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Home , Al Rayyan, Al Rayyan (city), Al Sadd SC, Qatar Cup

SPORT SPORT | 14 SPORT | 15 Vinales and Working on Rossi give postponed Yamaha perfect Games not an start at Jerez easy task: Bach

SATURDAY 25 JULY 2020

QSL pays tribute to frontline workers as football makes gleeful return , Al Gharafa clinch wins

CHINTHANA WASALA THE PENINSULA Leaders Al Duhail, Football powerhouses Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa holders clinched victories yesterday as ROUND 18: RES ULTSULTS QNB Stars League (QSL) Al Gharafa 1 - 0 Al Arabi resume title hunt marked its return in style four SC 1 - 2 Al Rayyan months after the game came to THE PENINSULA – a standstill due to the corona- REMAINING FIXTURES virus pandemic. Today - 4:45pm Al Duhail vs at Defending champions Al Sadd and title hopefuls Al Duhail Jonathan Kodjia yesterday Today - 7:00pm Al Sadd vs at Al Sadd Stadium return to QNB Stars League (QSL) action today after a struck the winner for Al Tomorrow - 4:45pm vs at Al Janoub Stadium long break which was caused due to COVID-19 Pandemic Gharafa - who resumed the Tomorrow - 7:00pm Al Shahania vs Al Ahli at Al Sadd Stadium which wreaked havoc on the global sport calendar. season in a match against Al Both teams are facing relatively easy opponents in Arabi at the Al Janoub Stadium today’s encounters, and will be looking to secure full - before Al Rayyan clinched a Al Rayyan's points in their respective matches. thrilling 2-1 win over fighting Yohan Boli Al Duhail will look to cement their position at the Qatar SC thanks to a late strike celebrates after top by winning against relegation-threatened Umm Salal from Yohan Boli. scoring a goal at the Al Janoub Stadium. The match will kick off at Kodjia, the Ivory Coast against Qatar 4.45pm under closed doors. forward, who joined 'The SC during their Al Duhail coach Walid Regragui spoke to the media Cheetahs' in January, scored QNB Stars ahead of their 18th match of the league this season and the winning goal in the 22nd League match said his team’s intention is to maintain the lead and win minute as Al Gharafa took their played at the Al the title. points tally to 31. Yesterday’s Sadd Stadium, “Our preparations during the past period were good, win was their ninth this yesterday. especially in the last stage, despite some injury worries. season. But that is not an excuse because Al Duhail are capable Yesterday, at the Qatar of putting them behind. I hope we will continue to win, 2022 venue, the season’s maintain the lead and win the title,” Regragui said. resumption was dedicated to “We know that all clubs would make extra efforts to healthcare workers who serve beat us, but we will work more to show the champion the nation during the COVID-19 stuff. The match against Umm Salal will not be different pandemic. and it will serve as a message to all clubs that we are Although matches are now ready to win the title,” he said. played without fans as per the Umm Salal, under Moroccan Aziz Ben Askar, are protocol and precautionary 11th in the standings with 14 points, the same as Al measures, the Round-18 clash Khor but behind on goal difference. provided thrillers for the TV Umm Salal coach Askar said he will focus more viewers. the next five games despite the outcome of today’s The game was evenly match. fought, with Al Gharafa, “No one knows what can happen in this match coached by Serb Slavisa that comes after the break. Al Duhail is one of the Jokanovic, having an upper Al Rayyan's Yacine Brahmi wearing a shirt which reads best clubs in Qatar, we know them well, but we hand early on. 'Thanks' as a tribute to healthcare workers. LEFT: A will focus more on our team. We have more than They reaped the rewards healthcare worker kicks off the QSL match between Al one important game, not only against Al Duhail, halfway through the opening Gharafa and Al Arabi at the Al Janoub Stadium to mark because the league will not stop after it. Whether we got session, with Abdulghani the return of football action following a long break due a positive result or not in this match, we are focusing on Muneer providing Kodjia with to the COVID-19 pandemic, yesterday. the next five games to get points that help us stay in the a defence-splitting pass and the QNB Stars League,” he said. latter finding the target dodging Later, Al Sadd’s match against Al khor will kick off past a couple of Al Arabi players Meanwhile, at the Al Sadd at 7:00pm. and beating goalkeeper Stadium, Al Rayyan continued Abdelkarim extends Al Sadd contract Al Sadd, coached by Spaniard Hernandez whose Mahmoud Abunada. with their push towards the contract with the club was recently extended for one Kodjia, the former Aston title. more season, are currently occupying the third spot in Villa forward, had a narrow Kayke Rodriguez had put the QSL points table behind leaders Al Duhail and second miss in the 42nd minute as he Qatar SC ahead in the 10th placed Al Rayyan. hit wide of the left upright and minute before Yacine Brahimi Al Sadd’s Assistant Coach David Pratt said his team then hit straight to the (40) levelled the scores with a is ready to face the ‘well-organised’ Al Khor team. goalkeeper. spot kick. Boli’s late strike (83) “We are happy with the resumption of QNB Stars Al Arabi’s attacks were broke the deadlock to secure League. We are going through a good period because feeble as Pierre-Michel Lasogga the victory for Al Rayyan. the players are training with full force and motivated to and Yousef Abdulrazaq failed Yesterday's result keeps Al resume the matches. We will start with a difficult con- to breach the rival fort. Rayyan just a point behind frontation against Al Khor, a team which has strength 'The Dream Team', seeking leaders Al Duhail, who will play and is well-organised. In the first leg, we achieved a dif- a victory in their bid to break Umm Salal today. ficult victory against them. They are strong offensively into the top four to give them- Al Rayyan now have 41 with players like Thiago Bezerra, Lucca Borges and selves a chance to play in the points (12 wins, five draws and Ahmed Hammoudan,” Pratt said. and AFC Champions one defeat), whereas Qatar SC Al Khor, coached by Omar Najhi, are currently under League, upped the ante in the remained on 17 points (four vic- threat of relegation, and are placed 10th in the table with second half. tories, five draws and nine 14 points with three victories, five draws and nine defeats. Lasogga headed wide soon defeats). They lost to Al Sadd 1-2 in the first leg this season in after the hour-mark as the Qatar SC are not completely January. rivals went slightly on the safe from the relegation threat. Coach Najhi is aware of the capabilities of Xavi’s men backfoot. The tall German However, they have put up but asked the Al Khor fans to support the team during forward again sent his shot better displays ever since ex- the confrontation. Al Sadd SC's Qatari defender holding a team jersey straight to Burhan in the 77th Qatar international midfielder “Al Sadd is a strong team with players who can make with a club official after his contract with the QNB Stars League title minute. took charge of the the difference at any time. But we have players who Icelander Heimir Hall- squad, replacing Spanish coach holders was renewed yesterday. Abdelkarim will remain at the club for have great confidence in themselves and we trust them. grimsson’s men could not make Carlos Alos Ferrer, under whom the next 4 years, the club announced. Abdelkarim has left a distinctive So anything can happen. Al Khor fans love their team, any roads despite the best they dropped many points. mark in the club’s history ever since making his debut in 2010 and is a we need their support, even if they cannot come to the efforts of their captain as Al Qatar SC had lost to Al key figure behind the team's success during the recent years. In 2018, stadium. There are several ways to encourage, including Gharafa registered a crucial Rayyan by a 0-5 margin in the the AFC named him as Asia’s Player of the Year, making him the second social media. As for the players, they should be at the victory. first leg. Qatari to win the accolade. top of their focus in the game against Al Sadd,” said Najhi. 14 SPORT SATURDAY 25 JULY 2020

Blue Jays Andalucia MotoGP at Jerez Clippers look to to play in pick up where Buffalo amid they left off in pandemic Vinales, Rossi NBA restart AP – FLORIDA AP – TORONTO give Yamaha Starting the season, then The displaced Toronto Blue stopping because of a global Jays will play in Buffalo, New pandemic, and then resuming. York, this year amid the These are unprecedented pandemic. times in the NBA, which would An official familiar with the perfect start be an ideal backdrop for the matter told The Associated Los Angeles Clippers to win Press yesterday that the Blue AFP – JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN shoulder, was 21st fastest, just their first championship. Jays will play at Sahlen Field. behind Crutchlow who fractured Hey, somebody’s going to The official spoke on condition Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales and his wrist. hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy. of anonymity as they were not Valentino Rossi led the pack in Two more free practice sessions And a franchise that hasn’t authorized to speak publicly yesterday’s two free practice and qualifying are scheduled for been past the second round of ahead of an announcement. sessions ahead of this weekend’s today. the playoffs figures it might as The park is where the Andalucia MotoGP in Jerez. The race will start at 1200 GMT well be them. The Clippers team’s Triple-A affiliate plays. Vinales, who finished second in tomorrow. were well-positioned to make The Blue Jays are looking last weekend’s delayed opening a run when the league shut for a major league park after race of the season at the same COMBINED FIRST AND down in March. They were the Canadian government circuit, posted a time of one minute, SECOND PRACTICE TIMES: second in the Western Con- declined to allow them to play 37.063 seconds to pip Italian ference standings with a 44-20 in Toronto, and the state of teammate Rossi, who finished 1. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) mark, 5 1/2 games behind the Pennsylvania nixed a deal to 0.142sec back in second. 1min 37.063sec first-place Lakers. play in Pittsburgh because of Championship leader Fabio 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) at Los Angeles was 25-7 at frequent travel throughout the Quartararo had a disappointing day 0.142 home and 19-13 on the road. United States. on his Yamaha-SRT, finishing 14th. 3. Brad Binder (AFS/KTM) 0.307 But now their only home is the Senate Democratic leader Reigning world champion and Walt Disney World complex 4. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha- Chuck Schumer of New York Marc Marquez did not take part in in Florida. First come eight SRT) 0.353 urged Major League Baseball Friday’s sessions, although he has games for seeding purposes. 5. Pol Espargaro (ESP/KTM) 0.379 Commissioner Rob Manfred been declared fit to race despite a Then it’s on to the playoffs. in a letter to pick Buffalo. broken arm, on which he had 6. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM) 0.429 Kawhi Leonard owns two Schumer noted the part- surgery on Tuesday after crashing 7. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) championship rings (San nership between the Buffalo heavily in the first GP. 0.503 Antonio and Toronto) and Bisons and the Toronto Blue Fellow Spaniard Alex Rins 8. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda- coach Doc Rivers has one Jays has been strong since (Suzuki) and Cal Crutchlow LCR) 0.529 (Boston). George is hungry for their affiliation began in 2013. (Honda-LCR) took part in practice 9. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) Monster Energy Yamaha’s Italian rider Valentino his first in his 10th season after Toronto began the season despite suffering injuries in the 0.672 Rossi rides during the first MotoGP free practice years of futility in Indiana and at Tampa Bay yesterday. The opening race. 10. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) session of the Andalucia Grand Prix at the Jerez Oklahoma City. Blue Jays are scheduled to play Rins, who dislocated his 0.676 racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, yesterday. George missed the start of their first home game July 29 the season while recovering against the defending from shoulder surgeries and champion Washington Leonard was on load man- Nationals. agement because of his knee. Maryland Gov. Larry Three new rounds announced as F1 Patrick Beverley and Landry Hogan acknowledged in an Shamet (who tested positive interview with The Associated for COVID-19 and didn’t travel Press that there have been to Florida) also missed time. talks about the state hosting scraps American races due to virus Shamet, a key reserve at the Blue Jays. shooting forward, could join It was not immediately AP – PARIS The US GP at the Circuit of “It is my hope that the pan- “We also want to pay the team in time for games. clear if the state turned down The Americas in Austin, Texas demic will soon pass and we tribute to our incredible Starting centre Ivica Zubac the Blue Jays amid a spike in Formula One races in Brazil, was initially scheduled for late will celebrate 2021 with the partners in the Americas and had not yet arrived in the COVID-19 cases in Baltimore Canada, Mexico and the United October, with Brazil and greatest Formula One United look forward to being back bubble due to undisclosed per- in recent weeks. States have all been cancelled Mexico then hosting races in States Grand Prix ever.” with them next season when sonal reasons. Blue Jays general manager for this year amid the corona- November. Canada was The three new races take they will once again be able to Joakim Noah, who signed Ross Atkins said this week his virus pandemic, with three already postponed from its this season’s total to 13 - all of thrill millions of fans around in March, could find himself team had more than five con- others added to the calendar. mid-June date. them in Europe - with F1 still the world.” getting more playing time as tingency plans for a home F1 said in a statement on “The cancelation is hoping to have 15-18 races and The F1 season has started a result of the absences. stadium and was in talks with Friday that the Eifel Grand Prix prudent, but painful. After a end the season by mid- successfully with three races Point guard Reggie Jackson other teams. will host a race at the iconic sold out 2019, advance ticket December after races in completed, two in Austria and signed on in February after Atkins had previously said Nürburgring in Germany on sales deposits were up 250 and Abu Dhabi. one in Hungary. playing 14 games with Detroit. if the Blue Jays can’t find a October 11, followed by the Por- percent over the prior year, “We are pleased that we There have been only two Overall, the shutdown was a major league park, Buffalo be tuguese GP in Portimão two and our staff was preparing our continue to make strong positive cases for the corona- blessing in disguise, giving the their most likely site for home weeks later and the Emilia- biggest event ever,” COTA progress in finalizing our plans virus among personnel at the entire team four months to games. But it lacks major Romagna GP in Italy on chairman Bobby Epstein said for the 2020 season,” F1 track from nearly 15,000 repair their nicks and bruises league-caliber facilities. November 1. in a statement. chairman Chase Carey said. tests. from the early grind of the season. After playing through various absences early on, the Clippers started to come Werenski grabs lead at depleted 3M Open together on the floor. Rivers was able to mix and match AFP – LOS ANGELES on the 5th and 6th holes before rolling with five birdies to move into con- lineups and see the full com- in a 28ft birdie putt on the 7th. tention. Finau’s birdie spree included plement of firepower at his Former reality television contestant A further birdie on the ninth left him puts of 21ft, 12ft and 11ft. The only disposal. During scrimmages Richy Werenski took advantage of a four under at the turn, and four more blemish was a bogey five on the par- in Florida, he’s been experi- depleted field to storm into the lead at birdies on the back nine left him alone four seventh. Finau was joined on six menting with lineups featuring the PGA Tour’s 3M Open in Minnesota at the top of the leaderboard. under by Ryan Moore, Max Homa, a big man with four smaller on Thursday with an eight-under-par Thompson, 35, chasing only his Matthew Wolff, Nick Watney, Bo Hoag players or five smaller players 63. second win on the PGA Tour after and China’s Zhang Xinjun. on the floor at once. The team’s Werenski, who secured entry to his victory at the 2013 Honda Classic, Teeing off on the back nine, Zhang, chemistry also melded, with first PGA Tour event at the 2015 Bar- carded a bogey-free round which 33, got off to a flying start with an eagle Leonard and George fitting in Richy basol Championship after winning a included seven birdies. Thompson’s on the par-five 12th, making the green easily as the resident Werenski reality television program, reeled off flawless round included a 35ft birdie in two and draining a 31ft putt for a superstars. of the United nine birdies to lead by one at TPC Twin putt on his sixth hole of the day to move three. Three more birdies left him at five Leonard led the team in States plays Cities in Blaine, outside Minneapolis. to three under. Back-to-back birdies under at the halfway point, and despite scoring (26.9 points) and his shot from The 28-year-old, who has yet to win coming down the stretch on his 14th and a bogey on his 11th hole, two more rebounds (7.3) before the the 17th tee on the PGA Tour, seized the lead on the 15th holes left him at seven under. Seven birdies left him well-placed at six under. shutdown. George was aver- during the final hole of his round, making a 16-foot players are two shots off the pace after Most of golf’s elite have skipped this aging 21 points. Lou Williams, first round of birdie putt to go one clear of Michael carding six-under-par 65s. week’s tournament in Minneapolis, and who led the team in scoring the 3M Open Thompson, who shot a seven-under- That group includes Tony Finau, a line-up with only a smattering of last season, was chipping in at TPC Twin par 64. Werenski had started slowly, a who went on a blazing run after the turn names was further depleted on 18.7 points and a team-high 5.7 Cities in Blaine, birdie on the second nullified by a bogey to move up the leaderboard. Thursday when former world number assists while maintaining his Minnesota, on five on the par-four third hole. Finau was two under over the front one Dustin Johnson withdrew after sixth man role. Harrell Thursday. But he reeled off consecutive birdies nine after a solid start, but then erupted shooting a seven-over-par 78. averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds. Top sport events axed in China as coronavirus edict hits hard AFP – SHANGHAI promoters said, just over two “We are extremely disap- Open -- a men’s and women’s month. The Cincinnati Open Shanghai promoter, yesterday weeks after China’s General pointed that our world-class event -- in Beijing. and US Open are still scheduled said several more competitions All top-level tennis and the Administration of Sport said events in China will not take “We respect the Chinese to take place back-to-back in including the Diamond League Diamond League athletics were most international events this place this year,” Simon said in government’s decision to do New York from August 20, and Masters snooker have been wiped off China’s 2020 sporting year would be cancelled to a statement. what’s best for the country in despite leading figures in men’s cancelled. calendar yesterday, following prevent a resurgence of “We do however respect response to the unprecedented tennis casting doubts over the State-owned Juss, which is a government edict aimed at COVID-19. the decision that has been global situation,” said Andrea hardcourt Grand Slam. also responsible for staging controlling the coronavirus The cancellations come made (by Chinese authorities) Gaudenzi, ATP chairman. World number one Novak Formula One in the city, made which could also spell doom for despite the return of domestic and are eager to return to “It’s with a heavy heart that Djokovic earlier this month said no mention of the grand prix -- F1’s Chinese Grand Prix and the sports in China, with football’s China as soon as possible next we announce ATP tournaments he was undecided over whether originally scheduled for April -- country’s biggest golf tour- Chinese Super League starting season.” will not be played in China this to travel to compete in the US but that too now looks unlikely. nament. on Saturday and fans allowed Also among the cancelled year.” Open. The star-studded, The WTA Finals in to attend China Basketball Asso- WTA tournaments is October’s The globe-trotting tennis The women’s WTA tour is $10.25m WGC-HSBC Cham- Shenzhen and the Shanghai ciation games from this Wuhan Open, which promised season has been at a standstill scheduled to restart on August pions golf, slated to start on Masters were prime among the weekend. to be hugely symbolic as the since mid-March due to the 3 in Palermo, Italy, the first October 31 in Shanghai, is tennis tournaments to fall as the Women’s Tennis Associ- city was at the centre of the virus outbreak worldwide, and event on the revised 2020 another international event sport, which is struggling to ation chief Steve Simon said he coronavirus outbreak when it it is not finding it easy to calendar. that looks in peril. restart in the face of the pan- was “extremely disappointed” emerged late last year. resume. Following China’s China was hit hard by the demic, suffered another major that the women’s tennis tour, The men’s Association of This week, organisers a announcement earlier this coronavirus when it emerged blow. which has bet heavily on the Tennis Professionals said it too cancelled an ATP tournament month, all international sports in Wuhan but mass lockdowns Shanghai’s Diamond China market, has had to scrap was cancelling its 2020 China in Washington DC that would events pencilled in for the have been lifted and the official League athletics and Masters seven tournaments including swing, including the prestigious have marked the restart of the country are in grave doubt. number of cases has slowed to snooker have also gone, the showpiece WTA Finals. Shanghai Masters and China men’s tennis season next Juss Sports, a major a trickle. SATURDAY 25 JULY 2020 SPORT 15 Working on postponed Games not an easy task: Bach

DOHA - THE PENINSULA major competitions for other cancelling championships. Sport after the postponement of the only through the continental IOC apologises, times of the year, or perhaps for is part of the society, and it was Olympics. youth Olympics that will be beIN SPORTS conducted an later years. So the Olympics next affected by the crisis just as we On the postponement of organized in the next few years, deletes tweet exclusive interview with the year will have a special and were affected. So we have to the 2022 Summer Youth but also through the World President of the International well-deserved date. adapt to this situation. Olympic Games in Dakar Junior Championship in Ath- about 1936 Olympic Committee (IOC) On covering expenses of On the IOC position The postponement of the letics that the international fed- Thomas Bach (pictured below). the postponement From the viewpoint of the 2022 Summer Youth Olympic erations will organize. Berlin Olympics Here are the topics We are working closely with International Olympic Com- Games in Dakar was a result of On Qatar’s dialogue for the discussed. the Organizing Committee, and mittee (IOC), we see that we are the postponement of the 2032 Summer Olympics On rescheduling the 2020 we are helpingpg cover the in a gpgood and stable position Olympicyp Games in Japan. We We in the IOC are happy AP - GENEVA Summer Olympic Games expenses of this post-post- because all our werewere in a situationsit where we with the huge interest in the We had to reschedule the ponement. But this is not partners showed hadhad to organizeorgan in five years 2032 Summer Olympics, 12 The IOC apologised yesterday Olympic Games for the first time an easy missionmission theirtheir lloyaltyoyalty at fivefive OlOlympicympic editions, with the years before the launch of the and deleted a Twitter message in history because of the pan- becausebecause we stistillll ddoo this difficultdifficult nationalnational OlympicOly committees Games. We are in a great which some saw as celebrating demic. Now we are working not know which sce-sce- timetime the sendingsending teamsteam to all these five position. We made sure that our Nazi Germany’s hosting of the with the Organizing Committee nario to prepare fforor OlympicsOlympics GGames.ames. The iinternational fed- new approach to this kind of 1936 Olympics. on the postponed Games. This andand imimplement.plement. and the erationserations wouldw not only intentions works well. We Joining a message thread is not an easy task because we Naturally,Naturally, tthishis scesce-- OICOIC are ppreparerepare for five editions but launched a dialogue between on Thursday one year before have to prepare for multiple narionario willwill affectaffect tthehe experi-experi - also for the events that they the interested national Olympic the Olympic cauldron is lit at scenarios. But this will add to investmentinvestment cost. AsAs encing.encing. All alreadyalready postponedpost due to the committees and a special com- the postponed 2020 Tokyo the importance of the Olympic forfor tickets, the Organ-Organ- ourour stastake-ke- postponementpostponeme of the Tokyo mission in the IOC. Naturally, Games, the International Games because the athletes will izingizing Committee hhasas holdersholders Games.Games. ThisThis would require we welcome Qatar to join this Olympic Committee used its be, and must be, the light at the justjust announced that stood by us at mmuchuch organizationorg and dialogue. official account to tweet a film end of the dark tunnel humanity ticketstickets wiwillll remain vavalid,lid, thisthis timetime llogistics.ogistics. AAndn certainly, the On a bid from Turkey about the first-ever torch relay is now passing through. but theythey can be reissued ffinancialinancial buburden during this We saw some excellent bids entering the Berlin stadium. On implications in post- ifif fans wish. crisiscrisis mustmust beb taken into con- by Istanbul in the past, and If “We apologize to those poning the Olympic Games ThisThis is notnot sideration.sidera We under- Turkey decides to join this dia- who feel offended by the film We had to realize that the abouaboutt standstan that some ath- logue with the IOC, with the of the Olympic Games Berlin postponement of the Olympics leteslet will be really Future Host Commission, then 1936,” the IOC wrote had implications for the 2021 sad,sa but we are con- we warmly welcome it, as we yesterday. sports agenda. But we are fidentfi that we can welcomed the other interested “We have deleted this film, pleased with and grateful for the ata least offer them parties that joined the dialogue. which was part of the series of cooperation that most of the goodg participation I cannot predict on the chances films featuring the message of international federations are in this Olympic now because this is the business unity and solidarity, from the showing. They rescheduled their eexperience, not of this commission. @Olympics Twitter account.”

SCOREBOARD Premier ENGLAND, 1st Innings Pope, Buttler steer England to R. Burns c Cornwall b Chase ...... 57 D. Sibley lbw b Roach ...... 0 League set J. Root run out (Chase) ...... 17 B. Stokes b Roach ...... 20 to kick off O. Pope not out ...... 91 258-4 in decider against WI J. Buttler not out ...... 56 Extras (b12, lb3, nb2) ...... 17 Total (4 wkts, 85.4 overs, 372 mins) . 258 on Sept 12 AP - MANCHESTER To bat: C Woakes, D Bess, J Archer, S Broad, J Anderson REUTERS - LONDON Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler made Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Sibley), 2-47 (Root), 3-92 their first big scores of the series (Stokes), 4-131 (Burns) The 2020-21 English in putting on an unbeaten stand Bowling: Roach 18.4-2-56-2; Gabriel 18-4-47- Premier League season will of 136 runs to rebuild England’s 0 (1nb); Holder 20-5-45-0 (1nb); Cornwall 21-4- begin on September 12 and innings against the West Indies 71-0; Chase 8-2-24-1; the final round of matches and put the hosts on top on day WEST INDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite, John Camp- will be held on May 23, the one of the deciding Test at Old bell, Shai Hope, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, league announced Trafford yesterday. Jermaine Blackwood, Jason Holder (capt), yesterday. England recovered from England’s Ollie Shane Dowrich (wkt), Rahkeem Cornwall, Kemar The new season, origi- 122-4 just before tea to close on Pope and Jos Roach, Shannon Gabriel nally scheduled to begin on 258-4, with Pope on 91 as he Buttler walk off August 8, has been delayed goes in search of his second Test after play was this year after the Premier century and Buttler on 56. ended for the Three cases League suspended the Both players were under day due to bad 2019-20 season for three pressure to deliver in the third light during day as SA women months due to the test after underwhelming per- one of the third COVID-19 pandemic. formances so far in this series. Test between prepare for The current season will Buttler, in particular, is England and end with a final round of feeling the heat from Ben the West Indies England tour fixtures tomorrow, giving Foakes for the wicketkeeper at Old Trafford, teams about seven weeks position and a first half-century Manchester, to prepare for the next in Tests since September jus- Britain, yesterday. REUTERS - CAPE TOWN campaign. tified the selectors’ backing of However, teams still the limited-overs specialist. Three members of the South competing in the Cham- Buttler smashed recalled batsman alongside Buttler - and playing across Kemar Roach Chase to slip, where the burly African women’s cricket team pions League and Europa spinner Rahkeem Cornwall for struck 11 fours before bad light and getting trapped lbw, and Cornwall took a brilliant, tested positive for the League will have less time two sixes in the same over - one stopped play for the day about captain Joe Root, attempting a instinctive one-handed catch. COVID-19 virus ahead of to prepare should they over deep midwicket and the 10 minutes before the scheduled quick single, was run out by England responded well, assembling for a training camp advance deeper into the other over long-on - but oth- end in Manchester. Roston Chase’s direct throw for though, and moved into a to prepare of a proposed tour knockout stages, with the erwise stayed measured and Before Pope and Buttler 17 just before lunch. strong position to win a series of England. finals of the two competi- largely restrained in a 120-ball came together, the wisdom of When Ben Stokes - pro- that is poised at 1-1. Cricket South Africa yes- tions to be held on August knock. England deploying a truncated moted to No. 4 and playing as The Windies, who won the terday said a total of 34 tests 23 and August 21 His one and only Test batting line-up and including a specialist batsman - was first test in Southampton, are were conducted on the players respectively. century came two years ago four fast bowlers along with a bowled through the gate by looking to capture a test series and support staff with the The new season kicks against India. spinner was being questioned Roach for 20, England was 92-3 in England for the first time infected trio, who were not off after the international Pope, whose highest score by experts. and its batting lineup was sud- since 1988. Roach has 2-56 off named, being removed from break with European soc- in this series was 12, compiled Dom Sibley (0) departed off denly looking wafer thin. 18.4 overs, and needs one more the preparations, which start cer’s governing body UEFA his runs quicker - a rarity for a the sixth ball of the day after Rory Burns (57) then edged wicket for 200 in Tests. in Pretoria tomorrow. announcing last month that They will have to self- Nations League matches isolate for 10 days. would be played between South Africa plan two sep- September 3-8. England hero Willis would Sept 19-Nov 8 dates arate training camps over the Leagues across Europe next month in anticipation of will be looking to wrap up locked for IPL 13 getting government permission their seasons next May with have been ‘stunned’ by to travel to England for a series DELHI the postponed 2020 Euros IANS NEW of limited-overs internationals set to begin on June 11, Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Brijesh Patel in September. 2021. new trophy, says widow has confirmed that the 13th edition of the league will South Africa’s strict The Premier League be played around the September 19 to November 8 COVID-19 lockdown has been also added that they would AFP - LONDON window and the same has been communicated to the loosened to allow sports teams continue to consult with the franchises. to begin practising but there Football Association (FA) The late Bob Willis had been determined to make the English county cricket "We have had a discussion and we are looking at the have been no matches apart and the English Football season work better and would have been “stunned and proud” to see clubs September 19 to November 8 window for this edition of from an exhibition game last League (EFL) regarding the competing for a trophy bearing his name, the England great’s widow has the league. We have informed the franchise about the weekend. Some 24 players scheduling of domestic said. same," Patel said. were called up for the camps, competitions. All 18 first-class counties will compete for the Bob Willis Trophy this The window could see some discussion as the Eng- which is the first time they League One clubs voted season in a shortened alternative to the County Championship after the coro- land and Australia players will be engaging in a series have assembled since reaching to end this season early navirus outbreak made it impossible to stage a full red-ball domestic in the UK till September 15 and that could mean them the T20 World Cup semi-finals with the final table calcu- campaign. missing the first few games of their respective franchises. in Australia in March. lated on a points-per-game Former fast bowler Willis, who also cap- basis but held the play-offs tained England and later became a respected behind closed doors. television pundit, died aged 70 in December. Champions Coventry The winners of this year’s regionalised red- City and Rotherham United ball competition will receive silverware based were automatically pro- on a cubist-inspired painting of Willis by his moted along with playoffs widow, Lauren Clark. Match referee winner Wycombe “Bob would have been unbelievably Chris Broad (left) Wanderers. stunned and proud of it, and by the reaction of chats with his peoplep since his death,” said Clark. “Only a couple of years ago he spent ages son England’s workingw on spreadsheets trying to work out how to make the summer season Stuart Broad workw better. He was a real advocate for change in the County Championship after play in the forfo so many years and now, in the first year after his death, it has had to be third Test cricket changedc for such strange reasons.” match between Clark said she had painted the picture, of Willis bowling, as a reaction to England and beingb in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic and feeling her late hus- the West Indies band’sb absence. at Old Trafford “I was stunned by the reaction from people. It’s cubist but I wanted the in Manchester, hair,h the ball and the stumps to be quite obvious.” north-west Reigning county champions Essex begin the south group at home to Kent England, ono August 1, with London rivals Middlesex and Surrey meeting at the Kia yesterday. Oval.O