22 Thursday, March 2, 2017 SPORTS Bottas fastest in eight- year Barcelona high Barcelona top of the timesheets as he dominance. Proteas altteri focused on race simulation And the Australian and Bottas and more miles in the Dutch teammate Max demonstratedV his Mercedes W08. Verstappen look to have readiness to step into Hamilton completed 95 at least the third best car the shoes of retired laps in just a few hours in on the grid as Ricciardo world champion Nico the seventh fastest time. posted the third best time ravaged by Rosberg by setting the “I think it was of the day in his 70 laps. pace, but Ferrari showed another good session. There were promising further signs that they We completed lots of signs for Renault as could challenge Mercedes mileage and the entire Jolyon Palmer and Nico this season on day three programme that we’d Hulkenberg registered of pre-season testing in planned to do -- including the fourth and fifth fastest hurricane Barcelona. some long and short runs, times. The limits of more collecting information However, McLaren- powerful, faster on the different tyre Honda’s troubles cars allowed this compounds,” continued as year by radical said Bottas. two-time world rules changes Red Bull’s champion Guptill were pushed Daniel Fernando Hamilton as an excuse for as Bottas set Ricciardo Alonso only artin Guptill roared back from his side, blaming the fastest time claimed managed the injury with a record-breaking their failure to at the Circuit o n 10th fastest M180 as New Zealand thrashed South take . de Catalunya Tuesday that time despite Africa by seven wickets to level South Africa since 2009 in Mercedes can trying out the one-day international series in were helped by a 1min 19.705sec on be beaten this ultrasoft Hamilton yesterday. New Zealand attack supersoft tyres. season after tyres. Guptill’s score was the highest that again failed to apply However, three years of by a New Zealander in an ODI pressure at the death, four-time world chase and allowed the Black Caps to bleeding 72 runs off the champion Sebastian overhaul the 280 target set by South final five overs. Vettel’s second Africa with five overs to spare. But it was Guptill who fastest time of The result avenges the New proved their salvation, rapidly 1:19.952 on soft tyres Zealanders’ 159-run loss in the bringing up 50 off 38 balls. was quicker than Bottas previous match and levels the He was given out lbw on the same compound. five-match series 2-2, setting up a on 62 but the decision was Flying Finn Bottas decider in Auckland on Saturday. overturned on review and handed over to Lewis It was a stunning return for Guptill went on to make Hamilton for the Guptill, who showed no ill effects 100 off 82 balls, his 12th afternoon session, but the Valtteri Bottas from being sidelined for five weeks ODI century. He finished Briton didn’t trouble the with hamstring problems. the innings with 180 off He posted the highest-ever 138 balls, including ODI score by a New Zealander 15 fours and 11 Scoreboard against the Proteas and his 180-run sixes. (AFP) South Africa Total (8 wickets, 50 overs) 279 The Chinese Super League set a new spending record of €389m (£331m) partnership with Ross Taylor (66) in the winter transfer window despite pleas to limit outlay on foreign was also a new benchmark against players and curb substantial wage bills South Africa. New Zealand: M. Guptill 180 Oscar MOST EXPENSIVE SUPER LEAGUE PLAYERS “It was one of those innings Shanghai SIPG D. Brownlie c de Kock b Rabada 4 Oscar Brazil 2017 where everything went to plan,” Completed K. Williamson lbw Tahir 21 Chelsea to Guptill said. move to Shanghai SIPG R. Taylor c Amla b Tahir 66 China at Hitting the ball crisply from L. Ronchi not out 1 start of Hulk Brazil 2017 the outset, Guptill debunked Extras (lb 4, w4) 8 year Zenit St. Petersburg to expectations that the Seddon Park Total (3 wickets, 45.0 overs) 280 Shanghai SIPG pitch would become a spinners’ Alex Teixeira Brazil 2016 paradise as the match wore on. Toss: South Africa Shakhtar to The opposite proved true, Result: New Zealand win by seven wickets Jiangsu Suning with Black Cap spinner Jeetan Series: The five-match series is tied 2-2 Jackson Martinez Colombia 2016 Atletico Madrid to Patel enjoying early success Guangzhou Evergrande before batsmen from both sides Ramires Brazil 2016 showed runs were there for Chelsea to the taking on an increasingly Guptill finished Jiangsu Suning docile deck. Odion Ignalo Nigeria 2017 It meant South Africa’s total the innings with Watford to of 279 for eight -- made after 180 off 138 balls, Changchun winning the toss and opting to Pictures: Zhang Chengdong China 2017 Getty B. Guoan to bat -- was not as challenging as Images including 15 fours Hebei CFFC it initially appeared. Carlos Tevez AB de Villiers top- and 11 sixes Shanghai Shenhua Axel Witsel Belgium 2017 scored for the Proteas with an Rumoured to be Zenit to world’s highest-paid Tianjin unbeaten 72, while player after joining CSL made 67, 40 and Failed bids include reported €300m coup Wayne Parnell 29 off 12 balls. for Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and pursuit of Man Utd’s Wayne Rooney With South Africa looking shaky at 158 for six, de Villiers WINTER TRANSFER WINDOW 2017 Total Super League expenditure worked with Chris Morris (28) outstripped Premier League for and Parnell to give them a Martin Guptill of second successive season* defendable total. New Zealand bats *CSL window 28 days longer De Villiers said it should have been enough. He refused to use Guptill’s outstanding form China €389m England €253m France Germany Italy Spain (£331m) (£215m) €153m €100m €94m €23m Sources: Deloitte, wire agencies © GRAPHIC NEWS (£130m) (£85m) (£80m) (£20m)