SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019 16 Sharma claims record as India triumph However Sharma, who is standing in as while Vi- New Zealand • rat Kohli is rested, was more T. Seifert c Dhoni b Kumar 12 overtakes Martin Guptill interested in focusing on India’s C. Munro c Sharma b K.Pandya 12 to become highest performance than his individual K. Williamson lbw K.Pandya 20 run-getter in T20Is achievements. D. Mitchell lbw K.Pandya 1 His team dominated New Zea- R. Taylor run out (Shankar) 42 The three-match land with bat and ball to avenge C. Grandhomme c Sharma b Pandya 50 • an 80-run loss in the opening M. Santner b Ahmed 7 series is now locked at 1-1 fixture in Wellington -- India’s S. Kuggeleijn 2 heaviest ever T20 defeat. T. Southee b Ahmed 3 AFP | Auckland, New Zealand “I’m very pleased with how we Extras: (lb 1, wd 8) 9 bowled and then we were quite Total: (for 8 ; 20 overs) 158 ohit Sharma became the clinical with the bat as well,” India highest run scorer in he said. R. Sharma c Southee b Sodhi 50 RTwenty20 internation- “We were expecting a per- Dhawan c Grandhomme b Ferguson 30 al history yesterday as India formance like that, we’ve got R. Pant not out 40 romped to a seven- win quality in our side but we didn’t V. Shankar c Southee b Mitchell 14 over New Zealand in the second execute our plans in the first MS Dhoni not out 20 T20 in Auckland. game. Extras: (lb 1, wd 5, b 2) 8 Sharma top-scored for the “We learned from our mis - Total: (for 3 wickets; 18.5 overs) 162 tourists with 50 as India chased takes and we got the reward for down New Zealand’s modest it.” 159-run target in 18.5 overs, lev- India’s bowling attack was elling the three-match series much improved and man-of- at 1-1. the-match Krunal Pandya took Sharma’s knock was his 16th three for 28 as they restricted India’s Rohit Sharma plays a shot T20 half century and took his ca- New Zealand to 158 for eight. reer tally in the format to 2,288 gave 2,288 the shackles and tight bowling at after his team laboured to 158 for problem in reply, making a fly- 2,288 runs have been runs, overtaking New Zealand’s the Black Caps some hope, hit- scored by Rohit Sharma in the end of the innings prevented eight in their 20 overs. ing start with Sharma leading Martin Guptill on 2,272. ting a maiden T20 half century his career in T20 format them from taking advantage of “Some smarter options might the way. The 31-year-old made his T20 off 27 balls as part of a 77-run to set the record ’s short boundaries. have given us another 20 runs at His 50 -- part of a 79-run open- debut against England in 2007 partnership with , “We perhaps missed a trick or the death that would have been ing stand with Shikhar Dhawan and has played 92 matches, av- who made 42. two with the bat,” New Zealand really helpful on that wicket.” -- included four sixes and three eraging 33.15. But the hosts could not break captain said Whereas India had no such fours off 28 balls. Solskjaer named Premier Forget about PSG for now, League manager of the month Solskjaer warns Man Utd Reuters | London AFP | Manchester anchester United care- Mtaker boss Ole Gunnar le Gunnar Solskjaer has Solskjaer was named January’s Owarned his Manchester Premier League manager of the KNOW WHAT United players against look- month yesterday after an un- ing ahead to a blockbuster beaten start to his tenure at Old Champions League clash Paris Trafford. Manchester United Saint-Germain and focus on Solskjaer, who replaced Jose claimed 10 points continuing their fine Premier Mourinho in December, be - from a possible 12 in League form at Fulham today. comes the first United manag- January, with victo- The visit to Craven Cottage er to receive the award since comes three days before the long-time boss Alex Ferguson ries over Newcastle first leg of the last-16 meeting in Oct. 2012, during the sea- United, Tottenham with the French champions at son when the club last won the Hotspur and Brighton Old Trafford. That game kicks league title. Manchester United interim manager and Hove Albion, as off a run of three huge matches Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof shoots to score during the match against United claimed 10 points Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates after well as a comeback in 13 days for United with an FA Burnley from a possible 12 in January, a match draw at home against Cup fifth-round trip to Chelsea with victories over Newcastle said Solskjaer, who has closed Burnley and a Premier League home “I know the focus around the United, Tottenham Hotspur the gap between United and the match against Liverpool com- place and in the media has been and Brighton and Hove Albion, top four teams in the division to they respond to what we tell pleting the sequence. about the PSG game for a long as well as a comeback draw at two points. them and they’ve been fantas- Seven wins and a draw in I know the focus time, and Chelsea and Liver- home against Burnley. “You cannot be a good lead- tic, so all credit to them.” eight league matches since around the place pool, but they’re not the games “We want to move up the ta- er or a manager without good United visit 19th-placed Ful- Solskjaer became caretaker and in the media has that will move us up the table.” ble and this is the start of it,” players... so ultimately it’s how ham on Saturday. manager on December 19 have United are continuing to plan revived United’s chances of a been about the PSG for the long term as they go top-four finish. game for a long time, through the process of deciding They are fifth going into the and Chelsea and who will become their perma- weekend’s fixtures, just two Liverpool, but they’re nent manager next season, with Chelsea not in title race, says Sarri points behind Chelsea, but can not the games that Solskjaer’s case now hard to jump into fourth with victo - will move us up the ignore. AFP | London Chelsea. ry at second bottom Fulham a table The club announced yester- “I think we will be able to day before Maurizio Sarri’s side day that defender Phil Jones aurizio Sarri has down- fight for the top four this sea- make a daunting trip to Man- OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has signed a contract extension Mplayed Pep Guardiola’s son. No more, I think,” Sarri chester City tomorrow. that commits him to the club suggestion that Chelsea are said at his pre-match press con- Solskjaer wants to ensure until June 2023, with the option still in the Premier League title ference yesterday ahead of the that United do not lose their consistency is now the key of a further year. race as he prepares his team to trip to the Etihad Stadium. focus and that they improve on word, that we keep on winning Jones has not always been a face leaders Manchester City “We can win something of their performance at Leicester games but in a better way than crowd favourite during his sev- on Sunday. course, but in the Premier last weekend, despite emerging say the Leicester one. I felt that en years at Old Trafford, but has The 60-year-old Italian said League there is a fight between 1-0 victors at the King Power. we hung on. It was good enough featured in all 10 games under his side were “lucky” to beat Liverpool and Man City. At the “Of course you take one step but we shouldn’t be happy with Solskjaer. City in December when they moment Man City is the best at a time and that’s one of the just good enough. “It’s a signal for the players ended the champions’ 21-match Chelsea’s Italian head coach Maurizio team in Europe.” goals we’ve set – that we move “We want to improve. The that we believe in them and it’s unbeaten run with a 2-0 win at Sarri watches from the touchline Sarri was also asked again into the top four. And if we do Fulham game coming up is a a signal for supporters that we Stamford Bridge. during a match about Eden Hazard, saying he so, we want to stay there and character revealer. Do we have plan ahead,” added Solskjaer. But Sarri said his fourth- wanted the Belgium forward improve on that,” said the Nor- the focus on what’s important, “Phil has been here for so placed team are not in the title United could not be ruled out. to be “happy” wherever his wegian. which is always the next game long. He’s won the Premier picture, even though Guardio- City lead the table on goal future lies as speculation con- “Of course, the past two in football? And can we forget League, he’s won trophies and la said Tottenham, Chelsea or difference from Liverpool, with tinues to swirl over a potential months have been fantastic about PSG and all the games he knows what it takes for us to even fifth-placed Manchester both sides 12 points clear of move. with the points we’ve got, so coming up? move up the table.”

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