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Sunday, February 23, 2020 FOOTBALL Jumada II 29, 1441 AH Marvellous Messi GULF TIMES hits four as Barca hammer Eibar 5-0 SPORT Page 3

HORSE RACING / HIS HIGHNESS THE AMIR SWORD FESTIVAL Double-triple for ‘legend’ Ebraz; French King wins Amir Trophy Sheikh Mohamed’s Ebraz wins Amir Sword for the third time and the Triple Crown

By Mikhil Bhat Doha

is Highness Sheikh Mo- hamed bin Khalifa al- Thani’s Ebraz proved to be an absolute “legend” Hwhen he raced to an unprece- dented double-triple to bring His Highness The Amir Sword Festi- His Highness The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani applauds as His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani lifts the His Highness val to a spectacular conclusion at The Amir Trophy after French King won the 2,400m race yesterday. a lively Al Rayyan Park yesterday. On a day of stars, His Highness rails midfi eld even as stablemate lier was beaming about his part- Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al- Aaley Al Magam took charge up ner. “This was better compared Thani’s French King was unstop- front with Olivier Peslier-rid- to how he won last year. He start- pable as he emerged victorious den Yazeed right behind. Com- ed really well. He wanted to go in His Highness The Amir Tro- ing off the far bend, De Mieulle almost 600m out and I let him,” phy (Group 1), the million dollar duo Yazeed and Soufi ane Saadi- said the French rider. Thoroughbred feature, for the helmed Tayf moved up front. The owner-trainer-jockey second straight year. Guyon found a gap between combine of His Highness Sheikh Julian Smart-trained Ebraz, the two leaders and managed to Mohamed, Smart and Guyon had ridden by Maxime Guyon yester- go past them before easing to a registered another Group 1 vic- day, not only won His Highness spectacular victory. tory earlier in the day. The Amir Sword (Group 1 PA) for Al Shahania Stud manager Methgal registered his fi rst a record third time, having bagged Dean Lavy added: “It’s amaz- Group 1 win when the four-year- the title previously in 2017 and ing. What a fantastic horse; to old bagged the Qatar Interna- 2019, but also the Triple Crown. win three Amir Sword and then tional Cup (Group 1 PA) in thrill- “He is the best horse in the to make it a Triple Crown. Right ing fashion. Ebraz trainer Julian Smart (left) hugs jockey Maxime Guyon after the world,” Smart said after the now, yes he is (the greatest Ara- Guyon had the TM Fred Texas victory in His Highness The Amir Sword yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim win that saw the colt fi nish al- bian horse). This will be very dif- colt stay in the mix for the bulk of most two lengths ahead of Umm fi cult to duplicate.” the mile, before joining Thomas al-Kuwari, when the Thomas enough pace at the business end Qarn’s Alban de Mieulle-trained Umm Qarn and Peslier, how- Fourcy-schooled French raider Fourcy charge raced to a domi- of the six-furlong sprint to edge duo Tayf and Yazeed. ever, had already tasted victory Shalaa in the front. Half-a-fur- nant 11-length victory in the His out Oisin Murphy ridden Izzt- “It is unbelievable. Every- winning the Thoroughbred fea- long out, Methgal dipped into his Highness The Amir Silver Sword. hatright at the post by a length. body said it (Triple Crown) was ture with Henri-Alex Pantall- reserves and steadily began eas- Trainer Henri-Alex Pantall (left) leads in His Highness Sheikh Abdullah With Soumillon again in the sad- The victory was Ibido’s second impossible. One mile in July at trained French King, who was in ing past the Julien Auge-ridden bin Khalifa al-Thani’s French King, Olivier Peslier (second from left) dle for the al-Kuwari silks, the Group level win in Qatar, after Goodwood (Qatar Internation- a league of his own when he beat horse for a fi ne win much to the astride, after the win in His Highness The Amir Trophy yesterday. fi lly stayed behind another Four- the Khor Al Adaid Cup back in al Stakes), 2,000m in October American raider Standard Devia- delight his connections. cy ward, Emporio, before taking January 2018 with Otwo, while at Longchamp (Qatar Arabian tion and French contender Pedro Champion trainer Jassim Mo- up behind Georges Mikhalides- year-old and older Thorough- charge coming off the bend and Izzthatright missed out on the World Cup) with the (heavy) Cara, both in the colours of His hamed Ghazali saddled a winner schooled Think Big last time breds. then she was unstoppable. win for the third straight year. ground and 2,400m here. Look at Highness Sheikh Mohamed, by in the Al Biddah Mile (QA Group round, but the former just about Ridden by Cristophe Soumil- After guiding Stefano Ibido- The day began with a thrilling the tracks, look at the conditions, two-and-a-half lengths. 2) after the acquisition from the managed to turn the tables at lon for Frenchman Fabrice Chap- schooled Dark Pursuit to two victory for Sheikh Faisal bin Ha- look at the countries, look at the “He is a good horse and has UK, Sir Arthur Dayne, made good the post yesterday, scraping past pet, the fi ve-year-old stayed course and distance victories this mad bin Jassim al-Thani’s Surra weather. Transportation. I mean evolved to be better now (than on the promise he showed on his Tom Marquand and his mount within striking distance early on season, jockey Luca Maniezzi Man Raa, who avenged his defeat it takes an absolute legend to do last year),” Pantall said a f t e r Qatar debut earlier this month. while on the rails for a win by in the 2,000m race before tak- was once again astride Abdulhadi to Al Jeryan Stud’s Al Lusail in the that,” said Smart, who has now the win, adding that The three-year-old colt, half-a-length. ing the advantage coming off the Mana al-Hajri-owned gelding Trials earlier this month. Soufi - won Qatar’s fl agship Purebred he “hopes” to come helmed by British champion The al-Kuwari silks entered bend, and then holding on for a and two did not disappoint in the ane Saadi helmed the Ibrahim al- Arabian race for the seventh time back next year jockey Oisin Murphy in the winner’s circle once again fi ne win. sprint feature — Breeders’ Cup- Malki-trained gelding to a close in a decade. for a hat- the colours of Khalifa after French raider Al Malhouf Another French raider, Lady sponsored Dukhan Sprint (QA short head victory ahead of Ronan Coming out of Gate 1, the trick. bin Sheail al-Kuwari, bagged His Highness The Amir Princess, completed a hat-trick Group 3). Thomas-ridden Al Lusail in the Guyon-ridden colt stayed on the Pes- had fi nished runner- Shalfa, a handicap race for four- for last year’s leading owner The four-year-old found 2,000m Al Rayyan Breeders Cup.

Maxime Guyon (right) rides Ebraz to His Highness The Amir Sword (Group 1 PA) victory yesterday.

RESULTS Race 2: 1. Methgal (Maxime Maniezzi), 2. Izzthatright (Oisin Bentley), 4. Happy Bere (Olivier zalona). Won by: 1 ¼, ¾, Dh. Time: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Henri- Race 1: 1. Surra Man Raa (Soufiane Guyon), 2. Shalaa (Julien Auge), Murphy), 3. Shobrom (Ivan Rossi), Peslier). Won by: ½, 1 ¼, 1 ½. Time: 2:02.39. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail Trainer: Thomas Fourcy. Alex Pantall. Saadi), 2. Al Lusail (Ronan Thomas), 3. Marid (Olivier Peslier), 4. Bin 4. Gulliver (Jason Hart). Won 1:33.42. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Fabrice Chappet. Race 7: 1. French King (Olivier Race 8: 1. Ebraz (Maxime Guyon), 3. Shaman Bu Thaila (Eduardo General (Ronan Thomas). Won by: by: 1, ¾, ¾. Time: 1:11.39. Owner: al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mo- Race 6: 1. Lady Princess (Cristo- Peslier), 2. Standard Deviation 2. Tayf (Soufiane Saadi), 3. Yazeed Pedroza), 4. Abu Samrah (Theo 1, 2 ¼, 1 ¼. Time: 1:40.93. Owner: Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri. Trainer: hamed Ghazali. phe Soumillon), 2. Emporio (Oisin Murphy), 3. Pedro Cara (Olivier Peslier), 4. Khataab Bachelot). Won by: Shd, 1, 1 ¼. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Stefano Ibido. Race 5: 1. Al Malhouf (Cristophe (Julien Auge), 3. Ginkeau (Faleh (Tony Piccone), 4. Noor Al Hawa (Jerome Cabre). Won by: 1 ¾, ¾, Time:2:06.83. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Race 4: 1. Sir Arthur Dayne (Oisin Soumillon), 2. Pazeer (Eduardo Bughanaim), 4. Goingfor Al (Tom Marquand). Won by: 2 ½, 1 2. Time: 2:31.22. Owner: His High- bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Julian Smart. Murphy), 2. Think Big (Tom Mar- Pedroza), 3. Hajaj (Faleh Bugha- Baraka (Adrie de Vries). Won by: ½, 1 ¾. Time: 2:25.91. Owner: His ness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki. Race 3: 1. Dark Pursuit (Luca quand), 3. Perfect Empire (Harry naim), 4. Zamharer (Mickael Bar- 11, 5, 1 ½. Time: 1:52.60. Owner: Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, February 23, 2020 EQUESTRIAN

HIS HIGHNESS THE AMIR’S SWORD SHOWJUMPING CHAMPIONSHIP Salman clinches Amir’s Sword aft er Big Tour win Al-Emadi, who was placed sixth after the first round, put on a clinical show with The Toymaker in the second to triumph

By Sahan Bidappa Doha

alman Mohamed al- Emadi won the feature event at the His High- ness The Amir’s Sword ShowjumpingS Championship yesterday. The Qatari rider pi- loted his 15-year-old gelding The Toymaker to victory in the Big Tour and received the Amir’s Sword from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s outdoor arena. Al- Emadi’s victory also rewarded him with a Lexus car. The Big Tour class was held over two rounds. Al-Emadi, who was placed sixth after the fi rst round on Friday, put on a clinical show with The Toymaker in the second as the duo galloped the course in 60.12 seconds to trump the 145cm class. Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi fi nished runner-up with Casal Young riders pose with their medals after the Future Riders competition. Des Forets after clocking a time of 44.81 secs, while last year’s winner Faleh Suwead al-Ajami Future Riders | Table A, One led Carport to third place in round against the clock, Art. 46.38 secs. Both al-Rumaihi and 238.2.1 | 85/100cm al-Ajami registered quicker tim- 1. Majed Abdulrahman al-Awadh. ings than al-Emadi but were un- Horse: Ubor; Faults: 0; Time: done by eight penalties they ac- 41.05secs cumulated. On the other hand, Amir’s Sword winner Salman Mohamed al-Emadi (third from left) celebrates with Medium Tour top three 2. Lolwa Ali Atat. Animo’s Boy Van al-Emadi reaped benefi ts for finishers during the His Highness The Amir’s Sword Showjumping Championship at the Qatar Equestrian De Dennehoeve Tat; 0; 43.57secs making just one mistake. Federation’s outdoor arena yesterday. 3. Mohammed Ibrahim al Hor. The Qatari rider said this was Zaragossa; 0; 43.58secs. his most important accomplish- ceded fewer penalties than oth- Casal Des Forets. “I didn’t expect RESULTS ment of his career. “My joy is ers. In the end it was just a matter to win honestly as my horse is still Big Tour | Table A, Two rounds Future Riders | Table A, One indescribable. After years of at- of small margins,” he added. very young and was competing against the clock, Art. 273.3.3.1 | round against the clock, Art. tempts, I am fi nally able to gain Al-Emadi also paid credit to in his fi rst major championship. I 135/145cm | 238.2.1 |70/85cm the great honour of winning the his participation in the annual was lying in seventh position after 1. Salman Mohamed al-Emadi. 1. Jassim Adel al-Saegh. Joly’s sword of His Highness the Amir. Longines Hathab series, which the fi rst round, so to fi nish second Horse: The Toymaker, Rd I: Arno; 0; 40.59secs This is my biggest achievement, is held over 12 legs, for his im- overall is a great eff ort,” he added. Faults: 0; 0; Time:79.70secs; Rd 2. Fahad Abdulkarim Abed. Leslie even though I have won various provements. “Hathab is a very Defending champion al-Ajami II: Faults: 1; Time: 60.12 Prize: Ann 2; 0; 41.27secs championships, including at the rewarding series. Not just me, it was also happy with his third- Lexus Car 3. Haya Khalid al-Hitmi. SITA; 0; Asian Games,” al-Emadi said. has benefi ted all the riders as it’s place fi nish, after coming into the 2. Mubarak Yousuf al-Rumaihi. 44.91secs “I was determined to win the held over 12 legs. This victory will second round in eighth place. “It Casal Des Forets, Rd I: Faults: 4;0; precious sword. The competition only make me perform better in was a tough competition as there Time: 74.40secs; Rd II: Faults: 4; was stronger than last year. There the future Hathab legs,” he said. were many strong performances Time: 44.81secs; QR11,200 Omar al-Mannai (front left), were many riders with the new Meanwhile, al-Rumaihi wasn’t from the elite riders. I have been 3. Faleh Suwead al-Ajami. Carport, Vice-Chairman of the Joint horses so it wasn’t easy out there. too disappointed with runner-up doing well on the circuit and I Rd I: Faults: 4; 0; Time: 77.04secs; Higher Organising Committee I had to be at my best today and I fi nish as he was riding an inexpe- hope I can make it to the Qatar’s rd II: Faults: 4; Time: 46.38secs; poses with the top three finishers could win only because I did con- rienced eight-year-old gelding Olympic team,” he said QR9,000. of the Small Tour class.

Sights from His Highness The Amir Sword Festival Gulf Times Sunday, February 23, 2020 3 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA LIGUE 1 Marseille’s unbeaten run ends aft er Messi scores four as Nantes defeat

AFP Marseille

arseille’s 14-match unbeaten run in Barcelona rout Eibar Ligue 1 came to an end yesterday after Mthey fell to a surprise 3-1 home The 32-year-old completes the second fastest of his now 36 career hat-tricks defeat by off -form Nantes. An- dre Villas-Boas’s second-placed AFP side have put themselves in a Madrid strong position to qualify for the Champions League next season thanks to their hot streak but ionel Messi scored four goals as were downed by goals either side Barcelona began a crunch week of half-time by Anthony Lim- in their season by thrashing bombe and Abdoul Kader Bamba Eibar 5-0 in La Liga yesterday. and a late Alvaro own goal at the LBarca play away at in-form Napoli in Stade Velodrome. the Champions League on Tuesday be- They stay 11 points clear of fore facing title rivals Real Madrid next third-placed Rennes, who host weekend, with pressure on the team, Nimes on Sunday, but Lille can and Messi, amid a period of political move to within nine points of turbulence at the club. Marseille with a win over rock- Yet on the pitch, Messi showed no sign bottom Toulouse later last of distraction as the 32-year-old com- night. The defeat also means pleted the second fastest of his now 36 Paris Saint-Germain can move career hat-tricks, after just 40 minutes 13 points clear at the top if they at Camp Nou. Messi added a late fourth beat Bordeaux at the Parc des after being teed up by Martin Braithwaite, Princes today. Barcelona’s emergency signing who en- Nantes meanwhile climb to joyed an excellent cameo off the bench 10th, just three points from the by claiming two assists, the second for European places, after bag- Arthur Melo in injury-time. Braithwaite’s ging their fi rst win in six league contribution and Messi’s return to form matches. Limbombe stunned delivered a timely boost ahead of what the Velodrome when he stopped could prove a pivotal few days in Barca’s to head home Bamba’s cross in season. Messi had gone four games with- the 35th minute in what was the out a goal in La Liga, his longest drought game’s fi rst shot on target, but since 2014, even if those matches saw him the hosts reacted positively to register fi ve assists. going a goal down and were level He now has 22 goals in 28 appear- shortly after. ances this term. And Braithwaite’s ar- First Nantes goalkeeper Alban rival from Leganes on Thursday drew Barcelona’s forward Lionel Messi (centre) scores against Eibar during the La Liga at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona yesterday. (AFP) Lafont was forced into a smart criticism after Barcelona capitalised on SPANISH LA LIGA RESULTS save from Valentin Rongier’s a curious La Liga rule that allows clubs The Argentinian also described as With Napoli to come fi rst in mid- who feathered a fl ick into Messi’s path. long-range drive a minute af- to sign outside of the transfer win- “strange” the allegations, which have week in the Champions League last 16 Messi surged forward, past his stum- Celta Vigo 1 (Aspas 62) Leganes 0; ter Limbombe’s opener, but the dow if they have lost a player to injury been denied by the club, that president fi rst leg, Bartomeu will hope this result bling opponents, and fi red in. His third, Barcelona 5 (Messi 14, 37, 40, 87, Frenchman couldn’t stop San- for more than fi ve months. Leganes, Josep Maria Bartomeu hired a PR com- against Eibar sets the tone for recovery, three minutes later, was the simplest of Arthur 89) Eibar 0; Real Sociedad 3 son’s curling eff ort three min- without their top scorer, were beaten pany that has criticised Barca players, particularly given the fans had waved the trio and arrived only after he tried to (Merino 12, Monreal 45+1, Januzaj 48) utes later. The away side were earlier by fellow strugglers Celta Vigo including Messi, on social media. white handkerchiefs, whistled and sang play in Antoine Griezmann. His gener- Valencia 0 back ahead again seven minutes but Braithwaite made the perfect start Yet yesterday’s victory means Quique songs in protest against the club’s pres- osity was rewarded as a sloppy Griez- Playing today (times GMT): after the break when Bamba with his new team, to suggest he could Setien’s side go top of La Liga, tempo- ident before kick-off . mann touch meant the ball cannoned Osasuna v Granada (1100), Alaves pounced on Rongier losing the yet prove a useful addition during the rarily at least, with Real Madrid able to Messi quickly got to work, scoring a back to Messi, who apologetically poked v Athletic Bilbao (1300), Real Val- ball to curl home a stunning fi n- run-in. Messi said in an interview with restore their one-point lead at the sum- brilliant fi rst goal in the 14th minute af- in. Setien was able to take Griezmann ladolid v Espanyol (1500), Getafe ish that was only confi rmed as a Mundo Deportivo last week that Bar- mit if they beat Levante later last night. ter collecting the ball centrally, around off with 18 minutes left and introduce v Sevilla (1730), Atletico Madrid v goal after a long VAR check. celona, “the way we are now”, will not Whatever happens, the reward for the 30 yards out. He had three Eibar de- Braithwaite for his debut. Villarreal (2000) However there was no re- have enough to go all the way in the winner of the Clasico next weekend will fenders in front of him but found a way Braithwaite’s fi rst contribution was a sponse from Marseille this time Champions League, placing further now claim fi rst place, in a meeting at through, nutmegging Anaitz Arbilla be- skewed cross but things improved im- Played on Friday: Real Betis 3 (Sergio despite the return of star man doubts around the direction of the club the Santiago Bernabeu that could have fore chipping delicately into the corner. measurably from there, as two passes Canales 19-pen, Fekir 35-pen, Joaquin Dimitri Payet from injury, and on the back of his public spat with tech- a considerable psychological impact on The second came in the 37th minute as across goal gave Messi his fourth and 48) Real Mallorca 3 (Hernández 16, Nantes sealed the win in stop- nical secretary Eric Abidal. the title race. Sergio Busquets found Arturo Vidal, Arthur his fi rst. Budimir 27, Kubo 70) page time in comical fashion.

PREMIER LEAGUE Ronaldo marks 1,000th game with record-equalling goal Rome: Cristiano Ronaldo mistake when running onto the crossbar, but Sarri’s side Chelsea see off Tottenham scored for a record-equalling Juan Cuadrado’s low cross after earned a valuable three points 11th consecutive Serie A game Ramsey’s ball forward. against an outfit they had failed in his 1,000th professional The Portuguese forward to beat away from home in the match as Juventus extended drew level with Sampdoria for- previous two seasons. as Man City beat Leicester their league lead yesterday ward Quagliarella, who in Janu- Juventus captain Giorgio with a 2-1 win over basement ary 2019 equalled the mark pre- Chiellini got his first start since AFP club SPAL. The 35-year-old viously achieved by Batistuta in being sidelined with a cruci- London tapped in six minutes before 1994-1995 for Fiorentina. Both ate ligament knee injury last the break to equal the mark Italian Quagliarella and Argen- August, playing for 55 minutes held by Gabriel Batistuta and tine Batistuta went on to finish in Ferrara. helsea strengthened Fabio Quagliarella. the seasons as the Serie A top their grip on a Premier The five-time Ballon d’Or scorer after their feat, with both SERIE A RESULTS League top-four place winner has scored 25 goals in scoring 26 goals in total. SPAL 1 (Petagna 69-pen) Ju- yesterday by beating all competitions this season Ronaldo has 21 goals in Serie ventus 2 (Ronaldo 39, Ramsey LondonC rivals Tottenham 2-1 for Juventus, including 16 in A this season, five behind lead- 60); Bologna 1 (Palacio 90+2) as Manchester City edged past his current run of 11 matches. ing scorer Ciro Immobile. Udinese 1 (Okaka 33) Leicester despite seeing Sergio Aaron Ramsey added a second Ramsey doubled Juve’s lead Aguero’s penalty saved. after an hour, before Andrea on the hour mark, latching onto Playing today (all times Sheffi eld United will rue miss- Petagna pulled one back from Maurizio Sarri’s side opened Paulo Dybala pass to produce GMT): Genoa v Lazio (1130), ing out on the chance to clam- the spot for SPAL. up a four-point lead on second- a scooped lob over SPAL goal- Atalanta v Sassuolo, Hellas ber above Tottenham into fi fth It got Juventus back to win- placed Lazio who travel to keeper Etrit Berisha. Verona v Cagliari, Torino v place after drawing at home ning ways away from home af- Genoa today. Inter Milan are six Petagna pulled one back Parma (all 1400), Roma v Lecce to struggling Brighton. Liver- ter consecutive defeats against points behind the champions with a penalty awarded after (1700), Inter Milan v Sampdo- pool’s staggering 19-point lead Napoli and Hellas Verona, and before their game at home a VAR review for a Daniele Ru- ria (1945) over second-placed Manchester ahead of next week’s trip to against Sampdoria. gani foul on Simone Missiroli. Played Friday: Brescia 1 (Chan- City means the title race is ef- French club Lyon in the Cham- Ronaldo had an early goal Ronaldo missed a chace for cellor 26) Napoli 2 (Insigne fectively over, with much of the pions League last 16, first leg. ruled off side but made no a second when his free-kick hit 49-pen, Fabian 54) focus turning to the scramble to qualify for next season’s Cham- pions League. Frank Lampard’s fourth-placed Chelsea went into BUNDESLIGA their match against Jose Mour- inho’s Spurs at Stamford Bridge without a win in their past four Premier League matches and just Leipzig thrash Schalke, Haaland hits 40th goal one point clear of Spurs. Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud (left) and Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Fringe players Olivier Giroud Alderweireld vie for the ball. (Reuters) AFP Bayern for next season. After fi ve straight league defeats, Bremen and Marcos Alonso were recalled Berlin It turned into a rout when Halstenberg remain 17th and fi ve points from safety. They by Lampard and both rewarded Erik Lamela’s shot into his own at the King Power Stadium and headed in Leipzig’s third goal on 68 min- suff ered another blow in the relegation bat- their manager’s confi dence by net in the 89th minute to give Leicester had two penalty ap- utes, then Angelino, on loan from Manches- tle as Fortuna Duesseldorf, who are a place scoring in the home win. Spurs late hope. peals turned down in an engag- arcel Sabitzer said RB Leipzig ter City, beat two defenders for their fourth above them, enjoyed a 2-0 win at Freiburg. The result means Lampard Adding to Lampard’s frustra- ing contest. will be “tough to stop” in the on 81 minutes. In the dying stages, Leip- Fourth-placed Borussia Moenchenglad- has completed a league double tion, television broadcaster BT Bundesliga title race after their zig winger Christopher Nkunku produced bach slipped six points behind Bayern, albeit against his former boss this sea- Sport reported that VAR offi cials ENGLISH PREMIER 5-0 thrashing of Schalke in his fourth assist to tee up Forsberg, on for with a game in hand, as Lucas Ribeiro’s in- son after their 2-0 victory at the had told them Lo Celso should MGelsenkirchen yesterday kept them within Werner, to slot home. jury-time strike snatched Hoff enheim a 1-1 LEAGUE RESULTS Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in have been sent off . As it stands, a a point of leaders Bayern Munich. Leipzig Earlier, Erling Braut Haaland scored his draw at Borussia Park. Matthias Ginter had December. But the match was fi fth-placed fi nish could guaran- Burnley 3 (Vydra 53, Rodriguez stayed second in the table after their captain 40th goal of the season in Borussia Dort- powered in an early opener for Gladbach, overshadowed by a VAR contro- tee Champions League football 61-pen, McNeil 87) Bournemouth Sabitzer opened the scoring with less than a mund’s 2-0 win at Werder Bremen. The but the hosts were made to pay after Alas- versy, with offi cials ruling that next season because Manchester 0; Chelsea 2 (Giroud 15, Alonso minute gone with a powerful drive. 19-year-old has netted 12 times in eight sane Plea saw a 75th-minute penalty saved Tottenham midfi elder Giovani Lo City have been banned from Eu- 48) Tottenham 1 (Rudiger 89-og); Germany striker Timo Werner, defender games since joining Dortmund for 20mn by Hoff enheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Celso did not deserve to be sent rope’s elite competition for two Crystal Palace 1 (Van Aanholt Marcel Halstenberg, new signing Angelino euros ($22mn) in December. off for a “leg breaker” stamp on years. City hope to have their ap- 44) Newcastle 0; Leicester 0 and Emil Forsberg hit second-half goals as Haaland, who scored twice in Tuesday’s GERMAN BUNDESLIGA RESULTS Cesar Azpilicueta. peal against the ban heard by the Manchester City 1 (Jesus 80); Leipzig built on their 1-0 midweek Cham- Champions League last 16, fi rst-leg win over Bor. Moenchengladbach 1 (Ginter 11) Hof- World Cup winner Giroud put Court of Arbitration for Sport Paris Saint-Germain, also scored 28 goals Sheff ield United 1 (Stevens 26) pions League win at Tottenham. It was an- fenheim 1 (Lucas Ribeiro 90+2); Werder Chelsea ahead in the 15th minute before the start of next season. other impressive away display, especially as for Salzburg this term. Dortmund ground Brighton 1 (Maupay 30); South- Bremen 0 Borussia Dortmund 2 (Zagadou when he reacted quickest to fi n- Substitute Gabriel Jesus struck their fl ight home following the Spurs game out a victory which left them third after ampton 2 (Long 8, Armstrong 52, Haaland 66); Hertha Berlin 0 Cologne ish beyond Hugo Lloris after late on for City after Aguero saw was delayed in the early hours of Thursday. showing some early nerves in Bremen where 90+5) Aston Villa 0 5 (Cordoba 4, 22, Kainz 62, 38, Uth 70); Ross Barkley had struck a post. his second-half spot-kick saved Leipzig kept pace with Bayern who they crashed to a 3-2 German Cup defeat Chelsea doubled their advantage by Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Playing today: Manchester squeezed past bottom side Paderborn on earlier this month. Freiburg 0 Fortuna Duesseldorf 2 (Hoff - three minutes into the second Schmeichel. United v Watford (1400), Wolves Friday. Sabitzer gave Leipzig a spectacular Centre-back Dan-Axel Zagadou gave the mann 37, Thommy 61); Schalke 0 RB Leipzig half, Alonso drilling in a fi rst- The 1-0 win leaves them seven v Norwich (1400), Arsenal v lead by smashing a long-range shot past visitors the lead by volleying home a Ja- 5 (Sabitzer 1, Werner 61, Halstenberg 68, time shot after being set up by points clear of Leicester, ce- Everton (1630) goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel. don Sancho corner on 52 minutes. Haaland Angelino 81, Forsberg 89) Barkley. menting their position in second Playing tomorrow: Liverpool v An hour later, Werner claimed his 21st doubled the advantage by drilling Achraf Playing today (GMT): Bayer Leverkusen Alonso’s free-kick hit the bar place. Jamie Vardy will rue hit- West Ham (2000) league goal of the season by rifling into Hakimi’s square ball into the corner on 66 v Augsburg (1430), VfL Wolfsburg v Mainz before Antonio Rudiger defl ected ting the post early in the match the top corner past Nuebel, who will join minutes to score his ninth Bundesliga goal. (1700) Gulf Times 4 Sunday, February 23, 2020 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Qatar Cross-Country rally begins with Souq Waqif ceremonial start First Al Khararra stage of Qatar’s opening round of the 2020 FIA World Cup to be held today

(PRT) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3)* By Sports Reporter Doha Kees Koolen (NLD)/Serge Bruynkens (BEL) OT3 by Overdrive (T3) Gonzalo Guayasamin (ECU)/Ricardo Torlaschi he Manateq Qatar Cross-Country Rally (ARG) Polaris RZR 1000 Turbo (T3) (MQCCR) got underway in front of the television cameras and hundreds of Mubarak al-Hajri (QAT)/Laurent Lichtleuchter onlookers at Souq Waqif in downtown (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3)* TDoha yesterday evening. Mohammed al-Harqan (QAT)/Vili Oslaj (SLO) The opening round of the FIA World Cup for Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3)* Cross-Country Rallies has attracted competi- tors from an impressive 22 countries and as far Saleh al-Saif (SAU)/Ali Hassan Obaid (ARE) afi eld as the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Equador, Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) Western and Eastern Europe, Jordan and the Austin Jones (USA)/Gustavo Gugelmin (BRA) GCC. Several of the front-running drivers at- Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) tended the offi cial pre-event press conference *denotes also eligible for Manateq Qatar on the start podium before cars were fl agged National Baja. T1 unless stated away from the ceremonial start in the heart of Qatar’s historic capital. Competitors spent yesterday morning fi nal- MANATEQ QATAR NATIONAL BAJA ising their technical checks and any outstanding – ADDITIONAL STARTERS: paperwork, before attending a mandatory brief- ing hosted by offi cials at the Qatar Motor and Mohamed al-Attiyah (QAT)/Tameer Huazeen Motorcycle Federation (QMMF). (JOR) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) There were a couple of late additions to the Jarman Jaralla (QAT)/Feras Allouh (QAT) entry list for the Manateq Qatar National Baja, Nissan Patrol (T1) with Peruvian co-driver Hector Garcia Chavez Hamed bin Eid al-Thani (QAT)/Stéphane Duplé teaming up with Ahmed Allouh in a Can-Am (FRA) Sierra GMC (T2) Maverick X3 and Maria Angeles Hernandez fl y- ing in from Alicante in Spain for the fi rst time to Ahmed Allouh (QAT)/Hector Garcia Chavez sit alongside German female driver Edith Weiss (PER) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) in a Nissan Patrol. Abdulaziz al-Basheer (KWT)/Abdulaziz al- Tomorrow (Sunday) the fi rst car will leave Mahrouz (KWT) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) Lusail Sports Arena at 09.30hrs and a liaison of 74.07km takes competitors to the start of a short Ahmed al-Muhannadi (QAT)/Igor Okhotnikov opening 171.25km Al Khararra selective section, (RUS) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) starting at 10.55hrs. Jamal Fakhroo (QAT)/Saeed Shwareb (QAT) Al Khararra is a desert village in the munici- Ace Qatari driver Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (second left) and his French co-driver Matthieu Baumel (centre) pose with Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Nissan Patrol (T2) pality of Al Wakra, situated to the west of Me- Federation president Abdulrahman al-Mannai (second rigth and other off icials during the ceremonial flag off for the Manateq Qatar Cross-Country saieed, in south-central Qatar. Its name derives Rally at Souq Waqif yesterday. Mohammed al-Mutairi (KWT)/Talal al-Ali (KWT) from the Arabic word ‘khar’, which translates as Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) ‘the sound of running water’ - the area features LIST OF STARTERS Chevrolet Buggy* G-Force T3 GF (T3)* Mohamed Amir (KWT)/Yousef al-Refaei (KWT) several hills and surface rain run-off is notice- Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel Balazs Szalay (HUN)/Laszlo Bunnozci (HUN) Aleksey Shmotov (RUS)/Andrey Rudnitski (RUS) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) able in the winter. (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive Opel Grandland X Can-Am Maverick (T3) Ali Saeed al-Kuwari (QAT)/Ghaith al-Kuwari The day’s stage features two passage controls Yazeed al-Rajhi (SAU)/Michael Orr (GBR) Abdullah al-Rabban (QAT)/Igor Chudaykin Khalid al-Mohannadi (QAT)/Sebastien Delaunay (QAT) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) on the Umm Bab Highway and on the Al Kharar- Toyota Hilux Overdrive (RUS) Jeep* (FRA) Polaris RZR 1000 Turbo (T3)* ra road after 54.07km and 93.61km, respectively, Camelia Liparoti (ITA)/Angelo Montico (ESP) before fi nishing on the Sealine road to the south Jakub Przygonski (POL)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) Fedor Vorobyev (RUS)/Kirill Shubin (RUS) Ahmed al-Kuwari (QAT)/Manuel Lucchese (ITA) Yamaha YZX 1000 R (T4) of Doha. A road section of 83.80km brings teams Toyota Hilux Overdrive OT3 by Overdrive (T3) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3)* Abdulrahman Ali (KWT)/Abdulaziz Bouabbas back to the bivouac in Lusail. Mohamed al-Meer (QAT)/Alexey Kuzmich (RUS) Adel Abdulla (QAT)/Jean-Michel Polato (FRA) Rashed al-Mohannadi (QAT)/Pedro Santos (KWT) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3)

QNB STARS LEAGUE QATAR OPEN SHOTGUN CHAMPIONSHIP Duhail edge past Wakrah, Umm Salal hold Sadd Tomecek, Bartekova By Sports Reporter Doha triumph in skeet

By Sports Reporter before the home crowd,” said al- l Duhail opened a four-point Doha Attiyah, who is aiming to qualify advantage at the top of the QNB for a record seventh time at this Stars League table after Han year’s Tokyo Games. Kwang-Song’s strike gave them zech Republic’s Jakub Al-Attiyah was joint second aA 1-0 win over gutsy Al Wakrah at the Al Tomecek won the men’s on the fi rst day with a minor blip Duhail Stadium yesterday. skeet event at the Qatar in the third round saw the Qatari Meanwhile, reigning champions Al Open Shotgun cham- miss the perfect score, allowing Sadd fell fi ve points behind Duhail af- pionshipC at the Losail Shooting 2018 world champion and Bei- ter they were held to a 2-2 draw by Umm Range yesterday. jing Olympics bronze medallist Salal. In fact, Sadd were lucky to avoid Tomecek shot down the chal- Anthony Terras of France and defeat after trailing by two goals at the Al lenge of 2017 Commonwealth Tomecek to lead with a tally of 75. Gharafa Stadium. Games gold medallist Ben Al-Attiyah was on 74, along with Coming into the match, Duhail were Llewellin of Great Britain 60-57 Slavicek and medallist Llevelin. clear favourites for the victory, but were in the gold medal shootout to In the women’s skeet, London made to work hard by a resolute Al Wak- clinch the fi rst place. Tomecek Olympics bronze medallist Dan- rah, who are looking to create distance picked up $7,000 for his top ka Bartekova of Slovakia fi nished between themselves and those at the bot- place fi nish while Llewellin got on top and picked up the $7,000 tom of the league. $6,000. The third place went cheque. Great Britain’s Am- The fi rst half was largely in Al Du- to Tomecek’s compatriot Milos ber Hill came second and Lucie hail’s favour. However, they were unable Slavicek, who took home $5000. Anastassiou of France fi nished to break the deadlock. Mario Mandzukic Qatar’s London Olympic third. was fi rst to be denied, with the Croat see- Al Duhail’s Han Kwang-Song (second right) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Al Wakrah yesterday. bronze medallist Nasser Saleh Around 220 shooters from 34 ing a trademark header saved low to the al-Attiyah could not make it to countries are taking part in the goalkeeper’s left. Han should have done beyond a helpless Hassan Idriss. in and Azizi rose horizontally to fi ercely tions started to show and it was not long the fi nal round. Six top shooters $132,000 event, which will see better when he broke into the penalty Meanwhile, Umm Salal were in con- strike his header into the net. Moments before they found an equaliser. Abdelka- made it to the fi nal round, after shooters vying for top glory in area, but he dragged his shot fractionally tention for an unlikely win after Ayoub later Umm Salal doubled their lead after rim found Nam just inside the box, with fi ve rounds spread over two days. ten categories of individual and wide with a clear sight of goal. Azizi scored in the 24th minute, with a strike from outside the box was only the South Korean turning his marker be- The competition was of a high mixed team events in the nine- A half-time team talk was enough for Mahmoud al-Mawas adding another in partially saved by Saad al-Dossari and al- fore curling a wonderful shot into the far standard in the qualifying rounds day event which gets over on the hosts as they quickly came out of the 33rd minute. But Al Sadd came back Mawas pounced on the rebound to give post to level the match. with the top two missing just one February 28. the traps and scored what turned out to through Marco Fabian in the 48th minute his side a 2-0 lead at the break. Al Sadd thought they had won it deep clay pigeon and fi nishing with a The hosts are represented by be the game’s winning goal in the 48th and Nam Tae-Hee in the 59th to secure Al Sadd pulled a goal back when Fabian into injury time, but Bounedjah’s excel- score of 124. 50 shooters. and Qatar Shooting minute. A patient build-up sufficed as a point. Umm Salal took a surprise lead struck a powerful, swerving shot from 25 lent header crashed off the cross bar and “The competition was of a very and Archery Association presi- Han was played in on goal, turned his after winning a corner on the left-hand yards which found the back of the net. agonisingly away from goal to see both high standard. It has been almost dent Ali Mohamed al-Kuwari marker and fired inside the near post side, Walid Meslob’s cross was drifted Al Sadd’s experience in these situa- teams settle for a point. a few months since I took my gun said the event will serve as a good and practised shooting, the other preparation for the Qatari shoot- competitors have been taking ers and also for the international AL KASS INTERNATIONAL CUP part in many events leading up shooters in the Olympic year. to this event. But I am happy to The Mixed Skeet Team event take part in the event and shoot will take place today. Inter Milan to face Real Madrid in title clash

By Sports Reporter ter Lorenzo Peretti had fl icked it into Meanwhile, Real Madrid deservedly Doha his path. Gabriele Bonacina’s side went reached their fourth fi nal, but they need- ahead on 53 minutes when PSG keeper ed a penalty shoot-out to end the hopes Louis Mouquet fl apped at a high cross of tournament debutants Mohammed VI nter Milan and Real Madrid will face- and the ball hit left-back Vimoj Mungu Academy. Real dominated the game and off in the fi nal of the Al Kass Interna- before going into his own net. should have won inside 90 minutes but tional Cup tomorrow. Inter will hope PSG thought they had equalised on 68 they found Mohammed keeper Walid to become the fi rst Italian winners of minutes but the referee correctly ruled Hasbi in inspired form. Ithe under-16 tournament after stunning the ‘goal’ out for off side. Gharbi played The 2017 champions had been in high- three-time champions Paris Saint-Ger- the ball wide to winger Pascal Lemina scoring form throughout the tournament main 3-1 in the semi-fi nals at the Aspire who crossed for substitute Jouvence but had to wait until the 53rd minute yesterday. Real Madrid edged out Mo- Americo to head home, but he had moved to fi nd the net when substitute Mario hammed VI 5-3 on penalties in a thrilling too early. Martin fi red home after great work by match after the scores were locked at 1-1 Inter Milan players celebrate after Within one minute, Inter had gone 3-1 David Pecellin. Mohammed had enjoyed in regulation time. scoring a goal against Paris Saint- ahead following a corner when the ball a much better second half though and PSG, the most successful team in the Germain in the Al Kass International Cup. fl icked up off Lemina and Perretti nodded they stunned Real with an equaliser on 88 history of the tournament with three it into the net. Mouquet got his hand to it minutes when Oussame Lyakoubi swept wins, took the lead after just eight min- the striker’s knee with his foot and this but was unable to keep it out. in a deep cross and Salah Cheff ani rose utes when Ismael Gharbi scored from time Yousef Al Sharshani, a graduate of PSG, who have played in all nine edi- well to head home. Real scored from all Men’s skeet event winner Czech Republic’s Jakub Tomecek (centre) the spot. Mattia Ortelli barged into Ily- Aspire Academy, did point to the spot. tions of the competition, will now take fi ve of their spot-kicks to take the hon- poses with runner-up Ben Llewellin (second left), third placed es Housni and although that challenge Inter pulled level on 23 minutes when on Mohammed XI Academy in the third/ ours with Mario, smashing home the Milos Slavicek (second right) and off icials at the Qatar Open Shotgun didn’t warrant a penalty he then caught Amadou Sarr stabbed the ball home af- fourth place play-off . match-winning penalty. championship at the Losail Shooting Range yesterday. Gulf Times Sunday, February 23, 2020 5 SPORT

NBA NHL Raptors rout Suns, Aft er a slow start, Pacers hold on to Bruins top Flames Agencies Jaden Schwartz and Jordan New York Kyrou had a goal and assist for beat NY Knicks the Blues, who got just their second road victory in its last Siakam scored 25 of his points in the first half and also had 12 rebounds overall atrice Bergeron 11 tries. scored twice and Brad The Blues also got goals Marchand got the from Alexander Steen and Pgame-winner as the David Perron, two assists each Boston Bruins rallied to beat from Ryan O’Reilly and Rob- the Calgary Flames 4-3 on Fri- ert Thomas, and 18 saves from day for their fi fth consecutive Jake Allen. victory. Jamie Oleksiak scored for Calgary jumped to a 3-1 the Stars, who took just their lead through the fi rst 3:23, but second regulation loss in their the Bruins became just the last 11 games. seventh team in NHL history Goaltender Ben Bishop al- (regular season and postsea- lowed four goals in 13 shots son) to win despite allowing before Anton Khudobin re- three goals in the fi rst four placed him during the second minutes of a game. period. The Flames had been the most recent team to accom- AVALANCHE 1, DUCKS 0 plish the feat, when they beat J T Compher broke through the visiting San Jose Sharks in a tight defensive battle to 4-3 in a fi rst-round playoff score a second-period goal, game on April 13, 2008. and Colorado extended its Brad Marchand had a goal road winning streak to fi ve and an assist for the Bruins, games by beating Anaheim. who also got a goal from Char- Pavel Francouz made 26 lie Coyle and two assists from saves while earning his fi rst David Pastrnak. career shutout as Colorado Jaroslav Halak made 18 posted its second consecu- saves for the win. tive victory following a three- Mikael Backlund scored game losing streak. twice for the Flames, and Francouz’s eff ort came on Johnny Gaudreau added a goal. the same day he agreed to a Calgary goalie Cam Talbot two-year contract extension stopped 19 shots. with the Avalanche, report- edly for $2mn per season. WILD 5, OILERS 3 Goalie John Gibson stopped Defenseman Jared Spurgeon 28 shots for Anaheim, which scored his fi rst career hat trick lost its third consecutive game as Minnesota won at Edmon- and fell for the fourth time in ton. the past fi ve contests. Kevin Fiala and Carson The Ducks are 0-2-0 to Soucy also scored for the Wild, open a six-game homestand. who improved to 2-1-0 under interim coach Dean Evason ISLANDERS 4, and completed a season sweep RED WINGS 1 of the Oilers. Jordan Eberle scored three Goaltender Alex Stalock goals for New York, which made 23 saves. snapped a four-game losing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins streak by beating Detroit in Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) drives to the basket between Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) and guard Elie Okobo (2) in the first half of their game at Scotia- scored twice and Leon Drai- Uniondale, NY. bank Arena on Friday. PICTURE: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports saitl also tallied for Edmonton, The Islanders, who were which lost both games on its outscored 11-2 over a four- Agencies to pull out the victory despite missing 15 Rookie Ja Morant had 17 points, and homestand. game Western Conference Los Angeles of 20 shots in the fourth quarter. Brandon Clarke and Gorgui Dieng each Goalie Mikko Koskinen road trip that ended Wednes- Domantas Sabonis posted his 42nd Results amassed 14 points and 10 rebounds. stopped 34 of 38 shots. day, moved into sole posses- double-double with 24 points and 13 re- LA Lakers ...... 117 Memphis ...... 105 In Salt Lake City, Dejounte Murray sion of the Eastern Confer- ascal Siakam scored 37 points bounds and Doug McDermott came off Portland ...... 115 New Orleans .....128 poured in 23 points to lead six teammates RANGERS 5, ence’s fi rst wild card, one as the reigning NBA champion the bench to score 14 points for the Pacers, New York ...... 98 Indiana ...... 106 in double-fi gure scoring as San Antonio HURRICANES 2 point ahead of the idle Colum- Toronto Raptors won their 16th who won their second consecutive game Toronto ...... 118 Phoenix ...... 101 defeated Utah in Salt Lake City in the fi rst Igor Shesterkin stopped 27 bus Blue Jackets. game of their last 17 with a 118- after losing six straight. Utah ...... 104 San Antonio ...... 113 game for both teams after the All-Star shots to win his sixth consec- Leo Komarov scored an P empty-netter in the fi nal sec- 101 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Fri- Victor Oladipo fi nished with eight Minnesota...... 117 Boston ...... 127 break. utive decision, and New York day. points in little more than 25 minutes be- Oklahoma City ...113 Denver ...... 101 DeMar DeRozan hit for 18 points for defeated Carolina in Raleigh, onds for the Islanders. Siakam scored 25 of his points in the fore exiting with back soreness. Orlando ...... 106 Dallas ...... 122 San Antonio while LaMarcus Aldridge and NC. Goalie Semyon Varlamov fi rst half and also had 12 rebounds overall Bobby Portis scored 19 points to lead Washington...... 108 Cleveland ...... 113 Patty Mills each added 15, Derrick White The Rangers improved to carried a shutout deep into as the Raptors won their eighth straight the Knicks, who lost their third straight had 14 and Bryn Forbes scored 13. The 7-0-0 in their last seven road the third period and made 21 game at home. game. Spurs have won two straight games after games. saves. “I just feel energised,” said Siakam. Rookie RJ Barrett added 17 points and fi nished with 19 points, although he made losing the fi rst fi ve on their annual Rodeo Mika Zibanejad posted an Serge Ibaka delivered 16 points, Fred Frank Ntilikina contributed 14 but leading only 5 of 16 from the fi eld. Road Trip. The trip ends Sunday in Okla- unassisted goal and two as- BLACKHAWKS 2, VanVleet chipped in with 14 points, seven scorer Julius Randle was held to just nine In Minneapolis, Gordon Hayward homa City. sists, and Jesper Fast, Brady PREDATORS 1 (OT) rebounds and seven assists, and Terence points in the loss. scored a game-high 29 points and Boston Emmanuel Mudiay and Rudy Gobert Skjei, Artemi Panarin and Alex DeBrincat scored two Davis had 14 points off the bench in front In Washington, Collin Sexton scored 25 played strong defence down the stretch to led the Jazz with 18 points each; Gobert Ryan Strome also scored as the goals, including the game- of a crowd of 19,800 at the Scotiabank points as the Cleveland Cavaliers posted a hold off Minnesota in Minneapolis. also grabbed 14 rebounds for his 43rd Rangers won for the sixth time winner with 57.8 seconds re- Arena. 113-108 victory over the Wizards, making Jayson Tatum scored 28 points and double-double this season. Jordan Clark- in their past seven games. maining in overtime, to lift Devin Booker scored 21 points and had JB Bickerstaff a winner in his Cavaliers’ Jaylen Brown and Daniel Theis chipped in son and Bojan Bogdanovic added 15 points Brock McGinn and Sebas- Chicago over visiting Nash- eight assists and Deandre Ayton tallied 17 head-coaching debut. with 25 apiece as the Celtics came out of for Utah, with Donovan Mitchell scoring tian Aho scored Carolina’s ville. points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who Meanwhile, Luka Doncic scored 33 the All-Star break to win their fourth road 12 points. The Jazz had a four-game win goals. DeBrincat sealed the victory have lost seven of nine. points, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed game in the last fi ve. Boston has won 12 of streak snapped. Jaccob Slavin provided as- with a breakaway goal that Ricky Rubio had 13 points and nine as- out eight assists, Maxi Kleber scored a ca- 14 overall. Chris Paul made four 3-pointers as part sists on both scores. Petr came off a Predators turnover sists, and Kelly Oubre scored 11 points in reer-high 26 points off the bench, and the Malik Beasley had 27 points to pace the of a 29-point outing to lead Oklahoma Mrazek made 31 saves. on the opposite end of the ice. the loss. Dallas Mavericks held off the host Orlando Timberwolves, who were without star City to a victory over visiting Denver. Chicago pulled even at 8-8 “They set the tone early,” Suns guard Magic 122-106. centre Karl-Anthony Towns, out with a Steven Adams recorded 19 points, 17 BLUES 5, STARS 1 in overtime games this season Ricky Rubio said. “That’s why they’re a Kleber did much of his damage in the sprained left wrist. Minnesota lost for the rebounds and matched his season best Colton Parayko had a goal and won for only the second championship team.” fourth quarter, hitting 3 of 4 3-point at- 16th time in its last 17 games. of four steals as Oklahoma City won and two assists as St. time in the past nine games. Elsewhere, the Indiana Pacers over- tempts and scoring 12 points in the frame. In Memphis, LeBron James scored a for the 11th time in the past 14 games. Louis earned its third vic- Mattias Ekholm scored for came a shaky fi nish and a slow start to His eff ort ignited a critical fi nal 12 minutes game-high 32 points, and Los Angeles de- Danilo Gallinari added 15 points, and tory in four days by defeating the Predators, who have lost hold and beat the New York Knicks for the for the Mavericks, who were dominant in feated visiting Memphis. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 11 host Dallas. back-to-back games. eighth time in the past nine meetings with the opening and closing periods. Anthony Davis sustained a bruised calf points, nine rebounds and nine assists as a 106-98 victory. Kristaps Porzingis recorded 24 points in the fi rst quarter but remained in to con- the Thunder halted a seven-game losing TJ Warren scored 27 points to lead the and 10 rebounds for the Mavericks. Tim tribute 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven of streak when facing the Nuggets. Pacers, who outscored the Knicks 65-45 in Hardaway fi nished with 16 points and six the Lakers’ 14 blocked shots. Avery Brad- Nikola Jokic scored 32 points on 12- the second and third quarters. rebounds. ley added 14 points and three steals as the of-15 shooting as Denver lost its second The Knicks held Indiana to just 12 Evan Fournier scored a team 28 points Lakers won their fourth in a row. straight contest following a four-game points in the opening quarter but the Pac- including fi ve 3-pointers, for the Magic, Josh Jackson scored 20 points on 9-of- winning streak. Jamal Murray added 21 ers recovered to shoot 53 % from the fi eld and Nikola Vucevic added 27 points, 12 12 shooting to lead the Grizzlies, who lost points, and Will Barton registered 16 in the second and third. Indiana managed rebounds and four steals. Terrence Ross for the second time in as many nights. points and nine rebounds.

WINTER SPORT Zubcic storms to giant slalom World Cup win in Japan

AFP good,” Zubcic told reporters. sen fi fth, followed by another Naeba-san, Japan “I made a big mistake on the Norwegian, overall World Cup fi rst run, but I was able to get leader Aleksander Aamodt Kilde it back on the second without sixth. roatia’s Filip Zubcic having to go for too much in the Kilde, who captured his fi rst produced a sizzling sec- turns.” victory of the season in last ond run to win the Japan Norway’s Henrik Kristoff er- week’s Super-G at Saalbach, leg of the men’s World sen, who took silver in the giant tops the standings on 1,022 CupC giant slalom yesterday. slalom at the 2018 Pyeongchang points with Kristoff ersen on 948 The 27-year-old trailed in 12th Olympics, led after the fi rst run, and France’s Olympic bronze place after the fi rst run at Yu- clocking 1:16.63 ahead of coun- medallist Alexis Pinturault a zawa Naeba but stormed to the tryman Leif Kristian Nestvold- further 50 points behind. best combined time of two min- Haugen. Slovenia’s Zan Kranjec, cur- Anton Blidh (front) of the Boston Bruins checks Michael Stone of utes, 37.25 seconds, edging out by seven tenths with American “It was a diffi cult race, the Nestvold-Haugen went on rently leading the giant slalom the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt Tommy Ford taking third. quality of the snow wasn’t to fi nish fourth with Kristoff er- rankings, fi nished ninth. Saddledome in Calgary on Friday. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, February 23, 2020 SPORT

GOLF CRICKET/PSL Kamran slams USA’s DeChambeau ton in Zalmi win leads by one shot as birdies abound ‘When you have days like that you can’t help but smile out there. Making those putts the way I did, striking the ball like I did, it was surely a joy out there’

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States walks from the ninth green during the second round of the World Golf Championships Mexico City on Friday. Peshawar Zalmi’s Kamran Akmal plays a shot during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) match against Quetta Gladiators in Karachi yesterday. (AFP)

Agencies six fours and a six in 57 balls Karachi and crafted a 62-run stand for the third-wicket with Gladia- tors captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, amran Akmal’s blis- who struck fi ve fours and a six tering 55-ball 101 se- in his 41 off 25 balls. cured Peshawar Zalmi Zalmi’s Pacer Wahab Riaz a six-wicket win over took two wickets for 21 runs in KQuetta Gladiators in the fourth four overs, while Rahat Ali and match of the HBL PSL 2020 at Amir Khan and Darren Sammy Karachi’s National Stadium. picked up a wicket each. The wicketkeeper-batsman For his extraordinary bat- began Zalmi’s run-chase in ting performance which gave style, hitting two sixes and two Zalmi their fi rst win of the sea- fours off Mohamed Nawaz in son, Kamran was named player the fi rst over on his way to his of the match. third century in the HBL PSL. Peshawar Zalmi take on Kamran, who is the lead- Multan Sultans in what will be ing run-scorer in the HBL PSL fi rst HBL PSL match in Multan with 1,430 runs in 49 matches, on Wednesday, while Quetta struck 13 fours and four sixes Gladiators play Karachi Kings to help Zalmi chase down the tomorrow afternoon at Na- 149-run target with nine balls tional Stadium, Karachi. spare on a day when the PCB observed Childhood Cancer SCORES IN BRIEF Awareness Day. Quetta Gladiators 148-5, 20 Haider Ali, Pakistan U19 overs (Jason Roy 73 not out, opener, scored 25 off 28 in an Sarfaraz Ahmed 41; Wahab 82-run partnership for the Riaz 2-21) AFP World number one Rory McIl- his fi rst birdie of the day at 11. round — was just a bonus. McIlroy never quite found second-wicket with Kamran. Peshawar Zalmi 153-4, 18.3 Mexico City roy came alive late on the way to He didn’t miss a put from within “I just threw my hands in the his way onto the birdie band- Earlier, Gladiators, riding on overs (Kamran Akmal 101, a two-under par 69 that put him 10 feet and strung together four air,” DeChambeau said. “I mean, wagon. Jason Roy’s unbeaten 73, made Haider Ali 25; Fawad Ahmed two off the lead alongside Japan’s birdies in a row from the 18th come on — who thinks I’m going The overnight leader by two, 148 for fi ve after being asked to 2-40) ryson DeChambeau put Hideki Matsuyama and Ameri- through the third. to make this one?” McIlroy was one-over through fi eld fi rst. Result: Peshawar Zalmi win by on a putting clinic on the can Justin Thomas. “It was a lot of fun,” said De- Reed was similarly impres- nine and didn’t make his first The English opener struck six wickets. way to an eight-under Matsuyama was 11-under for Chambeau, a three-time win- sive with the putter, posting a birdie of the day until the 12th. par 63 and a one-shot the tournament after posting ner on the US PGA Tour. “When burst of four straight birdies on He promptly gave the shot leadB in the WGC Mexico Cham- nine birdies in his fi rst 15 holes, you have days like that you can’t the front nine and notching fi ve back, but birdied 14 to get him- SPOTLIGHT pionship over Erik van Rooyen but two late bogeys saw him sign help but smile out there. Making more birdies coming home. self back to even par for the day. and Patrick Reed. for a seven-under par 64. those putts the way I did, strik- Van Rooyen, who won his With a 16-foot birdie at 16 and America’s DeChambeau rolled Thomas was atop the leader- ing the ball like I did, it was sure- maiden European Tour title at a 24-footer at 17 McIlroy kept in 143 feet of putts as he built a board at 10-under after his eagle ly a joy out there.” last year’s Scandinavian Open, himself in the hunt for a title that Ronchi shines for 36-hole total of 11-under par 131 at his 10th hole of the day — the DeChambeau said his 13-foot admitted he was feeling “re- saw him complete his collection at Club de Golf Chapultepec. fi rst — but eventually signed for birdie putt at the 18th was the ally old” when he woke up on his of the prestigious World Golf Former Masters champion a 66. real momentum-builder. 30th birthday. Championships titles. Islamabad United Reed was also red-hot on the DeChambeau’s fi reworks on “When this putt rolled in per- The mood was more celebra- He won the WGC-HSBC greens on the way to a 63 that put the greens included a 46-foot fectly I just felt super-confi dent tory when he walked off 18 having Champions in Shanghai in No- Agencies The Shan Masood-led team him at 10-under alongside South birdie putt at the seventh, which on the greens,” he said. nabbed his ninth birdie of the day. vember to go with the WGC Lahore had started off its batting Africa’s van Rooyen — who had followed a 26-footer at No 6. The monster on number seven “What a way to kick off the Match Play he won in 2015 and strong, amassing 31 runs at the nine birdies without a bogey in a DeChambeau had teed off on — which saw him tie his career 30s,” he said, “little bit of a gift the WGC Invitational he nabbed end of fi ve overs without any 62 on his 30th birthday. 10 and rolled in a six-footer for best with nine birdies in the to myself.” at Firestone in 2014. uke Ronchi’s blistering losses. 74-run knock helped In the sixth over, however, Islamabad United de- skipper Shan was caught by BOTTOMLINE feat Multan Sultans Mohamed Musa off Faheem Lby eight wickets in their 2020 Ashraf. Pakistan Super League match The 10th over brought more at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium trouble for the Sultans, with yesterday. Amad Butt dismissing both United, who were chasing a Moeen Ali and Rilee Rossouw. Scotland break Six Nations duck to target of 165 runs set for them Butt went on to also claim the by the Sultans, reached their wickets of JM Vince and Sohail goal comfortably with 20 balls Tanvir. to spare. United earlier won the Their two losses were Co- toss and elected to bowl fi rst edge Italy closer to wooden spoon lin Munro (50 off 32), who was against the Sultans. bowled out by Shahid Afridi, This was the fi fth fi xture of AFP and player of the match Ron- the fi fth edition of PSL. Rome France keep Grand Slam hopes alive aft er chi, who stumbled only in the In the opening match of the winning Wales thriller 17th over after taking his side tournament, two-time cham- to just runs away from victory pions United were defeated cotland got their fi rst win Fly-half Romain Ntamack on to win the Grand Slam. They with his brilliant 45-ball 74. by Quetta Gladiators by three of this year’s Six Nations guided France to a thrill- next travel to Scotland before Earlier, after being sent in to wickets. Underdogs Sultans, yesterday with a 17-0 ing 27-23 victory over Wales ending at home against Ireland. bat, the Sultans fi nished with meanwhile, won their encoun- win in Rome which looks yesterday to keep their hopes The match at Cardiff ’s Principal- a score of 164-8 at the end of ter with Lahore Qalandars by setS to condemn Italy to another their allotted 20 overs. fi ve wickets on Friday. of Six Nations Grand Slam alive. ity Stadium had been pitched as wooden spoon. Ntamack scored a smart inter- one of youth versus experience. A brilliant solo eff ort from cept try and chipped in with 12 Wales coach Wayne Pivac had captain Stuart Hogg also earned points with the boot for a first selected a starting XV holding Scotland their fi rst try of the French victory in Cardiff since a record of 859 caps compared tournament after 22 minutes | 2010 that also went some way to France’s 234. Welsh skipper in the Stadio Olimpico with to avenging Les Bleus’ World Alun Wyn Jones won his 137th Chris Harris and Adam Hastings Cup quarter-final exit at Welsh cap with the entire French pack adding two more in the second hands. “It’s amazing, we worked boasting just 109 between them. half. Hastings converted his own all the week for a big game like But the French arrived in the try to make up for having missed Scotland’s full back Stuart Hogg (right) celebrates after scoring a try that it was a tough game,” said Welsh capital girded by a new a penalty and an earlier con- during the Six Nations match against Italy at the Olympic stadium in Ntamack. “We have no experi- attacking verve and, impor- version, while Tommaso Allan Rome yesterday. (AFP) ence but we play with a smile tantly, a reconstructed defensive messed up a penalty opportunity but it was good experience to rigour thanks to former Wales which would have put Italy on to England last time out, fol- rors which contributed to the win here.” Tellingly, France have coach Shaun Edwards, and on the scoreboard. lowing a 24-14 defeat to Ireland. Scots’ opening two defeats never won their first three Six the back of opening wins over Italy fell to a 25th consecutive Gregor Townsend’s side were against Ireland and England. Nations games without going England (24-17) and Italy (35-22). defeat in the tournament and pushed hard by the Italians who The Exeter Chiefs full-back are set to take the wooden spoon had been in the game until Fed- broke through with a brilliant for the 15th time. Both teams erico Zani was sin-binned with solo run down the right-wing. sending a penalty against the raced unchallenged to a third had been chasing their fi rst win ten minutes to go. Ali Price thought he had post. Scotland’s pressure on the try, to condemn Franco Smith to of the 2020 tournament after Hastings sent a penalty kick scored a second after half an line paid off after the break with a humiliating defeat on his fi rst two defeats apiece, with Italy wide after eight minutes as the hour with Hamish Watson rac- Harris powering over. Italy re- game as coach in the Stadio Ol- also suff ering a 42-0 thrashing Italians looked dangerous with ing through the Italian defence. placement hooker Zani was yel- impico. against holders Wales. a Matteo Bellini counter-attack, The try was ruled out after a re- low-carded for upending Grant The Italians are without a win In a nervy start the Scots piled off -loading to Jayden Hayward view showed Sam Johnson’s fi nal Gilchrist at a ruck with 10 min- in the tournament since beating on the pressure early in sunny before Scotland reacted and sent pass was forward. utes to go. Scotland at Murrayfi eld in 2015, conditions in Rome, after their Braam Steyn into touch. Allan missed a chance to re- And after a scrappy fi nale and are winless in the Stadio Ol- Islamabad United Luke Ronchi plays a shot during the PSL match rain and windswept 13-6 defeat But Hogg made up for his er- duce the defi cit before the break Hastings picked up the ball and impico for the past seven years. against Multan Sultans in Lahore yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times Sunday, February 23, 2020 7 CRICKET

REPORT FOCUS Ervine ton keeps Zimbabwe on par Williamson, Taylor with Bangladesh

AFP Ervine and Sikandar Raza add- Dhaka ed 40 runs for the fourth wicket, before Nayeem removed Raza in the fi nal session of the day. Jayed kipper Craig Ervine trapped Timcyen Maruma leg ensure New Zealand scored a dogged century before for seven for his second as Zimbabwe shared the wicket after the batsman was honours with Bangladesh reprieved by a TV umpire on one India stayed in the hunt with 3 wickets onS the opening day of the one- off Taijul Islam. off Test in Dhaka yesterday. Wicketkeeper-batsman Regis in the final session and the wicket was Ervine hit 107 off 227 balls - Chakabva was batting on nine his third century in Tests - as the alongside Donald Tiripano, not showing early signs of taking spin visitors reached 228-6 at stumps out zero, when stumps were lead India after opting to bat fi rst in what drawn at the Sher-e-Bangla Na- is the 100th international match tional Stadium. Mushfi qur Ra- AFP between two teams. him returned to the Bangladesh Wellington Off -spinner Nayeem Hasan lineup after missing out on their bowled Ervine, who struck 13 previous Test against Pakistan. fours, shortly before the stumps Zimbabwe handed Charlton ane Williamson and before fi nishing with 4-68, the Tshuma his Test debut. Ross Taylor combined best return for the home side on Bangladesh have lost their last to ensure New Zealand the opening day. Nayeem helped six Test matches - fi ve of them held a fi rst innings lead Bangladesh restore balance in the by an innings or more - but they Kin the fi rst Test against India in contest with two wickets each in have also beaten Zimbabwe fi ve Wellington yesterday but the ad- the fi nal two sessions after Zim- times in their last six encounters. vantage was not overwhelming. babwe made a cautious start. India stayed in the hunt with Pace bowler Abu Jayed struck SCOREBOARD three wickets in the fi nal session early to remove opener Kevin including Williamson for 89 and Kasuza for two as Nayeem took a ZIMBABWE first innings Taylor for 44 and the wicket was catch at gully after fi rst run from P. Masvaure c&b Nayeem 64 showing early signs of taking the bat in Zimbabwe’s innings K. Kasuza c Nayeem b Jayed 2 spin. “You always want your best came in the seventh over. But players to be at the crease. They other opener Prince Masvaure - C. Ervine b Nayeem 107 (Williamson and Taylor) put on who made 64 off 152 balls with B. Taylor b Nayeem 10 a great partnership, both look- nine fours - shared a 111-run S. Raza c Liton b Nayeem 18 ing nice for a long period of time, with Ervine for the second wick- but if we can carry on and keep et to put Zimbabwe in control. T. Maruma lbw b Jayed 7 chipping away with the guys to Nayeem removed Masvaure with R. Chakabva not out 9 come... then it will set us up,” a sharp return catch shortly after D. Tiripano not out 0 New Zealand pace bowler Tim the batsman was dropped by Na- Extras (b4 lb 4 w3) 11 Southee said. jmul Hossain at slip on 59 runs. Williamson and Taylor’s 93- Brendan Taylor, who scored Total (six wickets. 90 overs) 228 run stand for the third wicket was a century in both innings in his Fall of wickets: 1- 7 (Kasuza), enough to lift New Zealand from previous Test in Mirpur in 2018, 2-118 (Masvaure), 3-134 73-2 to be ahead of India’s 165 be- soon followed Masvaure as Nay- (Taylor), 4-174 (Raza), 5-199 fore the tourists fi ght back. When eem bowled him for 10. (Maruma), 6-226 (Ervine) bad light brought an early end to The experienced right-hander Bowling: Ebadat 17-8-26-0 the day, New Zealand were 216 attempted a reverse sweep but (w2), Jayed 16-4-51-2 (w1), Nay- for fi ve, to lead by 51. could only connect the ball with eem 36-8-68-4, Taijul 21-1-75-0. Ishant Sharma, coming back his gloves before it smashed onto from injury and struggling with his stumps. jetlag after arriving in New Zea- land four days ago, was the pick of the Indian bowlers with three for 31 off 15 overs. However, with the initial green cover fading from the wicket there were early half volley to the safe hands of signs of spin which could impact substitute fi elder Ravindra Jadeja on New Zealand batting last at at cover. Henry Nicholls faced 62 the Basin Reserve. deliveries for 17 runs before he fell Williamson, called to the mid- to the spin of Ravi Ashwin. India dle following the early dismissal had resumed the day at 122 for fi ve of Tom Latham and was rocked but could only muster another 32 by Sharma with the fi rst ball he runs on the second morning as faced but from there he returned their last fi ve wickets fell in just to his patient, confi dent self. He over 13 overs. Debutant Kyle Jamie- put on 47 with Tom Blundell (30) son launched his Test career with for the second wicket before be- fi gures of four for 39 while senior ing joined by Taylor to put New bowler Southee, who removed In- Zimbabwe’s captain Craig Ervine reacts after scoring century during Zealand in front. The New Zea- dia’s top scorer Ajinkya Rahane for New Zealand’s Kane Williamson (right and above) celebrates his half-century with Ross Taylor the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka. (AFP) landers were clearly relishing 46, fi nished with four for 49. during the second day of the first Test in Wellington yesterday. (Reuters) home conditions in their fi rst Test since being thrashed 3-0 in SCOREBOARD SPOTLIGHT Australia. Taylor, New Zealand’s high- INDIA 1st innings (Overnight 122-5) Extras (lb1, w3) 4 K. Williamson c sub b Shami 89 est run scorer and celebrating his P. Shaw b Southee 16 Total (all out; 68.1 overs) 165 R. Taylor c Pujara b Sharma 44 100th Test, received a standing Kiwi women beat ovation when he entered the arena M. Agarwal c Jamieson b Boult 34 Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Shaw), 2-35 (Pujara), H. Nicholls c Kohli b Ashwin 17 where he looked in fi ne touch as C. Pujara c Watling b Jamieson 11 3-40 (Kohli), 4-88 (Agarwal), 5-101 (Vihari), B. Watling not out 14 6-132 (Pant). 7-132 (Ashwin), 8-143 (Rahane), he peppered the boundaries with V. Kohli c Taylor b Jamieson 2 C. de Grandhomme not out 4 Sri Lanka in T20 six fours and a six. But on 44, what 9-165 (Sharma) A. Rahane c Watling b Southee 46 Extras: (b1, lb1, w5) 7 was shaping as a formidable part- Bowling: Southee 20.1-5-49-4, Boult 18-2- AFP feasted on wayward New Zealand H. Vihari c Watling b Jamieson 7 Total: (five wickets; 71.1 overs) 216 nership with Williamson was un- 57-1, de Grandhomme 11-5-12-0, Jamieson Perth bowling with openers Chamari done by a rising Sharma delivery R. Pant run out (Patel) 19 16-3-39-4 (3w), Patel 3-2-7-0 Fall of wickets: 1-26 (Latham), 2-73 (Blun- Athapaththu and Hasini Per- that ballooned off the gloves to era combining for a rapid 46-ball R. Ashwin b Southee 0 dell), 3-166 (Taylor), 4-185 (Williamson), Cheteshwar Pujara at square leg. 5-207 (Nicholls) ew Zealand captain 60-run partnership. Athapath- Williamson lasted 10 more overs I. Sharma c Watling b Jamieson 5 NEW ZEALAND 1st innings Sophie Devine says thu, Sri Lanka’s captain and best Bowling: Bumrah 18.1-4-62-0 (5w), Sharma before his bid for a 22nd Test cen- T. Latham c Pant b Sharma 11 her team is comfort- batter, clubbed two sixes and fi ve M. Shami c Blundell b Southee 21 15-6-31-3, Shami 17-2-61-1, Ashwin 21-1-60-1. tury came to an unexpected end J. Bumrah not out 0T. Blundell b Sharma 30 able to “fl y under the boundaries in her whirlwind 41 when he drove a Mohamed Shami Nradar” after starting the wom- before spooning a return catch en’s Twenty20 World Cup with to Lea Tahuhu in a decision over- a seven-wicket victory over Sri turned on review. ODI SERIES Lanka in Perth yesterday. Sri Lanka’s lack of batting The Kiwis have made the early depth was exposed as they fell running in Group A along with away in the backend of the in- India, who downed defending nings. “If we had been a bit champions Australia on day one. smarter and not thrown away Only the top two from each of wickets, we were in line to make Hasaranga stars in Lanka’s win the two fi ve-team groups qualify 140-160,” Sri Lanka coach Har- for the knockout phase. sha de Silva said. AFP SCOREBOARD Colombo Favoured New Zealand battled Earlier, the West Indies beat chasing 128 against Sri Lanka gallant debutant Thailand by WEST INDIES 52 until Devine capitalised on two seven wickets in the fi rst match late cameo by Wanindu S. Hope b Udana 115 K. Perera c Bravo b Paul 42 dropped chances en route to a of Group B. The 2016 champi- Hasaranga helped Sri S. Abris b T. Perera 3 K. Mendis c Joseph b Walsh 20 match-winning unbeaten 75. Af- ons appeared set for an expected Lanka pull off a thrilling D. Bravo run out 39 A. Mathews c Hope b Joseph 5 ter a nervous start, Devine found easy victory after restricting chase to edge out West support through Maddy Green in Thailand to a modest 78-9 off IndiesA by one wicket in the fi rst R. Chase b Pradeep 41 D. de Silva c Paul b Walsh 18 a 61-run third-wicket partner- their 20 overs. one-day international yesterday. N. Pooran c Karunaratne b Udana 11 T. Perera c sub (Powell) b Joseph 32 ship to power New Zealand to But the West Indies struggled Hasaranga, known for his leg- K. Pollard c Sandakan b Udana 9 W. Hasaranga not out 42 victory with 14 balls to spare. at 27-3 before captain Stafanie spin bowling, hit an unbeaten 42 “You always want points in Taylor (26 not out) and She- after coming in to bat at number J. Holder run out (Mathews) 12 I. Udana c Hope b Paul 0the bank early in the tournament maine Campbelle (25 not out) eight as Sri Lanka chased down K. Paul not out 32 L. Sandakan run out (Ambris) 3 and we knew how hard Sri Lanka chased down the total with 20 their target of 290 with fi ve H. Walsh not out 20 N. Pradeep not out 0were going to come at us,” De- deliveries to spare. balls to spare and lead the three- vine told reporters. “Today was defi nitely tricky,” Extras (b1, lb2, w4) 7Extras (lb11, nb1, w14) 26 match series 1-0. Hasaranga held Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga celebrates their ODI victory over New Zealand still face a bat- player of the match Taylor said. his nerve after Sri Lanka slipped West Indies in Colombo yesterday. (AFP) Total (7 wickets, 50 overs) 289 Total (9 wickets, 49.1 overs) 290 tle to reach the semi-fi nals with “I reckon in a few years’ time to 253 for seven following the de- Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Ambris), Fall of wickets: 1-111 (Karu- tough matches against India they will defi nitely give teams parture of Thisara Perera for 32 at the Sinhalese Sports Club dred after Sri Lanka invited West 2-87 (Bravo), 3-172 (Chase), 4-193 naratne), 2-121 (Fernando), 3-153 and Australia ahead. Devine, challenges.” to register his highest ODI score. ground. For the West Indies, Al- Indies to bat fi rst. Hope lost his (Pooran), 5-207 (Pollard), 6-230 (Mendis), 4-168 (Mathews), 5-201 however, said her team was not Thailand, the lowest-ranked He built crucial partnerships in- zarri Joseph claimed three wick- opening partner early and was (Hope), 7-240 (Holder) (De Silva), 6-215 (K. Perera), 7-253 bothered about being underes- team in the tournament, are cluding a 38-run stand with Per- ets after Shai Hope made 115 in involved in the run out of Darren timated. “If we can keep ticking making their debut at a cricket Bowling: Pradeep 10-0-42-1, T. (T. Perera), 8-262 (Udana) era and then put on 27 runs with his team’s 289 for seven. Bravo but laid the foundation for off wins, pressure is on the other World Cup - men’s or women’s Perera 7-1-40-1, Udana 10-0- Bowling: Cottrell 10-0-69-0 (w3), Lakshan Sandakan for the ninth In response, Sri Lanka lost his team’s total. teams,” she said. “We typically - after a fairytale run in quali- 82-3 (w2), Mathews 3-0-17-0, Holder 10-0-44-1 (w2), Paul 8.1-0- wicket. their way after their strong start Left-arm pace bowler Isuru fl y under the radar and go about fi cation. “It’s been a long time Sandakan 7-0-42-0 (w1), 48-2 (w2, nb1), Joseph 10-0-42-3 With one to get off the last six despite wicketkeeper-batsman Udana claimed three wickets our business.” waiting. It’s been 13 years for Hasaranga 10-2-47-0 (w1), De (w2), Chase 6-0-38-0 (w4), Walsh ball Sandakan was run out but Kusal Perera hitting 42 coming including Hope’s prized scalp New Zealand had started slop- us,” Thailand opener Nattaya Silva 3-0-16-0 5-0-38-2 (w1) Keemo Paul bowled a no ball. in at number three. Leg-spinner but gave away 82 runs from his pily with the ball before clawing Boochatham said.“It was really Karunaratne and Fernando, who Hayden Walsh and Paul took two 10 overs. Skipper Kieron Pollard Result: Sri Lanka won by one back and restricting Sri Lanka to exciting to get on the ground, made 50, put on 111 runs for the wickets each to regularly dent (nine) and Nicholas Pooran (11) SRI LANKA (target 290) wicket 127-7 off 20 overs with allrounder get on the World Cup stage and Sri Lanka along with Joseph but also fell to Udana as West Indies show the people of the world opening wicket to lay the plat- A. Fernando c Hope b Joseph 50 Series: Sri Lanka lead the three- Haley Jensen (3-16) starring on form for what turned out to be Hasaranga stood fi rm. The eff ort let go of a chance to put up a big- match series 1-0. the bouncy WACA pitch. After that Thailand can play very good the highest successful chase trumped Hope’s ninth ODI hun- ger total. D. Karunaratne c Hope b Holder being sent in to bat, Sri Lanka cricket.”

Sunday, February 23, 2020 GULF TIMES SPORT

TENNIS Former champs, fi rst-timers eye glory in Qatar Total Open After the withdrawal of Romanian World No 2 Simona Halep yesterday, the Qatar Total Open has a more open look

By Sports Reporter Doha

quintet of former cham- pions and a new wave of ambitious young aspir- ants — some of them playingA for the fi rst time in Doha — are all set for a fascinating bat- tle for supremacy when the Qatar Total Open gets underway at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex today. Reigning champion Elise Mertens of Belgium, 2018 win- ner Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, her compatriot Karo- lina Pliskova who took the title in 2017, and 2016 conqueror Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain will be joined by the forgotten Russian star Vera Zvonareva, who tri- umphed in 2011 and is making a comeback of sorts at age 35 after being given a wildcard, will be aiming for their second title in Doha. But such is the depth in the women’s game that their path to possible glory is certainly not strewn with roses all the way. With World No 2 Simona Ha- lep withdrawing yesterday after claiming the title in Dubai with a three-sets victory over Elena Australia’s Ashleigh Barty is the top seed in Qatar. (AFP) Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina will be challenging the big guns at the Qatar Total Open. (AFP) Rybakina, the Qatar Total Open has an even more open look. The DOHA QUICK FACTS TODAY’S ORDER OF PLAY feisty Romanian had been a con- sistent performer in Doha, win- Main draw dates: Sunday - Sat- Zvonareva (RUS) Van Uytvanck (BEL), Dayana CENTRE COURT start Not Before 3:30pm A. Van Uytvanck (BEL) vs P. Hercog (SLO) ning the title in 2014 and reach- urday, February 23–29 Youngest singles player: Yastremska (UKR) S. Kuznetsova (RUS) vs [WC] C. Buyukakcay COURT 3 start 3:30pm ing the fi nal last year when she Venue: Khalifa Tennis & Squash Amanda Anisimova, 18-years-old (TUR) [Q] L. Siegemund (GER) vs Y. Shvedova (KAZ) lost to Mertens. Complex (August 31, 2001) Past 10 Qatar Total Open [11] G. Muguruza (ESP) vs [Q] D. Kasatkina (RUS) L. Kichenok (UKR) / N. Kichenok (UKR) vs K. Ashleigh Barty may be the of- Status: Premier 5 Event Oldest singles player: Vera champions [WC] O. Jabeur (TUN) vs [Q] K. Siniakova (CZE) Bertens (NED) / J. Goerges (GER) fi cial favourite considering her Draw sizes: 64 singles / 28 Zvonareva, 35-years-old (Sep- 2019: Elise Mertens J. Ostapenko (LAT) vs [Q] J. Teichmann (SUI) [5] N. Melichar (USA) / Y. Xu (CHN) vs A. Guarachi World No 1 ranking, but she is doubles teams tember 7, 1984) 2018: Petra Kvitova COURT 1 start 2:00pm (CHI) / A. Rosolska (POL) playing for the fi rst time this year Surface: Plexicushion Prestige Main draw debutantes: 2017: Karolina Pliskova [16] E. Mertens (BEL) vs Q. Wang (CHN) COURT 5 start 3:30pm after losing to Sofi a Kenin of the Hardcourt Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS), 2016: Carla Suárez Navarro K. Mladenovic (FRA) vs V. Kudermetova (RUS) E. Svitolina (UKR) / D. Yastremska (UKR) vs K. US in the semi-fi nals of the Aus- Total prize money: Amanda Anisimova (USA), 2015: Lucie Safarova [Q] B. Pera (USA) vs C. Garcia (FRA) Flipkens (BEL) / B. Mattek-Sands (USA) tralian Open. US$3,240,445 Ashleigh Barty (AUS), Jennifer 2014: Simona Halep A. Anisimova (USA) vs E. Alexandrova (RUS) S. Aoyama (JPN) / E. Shibahara (JPN) vs [7] H. She missed the preceding Tennis Ball: Dunlop Australian Brady (USA), Sofia Kenin (USA), 2013: Victoria Azarenka COURT 2 start 3:30pm Chan (TPE) / L. Chan (TPE) tournament in Dubai with a foot Open Veronika Kudermetova (RUS), 2012: Victoria Azarenka K. Muchova (CZE) vs M. Linette (POL) H. Carter (USA) / L. Stefani (BRA) vs M. Ninomiya injury and it remains to be seen Singles wildcards: Cagla Buyu- Magda Linette (POL), Elena Ry- 2011: Vera Zvonareva [Q] P. Hon (AUS) vs A. Tomljanovic (AUS) (JPN) / Z. Yang (CHN) how well she has recovered. kakcay (TUR), Sorana Cirstea bakina (KAZ), Aryna Sabalenka 2009 and 2010: Not held But she is enjoying a bye in the (ROU), Ons Jabeur (TUN), Vera (BLR), Iga Swiatek (POL), Alison 2008: Maria Sharapova fi rst round and will be playing long way in the last few years Australian Open, including Ser- outside the four Grand Slams. her fi rst match only on Tuesday with the result that predicting ena Williams and holder Naomi Over the years though, it has and that too against a quali- would be a rematch of their third Halep yesterday. “Crazy emo- that you played,” said Halep on outcomes has become a perilous Osaka, went out in round three in largely played by the script. fi er, a lucky loser or Kazakhstan’s round at the Australian open tions to be honest, it’s been a court. task. The last fi ve women’s Grand Melbourne. In its past 17 editions, the event Yaroslava Shvedova, who has not where the 23-year-old Aussie great match, so I really want to Incidentally, both Rybakina Slams, for instance, have been Last year’s Grand Slam titles has been won 12 times by players played a singles match in two triumphed in two sets. congratulate my opponent Ele- and Barty are making their Qatar won by fi ve diff erent players. were won by Osaka (Australian inside the top-10 rankings. Two years after giving birth to twins Just 20, the Russian-born Ry- na, she played really, really well. debuts, along with the US duo Before winning the Australian Open), Barty (French Open), Ha- times it has been won by unseed- in 2018. bakina has already won two titles She’s so young so she has many of Kenin, the Australian Open Open title, Kenin’s best show at lep (Wimbledon) and Bianca An- ed players — Lucie Safarova in Intriguingly, Barty could run and reached her fourth fi nal in years ahead to play at the highest champion, and Jennifer Brady, a Grand Slam was reaching the dreescu (US Open). 2015 and Mertens last year. into Elena Rybakina of Kaza- fi ve tournaments in Dubai where level so good luck and well done another player to watch out for. round of 16 at Roland Garros last This year’s Qatar Total Open is Will this year see a new cham- khstan in the round of 16, which she was showered with praise by for this beautiful tournament Women’s tennis has come a year. Six of the to-10 seeds at the one of the biggest tournaments pion? We will know in a week.

GOLF ‘Pretty dead’ Halep claims 20th career title Simona Halep defeated Elena Keyser and Young emerge champions Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) yesterday to secure her 20th career title with victory at the Dubai Championships and claimed she felt “pretty dead”. The world number two from Romania, who also won the title in Dubai in 2015, clinched her first trophy since Wimbledon last summer. “I love playing here, I gave everything I had,” said Halep who had been 1-3 down in the final set and took victory after coming back from a set down for the third successive match in Dubai. “Now, actually, I’m pretty dead.” Rybakina, 20, who will rise to 17 from 19 in the new rankings next week, was playing her fourth final from five tourna- ments in 2020 having won the Hobart trophy last month on the eve of the Australian Open. Rybakina, who was just Qatar Golf Association General Secretary Fahad Nasser al-Naimi (fourth from right) poses with the Qatar Open Championship winners and other inside the top 200 this time off icials at the Doha Golf Club yesterday. PICTURES: Jayaram Ireland’s Michael Young with the Qatar Open amateur trophy. last year, took the tight final set into a deciding tiebreaker By Yash Mudgal ser fi red six birdies in a row to fi nished the day with three- out on qualifying for web.com nine with a par total. Young about his chances in the Qatar when she broke Halep as the Doha punch in the second lowest card under 69 and one-over 73, re- in the PGA Tour events by one dropped another shot but he Masters next month. top seed served for victory. “I on the fi nal day of the three-day spectively. shots in the past, so I’m just was able to collect two more “Now, I am going to play in may have been a bit nervous,” event, and his seven-under par Lemke, who earned his Eu- super proud of myself. Me and birdies later which took his ag- Qatar Masters and I am ready to Halep said. “I just kept trying outh Africa’s Mathiam eff ort lifted him to an impres- ropean Tour card for 2019 with my caddy are super excited and gregate to three-over par 219. In take full advantage of playing on to fight for every ball. “I’m re- Keyser shot a bogey-free sive 11-under par 205 overall. a sixth place fi nish at Qualify- just very grateful to know that the process he defeated Doha- the Tour with top class profes- ally proud of this week, I think 65 to win the pro-category “It is unbelievable,” a beam- ing School fi nal stage, before we have qualifi ed for the Qatar based Frenchman Tom Santa by sionals,” he said. I gave my best. I enjoy every title on the last day of the ing Keyser told Gulf Times. repeating the feat by fi nishing Masters,” Thomson said. three shots to win the title. Qatar’s Saleh al-Kaabi and match I play here.” Rybakina SQatar Open Golf Championship “I was playing good golf for in a tie for the fi nal card the fol- This year’s Commercial Bank “All in all I am very happy Ali al-Shahrani fi nished a joint took the early initiative, gain- yesterday. The victory helped him the last couple of months. And lowing year, grabbed the second Qatar Masters will be staged at with the win,” Young said. third with Joshua Greer. They ing a 4-2 lead but struggling clinch a berth in the Commercial at the end of the last year I place two shots behind Keyser, the newly-built the Education “Before the fi nal round, I had an eight-over 224 total. to close out the opening set. Bank Qatar Masters to be held played in the Desert Classic and and Thomson, who grossed an City Golf Course (ECGC). knew the conditions are good. While it was the second best The Kazakh had to save two early next month. made the cut there. So I think aggregate of eight-under 208, Young was the only amateur I was aware that I have an op- fi nish for the 2017 runner-up break points as she served Ireland’s Michael Young I was playing good golf,” the fi nished third. to play a below-par round today portunity today, but I also knew Kaabi, it was the best fi nish for for the set leading 5-3. The emerged as the amateur win- 33-year-old golfer added. Thomson beat Sweden’s Jens and his one-under 71 secured it will be diffi cult for me to win, al-Shahrani. 20-year-old double-faulted on ner of the championship and “I am very excited to play in Dentorp by one stroke to clinch him the title. Young had three but I ground it out and with the Qatar Golf Association Gen- a first set point before finally also qualifi ed for the prestigious the Qatar Masters.” the last Qatar Masters qualify- bogeys and a birdie on the fi rst help of others. Tom didn’t have eral Secretary Fahad Nasser al- claiming the set on her third European PGA Tour event next Swede’s Niklas Lemke and ing spot. eight holes. But an eagle on the a very good round and in the end Naimi and QGA Board Member opportunity after 38 minutes, month. overnight leader England’s “It’s usually always just one fi ve-par 639-yard ninth hole it made a very big diff erence.” Mohamed Ibrahim al-Mohan- saving a pair of break points. At the Doha Golf Club, Key- Brandon Robinson Thompson shot here or there. I’ve missed helped him wrap up the front Young also sounded optimistic nadi gave away the prizes.