NBA | Page 5 BOXING | Page 7 Heat edge Pacers Fury-Wilder on Dragic’s late heavyweight basket, Magic title rematch set nip 76ers for Las Vegas Sunday, December 29, 2019 FOOTBALL Jumada I 3, 1441 AH Calvert-Lewin GULF TIMES double gives Everton win at Newcastle SPORT Page 3 CRICKET Burns and Sibley raise England hopes at Centurion Burns unbeaten at 77 as England close day at 121 for one wicket, needing another 255 runs to win against South Africa Scorecard SOUTH AFRICA 1st inn 284 2-25 (Hamza), 3-29 (Elgar), 4-62 ENGLAND 1st inn 181 (Du Plessis), 5-153 (Van der Dussen), 6-170 (Nortje), 7-177 SOUTH AFRICA 2nd inn (o/n 72-4) (Pretorius), 8-220 (De Kock), A. Markram lbw b Anderson 29-150 (Maharaj) D. Elgar c Buttler b Archer 22 Bowling: Anderson 13-1-47-1, Z. Hamza c Buttler b Broad 4Broad 11-2-42-1 (2w), Archer 17-1- 102-5 (1nb, 2w), Curran 12.4-3-51-1 F. du Plessis c Curran b Archer 20 (1w), Stokes 8-1-22-2 (1nb) H. van der Dussen lbw b Archer 51 A. Nortje c sub (Crawley) b Archer ENGLAND 2nd inn 40 R. Burns not out 77 Q. de Kock c Bairstow b Stokes 34 D. Sibley c and b Maharaj 29 D. Pretorius c Sibley b Stokes 7J. Denly not out 10 V. Philander c Bairstow b Curran 46 Extras (b4, lb1) 5 K. Maharaj c Curran b Archer 11 Total (1 wkt, 41 overs) 121 K. Rabada not out 16 Fall of wickets: 1-92 (Sibley) Extras (b5, lb3, nb2, w9) 19 Bowling: Rabada 9-0-48-0, Total (all out, 61.4 overs) 272 Philander 10-2-20-0, Nortje 6-1- 20-0, Pretorius 6-1-12-0, Maharaj Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Markram), 10-3-16-1 Van der Dussen and Nortje Africa took their lead comfort- were not parted until half an hour ably beyond the 300 that Philan- before lunch as England endured der said on Friday night he con- a frustrating morning, includ- sidered “probably a safe zone”. ing two extended periods when On a cool, overcast day the captain Joe Root was off the eldfi pitch did not appear to be as because of illness. Wicketkeeper difficult for batsmen as on the Jos Buttler did not appear at all, first two days when 24 wick- with Jonny Bairstow taking the ets fell for 537 runs and by the gloves. close, South Africa had reason Van der Dussen and Nortje to be relieved that they had set fell in successive overs to Jofra their opponents a higher target Archer, who claimed the third than expected. fi ve-wicket haul of his short Test England batsman Joe Denly career, taking fi ve for 102. said on Friday that there were But Archer was expensive and no demons in the pitch and that one of the main off enders as the key was to see off the new England persisted with short- ball. Burns and Sibley did exactly pitched bowling for most of the that, seeing off the threat of Ra- England’s Rory Burns (centre) hits a boundary on third day of the first Test against South Africa at Supersport Park in Centurion, South Africa, yesterday. (Reuters) morning on a pitch where a fuller bada and Philander, although length had challenged batsmen. Rabada surprisingly only bowled AFP to win on the third day of the fi rst pushed back a return catch to ticularly strong on the leg side. lander played prominent roles The runs continued to fl ow three overs in his fi rst spell before Centurion, South Africa Test against South Africa at Su- left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj Burns was given out leg before with the bat earlier as South Af- after Van der Dussen and Nortje making way for Nortje. perSport Park yesterday. after making a patient 29. wicket to Kagiso Rabada with his rica’s last six wickets added 200 were dismissed. Quinton de Kock Sibley looked less comfort- England were 121 for one wick- Burns made 77 not out and saw score on six in the fi rst over but runs. hit 34 and Philander 46. Three of able against the spin of Maharaj ory Burns and Dom Sib- et at the close of play, needing out the day with fi rst innings top- survived on review. On 20, he was New cap Van der Dussen (51) De Kock’s fi rst four scoring shots than against the faster bowlers. ley raised English hopes another 255 runs to win. scorer Joe Denly, who was on 10. dropped by Rassie van der Dus- and nightwatchman Anrich Nortje were sixes, hooked off Archer de- He was tied down by the spinner with a solid opening The left-handed Burns and It was an impressive innings by sen at fi rst slip off Vernon Phi- (40) shared a fi fth wicket partner- spite fi elders being placed on the before trying to punch a shorter partnership after Eng- right-handed Sibley put on 92 Burns, who made his runs off 117 lander. ship of 91, the best of the match boundary at long leg and fi ne leg. ball off the back foot and hitting Rland were set a challenging 376 for the fi rst wicket before Sibley balls and hit 11 fours. He was par- Both Van der Dussen and Phi- before the Burns-Sibley stand. Philander ensured that South back a simp BOTTOMLINE Thousands to take part in Ooredoo Doha Marathon By Sports Reporter that contribute to the development Doha and maintenance of a healthy, bal- anced lifestyle, in line with the United Nations Sustainability Goals, and this ore than 4,500 runners will event is an ideal way for us to show this take part in the 2020 Oore- support in a practical way.” doo Doha Marathon on She added: “Our sporting slogan is January 10, organisers have ‘Empowering you to win’ and, in organ- Mannounced. ising this event, we believe we can em- The Ooredoo Doha Marathon is a power people in Qatar to get out there, popular highlight of the Doha sport- join in, be active and enjoy fi tness. ing calendar, attracting professional “We look forward to working with athletes alongside a vast number of lo- our sponsors to make the 2020 Mara- cal runners. Last year’s event saw some thon bigger and better than ever before 4,000 participants take to the streets and we thank them for their generous for the race, which took place over a contribution.” scenic course passing some of Doha’s Al-Muraikhi took the opportunity to most iconic landmarks. thank the sponsors. As well as the competitive full “We are beyond grateful to our spon- 42.2km marathon, the event includes Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, Director PR and Corporate Communications at Ooredoo, addressing the media. (Right) Off icials pose after the press conference. sors of the Marathon. These invaluable distances for all ages and abilities, in- partners enable us to create and host an cluding a 1km family fun run and a sponsoring companies to announce the CHOC’LATE and Aspetar. ary will be Qatar Cancer Society. we prepare for what is always one of the incredible event for both the cream of 10km run. sponsors. As in previous years, and in line with Speaking of the sponsorships, Manar most popular events on Doha’s sport- the international running crop and for Ooredoo held a press conference For the 2020 Ooredoo Doha Mara- Ooredoo’s corporate social responsi- Khalifa al-Muraikhi – Director PR and ing calendar. our local running community, an event at its headquarters, Ooredoo Tower thon, the sponsors will be Huawei, bility strategy, all funds raised through Corporate Communications – said: “Our corporate social responsibil- that brings together elite athletes, keen in West Bay, in the presence of repre- North Oil, Qatar Airways, Aspire, marathon entrance fees will be donated “We’re delighted to be working with ity strategy includes a clear mandate to runners and families who want to stay sentatives from both Ooredoo and the Alkalive, Kidzania, QIC, Al Watan, to charity. This year’s chosen benefi ci- such an incredible group of sponsors as support and promote sporting events active together.” Gulf Times 2 Sunday, December 29, 2019 CRICKET REPORT FOCUS Australia board to ‘seriously consider’ Australia sniff four-day Tests: CEO Reuters matches were given the green Melbourne, Australia light by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2017. South Africa played the fi rst ustralia’s cricket board four-day Test since 1973 when series win over NZ will “seriously con- they hosted Zimbabwe at Port sider” playing four-day Elizabeth in December 2017. Tests, joining a global England, whose board has Apush to condense the game’s endorsed the reduced format, longest format. played a four-day Test against Cricket Australia chief execu- Ireland in July. tive Kevin Roberts said the gov- Tests are widely regarded as erning body was crunching the the pinnacle of the game but in Boxing Day Test numbers on match durations and have faced competition for would look to make a decision in crowds and interest amid the rise Cummins takes five as Black Caps bundled out for 148; Australia have 456-run lead the “medium term”. of Twenty20, cricket’s shortest “I think it is something we’ve popular format, over the past 15 Reuters got to seriously consider. It is years. Melbourne, Australia something that can’t be driven Roberts said Australia would by emotion, it has got to be driv- look for consensus on four-day en by fact,” Roberts told Austral- Tests from the other main coun- ustralia marched to- ian radio station SEN yesterday.