks’ blue line. Wilson tried to the first game of the conference semi-finals. “I feed a pass between Anaheim defensemen was able to see most of the shots,” Rinne said. Simon Despres and Clayton Stoner to Mike “Defensively, I thought we did an excellent job. Fisher. Despres blocked the high pass with his Sometimes, you have to win games like that.” glove and deflected the puck to the ice. Ducks left winger Andrew Cogliano agreed. However, before Despres could play the “Tonight was probably one of our best offensive puck, Wilson stole it and propelled a backhand games in the series, if not the best,” Cogliano inside the right post. “Those flipped-up pucks said, “but they gutted it out. They’re a tough are hard to control for the defensemen,” Wilson team to play against in their own end because said. “I was just trying to wait. With the way they cut cycles off.” ‘Fish’ was going, pushing him back, I was fortu- The victory came in the first Game 7 in nate enough for it to come up on my stick.” That Predators history. “It’s a big step,” Nashville goal tied Wilson with Martin Erat for fourth coach Peter Laviolette said. “If you don’t take place on the Predators’ all-time playoff goal- this step, you can’t take any more steps.” Ryan scoring list with eight. Gaustad’s second career Kesler scored the only goal for the Ducks, who playoff goal and first in the series extended the received 18 saves from goalie Frederik Andersen lead to 2-0 at 15:53. With his stick at shoulder yet failed to win a seventh game for the fifth level, Gaustad deflected Shea Weber’s slap shot time since 2009. For the fourth consecutive year, from the right point under the crossbar. opponents eliminated Anaheim in a Game 7 Boudreau challenged the call, which video while the Ducks served as the home team. “We replay upheld. were playing catch-up the whole game, the Nashville needed the crossbar to keep the whole series and all year,” Ducks center Ryan Ducks scoreless early in the second period. Getzlaf said. “It came to bite us at the end.” After Rinne blocked Rickard Rakell’s tip-in, Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau admitted Jamie McGinn tried to convert the rebound that this loss in a Game 7 contained a stronger with Rinne prone on the ice. However, South Africa’s Otto in orbit with eagle at 8 BEIJING: South African journeyman Hennie have to hit it in the right places and that’s the CALIFORNIA: Pekka Rinne #35, Shea Weber #6, Mattias Ekholm #14, Barret Jackman #5, Otto blasted a stunning nine-under-par 63 to thing I did today. “I’ve always got a good frame Roman Josi #59, and Paul Gaustad #28 of the Nashville Predators celebrate against the lead the Volvo China Open after the first round of mind every week but it’s just my putting let Anaheim Ducks after Game Seven of the Western Conference First Round during the yesterday. Starting in the very first group on the me down and today it came through.” Otto was 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Honda Center on April 27, 2016. — AFP 10th tee at the Topwin Golf and Country Club in two strokes ahead of Austria’s Bernd Beijing, the world number 392 was only three Wiesberger, who won the French Open last McGinn’s shot hit the crossbar about five min- off Jakob Silfverberg’s pass from behind the under halfway through his round. But he shot year, with four players tied one shot further utes into the period. “We knew they were net for his fourth goal. Anaheim came close to two birdies in his first three holes on the front back: Finland’s Roope Kakko, Paraguayan going to make a push after we were up 2-0,” scoring the tying goal with about seven min- nine and an eagle at the eighth saw him back in Fabrizio Zanotti, Peter Hanson of Sweden and Predators defenseman Roman Josi said. “But utes to play. Hampus Lindholm fired a shot just 30 strokes. Otto will be 40 in June and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy. Sweden’s Rikard the defense was amazing tonight. They’ve got from the blue line that deflected off the back turned professional in 1998 but had to wait a Karlberg had a hole-in-one with a seven iron at a great cycle game and pass it to the points, of Rinne’s glove and slowly trickled off the left decade for the first of only three European tour the 201-yard 16th, winning a Volvo XC90 car for but our forwards did a great job getting in the post before Rinne covered it with his glove. “It wins, the 2008 Italian Open. his effort. “The factory is 30 minutes from where shot lanes.” came down to seven games for a reason,” “I played really well today,” he said in com- I live so it’s pretty cool,” he said. “I’ve won a Kesler ended Rinne’s quest for a shutout on Weber said. “Everything about it was a battle, ments posted on the organizers’ website. “You Swedish car in China.” — AFP a power play 1:45 into the third period. The a fight. I guess it was only fitting it was that center one-timed a shot in front of the crease close in the end, as well.” — Reuters.