ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY 16-17, 2021 SPORTS 14 First tour defeat as Lions lose to SAfrica A Nkosi, Am star

CAPE TOWN, South Afri- ca, July 15, (AP): A A team that started with 11 World Cup-win- ning Springboks beat the British and Irish Lions 17- 13 to hand the touring team their fi rst defeat. South Africa A led 17-3 at Cape Town Stadium after fi rst-half tries by wing and center and , and held off a second- half surge by the Lions to strike a psychological blow ahead of the three-match test series that starts on July 24. The Lions closed to within four points after a Nkosi try by prop and eight points from the boot of . That revival came early in the second half with South Africa A down to 13 men after yellow cards for scrumhalf and fl anker Marco van Staden. Those two went to the sin-bin within minutes of each other just before the break. But the Lions couldn’t get closer than those four points, although they were within inches of a late try by Welsh wing Louis Rees-Zammit, who grounded the ball agonizingly close in the corner. Defeat was a setback for coach War- ren Gatland and his Lions, who have beaten domestic teams by 40 points or more in their fi rst three tour games and have barely been stretched. But this was a different level of op- position as South Africa A started with of the South Africa ‘A’ is caught by Louis Rees-Zammit of the British & Irish Lions during a rugby match between South Africa A and British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium those 11 World Cup winners and also in Cape Town, South Africa, on July 14. (AP) brought a bunch of test regulars off the bench. Aussies secure 4-run win over West Indies Savea returns RUGBY Mo’unga to start at “You know the physicality that Marsh, Starc help Australia end losing streak fl yhalf for Fiji clash we’ve had over the last few weeks, WELLINGTON, New Zealand, that was a different level tonight and GROS ISLET, St Lucia, July 15, (AP): July 15, (AP): Richie Mo’unga I think we needed that,” said Lions Mitchell Marsh struck 75 and then will start at fl yhalf while Anton captain . “We learned a took three to get Australia Lienert-Brown and Ardie Savea lot of things.” Murray said the defeat into a winning position, but in the end will make welcome returns from didn’t mean “an awful lot.” it came down to paceman Mitchell injury in the All Blacks team to Although the Lions weren’t at full Starc’s fearless last-over bowling to face Fiji on Saturday in the second strength, and South Africa A wasn’t end the West Indies’ winning streak. rugby test at Hamilton. quite a full Springboks team, the game The West Indies had won the fi rst Mo’unga and Beauden Bar- gave some clues as to what might three games to clinch the fi ve-match rett, rivals for the No. 10 jersey, come when the tests begin in Cape International series with have each started in one of New Town. After the home team named two games to spare, and went within Zealand’s two tests this season, such a strong side, it was billed as an one scoring shot of making it four against Tonga and Fiji. Mo’unga unoffi cial fourth test. straight wins. now seems favored in the starting For the Lions, there were standout The hosts needed 11 runs off the last role ahead of the Rugby Champi- performances from lock , over but Starc bowled fi ve consecutive onship. fl anker and prop Jones, dot balls, cramping Andre Russell’s Lienert-Brown returns at in- who went off holding his shoulder scoring options, before conceding a side center after missing the tests straight after scoring his try. The scrum six on the fi nal ball to secure a four- against Tonga and Fiji as he recov- often got the better of a South Africa run win for Australia. ered from elbow surgery. He may A pack that had fi ve men expected to Australia captain said bring stability in the All Blacks start for the Boks. the last over was But Farrell had a tougher time at more about trust RUGBY fl yhalf than in earlier games. South Af- than jitters. rica A also got its maul working in the “We knew that last 20 minutes - a major weapon for if the Boks - and that seemed to trouble executes he’s as midfi eld which has been in fl ux this season after the additional, the Lions. good as anyone in The game was far more important the world,” Finch season-ending injury to Jack Goodhue. for South Africa’s preparations than said. “He’s done Ardie Savea was named at the Lions’. The Boks have played just it for the best part openside fl anker and will also one test in nearly two years since win- of 10 years, so we bring solidity in a constantly- ning the 2019 World Cup and, starved had a lot of faith changing backrow. of match practice, decided to throw a Marsh in him. He’s got a ’s Heather Knight lifts the series trophy with team-mates after winning the third IT20 match against host of fi rst-choice players into the en- India at The Cloudfm County Ground, in Chelmsford, England, on July 14. (AP) Fiji also will be reinforced lot of faith in him- by returning players. Scrumhalf counter for much-needed game time. self. Just great to get across the line.” Frank Lomani, who is based in “We know where we’re at and we’ll The Australians batted fi rst and Australia and missed the fi rst test be able to judge and analyze where we posted 189-6 in an innings twice inter- because of border restrictions, re- need to improve for the tests,” said rupted by rain breaks, with Marsh belt- Mexico down Guatemala in Gold Cup turns to the starting lineup. Peceli Am. ing his 75 from 44 balls for his third Yato forces a backrow change, Five of the Boks in the backline half-century of the series and sharing DALLAS, July 15, (AP): Rogelio Salvador 2-0. Mexico closes the Funes Mori doubled the lead in the displacing Albert Tuisui at No. 8. were playing their fi rst and only war- a 114-run second- stand with Funes Mori scored twice and group stage against El Salvador on 55th with a right-footed shot from 8 Lock Leone Nakarawa will cap- mup for the tests. Finch, who contributed 53. Orbelín Pineda added a goal to lead Sunday in Dallas. yards off a cross from Pineda, and tain the tourists in place of Levani They included center Damian de Al- Marsh raised his 50 from 24 balls defending champion Mexico over In a match delayed by a storm, Pineda added a goal on a 6-yard leap- Botia, who has been ruled out with lende, who gathered a charge down of a with a straight six against Fabian Al- Guatemala 3-0 in the CONCACAF Funes Mori put El Tri ahead in the ing header in the 79th from a Luis a knee injury. Farrell kick to release Nkosi, who sprint- len as light rain started falling in the Gold Cup. Rodríguez cross. Sam Whitelock again will cap- ed more than half the length of the fi eld 9th over. Funes Mori, a 30-year-old born in At Frisco, Texas, El Salvador (2-0) tain the All Blacks from lock after for South Africa A’s fi rst try. Right wing The West Indies were better after Argentina, scored his second and SOCCER assured itself a quarterfinals bertg starting on the bench in the fi rst Cheslin Kolbe breezed past two defend- the interruption. Hayden Walsh Jr. third goals for Mexico. He made his with a 2-0 win over Trinidad on goals Fiji test and handing the leader- ers to set up Am for the second. (3-27), the leading wicket taker in the debut in a June 3 exhibition against by Jairo Henriquez in the 30th minute ship to scrumhalf Aaron Smith. Jones had a try disallowed late in the series, bowled Finch and took a return Nigeria and was playing his third 29th minute, chesting a lofted pass and Walmer Martínez in the first min- The starting lineup for second test fi rst half as the Lions camped on South catch to remove Alex Carey (0) on the international match. from Héctor Herrera just inside the ute of second-half stoppage time. The against Fiji appears to be close to Africa A’s line, prompting de Klerk to next to slow down the Aus- Mexico had opened Group A with penalty area, cutting the ball back to Soca Warriors have a draw and a loss the All Blacks’ strongest with the go to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle tralians at 126-3. a 0-0 draw against Trinidad and his right foot and beating goalkeeper going into Saturday’s game against start of the Rugby Championship and van Staden for infringing at the Tobago, and Guatemala lost to El Nicholas Hagen from 12 yards. Guatemala in Frisco. now only a month away. ruck. CRICKET ‘I try to make her think more’ McLaren boss to The run-rate only lowered as the West Indies’ slow bowlers contained ‘miss’ British GP the middle-order. The West Indies started aggressively Quadarella is among Ledecky’s few challengers for Tokyo SILVERSTONE, England, July 15, in reply, with openers Lendl Simmons ROME, July 15, (AP): Carefree. Spontaneous. Full of gue with Quadarella’s strategy - or lack thereof. departure for Japan was delayed by a few days be- (AP): McLaren chief executive Zak (72) and Evin Lewis (31) racing to 62, life. A contagious ear-to-ear smile. Especially amid a pandemic. cause she picked up a stomach bug. Brown will miss the British Grand Prix taking 15 in the second over from Ri- Simona Quadarella is your typical 22-year-old Quadarella was among more than 10 Italian swim- “The way coaches operate has really been thrown this week after testing positive for the ley Meredith and 23 in the fourth over Italian. mers who were quarantined in their hotel rooms for upside down over the last year and a half,” Minotti coronavirus. from Dan Christian. She’s also one of the few swimmers capable of several weeks during an altitude training camp that says. “You’ve got to go day by day. Nobody knows The British team said its prepara- Wrist spinner Adam Zampa was challenging American standout Katie Ledecky in the was halted by a coronavirus outbreak toward the end what will happen tomorrow.” tions for the Formula One race at introduced early, in the fi fth over, and longest pool races at the Tokyo Olympics. of last year. Minotti left meals for Quadarella on the For all that Quadarella has accomplished, it seems Silverstone on Sunday will not be af- had almost immediate success when he “She’s impulsive. She’s not someone who thinks fl oor outside her room. strange that these will be her fi rst Olympics. fected. bowled Lewis for 31 from 14 deliver- a lot about what she’s doing. She acts depending on Making matters more complicated is Quadarella’s She’s won six gold medals at European champion- Driver Lando Norris, who contract- ies. how she feels,” says Christian Minotti, who has been ships and a medal of each color at the worlds, starting ed the virus while in Dubai in January, Marsh’s fi rst wicket was a big one, coaching Quadarella since she was 12. “I try to make with a bronze in the 1,500 in 2017 - a performance having Chris Gayle (1) caught just her think more.” that came a year after she narrowly missed out on inside the long-on boundary and the Ask Quadarella what tactics she might employ to qualifying for the 2016 Olympics at age 17. MOTOR RACING Australians rallied to peg back the run- stay close to Ledecky in the 800- and 1,500-meter She even won gold in the 800 at the 2014 Summer rate. Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China, at 15. “To defend what we defended to- “It’s been really long (to get to Tokyo),” Qua- and teammate Daniel Ricciardo, were night, against a very good West In- darella says. “It was fi ve years (between Olympics) not considered to be among Brown’s dies team, was a great performance,” SWIMMING instead of four and last year was a complicated and close contacts. Marsh said. “It was a great fi nish and tough year. … So these fi rst Olympics mean a lot to “McLaren Racing confi rmed today Starc’s last over was excellent.” freestyle races and it becomes clear that planning me not just because it’s the fi rst but also because it’s that three team members, including When Marsh removed Nicholas isn’t her priority. a chance for a new beginning.” CEO Zak Brown, tested positive for Pooran (16) and ended Simmons’s 48- “I’ve got to try to stay near but not ahead of her in While Quadarella will likely race only the 800 and COVID-19 during the team’s rigorous ball innings on consecutive deliveries the fi rst laps. That’s for sure,” Quadarella told The 1,500 in Tokyo, Ledecky has a much bigger program testing programme before the British in the 16th over, it appeared the West Associated Press in a recent interview. “Because - which means the American should be competing in Grand Prix. Neither of our drivers are Indies counterattack had withered. she starts really strong. But she also fi nishes really the fi nal of the 200 free on the same morning of the close contacts. But there was sting in the tail. strong. So I really don’t know. We’ll see when we’re In this July 23, 2019 fi le photo, Italy’s Simona 1,500 fi nal. “All three cases are unconnected Needing 36 off the last two overs there. Every race is different.” Quadarella poses with her gold medal after win- Might that be an advantage for the Italian? and now isolating in accordance with to win, Russell and Fabian Allen (29) Looking back to the 2019 world championships, ning the women’s 1500m freestyle fi nal at the July 28 could be a big day for Italian swimming, as government guidelines. The team’s took on the bowling and plundered when Ledecky withdrew from the 1,500 fi nal due to World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, Federica Pellegrini is among the medal contenders in operations for the British Grand Prix Meredith for 25. illness and Quadarella swam to gold, it’s hard to ar- South Korea. (AP) the 200 at her fi fth Olympics. are unaffected.”