SPORT Sunday 5 February 2017

PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 Garcia grabs Chelsea widen gapgap tthree-shot Dubai at the top with winwin DDeserte Classic lead over Arsenal Qatar's Rashed clinches dramatic win

Qatar Rally RESULTS Talented Qatari QMMF Qatar International youngster wins first Rally Positions after SS12: round of the MERC as 1 Rashid Al Naimi (QAT)/ defending champion Hugo Magalhães (POR) Al Attiyah retires Subaru Impreza WRX STi 1hr 56min 28.3sec with engine issues on 2 Meshari Al Thefiri (KWT)/ penultimate stage Fares Al-Thefiri (KWT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X 2hr 21min 57.0sec The Peninsula QMMF Qatar National here may have been a Rally Positions after SS12: small entry in this 1 Nasser Al Kuwari (QAT)/ year’s QMMF Qatar Killian Duffy (IRL) Mit- subishi Lancer Evo IX 2hr International Rally, but 10min 17.2sec it didn’t detract from 2 Khaled Al Mohannadi Tone of the most exciting ever (QAT)/Musa Sherif (IND) final days of a round of the FIA Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII Middle East Rally 2hr 43min 26.1sec Championship. 3 Henry Kahy (LEB)/Musa Qatar’s talented youngster Djiyerian (JOR) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII Rashed Al Naimi and new Por- 3hr 05min 07.1sec tuguese co-driver Hugo Magalhaes claimed a dramatic FIA Middle East Rally victory, when firm favourite Championship Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah suffered positions after round 1 : engine issues on the penultimate 1 Rashid Al Naimi (QAT) 37pts stage and retired his Skoda Fabia 2 Meshari Al Thefiri (KWT) R5. 28pts A stunned Al Naimi also 3 Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah claimed victory in the MERC 2 (QAT) 7pts category, three special stage wins 4 Khalid Al Suwaidi (QAT) and now leads the regional rally 6pts championship by nine points. Rashed Al Naimi and Hugo Magalhaes celebrate their win at the Qatar International Rally, the first round of the FIA Middle East Rally “The target here was the win Championship, in Doha yesterday. BOTTOM: Rashed and Magalhaes in action during the event. in MERC 2, but to win the Qatar Rally is a complete shock to me Middle East. It’s a great and the Qatari managed to coax and changes my entire strategy feeling.” his stricken Skoda through the for the rest of the season,” said The Kuwaiti pairing of next stage with a dying engine Al Naimi. Meshari and Fares Al Thefiri con- and a suspension issue. It proved “It is a short championship trolled their pace perfectly to too much, however, and the and I have a really good chance bring a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo- Qatari’s 64th MERC rally win is to win the title. I lution X to the finish in second on hold for a few more weeks. had a flat tyre on overall and second in MERC 2. It Al Attiyah said: “We damaged the last stage and was a career-best result for the the radiator and, after that, we we damaged the Kuwaiti after he had been denied could not continue because we suspension, but it second place in Kuwait last year lost all the water. I was sure that We damaged the by a fuel violation. we would have damaged the There have been rallies engine if we had carried on. I did radiator and, after around the world in the past with not want to cheat or bend the performance as a driver in his for Al Attiyah and the Qatari Al Naimi clocked the target time that, we could not no finishers, but just two finish- rules by taking water from some- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. faced a hectic few minutes at the of 10min 29.3sec. But it was to ers in the international was a low body. This is the game you know. Al Kuwari reached Losail 33min remote service stop in Al Khar- no avail and Al Attiyah’s engine continue because point for the Middle East on the I think, to have a good race, you 08.9sec in front of Khaled Al saah with Matthieu Baumel and expired five kilometres into SS11 we lost all the championship’s 201st rally since also need to have a service Mohannadi to take a stunning four mechanics trying to fix a and Al Naimi inherited a shock water. I was sure its inception in 1984. Rigid new between the three stages, like the win in the National Rally. leaking radiator. He started the lead of 24min 40.6sec. FIA fuel tank safety regulations old rule. Al Mohannadi and Indian co- subsequent Al Kharsaah 2 stage Despite finishing the final that we would had forced five teams out of the “I hope that we will be bet- driver Musa Sherif lost 18 after Al Naimi and ceded 2min stage with a flat tyre, Al Naimi have damaged the international event in any case ter in Jordan. After, we have minutes in the eighth stage with 04.4sec to the MERC 2 driver to held on to claim a stunning vic- engine if we had and, without the support of driv- Cyprus and Lebanon, so we try technical problems and bounced lead the rally by 7min 46.4sec tory and the lead in both the ers from the UAE and several to score maximum points for the back to claim second place. Leb- with two stages to go. It was the MERC and MERC 2. His winning carried on. I did other GCC countries, the Qatar championship. It is not so easy anon’s Henry Kahy teamed up first special stage win for Al- margin was a somewhat flatter- not want to cheat Motor and Motorcycle Federa- now, but we will see.” with Jordanian Musa Djiyerian Naimi in his second full season ing 25min 28.7sec, but he or bend the rules tion (QMMF) put on an excellent Qatar’s Khaled Al Suwaidi to round off the National Rally of MERC competition. Al Kuwari suffered a late scare when he had rally, held in part in atrocious put up a brave challenge over the podium. extended his National Rally lead to drive back cautiously on the by taking water weather conditions. opening leg but he struggled to Al Attiyah was in fine form to 38min 50.2sec. road section with damage to a from somebody. Al Attiyah won seven of the match the defending champion from the outset yesterday and Autotek team manager Ken bent suspension arm. It was a 11 special stages (SS2 was can- after the restart yesterday and delivered a crushing blow to Al Skidmore confirmed that Al Atti- dramatic end to a memorable was not too bad celled) with French navigator rolled out of contention in the Suwaidi’s title ambitions by win- yah completed the stage with a rally. The next round of the FIA and I managed to Matthieu Baumel, but the team ninth stage. ning the stage by 20.7 seconds to broken radiator, a dying engine Middle East Rally Championship finish and win my could not repair a broken radi- Former co-driver Nasser Al extend his lead to 31.1 seconds. and suspension issues, as he tried will be the Jordan Rally on May first rally in the ator at the remote service stop Kuwari delivered a superb But it wasn’t all plain sailing to coax the Skoda to the finish. 4 to 6. QSL: Al Wakrah snatch a point off Al Gharafa

The Peninsula Al Gharafa picked up their defender Mohamed Arafa In the 55th minute, Al Wak- pace after the 10th minute as the headed the ball away with an Al rah's Muaaz Al-Salemi provided ottom side Al Wakrah hosts stitched neat moves on Gharafa player within striking for a solo run but his quick- shared spoils in a goalless home soil to pressure Al Wak- range. footed shot from inside the box Bdraw against former Qatar rah who resisted with rugged In the 38th minute, Al sailed above the Al Gharafa Stars League champions Al defending. Wakrah's Ahmad Ali Khil crossbar. Gharafa yesterday. In the 19th minute, Johnson slipped in a low ball towards With game inching towards Hosts Al Gharafa failed to Kendrick of Al Gharafa Al Gharafa’s goalmouth but a draw, Al Wakrah's Jassem Al- impress against a Wakrah side attempted a long-range shot but his shot was neatly slapped Jalabii unleashed a powerful shot that has only two wins out of 18 the ball sailed past the Al Wak- away by young goalkeeper from the edge of the Al Gharafa games before the clash. rah goalpost as the visitors yet Yusuf Hassan. box but the ball swerved and Al Gharafa started brightly again maintained a clean slate Two minutes later, Al Wak- sailed past the home team's when defender George Kwesi under pressure. rah midfielder Youssoupha goalpost in the 80th minute. produced a neat charge in the Seven minutes later, Al Mbengue unleashed a powerful Despite the draw, the result 9th minute but his chip from Gharafa's Kendrick once again shot from the edge of the Al means that Al Wakrah are still Action from the Qatar Stars League match between Al Gharafa close range was quickly blocked provided a neat pass from the Gharafa box but his strike nar- rooted to the bottom of the and Al Wakrah at Al Gharafa Stadium yesterday. by goalkeeper Hassan Idriss. flank but Al Wakrah's alert rowly missed the target. league. SPORT SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2017 21 NBA: Rockets retire trail Falcons, Patriots eye NFL glory blazing Yao's Houston in the NFL, as Ryan enjoyed a A staff member jersey Reuters most valuable player-caliber walks past a campaign tossing 38 touch- sign at the NFL Los Angeles he Atlanta Falcons will downs, second only to Green Experience at AFP try today to remove Bay's Aaron Rodgers. the George their name from the While Ryan's New England R Brown he Houston Rockets list of teams never to counterpart Tom Brady, as usual, Convention feted Hall of Famer Yao have won a Super controlled the spotlight it was the Centre in TMing on Friday, retiring TBowl while the New England Patriots' defense that paved the Houston, the ground-breaking Chinese Patriots seek to rewrite the road to a record ninth trip to the Texas, a day star's jersey in an emotional record book as the National Super Bowl allowing a league before the halftime ceremony during Football League kicks off a new low average of just 15.6 points their 121-117 overtime win New England era with a vintage matchup. per game. over the Chicago Bulls. Upwards of 180 million "They are a great football Patriots play Yao was the first overall Americans and a worldwide tel- team, a team that plays comple- the Atlanta draft selection in 2002 and evision audience are set to tune mentary football from offense to Falcons in the first player drafted in for a contest that possesses all defense to special teams," said Super Bowl 51. number one who didn't play the hallmarks of a classic, as Ryan. "Their success has been collegiately in the United Atlanta's explosive top ranked their longevity and consistency, States. offense piloted by quarterback something all people admire. The 7-foot-6 (2.29m) Chi- Matt Ryan clashes with New "New England has a great nese giant averaged 19.2 England's number one defense defense and watching them on points and nine rebounds for in a Texas showdown for the film, their ability to keep people the Rockets and became a Vince Lombardi trophy. out of the end zone has been global ambassador for the The high-flying Falcons unbelievable all year." sport during his eight NBA averaged 33.8 points per game While Ryan is still trying to after commissioner Roger Good- and protests could also feature have been the toast of New Eng- seasons. during the regular season, best establish his credentials as an ell suspended Brady for the first in Super Bowl 51 as the biggest land as they prepare to play in a He continued promoting elite quarterback, Brady and four games for his part in showdown in American sports seventh Super Bowl since 2002, the game after he was forced D-day arrives for fans coach Bill Belichick have already Deflategate, the 2015 scandal moves into its second half-cen- having won four of them. into retirement in 2011 by amassed Hall of Fame resumes. over deflated footballs. tury. President Donald Trump Atlanta meanwhile has had repeated foot injuries. A win today would give "Every year is different," said will kickoff Super Bowl today little to celebrate. On Friday, his number 11 Brady five Super Bowl rings, Brady. "Every year, every team with a pre-game televised inter- Their NHL team, the Flames was raised to the rafters Zero breaking a tie with Joe Montana starts with the same goal. Every view and Lady Gaga will grab the left town and moved to Calgary, alongside those of Clyde and Terry Bradshaw, while Beli- teams wants to win it. Every halftime spotlight but the focus while the NBA Hawks have not Drexler (22), Moses Malone The Atlanta Falcons, who chick would go to the top of the team has hope. The fans believe will remain on the field where a won a title since moving from St. (24), Calvin Murphy (23), have never won the Super all-time coaching list, also with in it, and there's a lot of promise Patriots dynasty will confront a Louis in 1968. The Atlanta Braves Hakeem Olajuwon (34) and Bowl, can claim their five titles, surpassing Pittsburgh and hope. At the end of the day, Falcons franchise desperate to claimed a World Series in 1999 Rudy Tomjanovich. maiden title today. Steelers' Chuck Noll. there's only one team that wins make their mark. but last season tied for the worst "I remember the first time Widely considered the NFL's it. The fact that I've been able to Over the last decade it is a record in the National League. I watched (an) NBA game, most hated team, the Patriots, do it before, it just means I've rare year when Boston has not The Falcons have made only randomly saw a shot the 38 despised as the 'Evil Empire' out- been a part of some really great celebrated a sports champion- one other trip to the Super Bowl cameras gave on those retired side of their New England teams, and this team is trying to ship, with the National Basketball in their 51-year history, losing to jerseys," Yao said. "After I Matt Ryan managed a fortress, arrive at the Super Bowl be one of those really great Association (NBA) Celtics getting the Denver Broncos in 1998. read stories, I know that (is) stunning number of 38 wearing a chip on their collec- teams that finishes a job, not one a parade in 2008, the National "I'm really happy for the city the highest honour a player touchdowns for the Atlanta tive shoulder. of those teams that comes up Hockey League (NHL) Bruins in of Atlanta," Ryan said. can reach for himself and an Falcons. For New England and their short." 2011, and Major League Base- "I've played here for nine accomplishment for the team. fans this season has been hyped A potentially provocative ball's Red Sox in 2007 and 2013. years, it's an unbelievable place Today, I think I'll always ask as the Patriots against the world halftime performance, politics But it is the Patriots who to live." myself what is the story behind it. I hope people see the jersey there and remem- ber the story, not only about myself, but also my team- mates, my opponents. We Bolt does it for the fans ... and himself created the story together, just like the other jerseys cre- ated the story for (us.)" Melbourne Financial Review newspaper The halftime ceremony Reuters reported. began with a video celebrat- The crowd was lower than ing Yao's career. It included he Nitro Series promised the 8,500 stadium capacity but appearances by Olajuwon, to make athletics a show total tickets sold over the three Steve Francis, Dikembe Tand the sport's ultimate nights of the series had comfort- Mutombo, Shane Battier, NBA show-man Usain Bolt capped its ably outstripped those sold for commissioner Adam Silver first meeting in Melbourne yes- the entire programme of national and Rockets owner Leslie terday by propelling his team of athletics events last year. Alexander. international "All-Stars" to a If ambition was an Olympic "Tonight is about thank crowd-pleasing win in the 4x100 sport, organisers could already you," Battier said on behalf of metres relay. crown themselves gold medal Yao's teammates. "Thank you Taking the baton from Olym- winners. for your humility. Thank you pic gold medal-winning team They hope to take the series for your work ethic. Thank mate Asafa Powell, Jamaican overseas and have targeted a slot you for your humour. Thank Bolt powered down the second in England after the world cham- you for your dominance. You leg at Lakeside Stadium before pionships, where 30-year-old are a Hall of Famer in every Americans Jenna Prandini and Bolt will make his farewell. sense of the word. Thank you Jeneba Tarmoh completed the "Everything that we started for allowing all of us to be a win in the mixed team event thinking of as a dream is a real- part of your journey." The ahead of Japan and Australia. ity, the big thing now is to prove Rockets were up 60-49 at Bolt's first run of the year and that the concept works," Arbib halftime, but they had to put first in Australia brought the cur- said. "We know that the athletes in extra time to make sure the tain down on opening night of love it, they've told us that they celebratory night didn't end the Series, which has pledged to think this is the future ... If this is with a deflating defeat. "revolutionise" athletics with a successful, this will change the James Harden scored 42 Bolt All Stars Captain Usain Bolt of Jamaica practises the baton exchange with his team mate team-based event that borrows way people view athletics." points, including the decid- heavily from the formula of sport Jenna Prandini of the United States before their Mixed 4 x 100 Metre relay event at the Nitro ing free throws in the final 36 and entertainment which has Athletics meet in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. seconds of overtime. underpinned Twenty20 crick- Michael Carter-Williams' et's considerable success. "Tonight is the first night. We meeting carried on with troupes selected the Bolt All-Star team, layup with 2:19 to play in the With athletics struggling to just want to do something dif- of dancers gyrating to electronic they've put their own IP (intel- Tonight is the first extra session had brought maintain a profile outside of the ferent," Bolt told reporters as a music in front of an enthusiastic lectual property) into the Chicago back within 115-113, Olympics and rocked by major crowd of hundreds of spectators crowd of about 7,000. All-Stars, they're building a sig- night. We just and he knotted the score doping and corruption scandals craned necks to capture a It was a spectacle similar to nificant commercial asset." want to do when he grabbed the rebound in recent years, organisers hope glimpse. any of the 'Big Bash' Twenty20 Like a number of federations something after his own missed free the series can reinvigorate the "I've never handed (a baton) matches played at the nearby across the globe, Athletics Aus- throw and drained a jump sport by shaking up the tradi- over to a girl. For me that was Melbourne Cricket Ground. tralia has battled to arrest different. I've shot. Harden then converted tional schedule of events - and exciting. But whereas Twenty20 com- declining crowds and interest in never handed (a one of two free-throw sprinkling some star-dust from "Everybody was having fun, petitions are underpinned by the the sport, initially conceiving of attempts to push the Rockets marquee man Bolt. everyone was trying to support support of dozens of high-pro- the series as helping to boost the baton) over to a back in front at 116-115, but Bolt, who completed a "tre- their team mates." file players, Bolt carries a lot of low profile of the nation's top girl. For me that Dwyane Wade's turnaround ble treble" of 100m, 200m and Bolt's appearance helped the burden on his own athletes. was exciting. jump shot with 1:28 to go saw 4x100m relay Olympic titles at secure a clutch of big names for shoulders. But Bolt's signature had the Bulls edge ahead. the 2016 Rio Games, was paid a the event, with American former "It's not an understatement proven a "game-changer", Arbib, Everybody was seven-figure appearance fee to Olympic 400m hurdles cham- to say that we wouldn't be here a former federal sports minister, having fun, NBA RESULTS commit to all three meetings in pion Kerron Clement running in today if it wasn't for Usain Bolt said. everyone was the inaugural series in Mel- his All-Stars team who won the and his management," Athletics It had secured a prime-time Phoenix 105 Sacramento 103 bourne this month and given a overall event ahead of Australia president Mark Arbib broadcast for a local athletics trying to support Dallas 108 Portland 104 stake in the company running Australia. told reporters before the meeting for the first time in their team mates, Denver 121 Milwaukee 117 the event. Christine Ohuruogu, the meeting. nearly a decade while attracting says the track and Houston 121 Chicago 117 He fulfilled his role as ath- 2008 Olympic 400m champion, "Usain Bolt and (agent) Ricky key corporate backers. Oklahoma City 114 Memphis 102 letics' great entertainer, galloping captained Team England. Simms have not just put their Among them, Kerry Stokes, field superstar Boston 113 LA Lakers 107 on to the field before the meet- With mixed team events, a name to it, and are not just tak- owner of the series' host broad- Indiana 106 Brooklyn 97 ing as flame cannons shot 2x300m relay and an elimina- ing part, they have taken a stake caster Seven West Media, had Detroit 116 Minnesota 108 fireballs into the air and danc- tion mile in which runners were in the business itself. invested A$1m ($768,000) of his Orlando 102 Toronto 94 ing to thumping pop music. knocked out progressively, the "They've promoted it, own funds, the Australian 22 SPORT SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2017

Cycling: Super Marcel Kittel wins Garcia grabs the lead in Dubai Tour of Dubai Dubai AFP DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC Dubai QNA ergio Garcia made two Leading third-round scores in the $2.5m Dubai Desert Classic yesterday birdies in his last two at the par-72 Emirates Golf Club: efending champion holes in darkness and 200 Sergio Garcia (ESP) 65-67-68 Marcel Kittel (Quick- opened up a three-shot 203 Henrik Stenson (SWE) 68-68-67 DStep Floors) won the lead over Henrik Sten- 205 Ian Poulter (ENG) 67-71-67, Prom Meesawat (THA) 69-68-68 Tour of Dubai yesterday after Sson yesterday in the Omega 206 Peter Uihlein (USA) 69-68-69, George Coetzee (RSA) 66-70-70 clinching the final stage by Dubai Desert Classic. 207 Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 72-70-65, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 70-71-66, emerging triumphant from a The Spaniard first drove the Chris Paisley (ENG) 71-66-70, Nacho Elvira (ESP) 67-68-72 bunch sprint at the foot of the par-4 17th green and two putted, 208 Graeme McDowell (NIR) 68-72-68, Curtis Luck (AUS) 72-68-68 world's tallest building. and then hurried to the 18th tee 209 Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 69-72-68, Martin Kaymer (GER) 71-69- The German Quick Step in an effort to complete his 69, Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 71-69-69, Lasse Jensen (DEN) rider outpaced Italian duo round. He only had the lights 69-70-70, Maximillian Kieffer (GER) 69-70-70, Brandon Stone Elia Viviani and Riccardo from the grandstands to guide (RSA) 70-69-70, David Lipsky (USA) 67-72-70 Minali for his third stage win him when he pitched his third 210 Chris Wood (ENG) 70-72-68, Joost Luiten (NED) 71-71-68, Darren from four on the Tour after a shot to six feet, and then made Fitchardt (RSA) 71-70-69, James Morrison (ENG) 71-70-69, Mag- 124km run through Dubai fin- the birdie putt. nus A Carlsson (SWE) 71-68-71 ishing at the foot of the The World No15, who is yet 211 Justin Walters (RSA) 71-70-70, Renato Paratore (ITA) 69-72-70, 828m-tall Burj Khalifa. to record a top-10 in the tourna- Matthew Southgate (ENG) 72-66-73 Cavendish had enjoyed ment despite playing it seven an excellent lead-out from his times before, shot a four-under Dimension Data team-mates, par 68, making all his score on BANGLADESH OPEN who controlled the race the back nine after completing through the final kilometre, the front nine in par with a bogey 267 Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 64-67-69-67 with Mark Renshaw leading on the first and a birdie on the 271 Siddikur Rahman (BAN) 71-66-68-66 the peloton through a tight second. 273 Dodge Kemmer (USA) 73 -64 -68-68 Sergio Garcia of Spain tees right-hand bend with around Stenson, who was playing a 274 Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 66-68-73-67, Rattanon Wannasrichan off during the third round 400m to go. group ahead of Garcia's, also (THA) 70-64-72-68, Chiragh Kumar (IND) 68-70-68-68, Shub- of the Omega Dubai Desert Cavendish suffered a drained a four-footer for birdie hankar Sharma (IND) 64 -68-72-70 Classic at the Emirates Golf problem with his gears, it was in near darkness for a round of 275 Sihwan Kim (USA) 70 -69 -68-68 Club yesterday. Kittel who seized the initia- five-under par 67. 276 Khalin Joshi (IND) 69-70-71-66 tive, powering clear of his Garcia goes into the final day competitors to take his third of the $2.5m European Tour win of the race and success- event at 16-under par 200, with dark, I'll tell you that. When we and I'm very fortunate to be able early in the morning and get a Meanwhile in Dhaka, tal- fully defend his overall title. Stenson on 203. England's Ian were walking on 17, I thought, to make it. few hours of sleep more. ented Thai golfer Jazz Friday's medium moun- Poulter (67) and Thailand's Prom well, it will probably be a little "Yeah, it was a nice round. "I am looking forward to Janewattananond claimed his tain stage could have derailed Meesawat (68) were tied third at dark but not too bad," said Gar- Obviously it wasn't easy, a little tomorrow. Make a couple of maiden Asian Tour title when he Kittel's defence of a Tour also 205. cia, who made five birdies and shaky here and there at the quick birdies and try and put shot a four-under-par 67 in the won in 2016, but due to vio- England's Tyrrell Hatton ear- a bogey on the back nine. beginning. But back nine was some pressure on Sergio." final round at the $300,000 lent winds the stage was lier shot the low round of the day "But then it gets dark very, great. A lot of good shots, a lot of The last group that started Bashundhara Bangladesh Open cancelled. - a seven-under par 65 - to climb very quickly here. Couldn't really good putts." from the 10th tee was still out on yesterday. to tied seventh place at 207, one see much on the last three shots. Stenson made four birdies on the golf course when it became Jazz eased his way to the title shot behind American Peter Uih- Pretty much couldn't see the ball his back nine, and said: "It was too dark to continue and will having started the final round Taiwan Open: lein (69) and South Africa's land and the last putt was a lit- nice that we managed to finish. have to come back at 7:30am with a four-shot advantage and George Coetzee (70). tle bit of a feel and a little bit of It was important, because it UAE time to complete their completed the victory with a Svitolina and "At the end it was very, very the read that George gave me, means we don't have to get up round. total 17-under-par 267. Peng in final

Taipei AFP Star Kohli makes it to Wisden cover

op seed Elina Svitolina London "It underlines the fact that he Kohli is the stand-out con- player's impact on the preced- of Ukraine secured a Agencies is a very modern cricketer," tender to be named as Wisden's ing English season. Tspot in the Taiwan Open Booth told ESPNcricinfo. Leading Player of the Year, an Kohli's record in England final yesterday after beating irat Kohli has been "It felt like the right time to accolade that dates back to 2004, does not yet match his overall Luxembourg's Mandy Minella unveiled as the latest get some unorthodoxy onto the when Ricky Ponting was the impact on the sport - his only in straight sets. Vcover star of Wisden cover. original recipient. previous Test appearances in the Svitolina, who has been Cricketers' Almanack, (pictured "People often think of Wis- "Kohli will be fresh in the country came in 2014, when he struggling with a flu since right) following his leading role den as a bastion of orthodoxy, mind of all cricket fans after his managed a disappointing tally arriving in Taipei and only in India's clean sweep of trophies but cricket is changing so rap- performances against England," of 134 runs in five Tests at 13.40 narrowly defeated her rival in all three formats of their idly that it felt like the right time Booth said. in England's 3-1 series win. the previous night to advance recent series against England. to reflect that, and Kohli was the "He has pulled clear of the However, he seems intent on to the semi-finals, defeated Kohli, who made two centu- right man for the job." likes of Steve Smith, Joe Root, making amends when India next Minella 6-3, 6-2. The 13th ries in India's 4-0 Test series win Kohli is the third cricketer of Kane Williamson and AB de Vil- tour England in 2018, and admit- seed will face China's Shuai before Christmas, including a Asian extraction to feature on the liers, and is clearly the most ted last year that he would Peng, a two-time Grand Slam career-best 235 in the fourth Test front cover in the past four exciting all-format batsman in consider a stint in county cricket doubles winner, today. at Mumbai, is pictured playing a editions. world cricket." to acclimatise himself properly Peng, ranked 71st, has reverse sweep - a reflection, His former India team-mate However, Kohli has not yet for the challenge. been gathering momentum according to Wisden's editor, Sachin Tendulkar was honoured been named as one of Wisden's The 2017 edition of Wisden after defeating a string of Lawrence Booth, of the manner in 2014 following his retirement Five Cricketers of the Year, the will be published in April, to higher-ranked players, in which he has helped to revo- from international cricket, while book's oldest honour that can coincide with the start of the including Czech Lucie Safa- lutionise the sport in recent England's Moeen Ali was the only be bestowed once in a play- English cricket season. rova, ranked 55th, 6-4, 6-2 years. cover star for 2015. er's career and tends to reflect a Pic courtesy: Wisden yesterday. Peng also knocked out Czech Katerina Siniakova, ranked 40th, and second- seed Australian Samantha Stosur, ranked 23th, to reach Cricket prepares for radical shake-up the last four. She returned to tennis last March after taking a break London Afghanistan also in line to in the case of the ODI and T20 "The proposals from the from playing following an AFP become full or Test members solutions the approach goes working group to reverse the operation for a waist injury provided, the ICC said, they met beyond the full members and resolutions of 2014 and deliver in 2015. The only previous he International Cricket "membership criteria". aligns bilateral cricket with qual- a revised constitution and finan- encounter between Svitolina Council has moved closer Meanwhile a 13-team one- ification for ICC events." cial model were accepted by the and Peng was in the 2014 Tto a radical shake-up to day international league would In 2014, control of the ICC ICC board and now we will work New Haven Open when the pave the way for Afghanistan be run over a three-year period was effectively ceded to the 'Big collectively to refine the detail Chinese emerged victorious and Ireland to become Test leading into qualification for the Three' with many observers for final sign-off in April. I want after two sets. nations and restrict the power 2023 World Cup. arguing they took too large a the ICC to be reasonable and fair Meanwhile in Saint of the 'Big Three' of India, Eng- Plans are also in place for a share of the game's global in our approach to all 105 Mem- Petersburg, France's Kristina land and Australia. regional Twenty20 competition revenue. bers and the revised constitution Mladenovic battled back from Following a meeting at its structure to be developed as a But under the guidance of and financial model does that," a set down to advance into Dubai headquarters, cricket's pathway to qualification for the India's Shashank Manohar, the he added. the St Petersburg Trophy final global governing body said yes- ICC World T20. current ICC chairman, the gov- The ICC's announcement with a hard-fought win over terday it had reached "agreement In a separate decision, erning body has been trying to came just days after India's Russia's Natalia Vikhlyant- in principle to constitutional and Afghanistan's Ahmad Shah curb the power of the 'Big Three'. Supreme Court appointed a top seva yesterday. Mladenovic, financial change, further Abdali Regional Four-Day Tour- Richardson (pictured above) The ICC said the "broader anti-corruption troubleshooter ranked 51st, won 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 progress on future international nament was awarded first-class added: "The ICC chief executives' principles" that have been on Monday as head of a team to in two hours nine minutes to cricket structures and agreement status, and their Shpageeza T20 committee has explored a whole agreed included a "revised finan- oversee the Board of Control for record her second win over around the consistent use of DRS League was awarded List A range of solutions to the future cial distribution ensuring a more Cricket in India -- the financial 19-year-old Vikhlyantseva in (the Decision Review System)." status. structure of bilateral cricket equitable distribution of reve- powerhouse of the global game as many meetings. Among key proposals are The ICC statement said: "A ranging from the status quo to nues" and the "equal weight of -- after sacking its top officials In today's final Mladen- that the top nine Test-playing scheduling summit will now be two tier leagues and every pos- votes for all board members for failing to implement reforms. ovic will face either Slovakia's countries will compete among held in March before a detailed sible option in-between." regardless of membership Former government auditor second seed Dominika themselves in a rolling two-year proposal is put to the ICC board The former South Africa status". Vinod Rai, who exposed major Cibulkova or Yulia Putintseva league and against the three in April." wicket-keeper added: "The "Today was an important corruption scandals under the of Kazakhstan, who play in lower-ranked teams. The aim is to provide greater model the group has agreed on step forward for the future of the previous government, will head the other last four Those three would comprise "context" for bilateral matches enables us to provide context for ICC and cricket around the the new committee of adminis- encounter. Zimbabwe, with Ireland and and ICC chief executive David all three formats of the game and world," said Manohar. trators to run the Indian board. SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2017 SPORT 23

Cameroon, Chelsea widen gap at the top set for Cup final with 3-1 victory over Arsenal showdown Libreville AFP Liverpool crash ENGLISH ameroon and Egypt are Hull added to Results Chelsea 3 (Alonso 13, Hazard 53, Fabregas both aiming to cap Liverpool's woes with 85) Arsenal 1 (Giroud 90+1) Cremarkable revivals by a shock 2-0 win. New Crystal Palace 0 Sunderland 4 (Kone 10, winning the Africa Cup of signing N'Diaye and Ndong 43, Defoe 45+1, 45+3) Nations when they meet in a on-loan striker Niasse Everton 6 (Lukaku 1, 29, 83, 84, McCarthy final that few thought possi- 23, Barkley 90+4) Bournemouth 3 (King 59, score for the winners. ble in Libreville today. 70, Arter 90) These are two of the most Hull 2 (N'Diaye 44, Niasse 84) Liverpool 0 Southampton 1 (Gabbiadini 12) West Ham successful nations in the 3 (Carroll 14, Obiang 44, Noble 52) 60-year history of the com- Watford 2 (Deeney 10, Niang 45+2) petition, with Egypt London Burnley 1 (Barnes 78-pen) unrivalled on seven titles and AFP West Brom 1 (Morrison 6) Stoke 0 Cameroon, four-time win- Playing Today ners, just behind alongside

Manchester City vs Swansea City (1330) Ghana. Leicester City vs Manchester United (1600) den Hazard's exquisite But at the outset of the strike inspired Premier tournament in Gabon it was ELeague leaders Chelsea to the likes of Algeria, Senegal a 3-1 victory over Arsenal that David Moyes' side drew first and defending champions the shattered their rivals' title chal- blood when Lamine Kone, Ivory Coast who were con- lenge, while spluttering signed by Palace chief Allardyce sidered the favourites, with Liverpool hit a new low in a 2-0 when he was in charge at Sun- Egypt dark horses in their first defeat at Hull yesterday. derland, swept home after appearance since 2010. Belgian winger Hazard left a Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hen- Cameroon, meanwhile, trail of defenders in his wake to nessey dropped a 10th minute came with what looked like double Chelsea's lead in the 53rd free-kick. their weakest ever squad, minute at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal's French defender Laurent Koscielny (right) cuts out a through ball intended for The Black Cats were two up handicapped by the refusal Marcos Alonso had opened Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard during the English Premier League football match in the 43rd minute through of several leading players to the scoring in the 13th minute at Stamford Bridge in London yesterday. Didier Ndong's first goal for the accept call-ups from Belgian with a contentious effort as the club. coach Hugo Broos. Chelsea defender clattered into their last 18 league games, away from the performance of when on-loan Everton striker Jermain Defoe put the result Yet the Indomitable Lions Arsenal's Hector Bellerin before prompting Blues boss Antonio Chelsea. They look solid and we Oumar Niasse raced clear to beyond doubt with two goals in qualified from their group at heading home. Conte to hail the triumph as a needed to be better." boost third bottom Hull's sur- first half stoppage-time as one the expense of the hosts and Cesc Fabregas rubbed salt significant moment in the title Second placed Tottenham vival bid. furious Palace fan to run onto have since knocked out both into Arsenal's wounds in the 85th race. can close the gap to nine points Liverpool have won only the pitch to confront defender Senegal and Ghana to make minute when the former Gun- "I consider Arsenal one of the with a victory at home to Mid- once in their last 10 games in all . their first final since 2008. ners midfielder chipped into the six teams that can fight for the dlesbrough later on competitions and will be Sunderland remain bottom Then, with a side contain- empty net after a woeful miskick title. To put them 12 points Saturday. knocked out of the top four if of the table but they are now ing the likes of Rigobert Song from ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Petr behind is very important for us," At the KCOM Stadium, Liv- Manchester City avoid defeat level on points with Palace, who and Samuel Eto'o, they lost Cech. Conte said. erpool fell behind in the 44th against Swansea today. drop to 19th place, and just two 1-0 to the Egyptians in Gha- Olivier Giroud's stoppage- Arsenal manager Arsene minute when Alfred N'Diaye Sunderland stunned their points from safety. na's capital Accra. time goal was no consolation for Wenger fumed over Alonso's took advantage of goalkeeper former boss with Romelu Lukaku scored four This current Cameroon third placed Arsenal, who trail opener, saying: "It was 100 per- Simon Mignolet's poor handling an incredible first half goal rush times, including the joint fastest side has no such big name Chelsea by 12 points with 14 cent a foul. It was even to bag a debut goal. to demolish fellow strugglers Premier League goal this sea- stars but Broos has trans- games remaining. dangerous play. Jurgen Klopp's side were fin- Crystal Palace 4-0 at Selhurst son, in Everton's 6-3 victory formed their fortunes over It was Chelsea's 16th win in "That doesn't take anything ished off in the 84th minute Park. against Bournemouth. the last 12 months and is now looking for them to make history. "For these young players -- 14 of the 23 are playing at their first Cup of Nations -- it Barcelona trounce Athletic Bilbao is possibly a unique opportu- nity in their careers to win the trophy," he said. Madrid of Vigo. Neither the club nor La post by Marc-Andre ter Stegen Barcelona forward Lionel Messi Speaking to reporters AFP Liga would say whether the before Inaki Williams headed sits on the pitch during the yesterday, captain Benjamin match will go ahead however. wide when unmarked from 12 Spanish League match against Moukandjo added: "Of course ionel Messi struck another Luis Enrique again made a yards out. Athletic Club Bilbao at the when you get to this stage you trademark free-kick as raft of changes with the second Athletic's day was summed Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona want to win but I think look- LBarcelona moved to within leg of Barca's Copa del Rey up with Barca's second, five yesterday. ing at the run we have had we a one point of La Liga leaders semi-final against Atletico minutes before half-time. After have already done well. Real Madrid with a 3-0 win over Madrid looming Tuesday. scoring in both legs of the Copa "I don't think anyone here Athletic Bilbao yesterday. Luis Suarez was left on the del Rey last 16 clash between the would have bet a cent on us Madrid have two games in bench to allow Paco Alcacer a sides from free-kicks last month, beforehand and that's a real hand, the first of which was sup- rare start and he netted his first Messi again outdid Iraizoz from shame." posed to take place today at La Liga goal since joining from the narrowest of angles to reg- Cameroon, who last won Celta Vigo. Valencia for $32m in August. ister his 31st goal in 30 games the title in 2002, have had 24 However, wind damage to Athletic should have been in this season. hours less time to recover and Celta's Balaidos stadium has left front before Alcacer's 18th Aleix Vidal rounded off the ready themselves for the the ground unsafe to hold the minute opener as Raul Garcia's win by firing into the far corner game at the Stade de l'Amitie game, according to the mayor low effort was turned onto the 23 minutes from time. after second-half goals by Michael Ngadeu and Chris- tian Bassogog gave them a 2-0 win against Ghana in Franceville on Thursday. Egypt played their semi- Umm Salal and Al Kharaitiyat share points final in Libreville on Wednesday, although they needed extra time and pen- The Peninsula A surging run from winger the back of the net from close alties to see off Burkina Faso Helal Mohammed ended up with range from a Rachid Tiberka- after a 1-1 draw. mm Salal and relegation his shot flying just over the bar. nine cross, with the young The Egyptians had won threatened Al Kharaiti- Al Kharaitiyat continued to striker hitting his shot well over three consecutive Cups of Uyat shared the points in dominate possession as the first the bar. Nations between 2006 and a 0-0 draw yesterday. half progressed, without threat- Umm Salal mounted a 2010 but missed the last three The away side Al Kharaiti- ing to breach the Umm Salal comeback, and ended the tie tournaments amid political yat missed a host of chances in defence. strongly and had plenty of upheaval in the country the first half to take the lead, but Rachid Tiberkanine came opportunities to defeat the before Argentine Hector overall will be pleased to pick closest to breaking the deadlock Thunders in the second half. Cuper led them to back onto up their first point in three Qatar on the thirty minute mark when Both the sides could not the scene here. Stars League matches. his snapshot when just wide, score in the second half. Like Broos, Cuper has a Al Kharaitiyat started the causing the side net to bulge. The draw does little to help young squad, although there first half on the front foot and Both teams walked off at half either side, with Umm Salal now are four survivors from the Rachid Tiberkanine could of time honours even at 0-0. in seventh place whilst Al team that won the title in given the away side an early Ahmad Al Ajlani’s side Kharaitiyat are still in the rele- 2010 in El Hadary, Ahmed lead had his shot found the tar- started the second period the gation zone. Fathy, Mohamed Abdel-Shafi get instead of flying over the bar. stronger, and within a minute In another match, minnows and the Hull City wing-back The Thunders began slowly missed two guilt edge chances Muaither yesterday offered Ahmed Elmohamady. to dominate proceedings and which fell to Uzbek winger stiff resistance to pull off a 1-1 The Pharaohs have not missed another chance to take Sanzhar Tursunov. draw against Doha giants Al exactly been a joy to watch -- the lead on the twenty first Thankfully for Umm Salal, Arabi. they have built their success minute however Anouar Diba’s Baba Malick produced two good Muaither opened the scor- under Cuper around a rock- shot was easily saved by Baba saves to deny the former Orange ing through Japanese midfielder solid defence that has only Malick. Fortress player Tursunov. Minori Sato (17) but Al Arabi conceded one goal so far in Umm Salal eventually found Five minutes later, Al drew level with a late equaliser Gabon, while they have relied Action from the Qatar Stars League match between Umm their feet in the match and reg- Kharaitiyat missed another in the 43rd minute when Ahmad heavily on the star quality of Salal and Al Kharaitiyat yesterday. istered their first chance of note chance to take the lead, this time Saleh Al Khalfan fired one home at the other on the twenty fifth minute. Abdulaziz Al Ansari failed to fine from close range. end.