SPORTS Sunday, January 29, 2017 21 Parnell, Tahir shine as South Africa win ayne Parnell and took three eachW to set up a comfortable eight- win for South Africa in the first one-day international Porsche GT3 at St George’s Park yesterday. Sri Lanka struggled to 181 all out, with Kusal Mendis the only batsman to shine for the tourists, making 62. Bahrain Left-arm seamer Parnell took three for 48 while leg-spinner Tahir showed superb control in a strong westerly wind, taking three for 26. made 57 and 55 as South Africa cruised to victory make with 15.4 overs to spare. Parnell plunged Sri Lanka into early trouble by taking wickets with the first balls of the second and fourth overs after South African AB de Villiers podium won the toss and decided to bowl. De Villiers praised Amla and (34), who put Team Bahrain make on 71 for South Africa’s first the podium again in wicket. Sri Lankan captain Upul Race 1 of Round 3 Tharanga was disappointed. finish “Although Dinesh and Mendis Manama Alesayi. on which slowed me down, there were already a lot of The championship is the had a partnership, we never reland’s Ryan Cullen Team Bahrain’s Shaikh but I continued to push and overtaking moves trying to be most professional series of picked up from losing early (+1.998 seconds) recorded Isa Salman Al Khalifa managed to finish in first place made. I tried to concentrate on its kind in the region and wickets,” he said. (AFP) anI emphatic victory in the and Sweden’s Christoffer on the podium.” myself and position in and try offers a pathway to world- opening race of the 14-lap Bergström were grateful Teammate Shaikh Isa to avoid any collisions early class international motorsport Final scores: third round of the Porsche benefactors of mistakes at Abdulla Al Khalifa also drove a on. I maintained my position with an international grid of Sri Lanka Total (48.3 overs) 181 GT3 Cup Challenge Middle the front of the race, with promising race, avoiding more but unfortunately, towards 16 drivers representing 12 East Season 8 at Dubai Al Khalifa finishing a career than one accident around him the end of the race pushed different nationalities covering South Africa Autodrome and opened up a high fifth to win the bronze along the way. too hard and lost control of every level of competition Q. de Kock c Weerakkody b Sanda- lead at the front of the drivers’ category, a feat that the young Unfortunately for the the car, causing quite a bit of from professionals, kan 34 championship. rookie driver was ecstatic to teenager, a last lap mistake damage. Just hoping we can amateurs and rookie drivers. H. Amla c and b Gunaratne 57 Behind Cullen was Oman’s achieve. saw him lose control of the try to get the car in good shape International drivers hail from F. du Plessis not out 55 surprise package Al Faisal After the race, Shaikh Isa car and spin out to put a slight ahead of Race 2.” Ireland, Norway, Germany, A. de Villiers not out 30 Al Zubair who continued Salman said: “My start to the dampener on the overall result Cullen, who started in Luxembourg, Sweden and Extras (lb2, w2, penalty 5) 9 his impressive debut race in race today was not great and in Race 1. second on the grid made his Turkey with the best local Total (2 wkts, 34.2 overs) 185 win look easy after he emerged drivers representing the second place and the best couldn’t climb any positions, After the race, Shaikh Isa Result: South Africa won by eight finish of his young career with but fortunately didn’t lose any Abdulla said: “It was a really unscathed from the opening United Arab Emirates, wickets third place to Saudi Arabia’s either. I seemed to have a few exciting race after starting well corner to take the chequered Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and experienced driver Bandar problems with the car early and from the very first corner flag ahead of his nearest rivals. Saudi Arabia. Series: South Africa lead the five- match series 1-0 BCL league: Fire Link beat Kooheji Manama Faizan 3/31) by 44 runs. ire Link defeated Kooheji NDC Bahrain 166/5 in 25 Contractors by six wickets (Jimsheer 30, Shaji 29, Karthik Fin the latest matches of the BFC 23, Anish 3/21) bt Almarai sponsored BCL Diamond 25 72/10 (Kasun 28, Anish 5/7) Over League at the Busaiteen by 94 runs. Grounds in Muharraq. Pak Arab Blues 121/10 Batting first, Kooheji (Rehman 36, Prashob 5/14) bt Contractors made 160 for five Falcon CC 78/10 (Rassal 32, in 25 overs with Faisal (43) Rahman 2/10, Taimoor 2/12) During a prize distribution ceremony top scoring and Navin (four by 43 runs. for 30) the pick of the bowlers, Hurricane 179/9 in 25 then Fire Link in reply reached (Faisal 68, Vijay 3/24) bt Awali the target scoring 161 for four Asitha - Fire Link Gents 164/10 (Niket 31, Umair Bassel Al Dossery triumphs in 23.1 overs thanks to a great and Anoop (two for eight) and 25, Sreejit 3/28) by 15 runs. Manama Coming in second was Ali Rumaihi and Ahmed Mansour knock by Asitha (93). Ebin (two for 13) sharing the BFC sponsored BCL assel Al Dossery (61.84 Isa (61.48s, 10 faults) with Isa in third. The latter ended the Central Café were also wickets. Diamond T20 Over League: seconds, 10 faults) riding third on another horse with a contest in 37.40 seconds and four-wicket winners against Other scores: Karnataka Royals 78/2 in Bover 130-140cm obstacles better time but committed 12 37.41 seconds respectively, LuLu after the latter were Pak CC 163/7 in 25 (Nioman 9.1 (Janardan 35, Gajendra 28) continued his spectacular faults. almost one minute behind the dismissed for just 63 with the 46, Shoaib 36, Aftab 4/30) bt bt ACL Haseena Upholstery performances and claimed the Meanwhile, Hussain first place winner. only resistance coming from Liaison CC 42/10 (Rashid 13, 75/10 (Farhan 27, Vasanth 4/5) adults Grand Prize title at the Mohammed Dadallah (44 Moreover, Ali Isa (22.96) Anoop (13) with Suraj Shetty Shoaib 4/26, Ihtisham 4/6) by by 8 wickets. HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad points) came first in the took first place in the class (five for 17) returning fine 121 runs. AJM Kooheji 126/6 in 20 Al Khalifa Showjumping competition designed for designed for the advanced bowling figures and in reply, Ahmed Zayani 175/8 in 25 (Jay 27, Afsar 27, Taimoor Championship at the Bahrain the advanced participants participants (first-level) with Central Café reached the target (Sachin 40, Anees 38, Faizan 2/14) bt Riffa Star 118/10 Defence Force Equestrian class (second-level) ahead Ammar Mohammed in second scoring 64 for six in 11.4 overs 24, Hidayath 2/25) bt Asma (Imran 23, Sohaib 4/24, Jay Centre in Sakhir. of second-placed Mayoof Al and Ahmed Isa third. with Ganesh (15) top scoring CC 131/10 (Noor 38, Rijo 4/31, 2/19) by 8 runs.