Sports FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2016

Pak has poor 1st day on Aust tour CAIRNS: Pakistan’s tour of Australia got off to a shaky start yesterday when the visitors were all out for 208 on the first day of a three-day tour match against a XI. Playing with a near full-strength lineup and with a pink ball in the day-night match in preparation for the first test on Dec. 15 in Brisbane - also a day-night encounter - Pakistan lost six in the final session under lights. Cricket Australia XI bowler Cameron Valente claimed four wickets, including three of Pakistan’s top six. After winning the toss and electing to bat, the visitors fell to 50-3 midway through the opening session, and wickets went down steadily from there. Only veteran Younis Khan offered sustained resistance, facing 138 balls before he inside-edged a ball from Ryan Lees that swung back slightly under lights to be behind for 54. He was the only Pakistan batsman to reach 50. Earlier yesterday, Pakistan officials said uncapped 17-year-old left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar would join the team as a backup for injured legspinner Yasir Shah. Shah is doubtful for the first test following a back injury which also ruled him out of the Cairns match. Asghar has taken 68 wickets in 17 first-class matches since making his debut in 2014. Shah had been pivotal to Pakistan’s suc- cess in test matches for the last two years, taking 116 wickets in only 20 tests. Pakistan has never won a test series in Australia, win- ning just four of 32 test matches since its first visit in 1964. Australia has won just one of its past five tests. The home side is coming off consecutive one-day international wins over New Zealand to clinch that three-match series ahead of the final match Friday in Melbourne. — AP

MUMBAI: England’s batsman , right, raises his bat and helmet after scoring century as his teammate looks B’desh suffer injury on, on the first day of the fourth cricket test match between India and England. — AP blow for NZ tour DHAKA: ’s injury-plagued Ashwin spoils Jennings debut squad suffered a fresh blow ahead of their forthcoming New Zealand tour after fast bowler Shafiul Islam was ruled out with a ton with three- burst hamstring injury, an official said yesterday. “Shafiul hurt his left hamstring during a recent Bangladesh Premier League match, MUMBAI: poured in my favor. Sometimes you get some luck two balls later, with tak- which would sideline him for at least three cold water on Keaton Jennings’ debut for and you ride it,” said Jennings, who played ing a sharp low catch to dismiss the debu- weeks,” said chief selector Minhajul Abedin. England on Thursday, taking 3 wickets for 9 for South Africa Under 19s and is the son of tant centurion. The off-spinner was near Kamrul Islam was included in the team runs after tea to reduce the tourists to 288-5 former South Africa coach . unplayable in his eight-over spell early in as a replacement for the tour, where on day one of the fourth test in Mumbai. At the last session. Stokes survived somehow, Bangladesh are due to play three one-day but (14) was caught sweep- stumps, was unbeaten on 25 LATE AGGRESSION internationals, three interna- runs, while was on 18 not England scored quickly in the morning ing to square leg as he tried to break the tionals and two Tests from December 26 out, with Ashwin finishing the day with 4-75. and post-tea sessions. Cook was out shackles. to January 24. Shafiul’s injury came as a His persistent spin allowed India to claw - only the fourth time in his test “It started turning a bit more after lunch. blow considering his form in the its way back after being forced onto the back career - off (1-60) just Then it started turning quite nicely in the last Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the foot by a maiden test hundred from debu- before lunch. After lunch, England lost Joe session. It was disappointing losing back-to- Twenty-20 tournament, where he had tak- tant opener Keaton Jennings. The South Root (21) who was caught at slip off Ashwin. back wickets. It makes our first innings more en 18 wickets in 13 matches. Africa-born Jennings scored 112 runs, facing Jennings then reached his maiden hundred critical. Hopefully these two batsmen can go Earlier, another in-form pacer 219 balls, including 13 fours. He put on 99 off 186 balls, with a reverse sweep off Jayant out tomorrow, bat for the next two sessions, Mohammad Shahid was ruled out of the runs with skipper (46) for the Yadav (0-78) just before teatime. “He has a and make a really strong position for us. Then tour with a knee injury and was replaced by opening wicket and another 94 runs for the tendency to nick the ball to slips,” said we can think of putting India under pres- Rubel Hossain. There are also question third wicket with Moeen Ali. These two part- Ashwin about Root’s . “I thought sure,” said Jennings. England collapsed from marks over star pace bowler Mustafizur nerships defined England’s innings before a that dismissal out in my head.” 230-2 to 249-5. Stokes and Buttler then Rahman for the early part of the tour as he is late collapse. Before he had even scored, “The last time we played England here, added 39 runs for the sixth wicket to stem still recovering from a shoulder surgery he Jennings was dropped at gully off Umesh pitch eased out on days two and three. I am the flow of wickets. suffered in England in August. Mustafizur Yadav (0-36) in the fourth over, with Karun seeing similar signs here again. We would An odd incident happened during the has been included in the 22-member squad, Nair failing to hold on to a tough chance to have been happier with one more wicket post lunch session, as a throw from the out- with the selectors hoping he will regain full his left. He also survived an lbw appeal off tonight. Tomorrow we will look to get cou- field hit on the head. He fitness at some stage of the tour. (0-38), with the DRS ple quick wickets and stall their innings,” he was standing at square leg at that time, and Bangladesh, who will hold a condition- review going in the batsman’s favor. added. Post tea, Ali was aggressive on the went off the field. came on ing camp in Sydney before the tour, will “It was a dream come true. It felt surreal and cut loose to reach his ninth test as a substitute, while C Shamsuddin took on leave home in two phases. The first group that came on debut,” said the half-century off 102 balls. In all, he hit four tv umpiring duties. Reiffel, a former Australia of players will leave for Sydney later yes- Durham opener, who was top scorer in the fours and a six as well. But then, in the 71st pace bowler, later underwent a scan which terday while the second group, consisting English last season. “I over, he was out to an impulsive sweep shot didn’t reveal anything worrisome. The for- mainly of squad members who will be rode my luck a little bit, when the catch was off Ashwin, and was caught at midwicket. mer Australian cricketer then spent the day involved in Friday’s BPL final, will leave dropped. Thankfully it went out of the field- Ashwin inflicted a double blow on resting and is expected to take the field on Dhaka on December 10. — AFP er’s hand. Then again the umpire’s call went England as Jennings was caught at gully day two. — AP