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Monday, March 27, 2017 FORMULA ONE Jumada II, 28, 1438 AH Vettel masters GULF TIMES Hamilton to win Australian GP SPORT Page 2

MOTOGP SPOTLIGHT Vinales storms to Morbidelli clinches dramatic maiden Moto2 victory win for Yamaha ‘It feels great! Honestly the track was diff icult. I was taking so much care at the start. The bike was great. I have to say thanks to the team...’ Results 1. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 38:59.999 2. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) at 0.461 3. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 1.928 4. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 6.745 5. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 7.128 6. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 7.661 7. Scott Redding (Ducati Pramac) 9.782 8. Jack Miller (AUS/Honda Marc VDS) 14.486 9. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 14.788 10. Jonas Folger (GER/Yamaha Tech3) 15.069 Italy’s Franco Morbidelli celebrates with this Moto2 trophy yesterday at Losail. 11. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Ducati) 20.516 12. Loris Baz (FRA/Ducati Avintia) 21.255 By Joe Koraith 13. Hector Barbera (ESP/Ducati Avintia) Doha 28.828 14. Karel Abraham (CZE/Ducati) 29.123 15. Tito Rabat (ESP/Honda Marc VDS) ranco Morbidelli rode a clinical 29.470 race to clinch his fi rst-ever ca- reer victory in the Moto2 cate- I had to bet on me getting a podium gory at the Losail International in this race, I wouldn’t! We tried 3-4 CircuitF yesterday. settings this morning. I didn’t know The Italian had secured the pole po- what happened but I was feeling good sition after the qualifying session were on the bike. I hope we understand cancelled. And yesterday, despite Tho- enough in this race to continue in this mas Luthi taking over the lead in the way,” said an elated Rossi after the second lap, Morbidelli was able to re- Moto3 winner Joan Mir of Spain. race. take the lead in the next lap and didn’t But this was a race that almost relinquish it till the chequered fl ag. the season. “I can’t thank everyone didn’t happen. Just before the sched- Luthi fi nished second and in third enough. I’ve been given this great op- uled start of the race, there was a burst place was Takaaki Nakagami. The Jap- portunity. All race the bike was so fast. of rain. The organisers decided to de- anese rider started the race in fourth I felt really strong in the group. Posi- Movistar Yamaha’s Spanish lay the race by 30 minutes and reduced place and survived a nervous last-lap tion wise this weekend hasn’t been rider Maverick Vinales the number of laps from 22 to 21. The battle with KTM rider Miguel Oliveira great but I’ve stuck to the plan. I’m de- celebrates after winning the riders were then set out on sighting to take the fi nal spot on the podium. lighted,” said the British rider. 2017 Qatar MotoGP at the Losail lap but during that lap many of them Morbidelli was a happy man after fi - International Circuit last night. came back unhappy with the track nally registering a win. “It’s just great! condition. This followed a lengthy It’s a very good feeling after all this Results decision between the team managers time. Coming from where I have, it’s and the organisers with MotoGP safe- just amazing to get this victory,” said Moto2 (Top 10) ty chief Loris Capirossi involved in the the Italian yesterday. 1. Franco Morbidelli ITA EG 0,0 Marc mix of it. Eventually, it was decided For Luthi, the pace that Morbidelli VDS (Kalex) 40m 18.480s By Joe Koraith with his new team in MotoGP was soft. At some points I tried to stay that there would be a 20-lap race. showed towards the end proved to be 2. Thomas Luthi SWI CarXpert Inter- Doha Casey Stone in 2011 (with Repsol with Maverick until the end. I tried to The race started and immediately too much. “I tried to fi ght with Fran- wetten (Kalex) 40m 21.161s Honda). overtake him on the last lap but he was there was drama. Within a few turns it co. At the start he was not pushing so 3. Takaaki Nakagami JPN IDEMITSU The Ducati of Dovizioso had the too far. But I want to thank everyone. was Tech3 Yamaha rider Johann Zarco much. I thought I had a good fl ow but Honda Team Asia (Kalex) 40m 21.784s his must be how it feels like to power down the straight and he was I’m happy. We’re there,” said the Ital- who was in the lead. The class rook- I knew he could go faster. I could still 4. Miguel Oliveira POR Red Bull KTM be in a movie and not watch- using that to his great advantage. And ian yesterday. ie had qualifi ed in fourth place and control the gap to Nakagami toward Ajo (KTM) 40m 22.064s ing it. The drama through the did have more than a half a dozen lead Dovi’s compatriot Rossi was not stunned the fi eld by taking the lead. the end. Now we’re on the podium and 5. Alex Marquez SPA EG 0,0 Marc VDS weekend and then the drama exchanges with Vinales during the last someone who people, including the And then he proceeded to increase his looking for more,” said Luthi. (Kalex) 40m 29.706s duringT the race, all of it gave the pa- part of the race but couldn’t maintain rider himself, would have predicted advantage. Chasing him was Honda With the top two spots going to 6. Luca Marini ITA Forward Racing tient crowd at the Losail International the pace in the fi nal two laps. “It was a podium place before the race. The rider Marc Marquez and Suzuki’s An- Spaniards, Japanese Nakagami pre- Team (Kalex) 40m 32.227s Circuit a Qatar Grand Prix that they very diffi cult but we were quite smart MotoGP legend had started the race drea Iannone. vented an all-Spanish podium with his 7. Fabio Quartararo FRA Pons HP40 will remember for a long, long time to to choose the soft tyre. We knew the in 10th place but crashes ahead of him But after having built up a lead third-place fi nish. “My bike was a little (Kalex) 40m 32.468s come. race couldn’t be so fast. At the front I and a determined ride by the Doctor of almost a second, the Frenchman unstable compared to Luthi and Mor- 8. Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA Forward Maverick Vinales rode a brilliant didn’t push because the tyre was too have him a valuable third place. “If crashed in the seventh lap. Doviziso bidelli but this is only the fi rst race. I’m Racing Team (Kalex) 40m 35.945s race to take his fi rst-ever win for had moved into second place by then really happy with that,” said Nakagami 9. Xavi Vierge SPA Tech 3 Racing Yamaha. Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso and he now had the lead. The Ducati after the race. (Tech 3) 40m 35.957s who had the lead for quite some part rider then put some distance between Qatar’s only representative, Saed al- 10. Axel Pons SPA RW Racing GP (Ka- of the race, and was involved in a nail- him and the rest of the chasing pack. Sulaiti, crashed out in the seventh lap. lex) 40m 36.247s biting battle with Vinales came in Iannone and Marquez were involved In the Moto 3 race it was Leopard second place. And grabbing a surprise in a feisty battle for second but then Racing’s Joan Mir who took the top Moto3 (Top 10) third was Valentino Rossi. Yamaha got the Italian crashed out in the 11th lap, spot on the podium. The Spaniard had 1. Joan Mir SPA Leopard Racing (Hon- an unexpected two spots on the podi- looking to pressurise the Spaniard. started sixth on the grid but produced da) 38m 27.364s um and they will be happy with their Vinales and Rossi were moving up the a gritty ride to see off his competition 2. John Mcphee GBR British Talent haul from the fi rst MotoGP race of the order and soon they were chasing Dovi and take only the second GP win of his Team (Honda) 38m 27.499s season. for the lead. Rossi couldn’t maintain career. 3. Jorge Martin SPA Del Conca Gresini Vinales took nearly 13 laps to get the pace and had to be contend with a British Talent Team rider John Moto3 (Honda) 38m 27.582s into the lead after he dropped to third. Though he would be extremely McPhee was another rider in the spot- 4. Aron Canet SPA Estrella Galicia 0,0 fifth place at the start of the race. happy with this result. light after taking the second step on (Honda) 38m 27.616s But then converted the potential he Defending world champion Mar- the podium having started way down 5. Romano Fenati ITA Marinelli Riva- had shown during the pre-season quez, having started in third place in 13th place. In third place was pole cold Snipers (Honda) 38m 27.817s testing and practice sessions here in eventually fi nished fourth with his position man Jorge Martin. 6. Andrea Migno ITA SKY Racing Qatar to grab a great victory. “It feels Honda team-mate in fi fth. Aprilia “It was an amazing race. It’s amaz- Team VR46 (KTM) 38m 27.943s great! Honestly the track was so dif- rider Aleix Espargaro fi nished a bril- ing to begin the season like this! I want 7. Niccolò Antonelli ITA Red Bull KTM ficult. I was taking so much care at liant sixth having battled with Ped- to thank my team for my fast bike. Also Ajo (KTM) 38m 28.025s the start. The bike was great. I have rosa through the last part of the race. thank Honda,” said Mir after his win. 8. Fabio Di Giannantonio ITA Del to say thanks to the team. Even if the It was a weekend that will be re- “The race involved a lot of strategy. I Conca Gresini Moto3 (Honda) 38m conditions were difficult we were membered for many reasons but it will studied my rivals a lot. This is the sec- 28.242s there all the time. I’m so pleased to be exciting race memories that will ond victory of my life and it’s amaz- 9. Marcos Ramirez SPA Platinum Bay be with Yamaha,” said Vinales after linger on. And as if to cap the week- ing,” added the Spaniard. Real Estate (KTM) 38m 29.057s producing a great first race for his Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales (C), Ducati’s second-placed Andrea Dovizioso (L) end, the rain came down heavily dur- For McPhee, who was making a de- 10. Adam Norrodin MAL SIC Racing new team Yamaha. For the pedants, and Yamaha’s third-placed Valentino Rossi (R) celebrate on the podium after ing the podium ceremony. End scene but in this class, it was a result that Team (Honda) 38m 35.268s the last rider to win a race on debut the Qatar Grind Prix. Picture: Noushad Thekkayil of the movie… will boost his confi dence going into Gulf Times 2 Monday, March 27, 2017 SPORT

FORMULA ONE HORSE RACING Arrogate wins Dubai Vettel masters World Cup thriller Hamilton to win Australian GP Vettel won by almost 10 seconds from Hamilton and Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in a commanding victory of tactics and superior speed Results & standings

Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian 1. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 302.000km Vettel (C) holds the winner’s trophy as he at 1hr 24min 11.670 sec celebrates with runner-up Lewis Hamilton (average speed 215.409 kph) (L) and third-placed Valtteri Bottas on the 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) at 9.975 podium at the end of the Australian Grand 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) at 11.250 4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) at 22.393 Prix in Melbourne yesterday. 5. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) at 28.827 6. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) at 1:23.386 7. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) at 1 lap 8. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso) at 1 lap 9. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) at 1 lap 10. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) at 1 lap feared the worst for his horse 11. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) at 1 lap AFP 12. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Sauber) at 2 laps Dubai after the sloppy start. 13. Stoff el Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) at 2 laps “That was ‘Plan F’!,” said Baf- Not classified: fert. “But that’s the best I’ve Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren) retired 50 verwhelming favour- ever seen in my life, it’s unbe- laps ite Arrogate won the lievable Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) retired 46 laps Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) retired 40 laps $10mn Dubai World “I guess he knew where he Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) retired 25 Cup on Saturday, was but it just goes to show you Oovercoming a poor start to be- how great this horse is, he’s just laps Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) retired 21 laps come the sport’s biggest earning a great horse. Mike did a great Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) retired 15 laps horse with $17mn to its name. job, he didn’t panic.” Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) retired 13 laps The Bob Baff ert trained colt Gun Runner battled hard to

Overall standings after one race: with 51-year-old jockey Mike keep out Neolithic at the head of Drivers: Smith in the saddle came home the chasing pack but the night 1. Vettel 25 pts ahead of Gun Runner in second belonged to Arrogate who now 2. Hamilton 18 and Neolithic who took third has seven wins from eight starts. 3. Bottas 15 place. Four-year-old Arrogate Smith admitted he had been 4. Raikkonen 12 5. Verstappen 10 went into the race as the odds- caught by surprise at the start. 6. Massa 8 on favourite after an impressive “I missed the break complete- 7. Perez 6 win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic ly because he’s used to having a 8. Sainz Jr 4 but after a slow start out of the man in the gate with him, but 9. Kvyat 2 stalls, Smith had to weave his things happen for a reason,” he 10. Ocon 1 way through the fi eld. told reporters.

Constructors: Gun Runner was ahead at “This horse can do anything, 1. Ferrari 37 pts the turn but Smith and Arro- he can win in the lead, he can 2. Mercedes 33 gate stepped up their fi nal push come from dead last, he hasn’t 3. Red Bull 10 down the straight at Meydan as even taken a breath. 4. Williams 8 Baff ert claimed a third win in “I get a lot of the glory, but 5. Force India 7 there’s a big team who deserve a 6. Toro Rosso 6 the race. Baff ert admitted that he lot of credit.”

AFP his fi rst since Singapore in 2015 and his Felipe Massa in the Williams. radio to which he testily responded “how Melbourne 43rd career win. Australia’s big hope Daniel Ricciardo do you expect me to do that right now?” as “A title challenge is a long way ahead. had a heartbreaking day with gear box his pace slowed behind the Red Bull. For now we are just over the moon at the problems ending his race on the 29th lap Vettel came into the pits to change tyres ebastian Vettel out-manoeuvred start we have made here today,” Vettel after he was forced to start from pit lane and rejoined the race just squeezing in Lewis Hamilton and the world said. “I was not entirely happy with my when his Red Bull car broke down on the ahead of Verstappen and Hamilton. champion Mercedes team with a start, there was a bit of wheel spin, but I warm-up lap. When Verstappen came into the pits Sstunning victory in the season- was trying to keep the pressure on to give Hamilton, who went into the race on Vettel had opened a six-second lead over opening Australian Grand Prix in Mel- the message that we are here to fi ght. his fourth successive pole in Melbourne, Hamilton at mid-distance. bourne yesterday. “There was a bit of luck that Lewis got away safely and avoided trouble into Ricciardo’s traumatic race came to a Vettel won by almost 10 seconds from came out in traffi c.” the notorious right hander out of home sorry end on the 29th lap with his Red Bull Hamilton and Mercedes teammate Valt- Ferrari got the better of Mercedes in straight. coming to a stop with lingering gearbox teri Bottas in a commanding victory of the sole round of tyre changes which ulti- But Kevin Magnussen in a Haas clipped problems. “Sorry mate — the car’s done,” tactics and superior speed around the Al- mately decided the race. the kerb and slid into the Sauber of Mar- the Red Bull team told the disconsolate bert Park street circuit. Hamilton’s early stop meant he rejoined cus Ericsson on the fi rst turn. Both cars Ricciardo over the radio. Mike smith rides arrogate to victory and then celebrates with the Ferrari hadn’t won in Melbourne since behind the Red Bull of Max Verstappen continued on in the race. Vettel extended his lead over Hamilton trophy. Kimi Raikkonen’s 2007 victory and it was which allowed Vettel to open up a decisive Hamilton grabbed a 1.5sec gap on Vettel to over nine seconds after 41 laps with the Vettel’s second triumph in Australia after gap at the head of the fi eld. after nine laps ahead of Bottas, Raikkonen triple world champion seemingly unable winning the 2011 race with Red Bull. “A big congratulations to Ferrari and and Verstappen. to reel him in. SPOTLIGHT It was also a major fi llip for the fl edgling Sebastian,” Hamilton said. Hamilton made his fi rst pit stop after Bottas was pressuring Hamilton and season and the new generation of quicker “In the race, I struggled with the tyres. lap 17 to change to soft tyres on his Mer- was only just over two seconds behind in cars after Ferrari’s superior pre-season I had to stop very early and I got stuck be- cedes to hand the lead over to Vettel and third place with Raikkonen struggling in test times as they chase their fi rst world hind one of the Red Bulls, but that’s just rejoined the race in fi fth spot behind Ver- fourth place ahead of Verstappen. Skyline Automotive constructors’ title since 2008. the way it goes.” stappen. Mercedes had no answer to the pace The victory was the German four-time Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was fourth “Race critical that you pass Verstap- of Vettel, who posted a new fastest lap of world champion’s fourth for Ferrari and with Verstappen fi fth ahead of Brazilian pen,” Hamilton was told over the team 1:26.638 in the fi nal laps of the race. supports W-League kyline Automotive, the nity development and participa- BOTTOMLINE recently appointed offi - tion by diversifying the number cial distribution partner and types of activities available Sof the Hyundai Motor to residents in Qatar. Company for the State of Qa- Describing its eff orts, Skyline tar, has supported the country’s Automotive Marketing Man- biggest non-professional bas- ager Johan Madarasz said: “We ketball and volleyball champion- are a local business and it is re- Australia’s Ricciardo crushed ship – the W-League Qatar – in ally important for us to support organising its most successful our community here in Qatar. season yet. The news highlights Aligned with Hyundai’s vision, Skyline Automotive’s commit- we want to become a long-term ment to backing a wide range of partner for our customers in ways aft er home race ruined programs and activities that are that extend beyond selling top making a positive diff erence to quality automobiles. Hyundai is Reuters fringement, told reporters. people’s lives. already involved in large-scale, Melbourne “It’s been a long week. Don’t The partnership with the prestigious sponsorship activi- get me wrong, it’s been fun. W-League Qatar is the fi rst in a ties for the FIFA World Cup and “I feel bad for everyone, for number of initiatives planned in the Olympic Games. tough week for Red the fans. Obviously I believe support of community groups, “We want to bring the same Bull driver Daniel there’s more people here sup- organisations and individuals level of commitment to our Ricciardo ended in porting me than the others and in Doha during the coming year partners in local communities, Adespair yesterday as I’m sure they would have loved in the areas of sport, adventure, whether organisations or indi- the home hero came to a stop me to get out there and race. art, innovation, education and viduals, and to celebrate those midway through the Australian “But it just kind of snow- health. people making a positive diff er- Grand Prix with smoke billow- balled from yesterday... Happy Skyline Automotive’s com- ence in society. We look forward ing out of his car. to move on.” munity engagement programme to working with and welcom- Ricciardo’s hopes of a maiden His Dutch teammate Max Ver- is inspired by the Hyundai Motor ing anyone interested in hear- podium at Albert Park were al- stappen had a better time of it, Company’s focus on enhancing ing more about our engagement ready razor-thin after a crash fi nishing fi fth behind the Ferrari people’s everyday lives. Skyline programme and looking for ways during qualifying on Saturday, and Mercedes cars. Automotive is committed to such in which we can support each which forced a gearbox change The teenager, tipped to give eff orts in order to drive commu- other.” and resulted in a fi ve-place Ricciardo headaches this season penalty, leaving him 15th on the after challenging him on track grid. last year, said he was surprised But even getting to the grid his car had the pace to keep close proved beyond his Red Bull, clock ticked down to the start. from the aff able 27-year-old’s had little joy from his car dur- to Ferrari’s fourth-placed Kimi which stopped with a gearbox He eventually joined the race face but he cut a grim fi gure in ing practice and qualifying, and Raikkonen. sensor problem as he lapped the from the pit-lane two laps be- the garage as he watched the he could not wait to be shot of “I think the car behaved quite lakeside circuit before the start. hind the other cars but lasted rest of the race, won by Ferrari’s Melbourne. a bit better in the race than in Ricciardo exited the track just 25 laps before his car fi nally Sebastian Vettel. “On the plus side, I’m get- qualifying,” Verstappen said. fuming but was soon lowering ground to a terminal halt at turn Having endured an exhaust- ting out of here,” Ricciardo, “It looked a lot better in the himself into the seat again as three with an apparent fuel ing week of media and spon- who initially fi nished second in race, I’m very happy about that. technicians frantically worked pressure problem. sor events as his nation’s great Melbourne in 2014 but was later We still need to improve and we on his car in the garage as the It takes a lot to wipe the smile hope in motor sport, Ricciardo disqualifi ed for a fuel limit in- will work hard to do that.” Gulf Times Monday, March 27, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS IN BRIEF O’Neill unsure of England, Germany stay Coleman timeline for on course for Russia recovery Jermain Defoe marks his international comeback with a goal as England beat Lithuania 2-0 Ireland football coach Martin O’Neill says doctors cannot give a fi xed time for when Seamus Coleman will return to ac- tion after he suff ered a horrifi c double fracture of his right leg in their 2018 World Cup qualifi er with Wales on Friday. The 28-year-old fullback and Ireland skipper suff ered the injury in a horror tackle by Neil Taylor, who was sent off . O’Neill, whose side’s 0-0 draw maintained their unbeaten record in the qualifi ers sit- ting second in the table behind Serbia, said his recovery would depend on several factors. “I’m not sure, I would only be guessing. Even the doctors and surgeons wouldn’t be ter- ribly sure,” said O’Neill of the timeline for his recovery to full fi tness. “Sometimes there are complications afterwards and injuries can be more prolonged, other times it can be clean and clear sailing. It will take some time, but Seamus has great determination and sometimes those things work very much in your favour, in terms of recovery.” O’Neill, whose side play Euro 2016 quarter-fi nalists Iceland in Dublin in a friendly on Tuesday, said he had visited the Everton star in hospital both prior to and post operation.

ROONEY STILL HAS ROLE TO PLAY FOR CLUB AND COUNTRY: SCHOLES England’s Jermain Defoe scores a goal during the 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Lithuania at the Wembley Stadium in London yesterday. (Reuters) England’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney can still play an AFP diffi cult to break down a packed defence,” said casions and they were on their way to another rout the World Cup hanging by a thread. “During an useful role for both his country Paris Southgate. “I’m pleased for the two lads who have yesterday by leading 5-0 at the break with four evening in which literally nothing went right, the and club Manchester United, his got the goals — a great story for Jermain and I felt goals coming in a devastating eight-minute spell. Netherlands team lost 2-0 to Bulgaria” on Satur- former team-mate Paul Scholes Jamie added something to us.” Antonin Barak scored in the 17th and 24th min- day, the federation said in a statement. “It was a said. Rooney, who has scored ngland and defending champions Germa- Germany maintained their 100% record with a utes, sandwiching a Vladimir Darida strike. Full- painful defeat in Sofi a, during which the chances 53 goals in his 119 international ny remained on course for the 2018 World 4-1 win over Azerbaijan in Baku as they moved to 15 back Theodor Gebre Selassie added the fourth af- of the Netherlands qualifying for the World Cup appearances, is not defi nitively Cup fi nals yesterday while Danny Blind points in Group C. The world champions and Swit- ter 25 minutes before Michal Krmencik made it 5-0 diminished.” out of the England picture, ac- was fi ghting to survive as Dutch coach af- zerland are the only two teams in Europe who still just before the interval. Following the defeat the team dropped to fourth cording to coach Gareth South- terE his team faced missing a second major fi nals. have perfect records. Darida hit the post twice in the closing moments place in Group A from which only the group win- gate, although lack of fi rst team At Wembley, Jermain Defoe marked his interna- A brace from Andre Schuerrle and goals from of the fi rst period but the Hertha Berlin midfi elder ners are guaranteed to qualify for the fi nals in Rus- football at United is not helping tional comeback with a goal as England toiled to Thomas Mueller and Mario Gomez saw Germany was back on the scoresheet with a penalty after 77 sia next year. his case for inclusion. a 2-0 victory over Lithuania. Defoe, 34, who was take their unbeaten away run in World Cup quali- minutes to make it 6-0. Northern Ireland can re- Rooney, who is also his club’s making his fi rst England appearance since Novem- fying to 44 games. Azerbaijan midfi elder Dimitrij claim second place if they defeat Norway in Belfast RESULTS record goalscorer having passed ber 2013, hit the target midway through the second Nazarov, who plays in Germany, had netted an ear- in a late match last night. Group E leaders Poland Group C icon Bobby Charlton’s mark ear- half for his 20th international goal. ly equaliser to the delight of the home crowd before can extend their lead with victory over Montene- At Baku: Azerbaijan 1 (Nazarov 31) Germany 4 (Schurrle lier this season, has been linked Substitute Jamie Vardy added a second as Eng- Joachim Loew’s team stepped on the accelerator. gro in Podgorica while, in Cluj, Romania host 19, 81, Muller 36, Gomez 45) with a move in the close season land tightened their grip on fi rst place in Group F. “It does me good to score goals, but it’s up to me to Denmark. In the same pool, Manchester United’s At Serraville: San Marino 0 Czech Republic 6 (Barak 17, after 13 years with United. Gareth Southgate’s side are now the last team in take my performances back to Germany and repeat Henrikh Mkhitaryan was on target in Armenia’s 24, Darida 19, 77-pen, Gebre Selassie 25, Krmencik 43) The 31-year-old has been European qualifying yet to have conceded a goal. them for Dortmund,” said Schuerrle. 2-0 win over Kazakhstan to keep up their hopes of Group E linked with a lucrative trans- England have 13 points, fi ve ahead of Slovenia who At Serraville, the Czech Republic trounced San taking the runners-up place. At Yerevan: Armenia 2 (Mkhitaryan 73, Ozbiliz 75) fer to the China Super League were facing Scotland in Glasgow later last night. Marino 6-0 to move in to second place in Group C, Meanwhile, the Dutch football federation sum- Kazakhstan 0 whilst his former club Everton “We’d have liked a bit more, but I think really seven points behind Germany. The Czechs had al- moned Danny Blind for talks following Saturday’s Group F have expressed an interest. only one team came to win the game and it’s always ready beaten San Marino 7-0 on two previous oc- 2-0 defeat by Bulgaria that left hopes of reaching At Wembley: England 2 (Defoe 22, Vardy 66) Lithuania 0 However, Scholes — capped 66 times — says it would be a loss for both England and United if SPOTLIGHT his former team-mate at United and in the national side was dispensed with. “Wayne has been a sensa- tional footballer for England and Dutch suff er World Cup shock with loss to Bulgaria Manchester United for nearly 15 years. He is greatly respected AFP even if he is having a diffi cult time with his club. and I still think he has a part to Paris We gave him the crosses and he was very effi cient,” play with United and England,” said France coach Didier Deschamps. the 42-year-old said. In Lisbon, Portugal saw off Hungary, a team they “He has great experience, he he Netherlands’ hopes of reaching the shared six goals with at Euro 2016. The win kept can pass knowledge on to young World Cup fi nals suff ered a major setback Portugal in second place in Group B, three points players and it’s up to Gareth if on Saturday night when the three-time behind Switzerland, who earlier preserved their and when he wants to use it. I runners-up slumped to a shock 2-0 de- 100% record with a fi fth win in fi ve games, a 1-0 don’t want to talk about him Tfeat to Bulgaria. The loss left the Dutch six points home victory against Latvia. Porto striker Andre going to another English club, I behind Group A leaders France, who beat Luxem- Silva opened the scoring after 30 minutes, con- hope he gets himself back into bourg 3-1, and down in fourth spot, three back verting a pass from Raphael Guerreiro for his fi fth the United team. He has a fi ght from Sweden and two off Bulgaria with just the goal in six games for Portugal. on his hands but the Wayne group winners guaranteed a place in the 2018 fi nals Six minutes later, skipper Ronaldo doubled the Rooney I know is someone who in Russia. lead with a superb left-footed fi nish and the Real will face that challenge and try “What can I tell you? We came here with good Madrid superstar made it 3-0 on 65 minutes with to do it. He still has a prominent intentions, but it has become a nightmare,” Dutch a clever free-kick for his 70th international goal. role to play for England and skipper Arjen Robben said. “We want to go the World Cup so we have to win United. There’s been a lot of Elsewhere, Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo our next fi ve matches, they are all fi nals,” said Por- speculation over where he goes took his international tally to 70 goals as Euro- tugal coach Fernando Santos. now but Wayne, with what he’s pean champions Portugal beat Hungary 3-0 to Belgium stayed top of Group H but only af- done, has earned the right to do stay in second spot behind Switzerland in Group ter struggling to a 1-1 draw with Greece. Missing what he wants to do. I hope he B. Belgium needed a goal two minutes from time the injured Eden Hazard, Belgium lacked a crea- does stay and fi ght.” by Romelu Lukaku to salvage a 1-1 draw against tive spark in Brussels and they were made to pay nine-man Greece as they stayed two points clear when Greece grabbed the lead just 20 seconds into CAF SECRETARY-GENERAL in Group H, although Roberto Martinez’s team lost the second period when Benfi ca striker Kostas EL AMRANI QUITS their 100% record in the process. Mitroglou latched on to a long ball to fi re home his African Football Confedera- In Sofi a, Bulgaria stunned the Dutch with third goal of the qualifying campaign. tion (CAF) secretary-general two goals in the fi rst 20 minutes, both coming Greece were reduced to 10 men after 65 minutes Hicham El Amrani resigned from Spas Delev. Delev pounced on a mistake by when Panagiotis Tachtsidis was red carded for a yesterday without giving an 17-year-old Matthijs De Ligt, Holland’s youngest crude lunge on defender Toby Alderweireld. explanation. The 37-year-old debutant since 1931, who misjudged a pass and al- Everton striker Lukaku drove home from close Moroccan revealed his decision lowed the striker to slot the ball past Jeroen Zoet. range in the 89th minute to grab a share of the in a letter to African national Delev then made it 2-0 when he unleashed a spoils before Georgios Tzavelas was sent-off in football associations. stinging right-foot drive past Zoet. The Dutch injury time. “I feel a lot of frustration. With the His move is probably linked dominated large parts of the rest of the game but amount of individual talent we have at our dispos- to the defeat of long-serving were thwarted by a solid Bulgarian defence while al, we have to show more,” said Martinez. Cameroonian Issa Hayatou goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov pulled off a super Earlier on Saturday, Sweden crushed Belarus by Malagasy outsider Ahmad save in the second period to deny Davy Klaassen. 4-0 to move to 10 points in Group A, three behind Ahmad in the CAF presiden- Group A table-toppers France, the 1998 cham- France, with Emil Forsberg scoring twice. In Group tial election this month. El pions and last year’s Euro 2016 runners-up, saw H, Bosnia-Herzegovina also went on a goal spree Amrani was a Hayatou loyalist, Olivier Giroud open the scoring in Luxembourg with a 5-0 win over minnows Gibraltar, who have constantly defending his boss, just before the half-hour mark. now conceded 22 goals in fi ve games. who ruled African football for 29 Luxembourg levelled after 34 minutes thanks to years, against public and media Aurelien Joachim’s penalty, his country’s fi rst goal RESULTS ON SATURDAY Netherland’s Bas Dost (centre), Bulgaria’s Bozhidar Kraev (left) and Bozhidar Chorbadzhiyski go for a criticism. He became secretary- against France in 39 years. Group A header during the World Cup qualifying match in Sofia on Saturday night. (AFP) general, initially on an interim But the minnows’ joy was short-lived as Atleti- At Solna: Sweden 4 (Forsberg 19-pen, 49, Berg 57, basis, in 2010 when Egyptian co Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann restored Thelin 77) Belarus 0 At Andorra La Vella: Andorra 0 Faroe Islands 0 At Zenica: Bosnia and Herzegovina 5 (Ibisevic 4, 43, Mustapha Fahmy moved to glo- France’s lead, also from the spot, just four minutes At Luxembourg: Luxembourg 1 (Joachim 34-pen) At Geneva: Switzerland 1 (Drmic 66) Latvia 0 Vrsajevic 52, Visca 56 Bicakcic 90+4) Gibraltar 0 bal football body FIFA. Ahmad, later. Arsenal star Giroud scored his second of the France 3 (Giroud 28, 77, Griezmann 37-pen) At Lisbon: Portugal 3 (Silva 32, Ronaldo 36, 65) Hun- At Nicosia: Cyprus 0 Estonia 0 who will serve a four-year term, evening after 77 minutes after being set up by Ben- At Sofia: Bulgaria 2 (Delev 5, 20) Netherlands 0 gary 0 At Brussels: Belgium 1 (Lukaku 89) Greece 1 is scheduled to meet CAF staff in jamin Mendy. “With us, Olivier often scores goals Group B Group H (Mitroglou 46) Cairo today. Gulf Times 4 Monday, March 27, 2017 FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE Arsenal, Man United likely to be crowded out by top four The teams in the top four appear favoured by form and the fixture list while Arsenal and United have too much to do

By Paul Wilson only side in the equation still involved in Europe. The Guardian Although this is undoubtedly the tightest, most intriguing top-four situation the Cham- pions League qualifying process has brought hen the Premier League returns af- about, for Arsenal or United to break in, some- ter the international break it does one above them will have to slip up quite badly. so as if making up for lost momen- There are various reasons why that might tum; a full midweek programme happen – Harry Kane’s absence could aff ect Wfollows this coming weekend’s fi xtures and by Spurs, City’s defence could go walkabout again, the time everyone has played twice in four or Liverpool might be stymied by a succession of fi ve days the remaining games will be down to teams keeping men behind the ball and playing single fi gures and the run-in will be under way. it cagey at the back – though on the whole those Chelsea’s 10-point lead means they are scenarios seem as unlikely as Chelsea blowing it universally regarded as a shoo-in for the ti- from here. Put another way, it seems much more tle, though by that reckoning Arsenal have no likely that United will tire and drop points and chance of overhauling Tottenham, who are nine that Arsenal will continue to be out of sorts and points ahead of their London rivals. a source of exasperation to their supporters and While Arsenal have a game in hand, they also manager. have a testing match coming up with the visit of That is not to say there will be no movement Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side are prob- within the top four – Liverpool’s gentle run-in ably not the ideal opponents to face when you is in contrast to City’s, who must play at Arsenal have lost four of your last fi ve league games – and Chelsea in the space of week – but with no “a unique bad patch where we haven’t been for distractions apart from the FA Cup (how quaint) 20 years”, was how Arsène Wenger described it it is hard to see why any of the present top four – and though it is unlikely City will base their would surrender their Champions League status strategy on outjumping Arsenal at corners this from this point on. could be another day of reckoning and recrimi- Even allowing for the tenacity that teams in nation at the Emirates. the relegation battle can show at this stage in It is just as well the skies above the stadium the season, Spurs, City and Liverpool all have are off -limits to stunt planes, otherwise the next enough games against sides lower in the table to logical progression might be an aerial dogfi ght keep ahead of the chasers. between the opposing factions. It is the chasers who have the more demand- Arsenal lost in Manchester in December and ing run-ins. United still have to play fi ve teams should they do so again a 10-point gap would from the top seven, including City, Arsenal and open up between them. It is worth noting that Spurs away, while Arsenal in their present disar- Wenger’s team has by far the worst record ray will not fi nd it easy to pick up points against among top-seven clubs of taking points from City, Spurs, United and Everton, not to mention other sides in that echelon. Liverpool are the Stoke away from home. top performers in the mini-league at the top of The fl ipside of that argument is that having the table with an average return of 2.1 points per so many games against direct rivals gives you game against the leading seven clubs. Chelsea a real chance if you can win them. It could be are not far behind with 1.8, while the Gunners said, for instance, that United’s destiny is still in bring up the rear with a paltry 0.6. their own hands and if they beat Everton, Chel- City’s own stats are not that impressive: along sea, City, Arsenal and Spurs they would do their with Manchester United they average a point While Arsenal have a game in hand, they also have a testing match coming up with the visit of Manchester City. Champions League hopes a power of good while per game against top-seven opponents, but Ar- simultaneously harming the sides above and senal’s wobbles against top sides began on the overtake. three games more. While Jürgen Klopp’s side With fi ve clubs vying for the three Champions around them. fi rst day of the season with a 4-3 home defeat Saturday brings the Merseyside derby at An- have a good record against leading clubs this League places below Chelsea – unless they can Not too many United fans will be holding by Liverpool and have not really recovered since. fi eld and should Liverpool take three points season and do not have to play any more of them produce a surprise result at Anfi eld, Everton are their breath. Winning the Europa League might Unless this is to be the fi rst season this centu- from their neighbours – always a possibility once Everton are out of the way, what appears surely too far behind – the whole top-four pic- be easier than that and even José Mourinho has ry without Champions League football at Arse- bearing in mind they won the earlier encoun- a straightforward run-in is complicated by the ture is complicated. Many feel United still have started to sound less sanguine about his chances nal it is vital City are not allowed to extend their ter at Goodison – they, too, will be nine points knowledge that teams from the bottom half of the potential to stage a late run into a Champi- of qualifying through the league. While United lead into double fi gures, even if realistically it is ahead of Arsenal by kick-off time against City. the table have tended to be the ones capable of ons League placing, though games in hand are appear to have a better chance than Arsenal, Liverpool who Arsenal and United are looking to Crucially, however, Liverpool will have played tripping Liverpool up. not necessarily an advantage when they are the both could fi nd the door already closed.

QSL QATAR TEAM ARRIVE IN TASHKENT Five things to get excited about the return of the QSL

By Sports Reporter Doha

he Qatar Stars League title, relegation and the race for the Mansor Muftah award are set to be decided in frantic fi nish to the 2016/2017 season. After aT three week hiatus due to international foot- ball, the QSL returns on Saturday with a host of major talking points yet to be decided, here we look over fi ve key moments that will shape the QSL season in round 24.

RELEGATION TROUBLE FOR WAKRAH Bottom of the table Al Wakrah could be for- mally relegated to the Qatar Gas League if they are unable to get a positive result from their titanic relegation battle against Al Khor on Saturday evening. The Blue Waves have been rooted to the bottom of the standings for a few weeks now, and baring three victories and other results going their way they look unlikely to beat the drop. Wakrah boss Kais Yâakoubi will have a fully fi t squad to choose from for the game and will be hoping to get an unlikely result against a Khor side who has also struggled this season. Infl uential Mo- roccan attackers Mouhcine Moutouali will Qatar football team arrived in Tashkent last night ahead of their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying have to be at his very best if the Blue Wave are match against Uzbekistan, which will be played tomorrow. Jorge Fossati side’s 0-1 home defeat to complete the great escape. Title chasing Al Sadd have a crunch match against rivals Al Rayyan that could shape the against Iran on Thursday has left Qatar’s 2018 World Cup dreams in tatters. The result means destiny of who picks up the QSL falcon shield. Qatar are bottom of Group A with just four points from six games. With four matches to play, AL SADD VS AL RAYYAN Qatar are 10 points behind leaders Iran and six points adrift of South Korea who occupy the top At the top of the QSL standings and title Belmadi will be hoping his side can step up, elected to turn to a familiar face in caretaker two spots which guarantee automatic qualification to Russia in 2018. Even their hopes of finish- chasing Al Sadd have a crunch match against especially with their fi fth QSL falcon shield boss Al Habib Sadeq. The Tunisian coach ing third, where Uzbekistan sit with nine points, and where they would progress to a last chance rivals Al Rayyan that could shape the destiny within their sights. is no stranger to the Cheetahs having taken play-off now seem remote. of who picks up the QSL falcon shield. Jesaldo over as a caretaker on a number of occasions. Ferriera’s side is two points from the top and RACE FOR THE MANSOR MUFTAH AWARD Sadeq will be now charged with guiding the can’t aff ord to lose ground on league leaders With the current lead scorer Yusef El Arabi Cheetahs to their highest possible fi nish in Lekhwiya. Al Sadd will be buoyed that they now sidelined for the remainder of the sea- the league. soundly defeated Rayan 5-0 last time in the son. The opportunity has arisen for second league. Former champions Al Rayyan have placed Bagdad Bounjah to overtake his rival QSL CEO MEETS WITH ENGLISH a slim chance of picking up the QSL falcon to lift the Mansor Muftah award at the end of FA DELEGATION shield, and head coach Michael Laudup will season QFA awards. Bounjah is currently on The Qatar Stars League, the highest profes- be well aware that a win for his side will seri- 21 goals for this season, and needs to score fi ve sional league in the state of Qatar welcomed ously dent Sadd’s title aspirations. from the fi nal three games of the season to a delegation from the English FA to Al Bidda overtake the Lekhwiya striker who has scored tower yesterday morning. EL JAISH VS LEKHWIYA 24 times this campaign. During the meeting Hani Taleb Ballan, QSL As for league leaders Lekhwiya they have CEO met Mike Spinks, the Chairman of the a tough away fi xture against local rivals El NEW COACH AT AL GHARAFA English Schools Football Association & Rich- Jaish. The Red Knights also need maximum It’s all change on the managerial front for Al ard Gardiner, FA Council Representative for points with Al Sadd on their tails. One ma- Gharafa heading into the fi nal three games of Wiltshire. The meeting was called to discuss jor blow for Lekhwiya will be the absence of the domestic season. With Portugeese head a range of issues of mutual interest, including top goal scorer Yusef El Arabi, who is out for coach Pedro Caixina leaving the club to take ways of future calibration between the two the season due to a shoulder injury. Djamel the reins of Glasgow Rangers, Gharafa have parties. Gulf Times Monday, March 27, 2017 5 SPORT

NBA Wizards shine, Clippers clinch playoff spot

FP to score 24 points, grab 11 re- The teams would be fi rst- five games. “That’s what it is. I Los Angeles bounds, and hand out eight as- round playoff foes if they keep think everybody needs to think sists. their spots with the superior about making plays for the “I haven’t been in too much record conveying a home-court team, making winning plays, ohn Wall tallied 37 points light the last 24 hours, I mean all edge in the series. before thinking about how as the Washington Wiz- day since I got home last night French centre Rudy Gobert many points we’re going to ards defeated LeBron and today I stayed away from it scored 26 points and grabbed score and stuff like that.” James’ Cleveland Cava- because it was bothering me a 14 rebounds for the Jazz, who “There’s going to be some liersJ 127-115, tightening the race little bit too much,” said James, lost to the Clippers for the third games where you don’t score. atop the Eastern Conference who suff ered a corneal abrasion time in four meetings so far this But are you going to take a charge standings on Saturday night. to his right eye. season and the 18th time in the for a teammate?” The Wizards now trail the “But I kind of warmed up to it, team’s past 20 meetings. In Dallas, the visiting Toronto Boston Celtics by two games and so that’s a good sign.” Gobert also stretched his Raptors clinched a playoff spot the defending NBA champion James started Saturday’s con- streak of games with at least one with a 94-86 victory over the Cavaliers by 2 1/2 for fi rst place. test wearing plastic goggles but blocked shot to 41. Dallas Mavericks at American Also, Cleveland’s lead over Bos- took them off with about three Blake Griffi n had 15 points, Airlines Center arena. ton is now just a half-game. minutes left in the fi rst quarter. Chris Paul added 14 and DeAn- Toronto won their 44th game Wall delivered 18 of his 37 James needed seven assists to dre Jordan grabbed 15 rebounds of the season and their fi fth in points in the fi rst quarter shoot- pass Maurice Cheeks (7,392) for for the Clippers. Joe Johnson a row as they head home to be- ing eight-of-eight from the 12th place in NBA history, which came off the bench to score 17 for gin an important string of four fi eld. he reached with his fi rst assist in the Jazz. games at Air Canada Centre. “You don’t want to go into the fourth quarter. DeMar DeRozan, coming off the playoff s knowing you have Elsewhere, Jamal Crawford Selfish players hurt Jazz consecutive 40-point games, to face those guys and you never came off the bench to score a After the game Gobert blast- and forward Serge Ibaka each won against them in the regu- game-high 28 points and power ed some of his teammates for scored 18 points to lead the Rap- lar season,” Wall said. “To come the Los Angeles Clippers over putting more importance on tors. DeRozan was eight of 17 here and win in a tough place, it’s Utah 108-95. padding their scoring stats than from the fl oor with six assists. defi nitely a boost.” The Clippers improved to trying to win games. He did not Bradley Beal added 27 points 44-30, moving within one-half mention any names. RESULTS for the Wizards, who are now game of the Jazz (44-29) for “We’ve got guys that com- Clippers ...... 108 Jazz ...... 95 19-7 when all fi ve starters score fourth place in the Western Con- pete, but some of us don’t Wizards ...... 127 Cavaliers ...... 115 in double fi gures. ference and clinching a playoff compete. Some of us just think Spurs ...... 106 Knicks ...... 98 Superstar James shook off the berth for the sixth season in a about scoring,” Gobert said of Raptors ...... 94 Mavericks ...... 86 John Wall (R) of the Washington Wizards drives past Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first eye injury suff ered Friday night row. Utah’s fourth loss in its past Trail Blazers 112 Timberwolves 100 half at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. (Getty Images/AFP)

TENNIS NHL Blues fall to Flames 3-2 in overtime Federer, Wawrinka By Jeremy Rutherford fenseman Matt Bartkowski. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Bartkowski’s fi rst goal of the season came on a shot that he put well wide. But the puck he fi rst-ever battle went in off the skate of Bou- between former goal- wmeester, the second goal of tending partners Jake the game that got a piece of Allen and Brian Elli- the veteran defenseman on the advance in Miami Tott ended with Allen catching way in. The unfortunate rico- another bad break of the game chet for the Blues knotted the and Elliott skating the length score 2-2 with 9:07 to play. ‘We’ve had some epic matches against each other. I’m sure the crowd would love to see it’ of the ice to celebrate Cal- It remained that way gary’s 3-2 overtime win over through the end of regulation, the Blues. which was fortunate for the Reuters Sean Monahan’s shot with Blues since they had to kill off Miami 2.5 seconds left in OT went in the fi nal two minutes on the off the skate of Blues forward penalty kill after a delay-of- Kyle Brodziak, one of three game penalty against defense- oger Federer contin- goals to go in off Allen’s team- man Alex Pietrangelo for lift- ued his impressive mates Saturday night at Scot- ing the puck out of play. 2017 campaign with a trade Center. The game went to overtime, straight-sets, second- So just seconds before the which was the Blues’ fi rst since roundR victory at the Miami Open Blues would go to a shoot- February 9, a win over Toronto in Florida on Saturday. out, Monahan’s 25th goal of that improved them 7-5 in OT But it was far from a cakewalk the season sent them to just this season. But in Saturday’s for Federer, who came within their second loss in their last OT, Calgary outshot the Blues two points of losing the fi rst 11 games and ended their win- 6-1 and won on the late goal by set before breaking twice in the ning streak at four games. Monahan. The Blues led only second for a 7-6(2) 6-3 triumph The Blues did pick up their once, with that 2-1 lead in the over American teenager Frances 86th point with the OT loss. third period. Tiafoe. Next up for Federer is The win for Calgary ended They gave up the game’s fi rst Juan Martin del Potro, who beat its two-game losing streak goal for the third straight night Dutchman Robin Haase 6-2 6-4 and pushed the Flames to 88 on one by former teammate in a night match at Crandon points, keeping them in the top Troy Brouwer. Park. wild-card spot in the Western Brouwer, who had 18 goals Federer has a 15-5 career Conference. The Blues will be with the Blues last season, record against del Potro, the off Sunday before wrapping up scored his 12th of the year with 2009 U.S. Open champion. their three-game homestand Calgary on the power play. “I would love to play against Monday against Arizona. That the Flames were on a (del Potro),” Federer said, speak- Allen and Elliott were dead man-advantage was a bit per- ing before knowing who his next even with under nine minutes plexing. It stemmed from a opponent would be. “We’ve had to play in regulation, with each skirmish in front of Elliott that some epic matches against each give up two goals. appeared to ignite when T.J. other. I’m sure the crowd would The Blues took a 2-1 lead on Brodie got his arms on Blues love to see it.” Jaden Schwartz’s 17th goal of forward Scottie Upshall, but Tiafoe provided a good the season and second in three after several players got in- competitive workout for the games with 12:44 left. Jay Bou- volved and calmed down, Up- 35-year-old Swiss maestro in his wmeester, who had a couple shall was the only player sent fi rst match since he won the BNP of bad breaks on the defensive to the penalty box. Referee Paribas Open at Indian Wells on side Saturday, took a shot that Brian Pochmara whistled the Sunday. was defl ected by Kyle Brodziak veteran for slashing, a call with Tiafoe broke in the fi rst game on the way to the net. Elliott which Blues coach Mike Yeo of the second set, but fourth made the save on Brodziak, but hardly agreed. seed Federer broke straight back Schwartz pumped the rebound with a sizzling backhand win- past his former teammate. RESULTS ner and another break was all he A building that once rever- Flames ...... 3 Blues ...... 2 needed to clinch his 1094th ca- berated with “Moose” calls Canadiens ...... 3 Senators ...... 1 reer victory at tour level. when Elliott made saves for Bruins ...... 2 Islanders ...... 1 Tiafoe, ranked 101st in the the Blues, a reference to the Panthers ...... 7 Blackhawks ....0 world, has only four career vic- netminder’s nickname, was Predators ...... 7 Sharks ...... 2 tories, but he showed enough suddenly echoing with a chant Capitals ...... 4 Coyotes ...... 1 to suggest he will add to that of “E-L-L-I-O-T-T.” Oilers ...... 4 Avalanche ...... 1 number sooner rather than But less than four minutes Blue Jackets .....1 Flyers ...... 0 later. after Schwartz scored what Rangers ...... 3 Kings ...... 0 Federer could be on course could have been his second Sabres ...... 5 Maple Leafs ....2 for a semi-fi nal showdown with game-winner in less than a Canucks...... 4 Wild ...... 2 compatriot Stan Wawrinka, less week, Calgary tied it on de- Hurricanes ...... 3 Devils ...... 1 than two weeks after they met in the Indian Wells fi nal. Top seed Wawrinka defeated Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos in 65 minutes, fi ring seven aces in a 6-3 6-4 victory in less than fa- Roger Federer with Frances Tiafoe of the United States (R) after their Miami Open match yesterday. Federer won 7-6(2) 6-3. (Getty Images/AFP) vourable morning conditions. “I’m really happy with the freeze in the fi nal game to win Lucic-Baroni beats Radwanska for second time this year match today,” Wawrinka told 6-1 7-5. reporters. “It’s quite tough con- Serving for the match, Coric Polish fifth seed Agnieszka she eventually fell to Serena was just too good today.” ditions, raining and really windy stopped in the middle of a rally, Radwanska was the highest Williams. “She was playing unbe- Another high seed had a fright, today. It’s really windy on the challenging a line call, only to be women’s casualty at the Miami lievable tennis today,” Radwans- number six Garbine Muguruza court, so it’s never easy. reminded by the chair umpire Open on Saturday, blown away ka, speaking about Lucic-Baroni, overcoming a slow start to beat “I’m happy with the way I was that he had no challenges left. for the second time this year by told the WTA. China’s Zhang Shuai 4-6 6-2-6-2 moving, the way I was playing Volatile Australian Nick Kyr- Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. “She was very solid from the be- in over two hours. and my attitude in general was gios won his match, and also re- Radwanska had no answer to ginning, very aggressive, hitting Second seed Karolina Pliskova’s really positive,” he added. “So ceived a code violation warning the 26th seed, who rolled to a everything with unbelievable match went according to form, it’s a great match.” from the chair umpire for swear- 6-0 6-3 win in barely an speed. I couldn’t do much. the Czech beating Kazak 27th Austrian number six Dominic ing at a spectator who called out hour. “The first set went so quickly, seed Yulia Putintseva 7-5 6-3. Thiem was the only high seed to during a point. Lucic-Baroni also beat Radwan- and in the second set I had But 17th seed Anastasia Pavly- suff er a loss on Saturday. Kyrgios, the 12th seed, ska at the Australian Open in chances, but I didn’t come back uchenkova was sent packing, Calgary Flames left wing Micheal Ferland (No 79) and defense- Thiem fell to 20-year-old dropped his fi rst two service January, in the second round en and unfortunately I missed the beaten 4-6 6-0 6-3 by American man Deryk Engelland (No 29) and left wing Johnny Gaudreau (No Croatian Borna Coric, who over- games, but roared back to beat route to the semi-finals, where chance to stay in the match. She Bethanie Mattek-Sands. 13) celebrate with defenseman Matt Bartkowski after he scored a came an embarrassing brain Damir Dzumhur 6-4 6-3. goal against the St. Louis Blues. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times 6 Monday, March 27, 2017 SPORT

WGC MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP BRITISH OPEN SQUASH Favourites fall on day of shocks Top seed Johnson AFP ability to contain and defend London against Elshorbagy’s strident attacks, and to win points with his alert volleying and deft wo world number skills in the top left corner, ones, Mohamed was similarly complimentary Elshorbagy and Nour about his opponent El Sherbini, and “The last few times he has faces Rahm in fi nal Ta nine-year former world been beating me,” said Mat- number one, Nicol David, thew. “But he’s won two of were all casualties of an ex- these titles already, and been ‘I thought I played pretty solid. I hit the ball well, drove it well. I hit a lot of good putts’ traordinary semi-fi nal cull of world number one for about favourites at the British Open two years and he’s still only on Saturday. 26.” AFP Elshorbagy lost his title and Elshorbagy appeared Austin became certain to lose the top gripped by the tension which ranking when he was beaten has affl icted him during much 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5 by Nick of this week. ustin Johnson and Jon Matthew, a 36-year-old Eng- There were shouts of an- Rahm advanced to lishman who becomes the old- ger at his own errors — which the fi nal of the World est British Open fi nalist since contributed greatly to his loss golf Championships Hashim Khan, the Pakistani of an 8-3 lead in the second Match-PlayD Championship, set- regarded as the father of mod- game — and a lack of tightness ting up a showdown between ern squash, in the 1950s. with his driving. world No. 1 and one of the game’s Elshorbagy’s fellow Egyp- The forehand volley he put brightest stars. tian El Sherbini also lost her ti- down from a good position at Johnson defeated Japanese tle, but could remain the world 5-8 in the fourth game roused star Hideto Tanihara 1-up yes- number one, after a 5-11, 7-11, the crowd to urge a tiring Mat- terday in the semi-fi nals of the 11-5, 11-3, 11-6 loss to Laura thew on to one last big push to $9.75 million PGA Tour event. Massaro, the 33-year-old 2013 victory. “I thought I played pretty British Open champion. He will be trying for his solid. I hit the ball well, drove it The match was a mirror- fourth British Open title well. I hit a lot of good putts and image reversal of their fi nal against Gaultier. just on the back nine, they just in the last World Champion- Massaro’s eff ort in coming didn’t go in,” Johnson said. ships, in Kuala Lumpur, where from two games down against “I hit the hole a bunch on the the Egyptian came from two El Sherbini was arguably even back nine, hitting good putts games down to win. more impressive. with good speed. That’s what With Malaysian squash She altered the emphasis of I’ve got to keep doing, rolling the great David beaten 11-8, 7-11, her approach several times, putter really well and I think I’ll 13-11, 11-7 to Sarah-Jane Perry, eventually luring the top- be tough to beat this afternoon.” the seventh-seed, in the other seeded titleholder to an error- Spain’s Rahm had an easier women’s semi-fi nal, it meant strewn defeat. time ousting Bill Haas 3 and 2 as that for the fi rst time since “I thought of that world fi - the winners will square off in the 1953 three of the four British nal I lost to her and thought if championship match Sunday af- Open fi nalists were English. she can come back from two ternoon. The transformation from down, I can,” Massaro said. Former FedEx Cup champion last year, when Egypt became David made fewer mis- Haas and Tanihara will play for the fi rst country in the profes- takes than either ElSherbini third place on the Austin Coun- sional era to provide all four or El Shorbagy, but played try Club course in Texas. fi nalists, was complete when more conservatively than Johnson, who won the World Ramy Ashour, the sport’s in- while beating France’s Camille golf Championships-Mexi- jury-ravaged star, was forced Serme, the second seed, in the co Championship earlier this to retire yet again with a ham- quarter-fi nals. month, is seeking to become the string problem. It left time and room for the fi rst player to win each of the That happened after Greg tall, aggressive Perry to domi- four World golf Championships Gaultier had taken the fi rst nate for long spells. events, with this being the only game 11-9, and enabled the “I wasn’t as sharp as I need- one missing from his trophy case. Frenchman to reach his fourth ed to be and she is too strong He took over the top perch in British Open fi nal in fi ve years. not to be at your best,” said the world golf rankings by win- David. ning his last two tournaments, Angry El Shorbagy “I’m disappointed, but the Genesis Open and the WGC Gaultier was fulsome in his fair play to Sarah-Jane — she Mexico. He seeks to become the praise for Ashour, saying: “I played well and the better fi rst player to win three straight could see he was struggling player won today.” starts on the PGA Tour since when warming up. Meanwhile Perry jokingly Rory McIlroy in 2014. Dustin Johnson reacts after winning his match against Hideto Tanihara (not pictured) of Japan on the 18th hole during the semi-finals of the “It’s unfortunate, as there’s said: “I will dedicate this win Johnson could also match Ti- World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at the Austin Country Club in Austin, Texas. (Getty Images/AFP) no-one like him, and we really to the people behind me who ger Woods as the only players to admire him and have taken a didn’t know who I was, and win consecutive WGC events. Stroud grabs lead at Stroud, who started the third ers with three pars to end his 202 — D.A. Points 64-69-69, Bill lot from him.” said that Nicol was going to Tanihara made Johnson work Puerto Rico Open round one shot off the lead, had weather-disrupted 68 on Satur- Lunde 65-68-69 Earlier Matthew, whose win.” for the victory as he almost de- Chris Stroud capped his fi ve- fi ve birdies without a bogey to day morning. He followed with a 203 — Andrew Johnston (ENG) livered the biggest upset of the under 67 with a birdie to seize a put himself in position to chal- three-under eff ort that included 70-67-66, Kim Whee (KOR) tournament. one-shot lead after three rounds lenge for a fi rst US PGA Tour title. fi ve birdies and two bogeys. 71-65-67, Jonathan Randolph Tanihara can look back on the of the US PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico His previous best fi nish was Johnston stormed up the lea- 66-69-68, Rafael Campos (PUR) Lee Mi-Rim grabs Kia Classic lead week with pride as he earned his Open on Saturday. a playoff loss at the Travelers derboard with a bogey-free six- 66-68-69, Tim Wilkinson (NZL) best PGA Tour fi nish, topping his Stroud broke out of a three- Championship in 2013. “I feel under par 66. His six birdies in- 71-63-69, Bryson DeChambeau Lee Mi-Rim shrugged off an opening bogey to card six birdies two top-10 fi nishes in 43 previ- way tie atop the leaderboard, like I’m way overdue,” Stroud cluded two to cap his round. 68-65-70 in a five-under 67 on Saturday and seize a one-shot lead after ous career starts. fi nishing 54 holes at Coco Beach said. “I’m playing very, very well. Whee carded a 67 and Ran- 204 — J.T. Poston 66-72-66, Scott three rounds of the LPGA Kia Classic in Carlsbad, California. He joins Toru Taniguchi as the Golf and Country Club with a I’m making some nice putts.” dolph a 68. Wilkinson followed Brown 67-68-69 With a 13-under total of 203, Lee was one in front of fellow lone players from Asia to reach 15-under par total of 201. He said his approach on Sun- up a second-round 63 with a 205 — John Peterson 70-69-66, South Korean Hur Mi-Jung, whose seven birdies in a six-under the semis of this event. He was one shot in front of fel- day would be simple. 69 and Campos, who had seized Peter Uihlein 69-68-68, Boo 66 included three in a row to cap her round. For some time now Rahm has low Americans D.A. Points and “Nothing fancy — just go out sole possession of the lead with Weekley 68-68-69, J.J. Spaun It was a further two strokes back to Korea’s Chun In-Gee, who been a rising star in the sport. He Bill Lunde, who had shared the there and hit a lot of fairways, fi ve birdies on the front nine, 66-68-71 signed for a 67, and American Cristie Kerr, the overnight leader is a former world No.1 amateur second-round lead with Bryson a lot of greens. There’s a lot of settled for a 69. The tournament 206 — Fabian Gomez (ARG) 71- who bogeyed the last for a one-under 71 that left her tied for and he’s showing the ability to DeChambeau and both carded guys behind me. I’m just going to off ers a chance for lesser lights 68-67, Kurt Kitayama 70-68-68, third on 206. Lee, who captured both of her LPGA tour titles in transition that success to the big 69s. DeChambeau fi red a 70 to keep looking forward.” on the PGA Tour to contend Sam Saunders 70-69-67, Mark her rookie season in 2014, finds herself in a familiar position. stage. join a group of six players sharing Points had four birdies and a while top-ranked talent plays at Anderson 68-69-69, Luke List Two years ago she also held the 54-hole lead, three strokes in If Rahm beats Johnson in the fourth on 203 that also included bogey in his round, but couldn’t Austin, Texas, in the World Golf 71-66-69, Ryan Blaum 68-69-69, front of Kerr — who went on to win the tournament. championship match he will England’s Andrew Johnston, fi nd a birdie after the 12th. Championships Match-Play Harold Varner 66-74-66, Kyle After her bogey at the first, Lee got going with three birdies in jump inside the top-10 of the South Korean Kim Whee, Puerto Lunde, seeking a second US tournament. Reifers 70-66-70, David Hearn a row from the third through fifth holes, and she added birdies offi cial world golf rankings and Rican Rafael Campos, New Zea- PGA victory almost seven years (CAN) 66-69-71, Retief Goosen at the ninth, 10th and 16th to take the lead as Kerr endured a he’s set to move to fourth in the lander Tim Wilkinson and Amer- after capturing his fi rst, had Leading scores (RSA) 68-67-71, Tom Hoge 69- roller-coaster of a day. FedEx Cup standings. ican Jonathan Randolph. joined the second round lead- 201 — Chris Stroud 69-65-67 65-72.

BASKETBALL Gharafa, Rayyan to clash in fi nal of Qatar Cup

By Sports Reporter Doha

ocal basketball giants Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan will clash in the fi nal of the Qatar Cup on Friday after easing past their semi-fi nal opponents yesterday. While Al Gharafa thrashed Qatar Sports Club 98-59, AlL Rayyan ended the hopes of Al Arabi with a 73-59 victory. Al Gharafa, who were deprived of the Qatar Basketball League title by El Jaish, were too strong for Qatar Sports Club yesterday as they stayed on course for their fi rst title of the year. A 14-8 lead after the fi rst fi ve minutes saw them assert their supremacy early in the match after which they simply left Qatar Sport club trailing in their wake. Al Gharafa’s Sammy Monroe was the top-scorer in the match with 25 points, while Michael Taylor had 18 and Ab- dulrahman Saad 17. Al Gharafa led 60-35 at the end of the second quarter and 79-50 after the third at which stage the Qatar Sports Club gave up all hope. Edward Justice and Ibrahim Giama were the top scorers for Qatar Sports Club with 14 points each. In the second semi-fi nal, Al Rayyan took a 22-18 lead after the fi rst quarter and never looked back. By the time the third quarter ended, Al Rayyan had taken a commanding 60-46 lead. Abdulrahman Abdulhaleem was the top scorer for Al Rayyan with 19, while Spruill Addison scored 18. For Al Arabi, Adamu Saaka excelled with a game-high 22 Al Gharafa’s Nedim Essad trying to collect a rebound during the Qatar Cup basketball points, while Osaro Adako had 17. semi-final against Qatar Sports Club yesterday. Al Rayyan’s Marcus Bell dunks the ball against Al Arabi in Qatar Cup semi-final yesterday. Gulf Times Monday, March 27, 2017 7 CRICKET

FOCUS TWENTY20 Pakistan beat WI by six wickets Lyon claims four as Marlon Samuels, man of Agencies the match in two World T20 Bridgetown, Barbados fi nals, was unfortunate to be adjudged leg-before to Paki- stan’s other slow bowler, Imad akistan eased to a six- Wasim. Thereafter it was a wicket victory over the combination of impatience West Indies in the fi rst and poor shot selection which Australia and India fi xture of a four-match the visitors capitalised upon to PT20 series at Kensington Oval take the advantage at the half- in Barbados yesterday. way point of the match. Shoaib Malik top-scored Rovman Powell, like Shadab with an unbeaten 38, hitting making his T20 International the winning boundary with 17 debut, failed to have an im- balls remaining in the match. mediate impact with the bat as Earlier, Shadab Khan pro- he fell to fast-medium bowler locked in grim tussle duced an outstanding debut Hasan Ali. performance as Pakistan lim- He and the other bowlers in ited West Indies to 111 for eight the West Indies line-up now ‘I reckon it is an unbelievable feeling to be pretty evenly poised after day two’ batting fi rst. face a formidable challenge to Brought on as the fi fth prevent Pakistan taking a 1-0 bowler after the hosts were lead in the series and extending AFP Lyon, who had conceded 163 put in on a bright, breezy af- their winning streak in T20 In- Dharamsala runs while taking just one wicket ternoon, Shadab’s mesmeris- ternationals against the Carib- in the previous drawn Test at ing mixture of leg-breaks and bean side to four. Ranchi, remained wicketless in googlies earned him fi gures of ff -spinner Nathan the fi rst two sessions. three for seven, the most eco- Scoreboard Lyon took four key But the bowler, whose expe- nomical ever in the history of West Indies wickets to fashion rience as a curator gave him a T20 international cricket in a E. Lewis run out ...... 10 a late comeback for sharp understanding of pitch- complete four-over spell. C. Walton lbw b Shadab ...... 18 AustraliaO on an engrossing sec- es, brought Australia back into World champions West In- M. Samuels lbw b Imad ...... 7 ond day in the decisive fourth the game in the final session dies only managed to get into L. Simmons b Shadab ...... 1 Test against India yesterday. through some classic old-fash- three fi gures thanks to an un- K. Pollard c Imad b Riaz ...... 14 The 29-year-old made the ioned spin. beaten 34 from captain Carlos S. Narine c Imad b Shadab ...... 1 most of a lively track at Dhar- Lyon’s fi rst victim was Pujara, Brathwaite. R. Powell lbw b Hasan Ali ...... 5 amsala, which is hosting its fi rst who was coming into the match He dominated a 37-run C. Brathwaite not out ...... 34 Test, to return a rich haul of 4-67 on the back of an epic innings of eighth-wicket partnership J. Holder c Hafeez b Tanvir ...... 14 in the fi nal session of play. 202 at Ranchi. with fellow-Barbadian Jason Extras: (lb3, w3, nb1) ...... 7 Fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood Pujara tried to defend but the Holder, who was dismissed Total: (8 wkts, 20 overs) ...... 111 (1-40) and Pat Cummins (1-59) ball ripped back in to hit the off the last delivery of the in- Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Lewis), also bowled their hearts out dur- glove and then lob up to short nings. 2-35 (Samuels), 3-37 (Walton), ing frugal spells to restrict the leg, where Peter Handscomb Shadab removed opening 4-38 (Simmons), 5-42 (Narine), hosts to 248-6 at stumps. pouched an easy catch. batsman and wicketkeeper 6-49 (Powell), 7-74 (Pollard), 8-111 India trail by 52 runs with four Pujara’s 57 took his run tally Chadwick Walton and danger- (Holder) wickets in hand after Australia past 400 in the series, behind ous middle-order strokeplayer Bowling: Imad Wasim 3-0-12-1, made 300 in their fi rst knock, only Smith who has 482 runs Lendl Simmons in his fi rst over Mohamed Hafeez 1-0-8-0, Sohail largely thanks to a fi ne 111 from from seven innings. before adding the scalp of Su- Tanvir 4-0-21-1 (1nb, 1w), Hasan captain Steve Smith. The Indians would have been nil Narine in his second. Ali 4-0-25-1, Shadab Khan 4-0-7- At stumps Wriddhiman Saha in further trouble but for Mat- Kamran Akmal, back in the 3, Wahab Riaz 4-0-35-1 (2w). was batting on 10 with Ravindra thew Renshaw who dropped two national T20 side after an ab- Jadeja on 16. catches, much to the frustration sence of three years, deprived Pakistan With the series in the bal- of the toiling bowlers. the newcomer a fourth wicket K Akmal c Lewis b Badree ...... 22 ance at 1-1, the game’s two top- But the Aussies have the when he failed to hold on to a A Shehzad c Walton b Holder 13 ranked sides have been locked in chance to run through India’s diving catch at backward point B Azam c Powell b Holder ...... 29 a battle of attrition, with neither tail with the second new ball off ered by Kieron Pollard. M Hafeez c&b Brathwaite ...... 5 willing to give an inch. on Monday morning and grab For all the struggles they S Malik not out ...... 38 “I reckon it is an unbelievable the crucial first-innings ad- faced against Pakistan’s tal- S Ahmed not out ...... 4 feeling to be pretty evenly poised vantage. ented and varied bowling at- Extras: (w 3, nb 1) ...... 4 after day two,” Lyon said after Day two also saw words being tack, the home side’s troubles Total: (4 wickets; 17.1 overs) 115 the day’s play. exchanged with long stares on a started when Evin Lewis was Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-40; 3-49; “I know we probably left a few couple of occasions. But mostly run out in the third over of the 4-95. runs out there, but to have India the players remained within the match by Ahmed Shehzad’s Bowling: Badree: 4-0-24-1, Hold- 240-6 odd after a pretty good bounds of good behaviour in direct hit from 40 metres out er 3.1-0-27-2, Narine 4-0-22-0, day in the fi eld, I am quite happy what has otherwise been a frac- as the batsman attempted to Brathwaite 3-0-18-1, Williams 2-0- to be honest. tious series. complete a second run. 14-0, Pollard 1-0-10-0. “Coming over here, everyone Australia, who triumphed at wrote us off and to be in this po- home against India in 2014-15, sition in the last Test at 1-1 and need just a draw to retain the the pressure slightly on India is trophy. fantastic.” The Indian batsmen were SCOREBOARD guilty of squandering good starts in a match they must win Australia 1st innings: 300 to regain the Border-Gavaskar (Smith 111, Wade 57, Warner 56; K. trophy. Yadav 4-68) But Lokesh Rahul (60) and India 1st innings Cheteshwar Pujara (57) batted L. Rahul c Warner b Cummins 60 patiently to put on 87 for the M. Vijay c Wade b Hazlewood .....11 second wicket, the best partner- C. Pujara c Handscomb b Lyon 57 ship so far for the hosts. A. Rahane c Smith b Lyon ...... 46 “It’s by far the best wicket we K. Nair c Wade b Lyon ...... 5 have played on, there’s some- R. Ashwin lbw b Lyon ...... 30 thing in it for the spinners and W. Saha not out ...... 10 the fast bowlers as well. The ball R. Jadeja not out ...... 16 kept swinging the whole day,” Australia’s Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of India’s Ajinkya Rahane during the second day of the fourth Extras: (b4, lb9) ...... 13 said Rahul. and last Test at The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala yesterday. (AFP) Total: (for 6 wkts, 91 overs) .....248 “If you spend some time in Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Vijay), 2-108 the middle it’s really good to bat six wickets. It wasn’t really the for injured skipper Virat Kohli, was adjudged lbw off Lyon. (Rahul), 3-157 (Pujara), 4-167 (Nair), on. All of us got starts but we worst day for us.” also looked set for a big score but The all-rounder opted for 5-216 (Rahane), 6-221 (Ashwin). couldn’t convert. ended up gifting a catch to Smith a review but the ball tracker Bowling: Hazlewood 18-6-40-1, Pakistan’s Shadab Khan (R) celebrates with captain Sarfraz Khan “But we are happy at the end Australia comeback off Lyon for 46 off 104 balls. showed the stumps would have Cummins 21-5-59-1, Lyon 28-5-67- after dismissing West Indies’ Sunil Narine during the first T20 of the day with 250-odd runs for Ajinkya Rahane, standing in Ravichandran Ashwin (30) been hit. 4, O’Keefe 24-4-69-0. match in Bridgetown, Barbados. (AFP)

SPOTLIGHT De Kock bats through pain to have Test even

AFP “There’s a few tablets, anti-infl am- determined to have him play despite the SCOREBOARD Hamilton matories and that sort of stuff but wicketkeeper-batsman’s injury. South Africa first innings (overnight Quinton doesn’t mind he just gets on He hit 11 fours and two huge sixes, one 123-4) with it. off New Zealand’s best performed bowl- T. de Bruyn c Latham b Henry ...... 0 uinton de Kock batted through “But I defi nitely see he was very er Matt Henry and one off Jeetan Patel, D. Elgar b de Grandhomme ...... 5 the pain of a damaged fi nger uncomfortable.” as he dominated the off -spinner who H. Amla b de Grandhomme ...... 50 to bolster South Africa with a Latham, who managed 24 in total in had claimed his wicket cheaply in the J. Duminy c Patel b Henry ...... 20 defi ant 90 as the deciding Test three previous innings in the series, put drawn fi rst Test. F. du Plessis c Latham b Santner ...... 53 againstQ New Zealand was evenly poised his string of low scores behind him to But 10 runs short of his century he T. Bavuma c Raval b Henry ...... 29 at the end of day three in Hamilton ensure a positive start to Zealand’s reply played across the line to Neil Wagner and Q. de Kock lbw Wagner ...... 90 yesterday. with Jeetan Raval who was 25 not out at was out lbw. V. Philander c Latham b Henry ...... 11 In the rain disrupted Test, New Zea- stumps. South Africa resumed the day at 123 K. Maharaj c Watling b Wagner ...... 9 land were 67 without loss at stumps, New Zealand bowling coach Shane for four and after Henry removed Temba K. Rabada c Watling b Wagner ...... 34 with a rejuvenated Tom Latham on 42, in Jurgensen said Latham was buoyed by a Bavuma for 29, du Plessis progressed M. Morkel not out ...... 9 reply to South Africa’s 314. standout performance in the fi eld high- to 53 before a smart piece of fi elding by Extras: (lb1, w3) ...... 4 The injured De Kock and previously lighted by an instinctive catch at short Latham at short leg. Total: (all out, 89.2 overs) ...... 314 out-of-form Latham were the individual leg to remove Faf du Plessis. On the third ball of Mitch Santner’s Fall of wickets: 1-5 (de Bruyn), 2-5 (Elgar), stars in the deciding Test with South Af- “I think the game’s evenly poised. The opening over, Latham anticipated du 3-64 (Duminy), 4-97 (Amla), 5-148 (Bavu- rica 1-0 up and New Zealand needing a two openers have set us up with a good Plessis was going to sweep and before ma), 6-190 (du Plessis), 7-219 (Philander), win to draw the series. start,” Jurgensen said. the shot was played he was moving to his 8-249 (Maharaj), 9-295 (de Kock), 10-314 De Kock, playing with damaged liga- Latham “got a lot of confi dence from right where he fl ung out an arm to take (Rabada) ments in his right index fi nger, went to his fi elding. the close-range catch. Bowling: Henry 24-2-93-4 (2w), de the middle with South Africa 148 for fi ve “He took that into his batting today. Latham took another classy catch, just Grandhomme 24-4-62-2, Wagner 25.2- and he held the innings together while He’s got some confi dence”. above ground level to his right at second 2-104-3 (1w), Patel 7-0-30-0, Santner the bottom half of the batting order add- Just as de Kock’s 91 in the fi rst innings slip to remove Vernon Philander for 11 off 9-3-24-1 ed a further 166. in Wellington set South Africa up for an Henry. New Zealand 1st innings South African batting coach Neil Mc- eight-wicket victory, he again torment- Henry equalled his career best fi g- T. Latham not out ...... 42 Kenzie described de Kock as “a unique ed New Zealand with his trouble-free ures with four for 93, while Neil Wag- J. Raval not out ...... 25 player” who needed painkillers to get approach. ner, who took three for an expensive Extras:...... 0 through the day. 104, ended the South Africa innings Total: (no wickets, 25.3 overs) ...... 67 “We’re threatening to get bowled out Smart fielding with the wicket of the hard-hitting Bowling: Philander 8-2-15-0, Morkel for around 200 and he comes and gets a His 90 came off only 118 balls, high- Kagiso Rabada who scored 34 off 31 7-2-13-0, Rabada 5-1-25-0, Maharaj 5.3- Quinton de Kock of South Africa plays a shot on day two of the third Test really quality 90,” McKenzie said. lighting why captain Faf du Plessis was deliveries. 0-14-0. against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday. (AFP)

Monday, March 27, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

QATAR’S REDA WINS KAHAYLA CLASSIC IN DUBAI

Trainer Julian Smart (right), jockey Harry Bentley (left), Al Shahania Stud director Abdul Rahman al-Mansour (second from left) lead in HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani-owned Reda after the Jockey Harry Bentley (centre) rides Reda to victory in the Kahayla Classic at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Saturday. (AFP) horse won the Kahayla Classic (Gr1 PA) at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday. PICTURE: Juhaim

RUGBY FOOTBALL Aspire Academy U-13 Doha takes team emerges triumphant

By Sports Reporter equaliser in vain until the fi nal only thing preventing Atletico Doha whistle ended proceedings 1-0. from returning home with a clean Commenting on his team’s sweep of the entire series. victory, Aspire Academy U-13 The opportunity to play spire Academy’s un- Head Coach, Filipe Sanchez against opposition from some second place der-13 football team Mateos, said: “Atletico are a top of the world’s most established emerged victorious last side and you saw how our boys footballing countries exposes week against Atletico had to focus and work hard to the Academy’s players to diff er- Hosts lost to Bahrain in the semi-final of the West Asia Cup MadridA of Spain and Eintracht achieve this win. This is what ent playing styles, management Frankfurt of Germany in the lat- we look for in this competition: philosophies and tactics from By Sports Reporter est edition of the Academy’s Tri- tough and challenging games around the globe. Doha Series tournament. that require mental as well as This makes the Tri-Series The Academy’s youngsters physical strength. football tournament a vital part were dominant in their opening “The team has made us proud of Aspire Academy’s commit- oha RFC 1st XV came second in the match against Eintracht Frank- of the enormous amount of work ment to enabling the sporting West Asia Premiership, an ama- furt at the Aspire Zone’s outdoor that so many people put into success of its student-athletes teur cross-border rugby compe- pitches, with Rashid al-Abdulla these preparations. I am most while providing a chance for stu- tition that brings together seven and Abdullah Feroun scoring two delighted for the boys, however, dents to compete head-to-head teamsD from around the Gulf region to battle brilliant goals in a 2-0 victory. as they took on two really good with world leading football clubs. it out on the pitch. The following day, Aspire bat- teams in Eintracht Frankfurt and The Tri-Series season contin- The 2016-2017 rugby season fi nally came tled Atletico Madrid in another Atletico and still emerged victo- ues with LA Galaxy from USA to a close for Doha on Friday when the team thrilling encounter. Al-Abdulla rious”. and Olympiacos from Greece. narrowly lost to Bahrain 22-23 in the semi- again struck with precision in the The series also featured U-15 Aspire Academy will host the fi nal of the West Asia Cup, which took place 17th minute to give Aspire Acad- and U-14 age group tournaments. 1999 and 2001 generations from at home at ‘The Fortress’. emy’s team the lead. They then Atletico ran out victorious in March 26th to 29th, with partici- While Bahrain took an early lead after went on to defend their advan- both of these, which meant As- pants playing against equivalent scoring the fi rst try, Doha was able to re- tage as Atletico searched for an pire’s U-13 side was therefore the teams from Aspire Academy. group and at half time were leading 17-10. After giving away a few penalties to their Bahraini counterparts, the visiting team un- fortunately managed to pull ahead and hold Doha off until the fi nal whistle blew. Alex Natera, Doha’s Head Coach said: “It’s been an extremely successful season; we fi nished second in the league. We had a rough start; the previous head coach left – I stepped in about three matches into the competition – and throughout the year we lost players and sustained a couple of seri- ous injuries, including our captain. It really has been non-stop, so a real credit to Doha for placing second.” Dave Ford, Captain of Doha, also com- Iliesa Rakabu takes on a Bahraini player during the semi-final of the West Asia Cup. mented on the game, saying: “Ultimately we lost three times to Bahrain. The failure tion and to make it through to the semi-fi nal of the elements together. We are really look- – or success of the year – is on that. Bah- of the West Asia Cup is great. Overall, as a ing forward to next season.” rain plays a very physical game, they can go season, it’s been a great success.” Doha fi nished behind the Abu Dhabi Har- through 15, 20 phases very eff ectively.” Alex Natera added: “There are many fac- lequins – the winners of this year’s West “Last year, we came third in the league. ets to a rugby game, and you can’t do every- Asian Club Championship, the Dubai Sev- This year, we had a new league structure, thing at once. So, moving forward, we want ens, and the West Asia Premiership. The fi - new coach, a lot of new players, even a new to hit the ground running; everyone back for nal of the West Asia Cup will see Abu Dhabi captain. So, to come second in the competi- pre-season in August and working to put all Harlequins face off against Bahrain. Aspire Academy under-13 team celebrate after winning the Tri-Series tournament.

THE 3RD NATIONAL SHOWJUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP

Nasser Jassim al-Ghazali riding Quel Homme won the main class, 135cm One round against the clock with jump off , at the 3rd National Showjumping championship. Salman Mohamed al-Emadi (Zorro Z) came second, while Saeed Nasser al-Qadi (Day Dreamer) was third. LEFT: Mohamed Khalid al-Kashouti astride Alegro 84 took the top honours in the 125cm Accumulator with Joker class at the Qatar Equestrian Federation. PICTURES: Lotfi Garsi