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Monday, February 26, 2018 FOOTBALL Jumada II 10, 1439 AH City rout Arsenal to GULF TIMES win first trophy of Guardiola era SPORT Page 3 GOLF / COMMERCIAL BANK QATAR MASTERS TITLE WAIT’S OVER FOR RELIEVED PEPPERELL Englishman wins first European title after finishing a stroke ahead of compatriot Fisher

By Yash Mudgal “But I felt good all day, I was in “The last nine months have Doha a great place mentally and kept been great. The start of the sea- telling myself I’m going to win son has been a little bit sloppy, this and Oli certainly made life haven’t really had my game in a ive years on the European more interesting.” good spot. I worked with some- Tour. 128 tournaments. The victory was a reward for body slightly diff erent this week 22 top ten fi nishes. Pepperell’s mental fortitude and and it made a nice diff erence. I And after all that grind, hard work that saw him fi ght back found it a little easier out there whenF you win your fi rst title, the from losing his Tour card and re- today to go and trust the feeling fi rst thing, Eddie Pepperell says, turning to Q-School in 2016. “This that I had,” Pepperell said. you feel is “relief”. will give me confi dence,” he said. “When you win, you know you Second, you perhaps feel rich. Swede Marcus Kinhult fi n- can win. I’ve always felt and be- Richer by USD291,000 to be exact. ished at 16-under for the tour- lieved I will win out here but it Pepperell celebrated his fi rst nament after a 68. Spanish duo hadn’t happened before today. European Tour victory at the Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano You’ve always got to take that Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and Pablo Larrazabal, French- step and that’s uneasy but at yesterday. man Gregory Havret and Italian some point in everyone’s career The 27-year-old Pepperell Renato Paratore were tied fourth they’ve got to do something for carded a fi nal round of 70 and at 15-under. Englishman Josh the fi rst time. Hopefully this is held his nerve over the closing White of the MENA Golf Tour, not my last.” stages to fend off compatriot Ol- who qualifi ed through winning iver Fisher by a single stroke for the Professional Division of the LEADING FINAL ROUND the win at the Doha Gulf Club. Qatar Open, shot a fi nal round 75 SCORES “Relief, I guess is the number for a four-round score of four- 270 — E Pepperell (ENG) 65-69- one emotion, as is always the case under par to fi nish in tied 61st 66-70 with a win – although I haven’t position alongside two-time 271 — O Fisher (ENG) 66-69-65-71 had many,” Pepperell said. Commercial Bank Qatar Masters 272 — M Kinhult (SWE) 68-69- The victory saw him rocket champion Paul Lawrie, former 67-68 from 188th to 13th in the season- Ryder Cup player David Howell 273 — G Havret (Fra) 65-69-70- long rankings. and six others. 69, G Fernandez - Castano (ESP) Pepperell and Fisher were tied For Fisher, it was his fi rst top- 68 68 69 68, R Paratore (ITA) for the lead going into the fi nal three since the 2014 Africa Open 71-66-70-66, P Larrazabal (ESP) round, with the former making a but he will have to wait a little 68-67-70-68 steady start and going one-under longer to add to his 2011 Czech 274 — G Coetzee (RSA) 69-66-71- at the turn. Fisher could only card Open title despite fi nishing his 68, S Heisele (GER) 67-68-71-68 a three-over on the front nine, round with 32 blows on the back 275 — M Baldwin (ENG) 68-70- following a hat-trick of bogies, nine after a forgettable front nine 68-69, M Lorenzo-Vera (FRA) which left him four shots adrift of 39. 68-68-69-70, A Otaegui (ESP) halfway through the round. “It went all the way to the last 67-66-73-69 But Fisher bounced back with hole which, after my front nine, 276 — M Foster (ENG) 71-68-68- fi ve birdies on the back nine was what I was hoping for,” he said. 69, C Wood (ENG) 68-69-68-71, S and, when he stood on the fi nal “I hit a lot of good shots com- Han (USA) 69-71-69-67, D Horsey tee, was only a stroke behind his ing down the back nine and gave (ENG) 71-68-65-72, M Nixon (ENG) compatriot. myself a lot of good chances, but 69-68-69-70, A Pavan (ITA) 68- At the closing 589-yard, par- there were just too many bogeys 69-67-72 fi ve 18th, both reached the green today – four in total – so you’re 277 — A Bjork (SWE) 70-69-69-69, in three shots, with Pepperell 25 never going to win a tournament J Scrivener (AUS) 70-70-67-70, A feet from the pin, while Fisher was making that many mistakes on Quiros (ESP) 66-70-70-71, R Wattel just over three yards away. After a Sunday. But at least I pressed (FRA) 71-69-71-66, C Shinkwin Pepperell had left his opening putt him all the way,” the 29-year-old (ENG) 68-69-70-70, A Rai (ENG) 18 inches to the right of the hole, Londoner said. 65-73-69-70, P Waring (ENG) Fisher’s birdie attempt agonisingly Pepperell won the Allianz 68-70-70-69, M Wallace (ENG) slipped wide and with that his Open Cotes d’Armor Bretagne 69-71-67-70, S Fernandez (ESP) chance to force a play-off . en route to graduating from the 69-70-71-67 This left Pepperell to confi - Challenge Tour in 2012 and then 278 — W Ashun (CHN) 69-70-70- dently tap in for par and collect enjoyed three consistent seasons 69, C Bezuidenhout (RSA) 68-72- his maiden Tour success at the before losing his card. 71-67, M Siem (GER) 73-66-68-71, 129th attempt. His previous best His bounce-back season was a S Crocker (USA) 67-68-67-76, H fi nish had been a tied-second in triumph, securing four top-fi ves Tanihara (JPN) 70-69-66-73, M Ireland in May 2015. and three top-tens in his last ten Pavon (FRA) 68-69-71-70 “What a day?! Oli made it re- events in 2017 before a slow start 279 — R Cho (KOR) 69-70-67-73, N Eddie Pepperell of England lifts Mother Of ally tough and I made it tough for to the current season saw him Geyger (CHI) 71-69-69-70, L Gagli Pearl Trophy after winning Commercial myself at the end with the second miss cuts in his fi rst two outings (ITA) 67-70-67-75, N Colsaerts Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club shot on the 18th,” the Oxford- before signs of improvement at (BEL) 71-69-69-70, A Sullivan yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram shire player said. last week’s NBO Oman Open. (ENG) 69-70-73-67

Runner-up Fisher proud of fi ghting spirit

European Tour 13th, the 2011 Czech Open cham- down the back nine and gave my- into 12, shame about the 13th3th but Doha pion responded from six feet on self a lot of good chances but there the 14th was really good aandnd aatt 1155 the 14th. were just too many bogeys today – I made a great save. Then I mammadede a A Pepperell bogey on the next left four in total – so you’re never going decent swing on the 17th ttee.eee. liver Fisher was proud of the door ajar before the 27-year-old to win a tournament making that “It’s not the result I wantedd bbut his battling display as he birdied the next but Fisher followed many mistakes on a Sunday. But at there was some good stuffff tthere.here. I Opushed Eddie Pepperell him in and a stunning tee-shot on least I pressed him all the way. had a chance. all the way on the final day of the the 17th meant he was one back “The course was diff erent today, we “I think it was 268 to the frontront ooff Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. heading up the last. had overnight rain last night and the green on the 18th and iitt wwasas The two English friends started the Both men laid up and while Pep- this morning we went out there slightly into the wind off a downs-downss-- day tied at the top at 16 under but a perell was in the rough after two with a diff erent wind to the last few lope so it was a bit of a shameamme tthathaat hat-trick of bogeys from the fourth shots, Fisher could not birdie the days and the rough was wet. So the I couldn’t give the three wwoodoood a sent Fisher tumbling back and 18th for the fourth day in a row to course was asking a few more dif- crack but it was a chance aandnnd thathat’satt’ss when Pepperell birdied the ninth, take the event to a play-off . ferent questions and I probably just all I could have done. he was four back with nine to play. “It went all the way to the last hole left myself with a little more to do. “It was a tricky pin and thee ggreensreenss Both men birdied the tenth with which, after my front nine, was “I was proud of myself the way I are fast from above so it hadhadd aboutaboutt Fisher making another gain after what I was hoping for on the back settled myself down and made two and a half holes to borrowrroow onn itt a smart approach to the 12th and, nine,” he said. some good swings coming around and it just stayed a little highighh butbut iti while he dropped a shot on the “I hit a lot of good shots coming the turn. Then I played a lovely shot was close.” Gulf Times 2 Monday, February 26, 2018 GOLF

Q&A FOCUS Harradine’s design stands the test of ‘This is just another time in Qatar

By Sports Reporter Rooyen added: “It’s quite a Doha tricky course and my fi rst time I’m here so it’s really fun out there. If you don’t play within he curtains came yourself the ball can get away good performance down on a dramatic from you. The course is in re- 21st edition of the ally good shape.” Commercial Bank Harradine, whose company TQatar Masters with the iconic has designed over 200 courses Pearl Trophy safely in Eng- around the world, said: “Con- lishman Eddie Pepperell’s gratulations to, Eddie Pep- possession after a week of perell, all at Doha Golf Club, captivating golf at Doha Golf Commercial Bank and the Eu- but with a win’ Club. ropean Tour for the 21st edi- There were ups and downs, tion of the Commercial Bank twists and turns, highs and Qatar Masters. The design of Commercial Bank Qatar Masters champ Pepperell reflects on his journey so far lows a plenty and the key fac- the Doha Golf Club course tor for such enthralling action is still one of my favourite is the exceptional golf course projects. It very much used on which the drama was the natural rugged land and played out. is one of the few golf courses Peter Harradine’s design is that has not relied on the sus- a classic risk and reward golf tainability of real estate on its course on which good golf will boundaries. profi t but errant shots will be “I especially am delighted unrelentingly punished, espe- that the golf course has stood cially when the wind gets up, up to the test of time with and it received high praise this the game of golf changing so week during a tournament much in the 20 years since that was broadcast around the it opened with the length by world to 518 million house- some of the best players in holds. golf through modern equip- Frenchman Gregory Ha- ment and so many more of vret, who fi nished tied fourth, the players now being elite said, “It’s a tough course. The athletes. The golf course nines greens are really fi rm and were reversed by the European quick but it helps to make Tour for the Commercial Bank some good scores if you are Qatar Masters and the golf feeling it.” club has now followed that for Englishman Aaron Rai, who the other 51 weeks of the year. ended the week in a share of The change to the golf course 19th place, said, “The course is adding a mere 12 yards by itself is very good. There are adding a couple of new tees on some tricky holes but there three holes. It is virtually as it are some opportunities if you was in 1998 and is virtually as drive it well and have some it was when Andrew Coltart good approach play.” (Scotland) won the inaugural South Africa’s Erik Van Qatar Masters.”

Commercial Bank Qatar Masters champion Eddie Pepperell (fourth from right) of England poses with the Mother of Pearl winner’s trophy in the presence of Commercial Bank managing director Omar Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan (fifth from right), Group CEO Joseph Abraham (fourth from left), Qatar Golf Association president Hassan al-Naimi (third from right) and other off icials at the Doha Golf Club yesterday.PICTURE: Jayaram

European Tour before it seemed like it was a perfect this golf tournament, I felt like I was ing to mean I’ll get a better TV draw on Doha game-plan executed perfectly, cer- doing enough good things and that it was Thursdays and Fridays. But it doesn’t tainly for that front nine. a case of me going on and playing smart really mean too much in that sense, I didn’t feel totally comfortable with my and I did that. I didn’t even play my best nothing has changed really – it’s just fter his maiden European Tour swing so that forced me to play a little bit but that goes to show that sometimes that I’m now a winner and that will lead victory at the Commercial Bank more conservatively on certain holes with you don’t have to play the best and just to certain things. We’ll see though, I’m Qatar Masters, Eddie Pepperell certain pin positions. My course manage- manage the game and your mentality as looking forward to the summer a lot. faced the world’s press at Doha ment was very good, (caddie) Mick (Mick best you can. I’m going to be playing the Rolex Series GolfA Club. Dorran) was fantastic on that front and events on courses where I feel like my Here is what he had to say. I had to just play to my strengths today Would you say describe this as a game is most suited and there are a few which I felt were my wedge play and my breakthrough win or is it too early to of those events where I would certainly Many congratulations, how does it putting. The rest didn’t feel quite in the say that? to contend. I guess now I’ve won one feel to be the Commercial Bank Qatar same spot where I’ve been the last few I think this is just another good per- tournament I wouldn’t be afraid to win SPOTLIGHT Masters champion? days. That was a bit of an ugly win and I’m formance but with a win. I’ve had a lot of again, I’m defi nitely looking forward to Good. Relief I guess, fi rst win and all quite proud of that. good performances, in the back end of last hopefully doing that. that. I’m as pleased as I can be. year, where I didn’t win but they were good “ I was confi dent, I felt like I was performances. Sometimes the margins In terms of your career journey, American Jessica You’ve been out on Tour a few years. going to win this golf tournament, are so fi ne between second, and third and going back to 2016 which obviously Did you ever think that it would take I felt like I was doing enough good a win. It’s tough to win out here but it’s wasn’t a great end of season for you, this long for someone of your talent? things and that it was a case of me also tough to be consistently a top-ten or could you even imagine that you I didn’t really have any expectations to going on and playing smart and I top-fi ve player out here. By and large I’ve would be in this situation so quickly Korda wins Honda be honest of how long it might or might did that. I didn’t even play my best,” achieved that quite well in my career, I’ve off the back of that? not take. Obviously I had some good Pepperell said just never managed to win. Yeah, I knew I was a talented golfer opportunities to win in 2014 and 2015 and you don’t become a bad golfer over- LPGA in Thailand and then ’16 was a bit more of a strug- Oli put in a big charge there at the Now that you’ve won, will you get a night or in the space of three months. I gle. I had some chances, I wouldn’t say end, were there any nerves setting in sponsor for your hat? know I have got some ability but for me I had a lot of very great chances like I’ve at any point? How much money have you got? A it’s about unlocking that and working had today so to actually go out there and There wasn’t any nerves, none more fi ver and it’s yours! with the right people and working on win today, going into the fi nal round so than the fi rst tee-shot. You never feel the right things. I’ve done that clearly in with a lead as well, that’s great. It could like you do on a Thursday afternoon on Eddie, going forward – it sounds like the last 18 months and been rewarded have gone the other way quite easily so to a Sunday when you’re in contention, you’re not the kind of person who for it. There’s every chance I could make answer your question, I didn’t really have things are diff erent so you do feel dif- changes your goals too much – but another bad decision in six months’ time any expectations. ferent. But not at any point during the do you reassess things now going and fall off the face of the earth, that’s round today did I feel diff erent. I was into the rest of the season? just the nature of golf and that’s just how For somebody who had never won confi dent, I felt like I was going to win No, I mean I think it’s probably go- diffi cult it is.

HONDA CLASSIC List stays in front; Woods seven behind AFP The 24-year-old, who is mak- Reuters Woods gave himself plenty of opportu- Chonburi, Thailand ing her season debut after jaw Salvo, North Carolina nities for birdies, but made only three at surgery, pushed ahead of a four- the eighth, 13th and last holes. “The hard way tie on the opening day of the part has been trying to get the ball to go merican Jessica Korda $1.6mn purse tournament to card uke List shot a four-under par 66 into the hole,” he said. “These greens are fended off challengers a 62 on day two. to hold a one-stroke lead at the a little tricky.” to emerge victorious in During the third round she Honda Classic on Saturday while The former world number one again the Honda LPGA tour- made fi ve birdies on the back Tiger Woods’ 69 ensured he re- had trouble at 15, making bogey after a namentA yesterday with a strong nine to make up for an early bo- Lmained within striking distance. double-bogey on Friday. He also dropped performance in the fi nal push gey and entered the fi nal day List, the co-leader on Friday, birdied a shot at 17 with another bogey before the that helped her hold onto her with a four-stroke lead. the last after a fantastic bunker shot for par putt at 18. lead. Korda crushed the hopes of a seven-under 203 through three rounds “You never know what can happen the After a somewhat uneven start local favourites the Jutanugarn at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, last few holes here,” said Woods, knowing with two birdies and a bogey, Ko- sisters, though Moriya Jutanu- Florida. he will need another sub-par round on rda sank four birdies on the back garn managed to fi nish tied sec- PGA champion Justin Thomas (65) and Sunday to be a factor. nine including a 25-footer on the ond with American player Lexi Webb Simpson (66) were a stroke behind Thomas will be aiming for his eight 17th hole to fi nish with a fi ve- Thompson at 21-under. with Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood (67) and PGA Tour victory after making four of his under-par 67. Moriya was within a few American Jamie Lovemark (68) another six birdies on the back nine for his strong Korda left the 72 holes at the strokes of Korda but a bogey on shot adrift. fi nish. Siam Country Club in Thailand’s the 12th hole kept her just far Sweden’s Alex Noren also was in the Simpson, whose biggest win came at Chonburi province at 25-under, a enough out of the top. mix as he bounced back from a 75 to shoot the 2012 US Open, had an impressive new tournament record and also Korda’s own sister Nelly fi n- 65, a closing eagle boosting him to four- start, going out in three under before her fi fth LPGA tour victory. ished in a tie for 14th. under at 206. adding a fourth birdie on the 13th. “I can’t believe it, today was Thompson was able to climb Woods, making his third start of the Luke List of the US tees off on the 17th during the third round of The Honda Classic at Eagles at the fourth and last holes such a blur, I was just trying to back up the leaderboard with a PGA Tour season after a year-long ab- PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Saturday. (USA TODAY Sports) highlighted Fleetwood’s day with the fi rst make birdies. I tried to relax, but stunning eight birdies on the fi - sence following back surgery, birdied his coming from 140 yards. I was nervous,” Korda told LPGA. nal day of play. fi nal hole for his fi rst round in the 60s in “Even though I shot 69, it was probably Sports. “I really hit it good. “At least I put Lovemark, Friday’s co-leader, dropped com. “This was my fi rst event, Australia’s Minjee Lee took nearly three years. He was tied for 11th the highest score I could have shot today,” myself there where I have a shot going from four-under to minus two with a my rookie year. I played really, third place with an 18-under for at even par 210 despite two late bogeys. the 14 times major champion told CBS into tomorrow.” troublesome double bogey at 15. really well this week.” the course. Gulf Times Monday, February 26, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

LEAGUE CUP LA LIGA Suarez hat-trick extends six-goal City rout Arsenal Barcelona’s lead

AFP out a goal before his crucial Madrid equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Chel- sea in the Champions League in midweek, Messi has scored three uis Suarez hit a hat-trick in two games. to win fi rst trophy and Philippe Coutinho Barcelona’s fourth goal came scored a brilliant fi rst on the stroke of half-time with league goal for Barcelona Girona’s defenders left begging Las the La Liga leaders thrashed for the interval after Messi’s Girona 6-1 on Saturday to open perfectly-weighted pass found up a 10-point lead at the top of Coutinho to square for Suarez to the table. tap in. Lionel Messi continued his The Catalan giants eased off of Guardiola era return to goalscoring form with slightly in the second half, but a double to reach 30 in all com- Coutinho got off the mark in the It was an impressive statement of intent from Guardiola’s men after a shock FA petitions for the season, as Barca league in style as he cut inside extended their advantage over and curled a long-range strike Cup defeat to lowly Wigan last week ended their bid for a quadruple closest title rivals Atletico Ma- into the far corner. drid. French winger Dembele AFP Real Madrid remain off the played his part too late on as he London pace in third, despite a com- crossed from the left for Suarez fortable 4-0 victory over Alaves to complete a hat-trick. that saw Cristiano Ronaldo net a After a slow start to the cam- anchester City rolled back the double and Gareth Bale back on paign, the Uruguayan forward years yesterday to win the fi rst the scoresheet. has now scored 17 goals in his trophy of the Pep Guardiola It was the perfect outing for last 14 league matches. era with three of their veteran Barcelona after ninth-placed Gi- Earlier on Saturday, Real playersM scoring in an emphatic 3-0 win rona had taken a shock early lead coach Zinedine Zidane hailed against Arsenal at Wembley. on their fi rst-ever visit to the Ronaldo’s selfl essness after the Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Camp Nou, as Coutinho, Suarez, forward gave up the chance of a David Silva were all on the scoresheet as Messi and Ousmane Dembele hat-trick by allowing Benzema City lifted the trophy for the fi fth time — shone on their fi rst start togeth- to take a late penalty at the San- only Liverpool have won it more. er. tiago Bernabeu. It was an impressive statement of in- Portu took advantage of hesi- Zidane restored Bale to the tent from Guardiola’s men after a shock tation from Barca centre-back starting XI to reunite the ‘BBC’ FA Cup defeat to lowly Wigan last week Samuel Umtiti to round goal- front line of the Welshman, Ro- ended their bid for an unprecedented keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen naldo and Benzema. quadruple. and slot into an empty net to put Ronaldo, whose fi rst goal was “It was a diffi cult game, but as much Girona ahead in La Liga’s newest created by a magnifi cent Benze- space there was for us and Arsenal, we Catalan derby. ma fl ick, stood aside in the 89th did well and controlled the space and I am The hosts took less than two minute to allow the Frenchman proud of the team,” said Kompany. “Win- minutes to get back on level to convert only his fourth league ning 3-0 at Wembley is a massive result terms, though, as Messi collected goal of the season. against any opponent. the ball in midfi eld before send- “The gesture of Cristiano is “Before the game, I thought I was going ing Suarez through to score. very important,” said Zidane. to score. I came close during the game so Messi’s wizardry put Ernesto “After the game he played, Ka- there was some luck on the day, but also Valverde’s side in front on the rim just needed to score a goal. self-belief.” half-hour mark, after Suarez “He (Ronaldo) had opportuni- City opened the scoring in the 18th touched down a long pass from ties, he scored twice. After there minute when a long punt upfi eld from Andres Iniesta for the Argentin- is this gesture of Cristiano for goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was controlled ian. Karim. by Sergio Aguero, who coolly lifted the It looked as though the chance “This proves that between ball over a helpless David Ospina in the had gone when Messi was forced them, there is a good atmos- Arsenal goal. Captain Kompany doubled wide, but the league’s top scorer phere, a good relationship, and to the lead in the second half with just over showed trademark footwork to win and continue what we’re do- half an hour to go and Silva put the game Manchester City’s Brazilian defender Danilo lifts the trophy as they celebrate their victory in the English League Cup final against jink past several defenders be- ing, it’s super important.” out of the reach of Arsene Wenger’s team. Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in north London yesterday. fore slotting into the bottom The reigning champions’ title The runaway Premier League lead- corner. hopes are all but over, with Real ers will be hoping to use the victory as a ing Bravo. Seconds later Aguero found the ready seen them hailed as one of the fi nest Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich The fi ve-time Ballon d’Or 14 points adrift of Barca, but springboard to greater glory as the sea- side netting after an incisive break from sides in Premier League history. boss Guardiola kept faith with reserve winner was running the show, a run of four straight wins has son approaches its fi nal stretch but defeat City, who looked short of their fl uent best. City made a bright start to the second goalkeeper Bravo for the Wembley show- and he doubled the advantage ended any worries of missing out for Wenger means he has never lifted the But it was Aguero who broke the dead- half and captain Kompany was in the right piece ahead of fi rst-choice Ederson. Bravo just seven minutes later with a on a Champions League spot. League Cup. On a bitterly cold, clear day lock, controlling the ball as Arsenal’s de- place to steer home Ilkay Gundogan’s shot has played in every round of the competi- low free-kick under the wall. “Confi dence returns from in London, City, in their light blue kit, took fence failed to deal with the danger, si- from the edge of the box after a Kevin De tion so far. “It always seems that he has playing these kinds of matches,” control early, playing measured football lencing the boisterous Arsenal fans. Bruyne corner in the 58th minute. Wenger also played his number two be- done everything and then sud- added Zidane. and enjoying the lion’s share of possession The Argentine striker has scored in each It was no more than City deserved tween the sticks, fi elding Ospina ahead of denly, he surprises us again, as “After our match against PSG against a side who have made Wembley a of his past fi ve games in all competitions against a lacklustre Arsenal and the Bel- Petr Cech. with his free kick. It sounds easy (3-1 win in Champions League), second home in recent years. against Arsenal and this was his 199th goal gian celebrated wildly in front of his own City look nailed on to win the Premier but it is not,” said Barca coach we’ve been doing much better, But Arsenal went closest to taking the in City colours. fans. Just seven minutes later Arsenal were League and have virtually guaranteed a Ernesto Valverde. maybe there was a missing part lead within the fi rst 10 minutes, with new It was an unusual goal for Guardiola’s left with a mountain to climb when Silva place in the Champions League quarter- Having gone fi ve games with- or something like that.” signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang team, who have been lauded for their silky smashed the ball past Ospina into the far fi nals after a 4-0 fi rst win in the fi rst leg of seeing his scuff ed shot saved by a sprawl- passing game this season, which has al- corner of the net to make it 3-0. their last-16 tie against Basel.

PREMIER LEAGUE Lukaku inspires Man Utd fi ghtback to beat Chelsea 2-1

AFP Alvaro Morata started for Lukaku nearly had a spectacu- Manchester the fi rst time in six weeks, but lar second 22 minutes from time saw his side-footed volley from when he caught a Sanchez cross Marcos Alonso’s driven cross fl ush with an acrobatic volley, omelu Lukaku broke his come back off the bar just four only to be denied by a fi nger tip Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates after barren run against top minutes in. save from Courtois. scoring against Girona FC at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona six Premier League op- Chelsea dominated posses- However, the Belgian did on Saturday. position and provided sion in the opening quarter, but make a decisive contribution Rthe winner for Jesse Lingard as much like they did to Barcelona when he dropped deep and his Manchester United came from on Tuesday with limited time on in-swinging cross was met by a SPOTLIGHT behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at Old the ball, United restricted them perfectly timed run by Lingard. Traff ord. to few other clear-cut chances. Conte had surprisingly re- Victory against his former club United had off ered little going moved Hazard just before con- was particularly sweet for Jose forward themselves until An- ceding and that decision looked Guardiola risks Mourinho as he got one over on thony Martial’s low cross picked all the more puzzling as Chelsea Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, but out Alexis Sanchez inside the searched in vain for an equal- more importantly moves United area. iser. wrath of FA back above Liverpool into second However, the Chilean is still Willian saw another eff ort place in the Premier League. waiting for his fi rst big moment smothered by De Gea at the sec- AFP Following events last year Defeat allied to Tottenham since joining United last month ond attempt at his near post as London surrounding Catalonia’s bid to Hotspur’s late win earlier in the as he poked the ball tamely into United held out for just a second break away from Spain, which day at Crystal Palace sees Chel- the arms of Thibaut Courtois. win over Chelsea in 15 meetings. included a referendum and a sea slip to fi fth. Moments later, the hosts were Meanwhile, Harry Kane anchester City proclamation of independence, The visitors enjoyed the bet- caught by a blistering Chel- struck late to secure Tottenham manager Pep Guar- both deemed illegal, the author- ter of the fi rst period but failed to sea counter-attack to open the Hotspur’s 1-0 victory at Crystal diola defi ed English ities jailed several leaders of the build on Willian’s 32nd minute scoring. Palace. Mfootball authorities movement. opener. Willian picked up the ball just Spurs appeared set for dis- yesterday, arriving at Wembley The City manager, who was Lukaku levelled seven minutes outside his own area and drove appointment after struggling for the League Cup fi nal against born in Catalonia, has previously later from close range and then through the United midfi eld to break down a Crystal Palace Arsenal wearing a yellow ribbon explained his reasons for wear- crossed for substitute Lingard to before exchanging passes with fi ghting to move clear of the rel- in support of jailed Catalan in- ing the ribbon. head home as a ruthless United Eden Hazard. egation places. dependence leaders. Referring to the fi rst two inde- took full advantage of their lim- The Brazilian then unleashed a But Kane fi nally found the The Football Association on pendence leaders to be jailed, he ited chances. shot too powerful even for David breakthrough on 88 minutes, Friday charged Guardiola, say- said in December: “I do that be- The spectre of another fi ery de Gea to register his fourth goal meeting Christian Eriksen’s ing the symbol sported by the cause in Spain two specifi c peo- clash between Mourinho and in three games. corner at the far post and di- former Barcelona boss on his ple who defend something like Conte, who have publicly bick- The lead lasted just seven recting a header past goalkeeper jacket broke its rules. the vote, something the people ered in recent months, hogged minutes, though, as for the fi rst Wayne Hennessey who should “Pep Guardiola has been in command do not agree (with), the headlines before kick-off , time in a United shirt, Lukaku have done better after getting a charged for wearing a political are in prison. It’s unfair. but there was a peace off ering netted against one of their top fi rm hand to the ball. message, specifi cally a yellow “To make a rebellion on some- when the pair shook hands be- United’s Jesse Lingard celebrates with Ashley Young and Romelu six rivals — at the seventh time Spurs’ relief was matched by ribbon, in breach of the FA’s kit thing like that, you have to be fore the action got underway. Lukaku after scoring their second goal yesterday. of asking. the frustration felt by Crystal and advertising regulations,” the something tough to be in prison. Mourinho recalled Paul Pogba Sanchez fed Martial and his Palace manager Roy Hodgson FA statement said. And they are still there. So, while to his starting XI after drop- villa in the Champions League. with Barcelona in midweek who clever reverse pass was slotted and his players who appeared to “He has until 6:00pm (1800 they are not out, always here ping the £89mn midfi elder for But it was one of Conte’s two nearly made an immediate im- home by Lukaku to muted cele- have done enough to hold onto GMT) on Monday 5 March 2018 (points to ribbon) will be shared Wednesday’s stalemate at Se- changes from his side’s 1-1 draw pact. brations against his former club. the point. to respond to the charge.” with me.” Gulf Times 4 Monday, February 26, 2018 FOOTBALL

QNB STARS LEAGUE BUNDESLIGA Bentaleb penalty ensures Schalke win Baghdad hat-trick striker Breel Embolo. AFP Berlin Embolo broke clear on 83 min- utes and fl oated his shot over Leno, but the Bayer keeper got a chalke climbed from sixth glove to the ball and steered it over to third in the Bundesliga the crossbar. yesterday as Nabil Ben- Schalke then sealed the win Staleb scored on his come- thanks to a Leverkusen mistake. in Sadd’s 5-0 back to seal their 2-0 victory at When 19-year-old Greece de- 10-man Bayer Leverkusen. fender Panagiotis Retsos stum- It was a sweet return for the ex- bled with the ball at his feet, Tottenham Hotspur midfi elder, Embolo snatched possession and who was dropped from Schalke’s sprinted away. squad a fortnight ago and told to Retsos’s sliding tackle from be- improve his attitude. hind sent him tumbling in the area Bentaleb’s penalty just before and the Leverkusen teenager was win over Al Ahli the fi nal whistle capped a de- lucky to only be shown a yellow served win for Schalke who had card. Al Rayyan thrash Qatar Sports club 4-1 in second match of the day taken the lead with just 11 minutes Referee Daniel Siebert how- gone in Leverkusen. ever pointed to the spot and Ben- When Daniel Caligiuri found taleb, a second-half replacement, Guido Burgstaller with a pass drilled home the penalty on 89 from 40 metres, the Austrian minutes. striker superbly fl icked the ball “We played very well and cre- over a defender and hit the bot- ated a lot of chances in the fi rst tom left corner of the net from 15 half,” said Schalke coach Domen- metres. ico Tedesco. “We said clearly that we want “We counter attacked well af- to perform well and we succeeded ter the break and I am happy to go in doing that,” said Schalke’s di- home with the three points.” rector of sport Christian Heidel. Schalke are level with second- However, the away win was placed Borussia Dortmund on overshadowed by injury to two 40 points — a massive 20 behind Schalke fans, one of whom fell runaway league leaders Bayern down stairs and is “in critical Munich. condition”, after suff ering a head The Bavarian giants were held injury, Heidel revealed. to a goalless draw at home to Her- Schalke will be without Burg- tha Berlin on Saturday, the fi rst staller for their next league game time they have failed to score a at Hertha Berlin after he picked league goal at the Allianz Arena up a fi rst-half booking — his fi fth since May 2015. yellow of the season. Despite outshooting Hertha Leverkusen had defensive mid- 19-5 — Bayern could not break fi elder Dominik Kohr was sent off through, which cost them two for a second yellow card after just possible records. 38 minutes. Top-scorer Robert Lewand- Schalke made the numerical owski, who had 10 shots on goal, advantage count late on and only missed the out-right record of a refl ex save by Germany goal- scoring in 12 consecutive home keeper Bernd Leno denied Swiss league games.

SERIE A Savic, Immobile fi re Baghdad Bounedjah (third from left) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring against Al Ahli yesterday in the QNB Stars League yesterday. At bottom, action from the Al Rayyan – Qatar Sports Club. match Lazio to third spot

By Sports Reporter keeper Yazan Naim. hosts Qatar SC 4-0. Reuters A. “I’m sure he’ll win the Golden Doha Al Sadd started the second session by Hamdallah (25th and 37th minutes), Milan Boot, he deserves it for how he introducing Xavi, in place of Ali Asad, and Mohsine Moutouali (62nd) and Rodrigo works every day,” said coach Si- Khoukhi for Yasir Abubakr. Tabata (83rd) scored the goals. mone Inzaghi of Immobile. aghdad Bounedjah scored a four Yassine Chikhaoui fought like a one- The total number of goals netted by iro Immobile and Sergej “The important thing is that goals as Al Sadd kept the heat on man army in the Al Ahli midfi eld. On the Hamdallah in this season’s QNB Stars Milinkovic-Savic con- we continue to perform like to- leaders Al Duhail with a with a other hand, Xavi made some impact with League thus stands at 15, while Tabata took tinued their goal scor- day. B5-0 hammering of Al Ahli in Week his creative moves. his tally to 12. ing sprees to lift Lazio “We had played three games 18 of the QNB Stars League yesterday. Bounedjah’s second goal came in train- Qatar SC were coming off back-to-back toC third in Serie A with a 3-0 win in a week, now we have three Al Sadd moved to 46 points, two less ing-session fashion as he fl icked in the ball wins against Al Sailiya and Al Ahli. How- over Sassuolo yesterday more. We have little time to re- than table toppers Al Duhail who had off a cross from Abdelkarim Hassan. ever, The Kings could not do much against Both sides fi nished a bad- cover, but when you have goals beaten Al Khor 4-0 on Saturday. Al Ahli Al Ahli, who were without Meshaal the determined Lions. tempered clash with 10 men as fatigue in your head disappears remained on 19 points. Abdullah, brought in striker Mohammed Al Rayyan made clear their intentions Serb Milinkovic-Savic scored a faster.” The win saw Lazio over- Striker Bounedjah scored in the fi fth, Muntari, back from a long injury layoff , right from the start. And their top scorer, brace, opening the score with a take Inter Milan, who had moved 55th, 75th and 81st minutes of the game, soon after one hour, but The Brigadiers Moroccan striker Hamdallah, was in the curler after seven minutes and third with a 2-0 win over bottom dominated by The Wolves, especially could not fi nd the net for once. thick of the action by scoring twice after adding a second after the break club Benevento in the San Siro in the second session, in front of home Khoukhi almost made it 5-0, but missing an easy chance. to bring his tally to 11 goals this on Saturday. crowd. Jugurtha Hamroun scored the fi fth pension. cracked his rising shot against the hori- Hamdallah’s fi rst goal came following season. Stefan de Vrij, Marco Parolo goal (90+2). Algerian Bounedjah, who now has 12 zontal. an assist by Moroccan midfi elder Mout- Immobile stepped up to slot and Luis Alberto all started on Al Sadd, who had won their fi rst two goals to his credit in the QNB Stars League, After Bounedjah added two more goals, ouali, while South Korean Koh Myong-Jin home a penalty after half an hour the bench for Lazio ahead of next matches in the AFC Champions League, gave Al Sadd an early advantage, but the Hamroun completed the tally with literally paved the way for the second. to give him six goals in Lazio’s week’s Italian Cup semi-fi nal, started without key players Xavi Hern- game was slow-paced in the fi rst half. the last kick of the match. That Al Rayyan had 61 per cent of ball last three games — 32 this season second leg clash against AC Mi- andez, Hassan al-Haydous and Boualem Akram Afi f then had the disappoint- Meanwhile, riding on Abderrazaq Ham- possession at the end of opening session and a league leading 23 in Serie lan in Rome. Khoukhi. And Pedro sat out serving a sus- ment of being thwarted by Al Ahli goal- dallah’s two goals, Al Rayyan defeated was a refl ection of their dominance.

BOTTOMLINE QFA chief receives Busacca Last FIFA seminar in Doha concludes By Sports Reporter The seminar aimed to update like to thank you all and thank FIFA Doha the referee instructors with the for giving the trust and opportunity to latest teaching materials, fi tness Qatar and QFA not only to organise the data and results, and enhance last seminar that we are concluding to- he Seminar for FIFA Referee their knowledge on fi tness and night, but also to organise the fi rst three Technical & Fitness Instruc- technical training and referees’ we held throughout the month. We are tors concluded on Friday 23 evaluation honoured and privileged to organise TFebruary and witnessed the such esteemed courses. It has been a attendance of 100 FIFA Technical and regions. pleasure to have you in Qatar. Fitness Instructors from around the On Tuesday, 20 February, the in- “I was standing here fi ve days ago and world. structors also attended AFC Champi- as I expected you have gone through a Organised by FIFA and hosted by the ons League match Al Sadd vs. Perse- lot of hard work, done a lot of contri- Qatar Football Association (QFA), the polis at Al Sadd Stadium to assess the butions and showed real expertise and QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani presents a memento to Massimo Busacca, Director of the seminar’s objective was to prepare the referees and assistant referees of the professionalism. It doesn’t come natu- FIFA Refereeing Department, at the QFA headquarters in Al Bidda Tower on Thursday. At right is Hani Ballan, technical and fi tness instructors for the match. rally; it comes because you have big re- Vice Chairman of FIFA Referees’ Committee. FIFA refereeing activities in 2018. The Practical training sessions with play- sponsibilities in the future. seminar is based on teach the teacher ers and referees involving integrated “Refereeing is thinking, if we look he Qatar Football Association said during those 3 weeks while we are here Qatari referees and Asian referees in general concept as the instructors will be able exercises for referees and assistant at how much referees have developed, President, Sheikh Hamad bin in Doha, I think we could not have had better after attending a few matches in Qatar includ- to transfer the knowledge they have referees were also held at Qatar Sports we are quite envious of everything they Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, re- hospitality and better logistics and infrastruc- ing AFC Champions League matches he learned during the seminar back to Club throughout the week. experience. But this is because they are Tceived Massimo Busacca, Direc- tures, nothing was missing. For that reason, I commented: “A lot, in all confederations. Since their respective countries and regions The closing ceremony was held at the our diamonds and we need to protect tor of the FIFA Refereeing Department, at have to really thank the QFA and all the staff I started in FIFA 7 years ago, I can tell you and help develop the referees. InterContinental Hotel Doha and was them. We protect them by being knowl- the QFA headquarters in Al Bidda Tower on that compose this incredible team that is we changed all our projects completely, we The seminar aimed to update the ref- attended by Hani Ballan, Vice Chair- edgeable, fair, transparent, and being Thursday. working with Hani Ballan, Neji Jouini, Ahmad put the priority, our expectation, our target, eree instructors with the latest teaching man of FIFA Referees’ Committee, the people they can come and talk to.” The meeting was attended by Hani Ballan, al-Attar and all the people that helped us to we informed everyone in all confederations. materials, fi tness data and results, and Chairman of AFC Referees’ Commit- Busacca added: “I want to thank you Vice Chairman of FIFA Referees’ Commit- succeed in the three big events we hosted Today we want the referees to make sacrifices enhance their knowledge on fi tness and tee, and Chairman of QFA Referees’ Hani for your important speech. We tee, Chairman of AFC Referees’ Committee, here. It was really perfect, incredible hospital- on physical aspects, technical, medical and technical training and referees’ evalua- Committee, Massimo Busacca, Direc- had four big events here in Qatar. This and Chairman of QFA Referees’ Committee, ity, and this is what we need, what football honestly, Asia did the sacrifice very well, tion. tor of the FIFA Refereeing Department, is the fourth event and again, we want and Mushtaq al-Waeli, Executive Director of team needs when they have to prepare, and and today they have top referees represent- Instructors took part in theoretical Neji Jouini, Executive Director of the to really thank QFA for organising these Strategy and Institutional Development of what referee team needs when they have to ing everywhere in the world. But really, all and practical sessions to improve their Referees Committee at QFA, Manuel big events. Everything went smoothly the QFA. prepare. Infrastructure, good co-operation, confederations are doing the same, even knowledge, share ideas and expertise, Navarro, Deputy Head of Refereeing at without any problems. We are in a When asked about the support received good relationships is what is needed. FIFA Africa, at the beginning our projects were not and study the latest trends in the ref- FIFA, and Abdullah Hamed al-Mulla, country of football and referees. So they by QFA and Qatar during the period of the can be really happy about the success of the so many, today I see big improvement and of ereeing world, to achieve a uniform Qatar Sport Club’s Secretary General. know what an organisation like FIFA seminars, Massimo Busacca, Director of the seminars held in Doha.” course there we have good talents, and good interpretation and application of the Speaking at the closing ceremony, needs to organise a seminar as such.” FIFA Refereeing Department said: “I already When asked about the improvement of referees that can represent FIFA.” Laws of the Game in their respective Ballan said: “On behalf of QFA, I would Gulf Times Monday, February 26, 2018 5 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Al Adaid Desert Challenge is back, bigger and better Participants of this year’s cycling race will need to overcome seven gruelling sand dunes and several flat sandy patches

By Sports Reporter Doha

he third edition of Al Adaid Desert Challenge on Friday, March 2 promises to be the big- gest and most exciting in the Thistory of the event, with a more chal- lenging route and the introduction of a running event. Participants of this year’s cycling race will need to overcome seven gru- elling sand dunes and several fl at sandy patches with a total distance of 38.5km - a route that boosts the reputation of the UCI Class 3 event as the toughest off - road mountain bike race in the region. The event is being organised by Qatar Cyclists under the patronage of Qatar’s Ministry of Culture and Sport, and in cooperation with Qatar Tourism Au- thority (QTA), Qatar Cycling and Tria- thlon Federation (QCTF) and Interna- tional Cycling Federation (UCI). The start line will be at Mawater Sand Dune area near Sealine Beach Resort, while the fi nish line is at the Doha Bus Desert Adventures Camp. The partici- pants at the running event will use the fi rst and last third of the cycling route, and they will need to cross four sand Off icials pose after announcing the details of the third edition of Al Adaid Desert Challenge, which will held this Friday. dunes and complete a total distance of 26.7km. Details of the events were Elite Category. The 47-year-old Dutch ing to the fi nish line on a special route and female participants, from more given by Managing Director of Al Adaid legend will once again face competition that doesn’t include the sand dunes. A than 45 diff erent nationalities, have Desert Challenge, Dr Jamal al-Khanji in from last year’s runner up, New Zea- non-competitive kids race at the fi nish registered for this year’s challenge and a press conference yesterday. “In a very land’s Roman Van Uden and third-place area and several family-oriented activi- the registration is still open until Feb- short period, Al Adaid Desert Challenge fi nisher in the Elite category, Frederic ties is expected to attract huge crowds. ruary 28. President of Qatar Cyclists Dr became one of the top one-day cycling Gombert of France. The remote desert is not only a chal- Abdulaziz al-Kuwari said: “Cycling has events in the region – the turnout has All three riders will take part in a lenge for competitors, but also for the seen enormous growth in the past few reached record levels this year. We are community cycling event at Lusail In- organisers. Growth of the event, addi- years. The number of Qatar Cyclists keen on organising another successful ternational Circuit on Wednesday. tion of running to the event and logis- members reached levels that we have edition and we are putting the fi nishing Iran’s Faraz Shokri, the best positioned tical challenges have contributed or- never imagined when we launched the touches to welcome all the participants rider in UCI Asia MB Cross-Country ganisers to look at other route options. initiative few years ago, and Al Adaid and fans,” al-Khanji said Elite Ranking, is also among the notable Doha Bus Desert Adventures camp will Desert Challenge is one of the big events “This year, we added a running race names taking part in this year’s edition. provide the perfect location for the fi nal that is eagerly awaited by every cycling for the fi rst time. We invite everyone to In the women’s Elite Category, 2017 scene of this iconic one-day off -road enthusiast in the country. We wish suc- join us on March 2 to enjoy the event and Champion Pia Sundstedt of Finland will cycling event and the promising new cess to all participants.” various related activities” he added. attempt to defend her title. running race. Qatar Tourism Authority is the plati- After winning last year’s edition, During the 2017 edition, around 40 Chief Marketing & Promotion Offi cer num sponsor of this year’s edition, with Dutch cycling legend Erik Dekker was Qatari riders competed in the race and at QTA Rashed al-Qurese said: “QTA is the ever-increasing list of sponsors also announced as an offi cial ambassador achieved impressive results, including a said: “It is amazing to see the rapid more young kids are taking on the sport, proud to be once again supporting the Al including, Ooredoo and Doha Insurance of the event. The former Olympic sil- 6th place fi nish for Abdullah Afi f in the progress of this event, mountain bikes the future looks bright. This year we Adaid Desert Challenge, a home-grown Group as Gold Sponsors. ver medallist is promoting the race on UCI Elite Category. are more popular than ever in Qatar, and have more than 60 Qatari riders taking event which has steadily developed over Director PR and Corporate Com- international level and through various This year, the number of Qatari riders the addition of Al Adaid Desert Chal- part in the event as we decided that it the years.” munications at Ooredoo Manar Khalifa social media channels. He will also take is set to reach more than 60 participants lenge to UCI calendar last year was a will also act the Qatar National Moun- With the introduction of a running al-Muraikhi, commented: “We are glad part in community cycling events and and they will battle for a new title, Qa- proof that we are heading in the right tain Bike Cross-Country Champion- event and a total prize money of around to be the Gold Sponsor of this special provide support and training tips to lo- tar’s MB Cross Country Champion. direction.” ship. We expect a very competitive at- QR150,000, the 2018 Al Adaid Desert event and to continue our partnership cal cyclists. Speaking on the occasion, President He said: “We are building on the leg- mosphere”. Challenge is expected to see record with Qatar Cyclists Centre by organising Dekker will not be the only interna- of Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federa- acy of the World Championships, the Spectators will be able to cheer the number of participants from Qatar and another memorable edition of Al Adaid tional rider taking part in this year’s UCI tion Dr Mohammed Jaham al-Kuwari number of Qatari cyclists is increasing, participants at the start line before mov- abroad. Already more than 300 male Desert Challenge.”

NBA NHL Durant powers Warriors to win Ovechkin, Kuznetsov lead AFP Los Angeles Capitals over Sabres, 5-1

evin Durant delivered 28 points Reuters through several Buff alo players into the third period. Ovechkin and Stephen Curry fi nished with Washington and beating goalie Robin Leh- then scored a key insurance goal 21 points and nine rebounds as the ner after faking him out a bit. In later in the period on the power Golden State Warriors improved the second period, Burakovsky play. He took a pass from John Kto 46-14 with a 112-80 win over Oklahoma vgeny Kuznetsov had a turned in another strong indi- Carlson and fi red a wrist shot into City. After a see-saw fi rst half the defending goal and three assists, vidual eff ort with 6:40 left in the the high right corner with 9:47 league champion Warriors got in a groove, and Alex Ovechkin scored second period left that gave the left. Eller added an empty-net going on a 21-1 run spanning the third and twice as the Washing- Capitals a 2-0 lead. goal for the Capitals later with fourth quarters to seize control and turn tonE Capitals defeated the Buff alo He picked up the puck deep 2:12 remaining. Ovechkin then Saturday’s contest into a blowout. Sabres 5-1 on Saturday night in in Washington’s end and liter- scored the fi fth goal with 1:24 left The Warriors also avenged a pair of losses Washington. Ovechkin played in ally worked his way through all and Lehner back in net. to the Thunder in November and just before his 983rd game, which tied Calle fi ve Buff alo players, splitting the RESULTS the NBA All-Star Game break earlier this Johansson for the top spot in last two before pushing the puck Philadelphia 5 Ottawa 3; Calgary 5 month. “We’re champions. We’re 46-14 and franchise history. through the goalie’s fi ve-hole. Colorado 1; New Jersey 2 NY island- we’ve got one of the best road records in the Ovechkin already leads the Those two displays of speed put ers 1; Winnipeg 5 Dallas 3; Toronto league,” Durant said. franchise by comfortable margins the Capitals on top by two goals 4 Boston 3; Tampa Bay 4 Montreal Thunder star Paul George was held to in goals (596) and points (1,105). after two periods. 3; Detroit 3 Carolina 1; Florida 6 just fi ve points, while a struggling Carmelo When he reaches 600 goals, Sam Reinhart cut the lead to Pittsburgh 5; Washington 5 Buff alo Anthony scored only 14. Russell Westbrook Ovechkin will be the 20th player 2-1 on a backhand shot 14 seconds 1; Columbus 3 Chicago 2 led Oklahoma City with 15 points and 10 in NHL history to do so. He scored rebounds. “He’s played at such a high level twice in the third period in this off ensively for such a long time, a night like game. The victory let the Caps (77 tonight’s going to happen,” coach Billy Dono- points) jump over Pittsburgh (76) van said of George. and the Flyers (76) for fi rst in the Anthony’s frustration boiled over when he Metropolitan Division. got into a testy exchange with the Warriors’ Florida beat the Penguins 6-5 Draymond Green, who was given a technical Saturday while the Flyers were foul — his 15th of the season — for swatting off . Philipp Grubauer started in the head of Anthony who then threw his blue goal for Washington and made 28 headband down on the court before engag- saves, beating the Sabres for the ing Green. “I play with high emotion,” Green second time this week — the Cap- said. “I’ll continue to play with passion.” itals won 3-2 in Buff alo on Feb. 19. Elsewhere, the Miami Heat used a bal- Grubauer has now won his last anced scoring attack to halt a three-game Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (right) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder three starts while No. 1 goalie losing streak by rolling over the struggling center Steven Adams in the third quarter. (USA TODAY Sports) Braden Holtby has gone 0-3-2 in Memphis Grizzlies 115-89. Tyler Johnson his past fi ve. Andre Burakovsky scored 23 points for the Heat, who are bat- who played without injured leading scorer In New York, Kyrie Irving tallied 31 points, and Lars Eller also scored once tling for a post-season spot after winning for Tyreke Evans. The Heat took the lead for nine rebounds and eight assists, leading the apiece for the Capitals in the just the second time in their last 10 games. good at 28-26 and their margin reached 92- Boston Celtics over the New York Knicks win. The Sabres pulled Evander Memphis has lost nine games in a row, 70 by the end of the third quarter. Miami out- 121-112 for their second victory in two nights Kane from their lineup with the the longest current losing streak in the NBA. scored Memphis 50-30 in the paint, 13-2 on since the all-star break. league’s trade deadline — 3pm to- Justise Winslow scored a season-high 17 fast breaks and 26-8 off turnovers. RESULTS day — approaching. points for the Heat while Wayne Ellington In Portland, Damian Lillard scored on a Minnesota 122, Chicago 104; Miami 115, Reports said a trade for Kane is drained fi ve three pointers and fi nished with driving layup with nine-tenths of a second Memphis 89; New York 112, Boston 121; “apparently imminent.” The Sa- 15 points. to play as the Portland Trail Blazers rallied Sacramento 108, LA Lakers 113; Phoenix 104, bres were not helped by Washing- Miami veteran Dwyane Wade got into foul to beat the Phoenix Suns 106-104. Lillard Portland 106; Utah 97, Dallas 90; Golden ton’s fast start. Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand (left) battles for the puck with trouble and played just 18 minutes. Andrew scored 19 points in the fourth quarter and State 112, Oklahoma City 80; Philadelphia 116, Kuznetsov scored 50 sec- Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Nikita Zaitsev in the first period in Harrison scored 17 points for the Grizzlies, fi nished with 40. Orlando 105 onds into the game after skating Toronto. (USA TODAY Sports) Gulf Times 6 Monday, February 26, 2018 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS National Two Koreas march apart Sprint c’ship concludes as Winter Olympics close QNA Doha

Olympics legend Marit Bjoergen won the final gold of Pyeongchang in the women’s 30km cross country he second round of the Qatar National Sprint AFP Championship, organ- Pyeongchang, South Korea ised by the Qatar Mo- Ttor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), concluded on Friday. he two Koreas marched be- The round saw a strong compe- hind their own fl ags and Rus- tition among the 25 contestants, sia looked forward to a quick including Arab drivers and other end to its ban over mass dop- nationalities. The winners were Ting as the curtain fell on the engrossing presented with trophies by Ex- Pyeongchang Winter Olympics yester- ecutive Director of QMMF Sul- day. At a colourful and cold closing cer- tan al-Muraikhi the and the race emony, Ivanka Trump sat near a black- director Rashed al-Sulaiti. listed North Korean general but unlike In the M1 category, Abdul- at the Games’ opening, the North and lah al-Khulaifi , the fi rst round South Korean athletes entered sepa- champion, won the second rately, waving their national fl ags. round as well, fi nishing with a Russia’s fl ag was absent after the In- fastest lap time of 1.07.527secs. ternational Olympic Committee voted Jordan’s Alaa al-Tarawneh came to extend its ban over doping — but in second in 1.18.812secs while Russian offi cials said they expected to Mac Cartel fi nished third in return to the fold within days. US Presi- 1.19.905secs. dent Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Meanwhile, Qatar’s Moham- was just a few seats away from North med al-Khayareen won the title Korea’s Kim Yong-chol, who is accused in the M3 category, after re- of masterminding attacks on South Ko- cording fastest record of time rea and is blacklisted by Seoul. of 1.11.864secs. Mohammed al- As the ceremony got underway, South Jaber was second while Ali al- Korea’s presidential Blue House relayed Emadi fi nished third. that Chol’s delegation had said North In the M4 category, Moham- Korea was “very willing” to hold talks med al-Dulaimi was crowned the with America. It was the latest concili- winner of the second round with atory move by North Korea during the a record time of 1.15.068 min- Games, where Kim Jong-un’s sister at- utes, while Ibrahim al-Mannai tended the opening ceremony and the Nadim Ziad fi nished second and two Koreas formed their fi rst joint Ol- third respectively. In the S3 cat- ympic team, in women’s ice hockey. egory, Francesco Fornasiero won After a successful drone display — the fi rst place after recording the following an aborted attempt at the fastest lap time of 1.12.941 min- opening ceremony, where recorded im- utes, while Martin Stavl came in ages were broadcast instead — Interna- second place and Daniel McCa- tional Olympic Committee president rthy took third spot. Thomas Bach handed out medals from The Qatar National Sprint the fi nal day. Championship witnessed a high Topless Tongan cross-country skier turnout this year among young Pita Taufatofua made a cameo appear- participants, after the remark- ance, greased in his trademark coconut Fireworks explode during the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, yesterday. (Reuters) able success of last season’s oil, before Bach declared the Games — championship. QMMF President one of the coldest on record — closed. ple together in our fragile world; you golds for America’s Chloe Kim, 17, and win a game, but the symbolic gesture as neutrals after the country’s national Abdulrahman al-Mannai said he “You have shown how sport brings peo- have shown how sport builds bridges,” Shaun White, and the men’s and wom- was warmly welcomed — and vocally Olympic committee was banned for was pleased with success of the Bach told the Korean athletes. “The en’s fi gure skating titles brilliantly won supported by the North’s immaculately mass doping. However, two of the com- Qatar National Sprint Champi- Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang by Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu and 15-year- drilled female cheering squad. Ger- petitors failed drugs tests. The Inter- onship, praising the high level Top-10 medals tally 2018 are the Games of new horizons,” old Alina Zagitova of Russia. many and Norway both fi nished on 14 national Olympic Committee voted to of competition in the second G S B Total he added. Winter Olympics legend Crossover Czech star Ester Ledecka golds, but the Norwegians took top spot keep Russia’s suspension in place until round. “The technical level of 1. Norway 14 14 11 39 Marit Bjoergen won the fi nal gold of broke new ground when she pulled off with their record 39 medals overall to the other 166 Russians are cleared of the drivers in the competitions 2. Germany 14 10 7 31 Pyeongchang in the women’s 30km an astonishing double win in alpine Germany’s 31. Canada were third with doping in Pyeongchang. is constantly evolving, which 3. Canada 11 8 10 29 cross country yesterday — putting skiing’s downhill and snowboarding’s 11 golds, while hosts South Korea were The Russian Olympic Commit- was evident during the second 4. US 9 8 6 23 Norway top of the table over Germany, parallel giant slalom. French biathlete seventh. tee said it expected the ban to be lifted round. The tournament is open 5. Netherlands 8 6 6 20 on overall medals won. It was a fi tting Martin Fourcade and Norwegian cross Although they didn’t get to wave “within the next few days”. During the to all citizens and residents in 6. Sweden 7 6 1 14 send-off for the Games and for Bjoer- country skier Johannes Klaebo both their fl ag at the closing ceremony, it was closing ceremony, chants of “Rossiya Qatar at a very low cost,” he said. 7. South Korea 5 8 4 17 gen, 37, who completes her Olympic won three gold medals, and Canadian a triumphant day for Russia after their (Russia)” could be heard. Attention now Al-Mannai said QMMF has 8. Switzerland 5 6 4 15 career with a record-breaking 15 medals fi gure skater Eric Radford became the men’s hockey team beat Germany in the turns to Tokyo, host of the 2020 Sum- joined hands with several bodies 9. France 5 4 6 15 and was one of the stars of the 16 days of fi rst openly gay male Winter Olympics fi nal — and then defi antly sung their mer Olympics, while the Winter Games in order to spread the activities 10. Austria 5 3 6 14 competition. champion. national anthem on the ice. also stays in Asia with Beijing holding of the federation and to draw the Other highlights included snowboard The joint Korean hockey team didn’t Russia sent 168 athletes to compete the next edition in 2022. attention of the youth.

FOCUS WORLD SCHOOLS HANDBALL Olympics not ‘tainted’ by Russia: Bach Qatar boys win thriller AFP vote and said it expected its suspension to be from Russia” (OAR) and are unable to fl y the Pyeongchang, South Korea lifted “within the next few days”. “Accord- national fl ag at the closing ceremony fol- By Sports Reporter play Bulgaria today in the next round. The tourna- ing to the standing order, it takes 72 hours to lowing Sunday’s vote. “I don’t think, quite Doha ment for 16-18 year olds will run until Wednesday. implement the test procedure,” a statement frankly, that these Olympic Winter Games lympics chief Thomas Bach de- said. have been tainted by the Russian aff air be- RESULTS nied the Pyeongchang Winter Ol- The Russian men’s ice hockey team also cause we had no Russian team here. atar boys edged out Denmark 19-18 in a Boys: Qatar bt Denmark 19-18; Turkey bt Brazil 22-19; ympics had been “tainted” by the sang the Russian national anthem after win- This was a clear message,” Bach said. thrilling match at the ISF World Schools Greece 26 bt Belgium 17; Israel 33 bt Romania 18; Russian doping scandal as offi cials ning gold on Sunday, contravening guide- The vote to keep Russia’s ban in place for Handball Championship at the Ali Bin Austria bt Morocco 22-10; Germany bt Czech Republic votedO to keep Russia’s suspension in place lines over Russia’s participation as neu- the time being followed a recommendation Hamad Al Attiyah Arena yesterday. 28-23. Girls: Czech Republic bt Serbia 21-18; Bulgaria for the closing ceremony yesterday. trals. The Russian question has hung over from the IOC’s executive board, which met QThis was Qatar’s second win in four matches, bt Romania 32-22; Germany bt Turkey 32 -30; Hungary Bach said Russia’s ban from Olympic par- Pyeongchang. The country was banned for Saturday and early Sunday to thrash out coming after two successive loses to Austria and bt Austria 37-19; Croatia bt Belgium 43-19; Brazil bt ticipation will automatically be lifted if anti- systemic doping but 168 “clean” Russians Russia’s fate. Bach said the positive tests Poland. They had beaten Morocco in their opening Slovenia 23-20; Greece bt Sweden 23 -22; Denmark bt doping offi cials do not fi nd any more Rus- were allowed to compete — only for a curler from curler Alexander Krushelnitsky, and match. The hosts fi nished third in Group A and will France 40-17. sian drug cases at Pyeongchang, where two and a bobsledder to fail drugs tests. But Bach women’s bobsleigh pilot Nadezhda Sergeye- Russians tested positive. Russia’s national said the IOC had sent a “clear message” on va, were the “key factor” in the decision not Olympic Committee hailed yesterday’s IOC Russia, who competed as “Olympic Athletes to immediately lift the ban.

QEF PRESIDENT HONOURS OFFICIALS

Qatar boys team celebrate after defeating Denmark at the ISF World Schools Handball Championship at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena yesterday. BELOW: Action from the Qatar-Denmark match.

Qatar Equestrian Federation President Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah (third left) felicitated international judge Stephan Ellenbruch and course designer Uliano Vezzani during the HH The Emir’s Sword Equestrian championship at the Qatar Equestrian Federation. Gulf Times Monday, February 26, 2018 7 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT Taylor, Santner lead New Zealand to win over England Santer smacked a six in the final over to get New Zealand home with four balls to spare

AFP New Zealand were in trouble at the land 187 for three, he went for 11 in his Hamilton, New Zealand start of their run chase as they fell to fi rst over before having Latham caught three for 27 in the 10th over. by Root at mid-on. Taylor, with his 18th century, and century by Ross Taylor and Latham clawed the home side back SCOREBOARD lusty late hitting by Mitch into the game with their 178-run stand England innings Santner delivered a last- before Stokes stepped up to remove J. Roy b Santner 49 over victory to New Zealand Latham for 79. J. Bairstow c Taylor b Boult 4 againstA England in their fi rst one-day Latham’s dismissal sparked a mid- J. Root b Munro 71 international in Hamilton yesterday. dle-order collapse with three wickets E. Morgan c Southee b Sodhi 8 In a match fi lled with twists and turns, falling for 10 runs. As Taylor started B. Stokes c Taylor b Santner 12 the outcome hung in the balance until to run out of partners, he tried to up J. Buttler run out (Southee) 79 Santer smacked a six in the fi nal over the pace to get New Zealand home but M. Ali c Guptill b Sodhi 28 to get New Zealand home with four with 25 balls remaining and New Zea- C. Woakes c and b Boult 11 balls to spare. Rival captains Kane Wil- land needing a further 45 runs, he was D. Willey not out 11 liamson and Eoin Morgan both said the stumped on 113. T. Curran not out 0 initiative “ebbed and fl owed” through- But if England had a whiff of victory, Extras: (b1, lb4, w6) 11 out the match. “There wasn’t much Santner had other ideas with a rapid Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 284 between the sides and I think that’s two fours and four sixes to get New Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Bairstow), 2-89 (Roy), refl ected in the result,” added England Zealand home. Stokes, returning for 3-104 (Morgan), 4-139 (Stokes), 5-181 (Root), skipper Morgan. his fi rst international since a nightclub 6-228 (Ali), 7-253 (Woakes), 8-284 (Buttler) Taylor with 113 and Latham (79) incident fi ve months ago, had an undis- Did not bat: A. Rashid paved the way for the New Zealand tinguished turn at bat after New Zea- Bowling: Southee 10-1-47-0 (2w), Boult win and when England produced a land won the toss and elected to bowl. 10-0-64-2 (3w), Santner 10-0-54-2, de middle-order collapse Santner hit a The all-rounder lasted 22 balls and Grandhomme 4-0-20-0, Sodhi 10-0-63-2 match-winning 45 off 27 deliveries. Ben was gone for 12 while the foundation of (1w), Munro 6-0-31-1 Stokes celebrated his return to interna- the England innings was laid by Root, tional cricket with the crucial wicket of with 71 off 75 deliveries and Buttler who New Zealand innings Latham to snap a 178-run stand with belted 79 off 65 before he was run out M. Guptill c Stokes b Woakes 13 Taylor and have New Zealand at 205 for off the penultimate ball. C. Munro c Buttler b Woakes 6 four in the 40th over. England were looking at a score of K. Williamson c Buttler b Willey 8 They slipped further to 244 for sev- more than 300 until tight New Zealand R. Taylor st Buttler b Rashid 113 en before Santner lashed out to chase bowling restricted them to just 31 runs T. Latham c Root b Stokes 79 down England’s 284 for eight. “When between the 42nd and 48th overs. New H. Nicholls c Roy b Curran 0 we broke the partnership we knew we Zealand were immediately in trouble C. de Grandhomme c Buttler b Stokes 2 were back in the game but taking it at the start of their chase when Colin M. Santner not out 45 towards the end we just didn’t have Munro belted a six off the second ball T. Southee not out 8 enough in the tank,” said Morgan. he faced and was gone two balls later Extras: (lb5, w8) 1 3 Williamson, who won the toss and without adding to his score. Total (for 7 wickets; 49.2 overs) 287 elected to bowl, expecting the dew to Kane Williamson only managed eight Fall of wickets: 1-6 (C Munro), 2-27 (Wil- have an eff ect late in the day-night off 23 balls and Martin Guptill went for liamson), 3-27 (Guptill), 4-205 (Latham), match, singled out key moments which 13. Stokes, discarded by England for fi ve 5-206 (Nicholls), 6-215 (de Grandhomme), went New Zealand’s way, particularly New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner celebrates hitting the winning runs during the first one-day international match against months after a nightclub incident, had 7-244 (Taylor) with bowling late in the England in- England at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday. (AFP) an economical four-overs in his fi rst Bowling: Willey 6-1-26-1, Woakes 8.2-0-47- nings. “We had to play a lot of cricket bowling spell that only cost 15 runs. 2 (1w), Curran 10-0-65-1 (2w), Stokes 8-0- before the dew came in but I think it was it to the death bowling. To keep them to good eff ort,” Williamson added. “It was Latham) but also from Mitch Santner at When he was recalled with Taylor 43-2 (2w), Ali 5-0-30-0, Rashid 10-0-55-1 a factor tonight,” he said. “A lot of cred- 70-something in the last 10 was a very a brilliant partnership (from Taylor and the end to bring us home.” and Latham in full fl ight and New Zea- (1w), Root 2-0-16-0 (2w)

PSL FOCUS Raees, Talat star Ever-hungry Kohli wants more from India AFP in Islamabad’s Cape Town ndian captain Virat Kohli refused to bask in his team’s success in South win over Multan Africa as he received the Interna- tional Cricket Council Test champi- innings capitulated thereafter. Ionship mace for the second year running. Agencies Dubai Multan could only manage 113 in Somewhat incongruously, the mace was the end. presented to Kohli on Saturday at the end Chasing a low score, Islama- of a triumphant limited overs campaign. ussain Talat scored bad lost opener Luke Ronchi for India won a one-day international se- 34-ball 48 helped Is- a duck and Imran Tahir ignited ries 5-1 and a Twenty20 series 2-1. Per- lamabad United notch Multan’s hopes with a three-fer haps it was a reminder to Kohli that sec- up a win in the low- which included a double-wicket ond-ranked South Africa had won a Test Hscoring encounter against Mul- maiden and the big wicket Rus- series at the start of the tour. “I’d say we tan Sultans in the Pakistan Super sell fi rst ball but Talat took mat- are still 80%,” Kohli said of the Test team League game in Dubai yesterday. ters into his own hands by fi rst as he looked forward to major challenges After inserting Multan in, the seeing off the legspinner’s threat in coming tours of England and Austral- bowlers led by Rumman Raees, and then powering his side home ia later this year. “When we are able to India’s players celebrate after winning the the T20 series against South Africa in Cape Town. (AFP) who took the initial scalp of Ku- with a 34-ball 48 which included achieve what we want to in the two tours, mar Sangakkara, then came back four fours and three sixes. De- we’ll be more content. But our 80% is also cies, Kohli stayed true to his mantra of diffi cult conditions in the Tests, scoring ting. None of the other specialist batsmen to bowl beautifully in the death, spite the loss, Multan still stay exciting. To be a world-class side, you playing positive cricket and not taking a 286 runs, including the only century of averaged 30 in the Tests but Shikhar Dha- fi ring yorkers at will as he set top of the table, while Islamabad have to be 100%.” backward step. the series, at an average of 47.66. wan shone in the one-day matches. up the bowling eff ort. Multan opened their account with win. Although the cut-off date for the ICC He did not complain about the seam- He exploded on more batsmen-friend- Rohit Sharma managed a single im- never got going and were 31/4 In another match, Karachi rankings only comes in April, India can- friendly Test pitches prepared for South ly pitches in the one-dayers, striking a pressive innings, a century in the fi fth at one stage before Shoaib Ma- Kings beat Peshawar Zalmi by not be overtaken. Apart from the mace Africa’s fast bowlers, even though ICC world record bilateral series total of 558 one-day international after Kohli was lik and Kieron Pollard put on a fi ve wickets. Chasing 132 for vic- and the glory India will collect a million match referee Chris Broad rated the runs at a staggering average of 186.00, out for 36, his lowest score of the series. 54-run stand but Andre Russell tory, Karachi reached the target dollars in prize money. Kohli left South pitches for the fi rst two Tests “average” scoring at a fraction under a run a ball. Although Kohli bristled at the suggestion dismissed them both and the with two balls remaining. Africa having dazzled with his batting and his successor Andy Pycroft con- His teammates responded to Kohli’s ex- that India did not select their best pos- artistry and his no-holds-barred cap- demned the pitch used for the third Test ample. The bowlers, in particular, were sible side for the fi rst two Tests, Ajinkya taincy style. It is doubtful whether any at the Wanderers as “poor”. outstanding. Rahane’s batting in the third Test sug- visiting captain in modern times has Kohli’s response was that sub-stand- Given his chance in the Tests, Jasprit gested he should have played earlier, made a greater impact than Kohli, who ard pitches helped his bowlers as much as Bumrah showed he was much more than a while Kumar’s omission for the second stated on arrival that his India team feared they helped the South Africans. Although good one-day bowler, while Mohammed Test was baffl ing. no opposition nor any conditions. “We India lost the fi rst two Tests, they were Shami, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kohli and several other senior players look at the pitch and adapt to the condi- competitive in both and made the best of Kumar all troubled the South African have been rested for a triangular T20 se- tions,” he said. “Every game is a home the worst conditions by winning the third batsmen. ries starting in Sri Lanka on March 6. The game. It’s as simple as that.” Test. Then they outclassed South Africa In the one-day games, India’s bold lucrative interlude of the Indian Premier His early press conference set the in the white ball games. Kohli was the gambit of picking two wrist spinners in League starts in April. Kohli has shown tone for the tour. Articulate, occasion- leading run-scorer for either side in both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal that ambition is a stronger driving force ally combative with journalists who chal- the Tests and one-day games. He showed proved a master stroke. Kohli’s form ob- than money — and he expects his team- lenged, for instance, his selection poli- resolve, sound technique and courage in scured fl aws in the rest of the Indian bat- mates to follow his example.

ROUND-UP Rohit to captain India in T20 tri-series ndia’s Rohit Sharma will captain Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan well. Rashid picked fi ve wickets in the bagged three wickets. the country’s 15-member Twenty20 (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Man- two-match T20I series against Zimba- The top-scorer of the series - Martin squad for the tri-nation series ish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeepter), bwe in Sharjah earlier this month, which Guptill - has meanwhile, jumped up six against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Afghanistan swept 2-0. places to reach fi fth, while England batter Inext month, selectors announced yes- Among other big gainers were New David Malan - his team’s leading scorer Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, terday. The Indian selectors announced Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Moham- Zealand top-order batsman Colin Munro in the series - has leaped up 127 places that some team seniors including regular med Siraj, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper) and Australian Glenn Maxwell, both to reach the career-best ranking of 22. captain Virat Kohli had been rested for of whom topped the charts for T20I Based on performances in South Africa, the series. The tri-nation series will RASHID KHAN TOPS T20I RANKINGS batsmen and all-rounders. Munro’s rise Shikhar Dhawan and JP Duminy have be played at Sri Lanka’s R Premadasa FOR BOWLERS comes after his stellar show in the T20I also seen a lift in their positions. Among Stadium. India, who lost the Test series Less than a week since becoming the tri-series in Australia and New Zealand, the bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and against South Africa 2-1, subsequently youngest men’s cricketer to claim the wherein he amassed 176 runs at an eye- Adil Rashid have made an upward march, won both one-day internationals and joint-top spot among ODI bowlers, catching strike rate of 209.52. Maxwell’s while Australia’s Andrew Tye was also Islamabad United’s Rumman Raees bowls during the Pakistan Super T20 series this February. Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan rise is also down to his showing in the rewarded with a jump by 53 places for his League in Dubai yesterday. India’s squad for the T20 series has climbed atop the T20I rankings as tri-series, where he scored 233 runs and exploits in the tri-series.