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Tuesday 27 December 2016 PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 The headline Australia grabrab key grabbers wickets beforeore in 2016 rains disruptspts plaplayy Chelsea ease past Bournemouth

Fulham EPL Results Reuters Arsenal 1 (Giroud 86) West Brom 0 supremely confident Chelsea notched a Burnley 1 (Gray 81) Middlesbrough 0 club record 12th consecutive league Chelsea 3 (Pedro 24, 90+3, Hazard win yesterday to 49-pen) Bournemouth 0 moveA nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, two Leicester 0 Everton 2 (Mirallas 51, goals from Pedro and one from Lukaku 90+1) Eden Hazard giving them a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth. Manchester United 3 (Blind 39, bra- It took the energetic Pedro himovic 82, Mkhitaryan 86) until the 24th minute to score, Sunderland 1 (Borini 90+1) set up by Cesc Fabregas after jinking interplay between the Swansea 1 (Llorente 89) West Ham Spanish players, Hazard, Wil- 4 (Ayew 13, Reid 50, Antonio 78, lian and Nemanja Matic. He Carroll 90) deftly lofted the ball over Artur Watford 1 (Deeney 71-pen) Crystal Chelsea dominate Palace 1 (Cabaye 26) EPL Top Scorers 12 13 Diego Costa (Chelsea) Chelsea beat Bournemouth 12 Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) 3-0 for club record 12th Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester straight win. United) 10 Romelu Lukaku (Everton) Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) Pedro scores Chelsea's third goal during their English Premier League match against AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge 9 Eden Hazard (Chelsea) in Fulham, London yesterday. 8 Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 50 Sadio Mane (Liverpool) Pedro chipped the ball over Boruc, stranded in the Bourne- converted the penalty for his stoppage time when Pedro's United closed to within three Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) Boruc's head for the first mouth goalmouth. 50th Premier League goal. surging run ended with the ball points of the Champions League Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) goal, Hazard scored a Captain Simon Francis Chelsea, who have conceded deflected into the goal. places by beating Sunderland Michail Antonio (West Ham United) penalty for his 50th brought down a sashaying Haz- only two goals on their winning Elsewhere, Zlatan Ibrahi- 3-1. 7 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) Premier League goal. ard in the Bournemouth area in run under Antonio Conte and movic scored one goal and set Champions Leicester City Salomon Rondon (West Bromwich Albion) the 49th minute and the Belgian scored 27, added the third in up two others as Manchester lost again. Lakmal strikes to : Rapid action begins in Doha

ensure honours even The Peninsula

he 2016 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Cham- on opening day pionships kicked off yesterday at the Ali T Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena. The Rapid event, which began yesterday, Port Elizabeth, South Africa SCOREBOARD will take place over the next two days and the Reuters Blitz Championships will continue from Decem- South Africa (I innings): ber 29 to 30. S Cook c Chandimal b Lakmal ...... 59 P Duminy and Stephen Cook D Elgar c Chandimal b Lakmal ...... 45 The events will be both Swiss pairings tour- scored half centuries but four H Amla c Chandimal b Lakmal ...... 20 naments and will be held over two days for Blitz Jwickets for Suranga Lakmal J Duminy lbw Herath ...... 63 and three days for Rapid. The Blitz will have 21 and two for Rangana Herath F du Plessis c Karunaratne b Lakmal ...... 37 rounds in open championship and 17 rounds in restricted South Africa to 267 T Bavuma lbw Herath ...... 3 women’s championship, with a single game for for six on the opening day of the Q de Kock (batting) ...... 25 each round, Swiss event. first Test against Sri Lanka V Philander (batting) ...... 6 The Rapid will be 15 rounds for Open and 12 Extras (LB-3, NB-5, W-1) ...... 9 yesterday. Total (for 6 wkts) ...... 267 rounds for Women’s championship, with a sin- Duminy made 63 and Cook Fall of wickets: 1-104, 2-105, 3-178, 4-213, gle game for each round, Swiss event. 59 as South Africa threatened 5-225, 6-253. The total prize fund for the Open tourna- to dominate on a dry track at St Bowling: Lakmal 23-6-62-4; Pradeep 17-4- ment is $400,000 with $40,000 for the winner George's Park but wickets at 48-0 (2nb); Mathews 13-5-26-0 (1w); Cha- of each championship and $80,000 in Women key moments kept Sri Lanka meera 14-1-68-0 (3nb); Herath 20-4-48-2; De Championships with $10,000 for the winner of firmly in the game. Silva 3-0-12-0. each championship. Sri Lanka: A Mathews, K Silva, D Karunaratne, K

Lakmal ended a 104-run Mendis, D Chandimal, D de Silva, K Perera, R Magnus Carlsen, , Viswa- opening partnership between Herath, S Lakmal, N Pradeep, D Chameera. nathan Anand, , Vassily Cook and Dean Elgar and took Ivanchuk, Leinier Dominguez, , two more vital wickets to leave and some of the top honours even at the start of the before attempting to sweep players who are taking part in the three-test series. Herath and being trapped lbw. championship. He removed both openers Herath had Temba Bavuma In the women’s section, , in quick succession as Sri Lanka lbw for three after a review , , , produced a much improved before Lakmal, who ended the , , Valentina bowling display after lunch. day with figures of 4-62 and Gunina and will be vying for top hon- Cook squared up to a deliv- tantalisingly close to first test ours. The Championship features more than 400 ery that straightened and Elgar five-wicket haul, removed Faf players from 75 countries. went in Lakmal's next over for du Plessis for 37 with the sec- 45, tempted by a ball outside ond new ball. The home captain the off stump that he could have was caught out by extra bounce left alone. and snapped up by Dimuth Kar- Hashim Amla continued to unaratne at first slip. look out of form and his foot- Quinton de Kock (25 not work again proved his downfall out) and Vernon Philander (6 as he was the third batsman not out) will resume today. caught by wicketkeeper Dinesh Sri Lanka, who have lost Chandimal off Lakmal for a eight of 10 previous Tests in laboured 20 off 107 balls. South Africa, will be pleased Players compete during the 2016 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz But while Amla struggled, their young side kept up their Duminy went after the seam- competitive edge after beating Championships at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena in Doha yesterday. ers and raced to 50 off 73 balls Australia at home this year and RIGHT: Qatari Al Sayeed Mohammed (right) prepares for but he was then pegged back Zimbabwe away. a move. Pictures by: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula SPORT 27 DECEMBER 2016 TUESDAY 21 The headline grabbers in 2016

New York Chicago Cubs players celebrate AP after defeating the Cleveland Indians in game seven of n a year filled with stunners, The year 2016 sports certainly went along the 2016 World Series at for the ride. registered some of Progressive Field in Cleveland, From the Golden State the most amazing Ohio, US. Warriors squandering a 3-1 sport stories - Ilead in the NBA Finals after a record-breaking season to little Chicago Cubs' Leicester City defying insur- World Series mountable odds to capture the Premier League title, there were triumph, Leicester plenty of shocking outcomes in City's EPL glory run our arenas and stadiums. and Angelique Heck, the Chicago Cubs even won the World Series for the first Kerber's tennis time in 108 years. dominance on the Let's take a look at the games WTA Tour were and events that left us aghast in 2016: the standout tales from the season NOT SO GOLDEN that ends in just The Warriors started the sea- a few days. son with a 24-game winning streak and finished 73-9, the greatest regular season in NBA history. Led by the incompara- ble Splash Brothers, Stephen most decorated athlete in Olym- England at the Euros, the most Grand Slam in 2015, Jordan Spi- even make it past their opening Curry and Klay Thompson, riveting, rain-delayed innings pic history. Joseph Schooling prestigious soccer prize outside eth was cruising toward his game. Middle Tennessee State, a Golden State rallied to beat Okla- after squandering a four-run won his country's first gold the World Cup. But the team second straight Masters title No. 15 seed, shot 56 percent from homa City for the Western lead. "We did it," first baseman medal with an upset victory in playing in its first major interna- when he made the turn on the the field and knocked down 11 Conference title and was poised Anthony Rizzo said. "I can't the 100-meter butterfly. Phelps tional tournament for its second straight champi- believe it." finished in a three-way tie for overcame an early onship. But, in an astounding second , giving him a silver to go deficit for a 2-1 vic- twist against Cleveland, the War- FOXY CHAMPIONS along with five golds in what was tory . It was one of riors became the first team ever again billed as his final Olympics. the humiliating to blow a 3-1 lead in the NBA If that seemed unbelievable, Phelps wasn't the only star to fal- defeats in the history Finals — dropping the last two check out Leicester City, perhaps ter in Rio: Keri Walsh failed to of English football, games in Oakland, no less. "It will the most improbable champion win gold in beach volleyball for leading to the imme- haunt me for a while," Curry said in the history of any major sport. the first time; Serena and Venus diate resignation of while the LeBron James-led Cav- The Foxes began the season as a Williams took their first loss ever manager Roy aliers celebrated the first 5,000-to-1 longshot to claim in Olympic tennis doubles; and Hodgson. championship in franchise England's top soccer title, which the U.S. women's soccer team history. seemed about right for a club missed out on a medal of any In another Euro- color and, thanks to pean soccer Singapore’s Joseph Schooling smiles next to USA’s Michael Phelps after Hope Solo , came tournament, the Lin- the Men’s 100m Butterfly in Rio de Janeiro in this August 2016 file photo. off like sore losers. coln Red Imps defeated perennial SERENA SLIPS Scottish champions DOWN UNDER Celtic 1-0 in a first- leg qualifying match The Olympic of the Champions defeat wasn't even League. Not bad for the most disap- a team from Gibral- pointing of the year tar that featured a for Serena Wil- firefighter, a police liams, who was officer and a taxi knocked off in the driver who had just final of the Austral- completed their day ian Open by jobs. Celtic came Germany's Angel- back to win the next ique Kerber. After leg 3-0 to eliminate barely advancing the part-time pros that had been playing in the sec- past the opening round, the No. with a 3-1 aggregate CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! ond division two years earlier 7 seed took advantage of a rash score. and barely avoided relegation in of unforced errors by Williams The Chicago Cubs didn't win 2015. But Leicester City, with a to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 . Williams ALEXANDER THE their first title, but it sure seemed payroll that was spare change came back to capture Wimble- GREAT like it. Baseball's lovable losers compared to the Premier don, tying Steffi Graf's record were favored to finally break League's big spenders, romped with 22 career major titles, and The 100th Indi- through after assembling a pow- to the first league title in its 132- Kerber added her second major anapolis 500 was erhouse team that led the majors year history — clinching with two of the year at the U.S. Open. snatched away by with a 103-59 record. This being weeks to spare. "Nobody There was also a huge upset in Alexander Rossi , a the Cubbies, of course, they had believed we could do it," captain the men's game when two-time 24-year-old Ameri- to make their first title since 1908 Wes Morgan said, "but here we defending Wimbledon champion can competing in the as difficult as possible. They fell are." Novak Djokovic lost in the third race for the first time. behind 3-1 to another Cleveland round to Sam Querrey, ending a After the other lead- team, the Indians. Then, like the BEATING THE G.O.A.T. 30-match streak in Grand Slams. ers pitted for a splash Cavaliers, Chicago rallied to win of fuel, Rossi gam- the last three games, including Michael Phelps was poised ICING THE ENGLISH bled that he could the final two on the road. Game to close his career in a blaze of make it to the end. 7 was a classic that all other clas- glory. Then he swam against a Iceland, a country of roughly He coasted across the sics will be measured by — the boyish, 21-year-old from Singa- 300,000 people, didn't figure to finish line for one of Cubs prevailing 8-7 in 10 pore who grew up idolizing the stand a chance against mighty the most stunning Angelique Kerber of gulps of milk in the Germany in action history of the illustri- against Petra Kvitova ous race. from the Czech Leicester NOTORIOUS NO Republic during their City’s MORE semi-final at a WTA goalkeeper event in Stuttgart in Kasper After Ronda this April 23 file photo. Schmeichel Rousey's defeat the (centre) previous year, Conor McGregor became the face of final day with a commanding 3-pointers for a stunning 90-81 with Wes mixed-martial arts. The Notori- five-stroke lead. Not so fast. The victory that gave the Blue Raid- Morgan (left) ous looked unbeatable and young Texan dunked two balls ers one of the greatest upsets in and Danny certainly talked a good game, in the water at the par-3 12th for the history of the Big Dance. The Simpson lift brutally mocking anyone who a quadruple bogey that handed amazing story fit right in with the the Premier got in his way. Then he faced the green jacket to England's rest of 2016. League Nate Diaz in a bid to hold UFC Danny Willett. trophy at the titles in multiple weight classes. HONORABLE MENTION: King Power Despite taking the fight with less RAIDERS TURN THE SPARTANS Stadium in than two weeks' notice, Diaz BLUE Western Bulldogs captured Leicester, stopped the Irishman. their first Australian Football Britain, in this Michigan State went into the League title since 1954 by knock- May 2016 file SPIETH TAKES A BATH NCAA men's basketball tourna- ing off the top three teams in the photo. ment as a popular pick to go all league standings during in the After making a run at the the way. The Spartans didn't postseason. 22 SPORT TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER 2016

The shoes of LeBron James of the Australia grab key wickets Cleveland Cavaliers are seen while he plays the Golden State Warriors in Cleveland, Ohio. The before rain disrupts play Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 109-108.

Melbourne Reuters Australia's Jackson Bird ain dampened the sends down enthusiasm of a fes- a delivery tive Boxing Day as Pakistan crowd but Australia batsman Azhar were content to Ali looks on, R knock over Pakistan's top order during the and leave the tourists 142 for first day of the four on day one of the second second cricket Irving shines test in Melbourne yesterday. Test match Jackson Bird took two wick- in Melbourne ets, with fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan yesterday. Lyon grabbing one apiece before as Cavaliers play was abandoned after tea at a drizzly Melbourne Cricket Ground. Pakistan will hope opener Azhar Ali, unbeaten on 66, and stun Warriors Brisbane centurion Asad Shafiq (four not out) can hold firm when play resumes on day two to give quick wickets, get Azhar Ali out over the long on boundary on Roar at the MCG Misbah-ul-Haq's side a chance early, then I think we're well on the first ball he faced against the Los Angeles showing for the prolific Curry, at a competitive total. top in the game and we can look spinner but lasted only 12 more AFP but his three-pointer with 1:14 Thirty-nine overs were lost to push the game forward after deliveries before he gave up a to play put Golden State up to the rain but Australia headed that." nick off Bird, with Nic Maddin- 4 yrie Irving's turnaround 108-105. off pleased with their work after A warm and muggy morn- son diving low and forward to Australia bowlers pick up 4 jump shot over Klay Curry gestured to the Cleve- skipper Steve Smith lost the toss, ing gave way to a chilly clutch an outstanding one- Thompson with 3.4 sec- land crowd in celebration, but key wickets before rain K having also hoped to bat on a afternoon as a cool change handed catch at short leg. onds left lifted the NBA it proved to be too soon. arrived to disrupt play in green-tinged but mostly benign swept through from the west of Maddinson's effort was the champion Cleveland Cavaliers "We're mad, man," Thomp- pitch. Melbourne and Pakistan's for- highlight of a strong day in the Melbourne on day one. to a 109-108 Christmas Day tri- son said. "The way we lost that "The first hour tomorrow is tunes fell with the field for the Australians, with umph over the Golden State game, we gave them a gift." going to be crucial," Bird told temperature. Smith pouching two catches in Warriors on Sunday. The contest was the high- reporters. They had reached a position the slips. The rematch of last June's light of the NBA's five-game "If we can get one or two of some strength at 111-2 after The captain's second was a 66 NBA Finals headlined the Christmas Day line-up. lunch, but Bird grabbed the fine, low chance to remove Pakistan opener Azhar Ali league's holiday slate, and The Boston Celtics opened SCOREBOARD momentum back by bowling Babar Azam for 23 when the battles with an unbeaten didn't disappoint. the action with a 119-114 vic- Pakistan (I innings): Younus Khan for 21 and remov- number three batsman edged 66 after four of his players The Cavaliers -- who ral- tory over the New York Knicks S Aslam c Smith b Lyon ...... 9 ing another old-stager in Misbah Hazlewood with the last ball gave away cheap wickets. lied from 3-1 down in the at Madison Square Garden, A Ali (batting) ...... 66 for 11 before rain brought an before lunch. championship series last sea- where Marcus Smart's tie- B Azam c Smith b Hazlewood...... 23 early tea-break. The biggest roar from the son to deny the Warriors a breaking three-pointer with Y Khan b Bird ...... 21 Azhar and Younus had crowd was for popular spinner on the way through to Smith at second straight title -- trailed 47.8 seconds to play helped the Misbah c Maddinson b Bird...... 11 carved out a 51-run partnership Lyon, who came on in the 12th slip. most of the game and were visitors thwart the Knicks' A Shafiq (batting) ...... 4 Extras (B-4, LB-3, NB-1) ...... 8 but it never seemed built on solid over to capture Australia's first Australia were unchanged down by as many as 14 earlier comeback bid. Total (for 4 wkts) ...... 142 foundations. wicket after Pakistan's openers from the side that won the first in the fourth quarter. In San Antonio, LaMarcus Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-60, 3-111, 4-125. Having overturned an lbw saw off the initial pace assault. test by 39 runs in Brisbane, with LeBron James's rim-rattling Aldridge hit his first 11 shots Bowling: Starc 11-2-25-0; Hazlewood 13-5-15-1; decision on review when he was The offspinner had Sami Pakistan dropping left-arm dunk with 1:43 to play put from the floor en route to a sea- Bird 15.5-2-53-2 (1nb); Lyon 11-1-42-1. on three, 39-year-old Younus Aslam caught behind with his paceman Rahat Ali in favour of Cleveland up 105-103 -- their son-high 33 points in the Spurs'

Australia: D Warner, M Renshaw, U Khawaja, S hung out his bat against Bird and third ball, a venomous, turning right-armer Sohail Khan who first lead since early in the first 119-100 victory over the Chi-

Smith, P Handscomb, N Maddinson, M Wade, M was bowled through the gate. delivery that reared off the pitch had done well for the visitors in quarter -- and Irving capped cago Bulls. The Spurs built a Starc, J Hazlewood, N Lyon, J Bird. Misbah clubbed Lyon for six and clipped the batsman's glove New Zealand last month. the comeback with a clutch shot 20-point first-quarter lead but that recalled his championship- had slipped behind midway winning three-pointer in the through the third quarter before final minute of game seven last again roaring past the Bulls in Commentator June. the final 16 minutes. "He's just a killer on the Russell Westbrook scored Latham's 137 powers Nicholas court," Cleveland coach Tyronn 31 points and handed out 15 Lue said. assists to lead the Thunder to a taken ill A beaming Irving said it was 112-100 victory over the Min- the perfect holiday treat. nesota Timberwolves in during Test "It's nothing like the play- Oklahoma City. NZ to convincing win offs," Irving said, "but the Westbrook also pulled Melbourne intensity was up there. This is down seven rebounds for the AP what you want to be a part of Thunder, who had 22 points as a professional." from center Steven Adams of Christchurch SCOREBOARD opular cricket commen- Irving finished with 25 New Zealand and 20 from Tur- AFP tator Mark Nicholas was points, while James had 31 key's Enes Kanter. NEW ZEALAND Imrul Kayes c Ronchi b Southee ...... 16 resting in hospital yes- points and 13 rebounds. Kevin In the Timberwolves' first M Guptill c Sarkar b Mustafizur ...... 15 Soumya Sarkar c Williamson b Neesham ...... 1 P pener Tom Latham's T Latham c Mushfiqur b Mushfiqur ...... 137 Mamudullah c Ronchi b Neesham ...... 0 terday after being taken by Love had 20 points and six appearance in a Christmas Day career best 137 set New K Williamson c Mushfiqur b Taskin ...... 31 Shakib Al Hasan c Southee b Ferguson ...... 59 ambulance from the Mel- rebounds for the Cavs. game, the young Minnesota OZealand up for a crush- N Broom lbw Shakib ...... 22 Mushfiqur Rahim (retd hurt) ...... 42 bourne Cricket Ground on the Kevin Durant, who arrived team shot 55 percent in taking ing 77-run victory over J Neesham lbw Shakib...... 12 Sabbir Rahman c Boult b Ferguson ...... 16 first day of the second cricket at Golden State as a free agent a 27-23 first-quarter lead. Bangladesh in their opening C Munro c Taskin b Shakib ...... 87 Mossaddek Hossain (not out) ...... 50 test between Australia and in the off-season, was superb But they couldn't keep up one-day international at Hag- L Ronchi b Taskin ...... 5 Mashrafe Mortaza c Broom b Santner ...... 14 Pakistan. in his first appearance in the the pace and the Thunder, led ley Oval yesterday. M Santner (batting) ...... 8 Taskin Ahmed c Ronchi b Ferguson ...... 2 England-born Nicholas, a Warriors-Cavs rivalry. by a gleefully relentless West- T Southee (batting) ...... 7 Mustafizur Rahman b Southee ...... 0 With Latham in command- Extras (B-6, LB-8, W-3) ...... 17 former Hampshire captain Durant scored 36 points brook, pulled away for a third Extras (B-1, LB-6, W-18, NB-1) ...... 26 ing form and Colin Munro Total (for 7 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 341 and a long-time member of and pulled down 15 rebounds. straight victory. chiming in with a rollicking 87, Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-79, 3-134, 4-158, 5-316, Total (for 9 wkts in 44.5 overs) ...... 264 the television commentary But after Irving's key basket he "I just go out and have fun," New Zealand posted 341-7 and 6-323, 7-327. Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-48, 3-48, 4-81, 5-144, 6-167, team for Australia's Channel was unable to get off a poten- Westbrook said. "I don't know the Bangladesh innings closed Bowling: Mortaza 10-0-61-0; Mustafizur 10-0-62-2 7-242, 8-252, 9-264. Nine, was taken to Epworth tially game-winning shot, if it's the most fun I've ever had (2w); Taskin 9-0-70-2; Shakib 10-0-69-3 (1w); Sarkar Bowling: Boult 9-0-43-0 (3w); Southee 9.5-2-63-2 at 264-9 with Mushfiqur Rahim (3w); Ferguson 9-0-54-3 (5w); Neesham 7-1-36-3 (3w, Hospital suffering severe getting tangled with Richard but it's definitely at the top

retired hurt. 4-0-25-0; Mosaddek 7-0-40-0. stomach pains. Jefferson and hitting the floor. because of the group of guys we

BANGLADESH 1nb); Santner 10-0-61-1 (3w). It was New Zealand's high- Tamim Iqbal c Santner b Neesham ...... 38 Result: New Zealand won by 77 runs. Paramedics treated No foul was called and time ran have. Everybody is so unself- est score in 26 matches against Nicholas after he fell ill in the out. ish. Everybody is willing to do Bangladesh and Latham's 158- commentary box and recom- "I was trying to make a great things." run stand with Munro was a be a big ask for Bangladesh after With his dismissal, and the mended he be taken to move. I didn't fall on my own," The Lakers capped the day New Zealand record for the fifth Latham's 137 off 121 deliveries. introduction of all-rounder hospital. He was not on air at an irked Durant said. with a 111-102 victory over the wicket against the tourists. The left-hander had a Jimmy Neesham to the attack, the time. Thompson scored 24 points injury-depleted Clippers in an For New Zealand, it was the nerve-wracking moment on New Zealand took control. A Channel Nine spokes- and Draymond Green added 16 All-Los Angeles duel. commanding performance they seven when a Mashrafe Mortaza With his second delivery, man said 59-year-old despite foul trouble. The Lakers beat the Clip- were looking for after their delivery sailed just over the off Neesham removed Soumya Nicholas was "doing much NBA Most Valuable Player pers for the first time since recent 3-0 hiding by Australia. stumps but otherwise he Sarkar and two balls later the better this evening and is in Stephen Curry scored 15 points October of 2013, snapping an But for Bangladesh there remained unflustered despite medium pacer had Mahmudul- good spirits. but connected on just four of 11 11-game skid against their were few highlights to launch the inability of the top order to lah caught behind without A fellow commentator, from the floor. It was a modest cross-town rivals. their New Zealand tour. stay with him. scoring and Bangladesh were Michael Slater, confirmed the Their talisman Shakib Al Martin Guptill (15), Kane 48-3 in the 11th over. By the 18th news during the tea break Hasan topped their bowling Williamson (31), Neil Broom (22) over it was 81-4 when Neesham without adding further details NBA RESULTS (3-69) and batting (59) perform- and Jimmy Neesham (12) all removed Tamim for 38. Shakib of Nicholas’s condition. LA Lakers 111 LA Clippers 102 ances, and Mosaddek Hossain failed to push on. offered stubborn resistance with “Normally Mark Nicholas Oklahoma City 112 Minnesota 100 was not out 50 at the end, his New Zealand were 158-4 59 off 54 deliveries and Mosad- would be sitting here at this San Antonio 119 Chicago 100 maiden ODI half century. when Munro joined Latham and dek also batted better than a time of the day,” Slater said. Cleveland 109 Golden State 108 Mushfiqur reached 42 proceeded to smack 87, his per- run-a-ball for his 50. “Just to let you know, he’s Boston 119 NY Knicks 114 before a hamstring strain ended sonal best, from 61 deliveries. For New Zealand, Neesham fallen ill with abdominal his innings, but by then Bangla- Tamim Iqbal and Imrul took three for 36 and Lockie pains and he’s been taken to NFL RESULTS desh were 219-6 and the Kayes made a solid start for Ferguson three for 54. hospital for testing. We will required run rate had ballooned Bangladesh, pushing through to The second match in the keep you up-to-date with the Kansas City 33 Denver 10 out to 10.69. 34 in the eighth over before series will be played in Nelson latest news when we receive Pittsburgh 31 Baltimore 27 But it was always going to Kayes was the first to fall for 16. on Thursday. it. So we wish him well.” TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER 2016 SPORT 23 Al Khelaifi elected President of QTSBF

Doha QNA

asser Ghanim Al Khelaifi has been elected unopposed as Pres- ident of Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF). N QTSBF General Assembly was held at the Emiri Lounge at QTSBF building on Sunday, also elected as Tarek Zainal ( Secretary General), Yousef Al Obaidely, Khalid Al Khelaifi and Karim Alami (mem- bers), according to QOC. The General Assembly also saw eight new members joining QTSBF President the QTSBF, namely, Saad Saleh Al Mohannadi, Ibrahim Saleh Al Khelaifi, Nasser Ghanim Al Khelaifi Ahmed Al- Batti, Ahmed Sultan Al Obaidely, Abdulrahman Al Hadad, Mohammed Yousef Al Mulla, Hamad Saad Al Kuwari and Mariam Al Ali. Muaither expect resolute show from Yaseen and Sato

The Peninsula Iraqi player scans on his injured knee Ahmed Yaseen ligaments. World number two Rory McIlroy atar Stars League (QSL) in action in Mahmoud suffered the injury outfit Muaither are this file photo. during one of Umm Salal's games in expecting a resolute show INSET: Japanese QSL. He is expected to resume train- from new imports Ahmed midfielder Minori ing in the coming days. Golf: McIlroy Q Yaseen and Minori Sato. Sato. Mahmoud is expected to play Iraqi right-winger Yassen and against Al Khor on January 3 in what Japanese midfielder Sato have joined will be a round 14 clash. Muaither for the remaining part of In the meantime, QSL minnows out to keep up the QSL season, club official Mubarak Al Shahaniyah are set to announce Ghanim said yesterday. a new coach following their 10-0 "Our contract with Yaseen is for debacle against giants Lekhwiya in proud Dubai six months. We will see how things a round 13 clash last week. go and then we will decide on the According to club official Man- future contract," Ghanim said. ahi Shammari, the 'change was "The two players have signed the necessary' considering last week's Classic record contract having cleared their med- hammering, the heaviest for the side icals. Both are out of Doha but they in QSL history. Dubai will be in a couple of days to start Coach Jose Fernando could help Reuters training with their new teammates," the club to only two wins out of 13 he said. matches in the first four months of orld number two Rory McIlroy will be Iraqi Yaseen has replaced Bra- the QSL season. looking to maintain a proud record zilian midfielder William Schuster "The change was necessary con- Wwhen he competes in the $2.65m Dubai while Sato has come in place of Jor- sidering the mistakes we have been Desert Classic in February. repeating on the pitch," Shammari The four-times major champion won the event Teams undergo said. in 2009 and 2015 and has finished in the top 10 "We will not rush to make an in each of his seven previous visits to the Emir- changes announcement. We have candidates ates Golf Club. Yaseen replaces Brazilian in our minds. We will go for the best "I have great memories of this tournament," midfielder William option. We believe this team has a McIlroy said in a news release on Monday. "I made Schuster while Sato has lot to offer. the cut here for the first time in a European Tour Meanwhile, Al Ahli will take on event as a 17-year-old amateur in 2007 and it was come in place of Sudanese team Al Merrikh Sporting here I secured my first professional win two years Jordanian striker Club in a friendly on Thursday. later. Mahmoud Za'tara. Al Ahli are preparing for their "I will always cherish those important Al Ahli take on Sudanese danian striker Mahmoud Za'tara. has good speed and 'excellent ball QSL clash against former champi- moments in the early part of my career. That first "We are confident that we have skills', according to team officials. ons Al Gharafa on January 3. win was a real stepping-stone for me, helping my team Al Merrikh Sporting made the right call. We have got 9 Al Mawas is expected to join the The venue is yet to be decided, confidence and leading to the successes that fol- Club in a friendly. points in the first four months. We squad in a few days once he com- it emerged yesterday. lowed," said the Northern Irishman. feel we the new players will contrib- pletes his medical on Tuesday, a club Al Ahli will miss the services of British Open champion and world number Al Shahaniyah are set to ute strongly in the remaining few official said yesterday. Mojtaba Jabbari of Iran and Meshal four Henrik Stenson and US Masters winner Danny announce a new coach months of the season," he said. The winger has played for clubs Mubarak, a club official said. Willett, who lifted the Dubai Classic trophy last following their 10-0 Meanwhile, Syrian attacking in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The match has been scheduled year, are also in the field for the February 2-5 debacle against giants winger Mahmoud Al Mawas has Meanwhile, Umm Salal striker on the insistence of coach Yusuf tournament. Lekhwiya. joined Umm Salal. Ismail Mahmoud has been released Adam as the team prepares for the The Dubai Classic is the last in the tour's three- The highly-rated 23-year-old from a local hospital following rehab second half of the season. event Middle East swing that also includes the Abu Dhabi Championship from January 19-22 and the Qatar Masters from January 26-29. GOLF: WORLD Klopp targets more luck with injuries RANKINGS

1. Jason Day (Australia) 10.91 Liverpool Sports News. Coutinho is not likely Mignolet should keep his place in 2. Rory McIlroy (Britain) 9.83 AFP to return before the new year due goal after recording clean sheets 3. Dustin Johnson (US) 9.53 to an ankle injury while defender in these matches as Liverpool look 4. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 8.69 iverpool manager Jurgen Joel Matip is also struggling as the to maintain their impressive record 5. Jordan Spieth (US) 8.04 Klopp believes a little more Reds look forward to welcoming at home. 6. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 7.49 Lluck on the injury front is all Stoke and then Pep Guardiola's They are unbeaten in nine 7. Adam Scott (Australia) 6.55 that is separating his team from Manchester City to Merseyside over home games in all competitions 8. Patrick Reed (US) 5.40 Premier League leaders Chelsea the next week. this season and haven't lost at 9. Alexander Noren (Sweden) 5.35 as the Reds prepare to face Stoke "We cannot rush the situation Anfield since Stoke won 1-0 there 10. Bubba Watson (US) 5.19 City today. and we don't want to rush it. We in the EFL Cup semi-final second 11. Danny Willett (Britain) 5.09 The Anfield club spent Christ- have to accept the more or less big- leg on January 26 -- Liverpool 12. Rickie Fowler (US) 4.97 mas in second place in the Premier ger steps in his improvement with eventually won that tie on penal- 13. Sergio Garcia (Spain) 4.73 League table but trailed Chelsea this serious injury," Klopp said of ties. Mid-table Stoke head to 14. Paul Casey (Britain) 4.70 by six points as they struggle to stay Coutinho. Merseyside having failed to win in 15. Justin Rose (Britain) 4.44 in touch with Antonio Conte's in- "Whenever he is back, the sea- three matches, including a 2-2 16. Brooks Koepka (US) 4.33 form side. Liverpool have only lost son is long enough that he can help draw at home to Leicester City in 17. Branden Grace (South Africa) 4.31 twice all season but are currently us. We cannot rush it just because their last outing when they squan- 18. Russell Knox (Britain) 4.16 missing the influential Philippe there are a few games now. That dered a two-goal lead. 19. Phil Mickelson (US) 4.10 Coutinho as they prepare for the cannot have an influence on our Stoke could not have asked for 20. Matt Kuchar (US) 4.10 first of two home games before the decisions." a tougher festive period, with this 21. Jimmy Walker (US) 3.99 end of the year. Klopp, who had his squad in game being followed by a trip to 22. Justin Thomas (US) 3.97 "I am pretty sure that until now for training on Christmas Day Chelsea on New Year's Eve but 23. Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 3.67 Chelsea are maybe the team that despite the extra 24 hours to pre- Hughes is backing his team to 24. Tyrrell Hatton (Britain) 3.67 have had the most luck with inju- pare for the visit of Stoke, could spring a surprise. 25. Emiliano Grillo (Argentina) 3.61 ries. We lost Phil and Daniel stick with an unchanged starting The game will see Wales mid- 26. Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 3.59 (Sturridge) and Danny Ings in dif- line-up as Liverpool look to build fielder Joe Allen return to Anfield for 27. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) 3.50 ficult moments when you really on successive wins at Middles- the first time since moving to Stoke 28. Brandt Snedeker (US) 3.45 could use them," Klopp told Sky brough and Everton. Simon in a £13m deal in the close season. 29. J.B. Holmes (US) 3.39 Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp 30. Matthew Fitzpatrick (Britain) 3.38