SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 11

Root’s double-ton in 100th test puts England in control against India Dumar Roa and Gabriel “Fly” rivalry heats up Dumar Roa wants to face Gabriel “Fly” with the BRAVE CF title on the line

Gabriel “Fly’’ and Dumar• Roa have Respect to Gabriel Joe Root plays a shot repeatedly challenged ‘’Fly’’, he’s a great AFP | Chennai each other to fight opponent and has a before and after their great team, but the oe Root scored 218 to be- BRAVE CF 45 main world title has been my Jcome the first player to hit event fell down dream since I was a kid, a double century in his 100th and I am going to knock Test as England stormed past TDT | Manama him out like I did with 550 in the opening Test against 5 Test double centuries have former Lightweight India yesterday. been hit by Joe Root RAVE Combat Federation’s The , who resumed Featherweight division is champ Al-Selwady. I on his overnight 128, hit a Bheating up with sever- don’t play with my job big six to pass 200 before de- al contenders rising up to the and I’m going to be the parting in the final session in challenge of becoming the next next BRAVE CF world Chennai. “Root’s in incredible form. king of the weight-class. From champion, I’m sure. My Indian bowlers came back To play like that in alien con- young studs such as Mochamed experience supports my with four in the ditions is incredible,” Stokes Machaev to more experienced words evening session to check Eng- said. athletes like Mehmosh Raza, all land’s surge. The tourists end- “It’s a bit frightening when 145-pounders are on alert for a DUMAR ROA ed the second day on 555 for you’re at the other end and he shot at the coveted BRAVE CF eight. Dom Bess (28) and Jack makes it look so easy,” he said Featherweight belt. tap-out. Dumar Roa celebrates after a bout Leach (6) were . of his captain. Two of them in particular ‘’Dumar, the respect is the Root, who expertly kept Left-hander Stokes hit his have gone back and forth on ‘’Respect to Gabriel ‘’Fly’’, Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady, the same and I can’t describe the India’s spinners at bay in his 23rd Test half-century — with social media. Brazil’s Gabriel he’s a great opponent and has victory that firmly put him on care I have for Colombia, I know 377 ball marathon, extended 10 fours and three sixes — be- ‘’Fly’’ and Colombian stand- a great team, but the world title the map. exactly the difficulties that Lat- his golden run that followed fore falling to Shahbaz Na- out Dumar Roa have repeatedly has been my dream since I was Gabriel ‘’Fly’’ responded to in American people go through match-winning scores of deem’s left-arm spin. challenged each other to fight a kid, and I am going to knock Dumar’s challenge by showcas- in order to live out our dreams. 228 and 186 against Sri Lan- Root and Ollie Pope then got before and after their BRAVE CF him out like I did with former ing his respect for his rival and Everything is missing but our ka in Tests last month. He going to frustrate the Indian 45 main event fell down due to Lightweight champ Al-Selwady. his country - both of Gabriel’s courage and the will to fight has now hit five Test double bowlers before Ravichandran Gabriel being diagnosed with I don’t play with my job and I’m BRAVE CF wins have come in for our dreams. I think it’s only centuries. Ashwin broke through. Covid-19. going to be the next BRAVE CF Colombian soil. ‘’Fly’’ also rec- fair that the BRAVE CF world His remarkable feat came Ashwin trapped Pope lbw Now that the Brazilian jiu-jit- world champion, I’m sure. My ognized the importance of Roa’s title comes to Latin America. after a quickfire 82 from Ben for 34 and Nadeem got Root’s su black belt is 100% recovered, experience supports my words’’, KO of Al-Selwady, but claimed Your win over Al-Selwady was Stokes. The pair put on 124 for prized scalp with a Dumar wants to finally face his lashed out ‘’Lion Heart’’, refer- he was ready to add to his sub- impressive, but I’m ready to add the fourth on a pitch that straightened up to hit the rival - this time with the BRAVE encing his historic upset of for- mission list, since 13 out of his to my submission list. It will be made for batting. batsman’s pad. CF title on the line. mer BRAVE CF world champion 14 career wins have come by a war, for sure!’’

‘The Truth’ ready to put world title on the line South African Mehidy aims for history as TDT | Manila spinners push pressure West Indies in Test Pakistan in second AFP | Chittagong fter a long break due to the Acoronavirus (COVID-19) Test tussle pandemic, reigning ONE heav- ehidy Hasan looked for a yweight world champion Bran- Mplace in history as Bang- don ‘The Truth’ Vera is finally ladesh set the West Indies a back in the Philippines. formidable target of 395 to win The 43-year-old Filipi - the first Test yesterday. no-American combat warrior Mehidy took the three wick- is ready to put his world title ets to fall as West Indies set on the line against a worthy about the challenge, reaching Mehidy celebrates with teammates challenger. 110-3 at the close of the fourth He has held the title since day in Chittagong. Botham, former Pakistan cap- capturing the inaugural belt in South Africa’s Rassie van der After his 103 in Bangladesh’s tain Imran Khan and his star 2015 and successfully defended Dussen drops a catch first innings total of 430 and Bangladesh teammate Shakib it twice in 2016 and 2018. AFP | Rawalpindi 4-58 when they bowled out the Al Hasan have managed it so “I’m beyond hyped for all the West Indies for 259, Mehidy far. recent signings of world-class eorge Linde took three needs only three more wick- Mehidy had been left out of heavyweight talent. It makes Vera is raring to fight this year Gwickets and Keshav ets to become just the fourth Bangladesh’s last three Tests me nervous, which in turn, Maharaj two as South Af- all-rounder to get a hundred after a run of poor form but makes me train even harder,” said Vera, who had to stay in rica and Pakistan wrestled with the bat and take 10 wick- has overshadowed Shakib in said Vera. Guam since the start of the pan- for advantage on the third ets in the same Test. the campaign to put pressure Vera last fought in October demic. day of their second Test in Only England great Ian on West Indies. 2019 when he lost to Myan - Fans have been able to But that doesn’t mean he isn’t Rawalpindi yesterday. mar’s Mixed Martial Art (MMA) see me at my highs and thinking about his comeback Pakistan closed the day on superstar Aung La N Sang via at my lows, and they’re fight, particularly his title de- 129-6 with an overall lead of second-round technical knock- about to see me back fense for the ONE Heavyweight 200 and four wickets intact out after dropping down to light on my highs again World Championship. on a tacky Rawalpindi stadi- heavyweight to figure in a title “I’m very much looking for- um pitch which has cracks bout in that division. BRANDON ‘THE TRUTH’ VERA ward to all of the challenges, to help slow bowlers. This year, he is expected to and all of the challengers,” said Linde (3-12) and Maharaj defend his heavyweight cham- using his time off to instead fo- Vera. “I’m looking to fight twice (2-74) rattled Pakistan’s top pionship against a still un - cus on fatherhood. And so after a year.” order before Faheem Ashraf known opponent. spending nearly a year in Guam “There are enough people (29) and Mohammad Ri - “Fans have been able to see together with wife Jessica and that I want to compete against zwan (28 not out) saved Pa- me at my highs and at my lows, firstborn child Atreyu Timothy, throughout the year to motivate kistan’s blushes during their and they’re about to see me the octagon ring fighter is back me to go twice.” 52-run sixth wicket stand. back on my highs again,” he in the Philippines to wrap up Vera said he is also willing to Linde removed Ashraf said. a few commercial obligations, give Sang a shot at his heavy- caught in covers, leaving There are reports that Vera is visit family, and just simply weight crown. He wants to pay Hasan Ali not out on nought set to face rising star Arjan “Sin- check out what he missed. back Sang for granting him a when bad light ended the gh” Bhullar of India in his next “We’re back here in the Phil- title shot for the light heavy- game. world title defense, although ippines to come home for a sec- weight crown. The day could have ended nothing has been finalized yet ond, finish filming our movie “Of course, he gave me a shot in South Africa’s domina- and a date has yet to be con - we started about a virus, before at his championship belt. It tion had Ashraf and Rizwan firmed. the real virus, and a couple of would probably seem rude not not been dropped off the Vera did not compete in 2020, endorsement commercials,” to,” said Vera. two spinners.