WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 SPORTS India, Pakistan to renew rivalry in Asia Cup DHAKA: India and Pakistan will renew hundreds of millions of television viewers, T20 series victories over Australia and Sri sion on Monday. But former Bangladesh Bangladesh will hope home advantage cricket’s most bitter rivalry this week after a making it the biggest box office attraction Lanka. Although India are likely to give captain Habibul Bashar acknowledged will help them build confidence before two-year gap when they face off in the Asia in the sport. But diplomatic tensions have most of their players a work-out in the India would nevertheless start as tourna- heading to India for the World T20 qualify- Cup, a contest for regional supremacy meant that the two teams have not played build-up to the World T20, team director ment favourites after their recent successes. ing round from March 8-13. which is also a final rehearsal for the World any bilateral series for more than three Ravi Shastri made clear they would not be “In the T20 format any team can beat The Tigers had a dream run in 2015 in T20. The biennial 12-day tournament, years and their rivalry is therefore restricted taking their foot off the gas. anyone on a given day. Still, if we have to one-day internationals, but when it comes which is being held in Bangladesh for the to multi-national tournaments. “Whether we play Bangladesh, Pakistan single out a team as favourites, I would say to 20-over cricket they are still ranked second time in a row, begins tonight when Pakistan, furious that India has rebuffed or Sri Lanka and wherever we are playing, it is India,” he said. “They are an in-form among the minnows. the hosts take on India at Dhaka’s Sher-e- repeated pleas to play a bilateral series at a we have to continue our good form,” team. Also they now play Twenty20 cricket Bangla stadium-the venue for all the neutral venue, will be desperate to cause Shastri told reporters in Dhaka. more than anyone else.” Schedule: matches. an upset against their giant neighbour. India’s star batsman Virat Kohli also Two crushing Indian victories over Sri Feb 24: Bangladesh v India Local supporters will be looking to see if With the reigning champions Sri Lanka quashed any suggestion that the team Lanka in their recent three-match series Feb 25: Sri Lanka v UAE Bangladesh’s sharp improvement in 50- going through a rebuilding phase, most would be holding back with only weeks to underlined how much the islanders are Feb 26: Bangladesh v UAE over cricket will translate into an upturn in pundits expect India to cement their posi- go before the World T20 begins. missing batting greats Kumar Sangakkara Feb 27: India v Pakistan their performances in the shortest form of tion at the top of the T20 world rankings “When I go into field I go to play cricket and Mahela Jayawardene, who have both Feb 28: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka the game, with the World T20 in India only ahead of their staging of the format’s pre- with bat and ball, playing with Pakistan is retired since the 2014 triumph. Feb 29: Pakistan v UAE weeks away. But most eyes will be on mier tournament. not different. It’s competitive and Pakistan Pakistan, who will become the first side Mar 1: India v Sri Lanka Saturday’s glamour tie when India and is a strong team,” Kohli said yesterday. to play 100 Twenty20 internationals during Mar 2: Bangladesh v Pakistan Pakistan take to the field together for the DHONI BLOW India are set to be without Dhoni for the the tournament on February 29, will arrive Mar 3: India v UAE first time since the last World T20 in 2014. Confidence is high among Mahendra Bangladesh opener after the skipper suf- late in Dhaka after the finale of the inaugu- Mar 4: Pakistan v Sri Lanka India-Pakistan showdowns usually draw Singh Dhoni’s men after recent convincing fered a back spasm during a practice ses- ral edition of the Pakistan Super League. Mar 6: Final. — AFP Curry leads Warriors to 50th win over Hawks ATLANTA: Stephen Curry scored 36 points and the Golden State Warriors became the fastest team in NBA history to 50 wins, beating the Atlanta Hawks 102-92 Monday night after squandering a 23-point lead. The Warriors (50-5) eclipsed the mark set by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who needed one more game to win their 50th. Of course, that’s the team Golden State is chasing, moving another step clos- er to the record 72-10 mark put up by Michael Jordan and his teammates at the height of their six- titles-in-eight-years dynasty. Atlanta closed the third quarter on a 28-6 run and grabbed the lead briefly early in the fourth, igniting the sellout crowd. But the Warriors would not be denied, bouncing back to hand the Hawks their CHRISTCHURCH: Australia’s David Warner (R) plays a shot watched by Brendon fourth straight home loss. Klay Thompson added McCullum (L) captain of New Zealand during day four of the second cricket Test 27 points for the Warriors. Both he and Curry match between New Zealand and Australia at the Hagley Park in Christchurch knocked down five shots from 3-point range. yesterday. — AFP Draymond Green had 14 rebounds and nine Australia in sight of assists. Al Horford led the Hawks with 23 points. PISTONS 96, CAVALIERS 88 Reggie Jackson scored 23 points, Kentavious victory, top ranking Caldwell-Pope added 19 and Detroit withstood Cleveland’s late comeback to end a five-game los- CHRISTCHURCH: Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja wall, all-rounder Corey Anderson said they see ing streak. One day after allowing New Orleans had Australia in sight of victory and the top Test hope in a fragile Australian tail. “We’re going to center Anthony Davis to score 59 points with 20 rebounds, the Pistons beat the Eastern ATLANTA: Kyle Korver #26 of the Atlanta Hawks defends against Harrison Barnes #40 of the ranking yesterday after an absorbing fourth day have to come up with some interesting fields Golden State Warriors at Philips Arena on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia. — AFP marked by stubborn resistance from New and give it a real crack,” he said. Conference’s top team for the second time this sea- Zealand and umpire abuse by the tourists. “We managed to run through the tail pretty son. Andre Drummond added 15 rebounds for the With Burns on 27 and Khawaja 19, Australia quickly in the first innings after they’d put on Pistons, who let an 18-point lead in the fourth were 70 for 1 at stumps in the second Test in about 400 for the first six wickets. “If we can get quarter dwindle to six before putting away the NBA results/standings Christchurch, requiring a further 131 to sweep in a similar situation then we’ve just got to back Cavs and ending their five-game winning streak. the series 2-0 and return to world number one. ourselves.” Although Australia have been domi- Kyrie Irving scored 30 and Kevin Love 24 for Atlanta 92, Golden State 102; LA Clippers 124, Phoenix 84; Miami 101, Indiana 93 (OT); New York Jackson Bird, with his first five-wicket Test haul, nant for much of the Test, New Zealand put up a Cleveland, which had an off night after looking so 95, Toronto 122; Milwaukee 108, LA Lakers 101; Minnesota 124, Boston 122; Cleveland 88, and James Pattinson combined to end the New valiant fight with two century partnerships as impressive in a win at Oklahoma City on Sunday. Detroit 96. Zealand second innings at 335, giving Australia a they battled to save the contest. LeBron James scored just 12 points - 13 below his Eastern Conference Western Conference 201-run target. Kane Williamson made 97 when adding 102 average - and went 5 of 18 from the floor, missing Atlantic Division Northwest Division David Warner, who has struggled on New for the fifth wicket with Anderson. The loss of all four 3-point tries and committing six turnovers. Zealand surfaces, was the Australian wicket to Anderson for 40 was the start of a Bird strike that W L PCT GB Oklahoma City 40 16 .714 — Tobias Harris, acquired from Orlando in a trade last Toronto 37 18 .673 — Portland 29 27 .518 11 fall, caught behind for 22. Neil Wagner, using the claimed three wickets in six balls. week, scored 14 in his first start for the Pistons. short ball that provided him with six wickets in Williamson and Tim Southee also fell before Boston 33 25 .569 5.5 Utah 27 28 .491 12.5 the first innings, caught Warner’s glove and BJ BJ Watling and Henry mounted rearguard resist- New York 24 34 .414 14.5 Denver 22 34 .393 18 HEAT 101, PACERS 93, OT Watling completed the dismissal down the leg- ance, adding 118 for the eighth wicket. Bird, Brooklyn 15 41 .268 22.5 Minnesota 18 39 .316 22.5 side. Burns offered chances but luck was on his back in the Australian side for the first time in Goran Dragic scored 24 points, Hassan Philadelphia 8 47 .145 29 Whiteside finished with 19 points and 18 rebounds, Pacific Division side. On 19, he pulled Matt Henry through three years, was not totally happy with his per- Central Division Golden State 50 5 .909 — square leg where Wagner was unable to hold a formance despite taking five for 59 .