Sports Monday, February 25, 2019 17 Maxwell helps edge out India in 1st T20 afp Visakhapatnam, India Scoreboard india Glenn Maxwell hit a crucial R. Sharma c Zampa b Behrendorff ...... 5 K.L. Rahul c Finch b Coulter-Nile ...... 50 half- as Australia edged V. kohli c Coulter-Nile b Zampa ...... 24 out India by three in a R. Pant run out (Behrendorff/Handscomb) ...... 3 Afghanistan bowler Rashid Khan thrilling last-ball finish at the M.S. Dhoni ...... 29 first international on D. Karthik b Coulter-Nile ...... 1 K. Pandya c Maxwell b Coulter-Nile ...... 1 Sunday. U. Yadav lbw b Cummins ...... 2 Khan hat-trick seals hit a four Y. Chahal not out ...... 0 and took two runs to complete Extras (lb2, w9) ...... 11 a nervous 127-run chase after Total (7 wickets, 20 overs) ...... 126 Afghanistan T20 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Sharma), 2-69 (kohli), 3-80 his fellow paceman Nathan (Pant), 4-92 (Rahul), 5-94 (Karthik), 6-100 Coulter-Nile restricted India to (Pandya), 7-109 (Yadav) Did not bat: M. Markande, 126-7 in Visakhapatnam. J. Bumrah : Behrendorff 3-0-16-1, sweep against Ireland Maxwell, who made 56, put Richardson 4-0-31-0 (w5), Coulter-Nile 4-0-26-3 (w1), Zampa 3-0-22-1 (w2), Cummins 4-0-19-1 afp together 84 runs with D’Arcy (w1), Short 2-0-10-0 18th over when the world’s Short for the third to put australia (target 127) Dehradun, India top T20 bowler became the Australia on course before Jas- D. Short run out (Pandya/Dhoni) ...... 37 first spinner in the format to prit Bumrah hit back with three M. Stoinis run out (Yadav/Chahal) ...... 1 Rashid Khan claimed a hat- take a hat-trick. A. Finch lbw b Bumrah ...... 0 wickets. G. Maxwell c Rahul b Chahal ...... 56 trick to help Afghanistan to a Khan got George Dock- Bumrah got debutant Peter P. Handscomb c Dhoni b Bumrah ...... 13 3-0 series sweep over Ireland rell, Shane Getkate and Simi Handscomb caught behind for A. Turner b Pandya ...... 0 after their convincing 32-run Singh on consecutive deliv- 13 and then bowled Coulter-Nile N. Coulter-Nile b Bumrah ...... 4 victory in the third Twenty20 eries to shut the door on Ire- P. Cummins not out ...... 7 on the final ball of the 19th over J. Richardson not out ...... 7 international on Sunday. land. to keep the game in balance. Extras (w2) ...... 2 Khan returned impres- Earlier Nabi demolished and Cummins Total (7 wickets, 20 overs) ...... 127 sive figures of 5-27 to keep the Irish bowling attack as he -- both not out on seven each -- Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Stoinis), 2-5 (Finch), 3-89 Ireland down to 178 for eight smashed 6 fours and 7 sixes, (Maxwell), 4-101 (Short), 5-102 (Turner), 6-113 then kept their cool in the final (Handscomb), 7-113 (Coulter-Nile) Did not bat: J. in their chase of 211 in the hitting the ball to all parts of six balls against Umesh Yadav Behrendorff, A. Zampa Bowling: Bumrah 4-0-16-3, north Indian city of Dehra- the ground. to steer the Aussies home. Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell (right) plays a shot as India’s wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni looks Chahal 4-0-28-1, Yadav 4-0-35-0 (w2), Pandya 4-0- dun. Ireland paceman Boyd “It’s a really strong position on during the first at the Dr.Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Stadium in 17-1, Markande 4-0-31-0 Mohammad Nabi hit 81 Rankin took three wickets Visakhapatnam on Sunday. (AFP) Toss: Australia to be in,” Australia skipper Aar- Result: Australia won by 3 wickets off 36 deliveries in Afghani- but gave away 53 runs in his on Finch said after the win. Series: Australia lead two-match series 1-0 stan’s 210 for seven after four overs. “Nathan is a wicket-taker. suspension for sexist comments wicket of Rahul to check India “Australia deserved to win being put into bat first on a The two teams will now He has been very consistent during a controversial TV chat on a tricky pitch. as they played better than us.” ground where they posted a play five one-day interna- in the IPL (Indian Premier show appearance with Hardik Veteran wicketkeeper-bats- The build up to the match Kohli said ahead of the T20 international record of tionals starting Thursday League) as well,” he added. Pandya, hit 50 off 36 balls. man Mahendra Singh Dhoni was dominated by talk of the game that the team will stand 278-3 in the previous match. followed by a one-off Test “Maxi (Maxwell) played His 55-run second wicket made an unbeaten 29. domestic campaign calling by any decision taken by the Kevin O’Brien and Andy at the same venue, which is a hell of an innings on a pitch stand with skipper , “A low scoring game is on India to boycott its match government and the country’s Balbirnie, who made 47, then Afghanistan’s adopted home which was tough to bat.” who made 24, gave India a brisk always on the cards in T20 against arch-rivals Pakistan in cricket board in response to the put on a threatening 96-run ground. The day belonged to Coul- start but the hosts lost momen- cricket,” said Kohli. “With the the upcoming 50-over World attack. second wicket stand to raise ter-Nile who returned figures of tum after losing three quick bowling effort we were pleased. Cup. Dozens of Indian troops in His side wore black arm- hopes of a successful chase Brief scores: 3-26 in his four overs, receiving wickets. Bumrah can do wonders with Kashmir were killed earlier this bands and both teams stood in but Khan hit back with his Afghanistan 210 for 7 (Nabi 81, the man of the match award. got Kohli’s the ball when it is reversing and month in a suicide bomb attack silence at the start of the game leg spin. Rankin 3-53) beat Ireland 178 Indian batsman K.L. Rahul, prized scalp with his leg spin did exceptionally well to get us New has blamed on Paki- for the men who lost their lives He got O’Brien caught for 8 (O’Brien 74, Rashid 5-27) by who returned to the side after a and Coulter-Nile claimed the in the game,” he added. stan. in the February 14 attack. behind for 74 but it was the 32 runs Aspire Academy concludes Qatar lose to Japan in final FIBA qualifier latest tri-series tournament Tribune News Network Doha

Aspire Academy recently concluded the second Tri- Series football tournament of the 2018 – 2019 season. The tournament featured under-13 and under-14 year-old players from Aspire Academy, Kuwait’s U-13/14 national team and FC Dynamo Kyiv from Ukraine. The tournament aims to de- velop the professionalism of the young student-athletes at As- pire Academy and helps build the characteristics required of future champions, encouraging players to follow in the foot- steps of the Aspire Academy graduates that triumphed in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup earlier this month. overall player. opportunity to compete against tournament.” Qatar fell 48-96 in the last game of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers at the Al Gharafa The tournament saw the Speaking after the tourna- strong opponents and experi- Aspire Academy has in- Sports Club on Sunday. Qatar had earlier lost to the Philippines on Thursday and will hope to build on three teams take part in a num- ment, Aspire U-14 coach, Oscar ence a very high standard of stalled “Football Skills De- the experience gained in the campaign. New coach Panos Yiannaras has stated that the team will be ber of hotly contested games Garro said, “This tournament play. This naturally helps our velopment Centers” (FSDC) better in a few years with more games and competitions under their belt. that featured a range of con- is a good challenge for us to team improve and to step up throughout Doha for boys be- trasting footballing styles. evaluate our performance and our game,” Muhanna said. tween 6 and 11 years of age. In the U-14 category, FC know where we stand because FC Dynamo Kyiv U-13 From the age of 8 years on- Dynamo Kyiv clinched victory we have a set target for players player, Viacheslav Surkis was wards, the most promising Quick read after defeating the teams from and the team in general that we who visited Qatar for the first boys are identified and invited Aspire Academy and Kuwait. wish to fulfil in a few years.” time said, “I enjoyed playing to join “Aspire Feeder Groups” Rockets beat Warriors 118-112 without MVP Harden Dmytro Kosach was crowned Aqeel Muhanna, Kuwait’s in the Tri-Series tournament in which they are prepared to the best goalkeeper while mid- national team coach expressed and the teams from both Ku- join the Academy. Los ANGELES: Eric Gordon scored a team high 25 points and Chris Paul had 23 as the Houston Rockets, fielder Yevhenii Mykytivk se- his gratitude on behalf of his wait and Aspire Academy were The training philosophy of playing without leading scorer James Harden, used a balanced attack to beat the Golden State Warriors lected the best player of the players and staff for the invita- strong opponents and made us the Academy is tailored to the 118-112 on Saturday. The Rockets won without the reigning NBA most valuable player Harden, who has tournament. tion to take part in the Tri-Se- work hard. From the hotel to goals of Qatar as a footballing been bothered by a sore neck of late and then woke up Saturday morning with flu symptoms, the team said. In the U-13 category, the ries tournament. the playing fields, all the facili- nation and follows a strategy Harden, who was fined $25,000 earlier Saturday for criticizing the referees after a loss to the Los national team from Kuwait “This is not the first time we ties are really impressive. And that is geared towards the de- Angeles Lakers, has missed just four games this season. Saturday’s win showed the team’s depth with- claimed the winner’s tro- take part in this tournament, so too is the city of Doha. I will velopment of individual player, out Harden, who has scored 30 or more points in 32 straight games for the second longest streak in league phy. Abdullah al Ayoub was playing in this competition is take great memories of our visit enabling them to fulfil their history. The two-time defending NBA champion Warriors beat the Rockets in a seven-game series last May crowned the best goalkeeper of tremendous benefit to our back to Ukraine and l’m very sporting potential and make in the Western Conference finals, but this regular season the tables have turned. Houston has now won all and Faisal al Mukahal the best side and gives our players the fortunate to have played in this the most of their talent. three meetings with Golden State this season, including a 107-86 rout in November. (AFP) Tsitsipas claims second Osaka will learn to deal with fame, says Nishikori ATP title in Marseille afp maybe a year ago she wasn’t terdam, losing to Stan Waw- Dubai ranked top 10. Suddenly eve- rinka. He said that he is look- afp rything changes: she’s No. 1, ing forward to a fresh ATP Marseille Kei Nishikori is confident his I’ve (only) been Top 3 before. experience. Japanese compatriot Naomi “There is more pressure, “It was always comfort- Rising Greek star Stefanos Osaka will learn to cope with for sure. Being No.1, winning able to play this week Acapul- Tsitsipas claimed his second pressure as she deals deal Grand Slams, that’s some- co. I used to play Memphis all ATP Tour title on Sunday by with her new elite status in thing I never had before. It’s the time, it was easier for me beating Mikhail Kukushkin in tennis. a bit different. It’s more than to play on the US side. the final of the Marseille event. Nishikori, playing as top me, I think.” “But I always wanted to The 20-year-old continued seed at the Dubai Champi- The 28-year-old said Osa- come here. Schedule-wise it his excellent start to the year, onships starting on Monday ka will eventually find her way wasn’t easy. Something new. which included a run to the ahead of seven-time champi- into a public comfort zone. It’s fun, so I chose to play Australian Open semi-finals on Roger Federer, has been- “I’m sure she’s going to here.” on the back of a fourth round there, done that-in terms of adapt, she just needs the time. Nishikori spent part of defeat of Roger Federer, by bat- national superstardom. She has great mental, very 2018 injured, starting his sea- tling to a 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) victory. But he believes that the strong, very calm. She doesn’t son a month late with a Chal- “Winning titles is the thing painfully shy 21-year-old panic too much. lenger, He started 2019 with that I am working for... It is Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas with ranks ahead of him as a na- “I’m sure in time she will the Brisbane trophy, his 12th the biggest satisfaction and the the trophy after winning the ATP tional sporting hero after get used to it. It’s unfortunate title. biggest joy in tennis,” said Tsit- Open 13 Provence on Sunday. (AFP) winning back-to-back Grand she lost here (first round at Japan’s Naomi Osaka The sixth-ranked Ni- sipas. “There was a lot of stress Slam titles at New York and the women’s event against shikori will begin his Dubai this week because I knew I had than usual. I am happy that Melbourne and igniting fresh Kristina Mladenovic) but I’m The top Asian in the men’s his 21019 schedule a touch. campaign in the first round to face some good opponents. I got through that stress and tennis hysteria across the Pa- sure she’s okay. game, based in the US like Nishikori arrived in the against Benoit Paire; he has “When you care a lot, played the game that I was cific. “She’s going to be winning Osaka, is playing Dubai for emirate after reaching the defeated the Frenchman in you tend to be more stressed supposed to play.” “It’s much more than me, more Grand Slams.” the first time as he shakes up semi-finals this month in Rot- five of seven matches.