FOOTBALL | Page 2 TTENNISENNIS | Page 9 Giroud goal Murray To Advertise here earns Arsenal digs deep to Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 draw against down Raonic Man United to reach fi nal

Sunday, November 20, 2016 Safar 20, 1438 AH Kiwis in control as GULF TIMES Wagner, Boult shatter Pak SPORT Page 11

RALLYING Biggest win of career for Qatar’s Adel in Jeddah ‘It was never easy to see the defined tracks and it was a big ask. I am so happy to take the win with Sébastien’

By Our Correspondent retirement after the Saudi rolled heavily Jeddah without injury to himself or navigator Mubarak Farhan al-Shammeri. In the absence of the fi rm favourite atar’s Adel Hussein Abdulla Yazeed al-Rajhi, this was the most open took advantage of his experi- of any of the Saudi rallies since Farhab ence in this year’s FIA World Ghaleb al-Shammeri won the Ha’il FIA QCup for Cross-Country Ral- candidate event back in 2006. lies to seal a convincing victory – the All 31 cars began the 220km selective biggest of his career – in the two-day section through the western deserts and Rally Jeddah that fi nished in the King- the UAE’s Atif al-Zarouni rejoined the dom of Saudi Arabia’s western deserts fray with a 10-minute penalty after stop- on Friday evening. ping his Buggy on Thursday evening’s The Nissan Patrol T2 driver and his super special stage. French navigator Sébastien Delaunay Qatar’s Khaled al-Mohannadi headed stayed out of trouble and kept to the into the desert with a 14.5-second ad- challenging route to fi nish 10min 49sec vantage over fellow countryman Adel in front of the experienced local driver Hussein Abdulla, but overnight T2 Ibrahim al-Muhanna, also driving a Nis- leader Emil Khneisser was fi rst on the san. The two drivers were the class of the road and into the stage. According to 31-car fi eld, where only three cars retired the results, Fares al-Shammeri was the but all but three teams received heavy fi rst driver to cross the fi nish line in a time penalties for route violations. time of 3hr 24min 21sec. The Saudi had “It was a very diffi cult and challeng- been seventh overall at the night halt in ing rally and probably more diffi cult than his Nissan Patrol, but he didn’t have to some of the rounds of this year’s FIA wait long to realise he had been beaten World Cup,” said Adel Hussein Abdulla. by Yayha Halwa of the Haras Al-Hadod “It was never easy to see the defi ned Rally Team as darkness descended at the tracks and it was a big ask. I am so happy stage fi nish control that had attracted to take the win with Sébastien. There large numbers of spectators. was a strong entry here, with many local Both drivers were soon given penalties drivers.” for missing route waypoints and Adel Last year’s T2 winner Monef al-Salm- Hussein Abdulla was the main benefi ci- ani fi nished third and second in T2, Saudi ary and snatched the unoffi cial virtual driver Ahmed al-Shegawi and Emirati lead. Time penalties were handed out to navigator Arif Yousef Mohammed were the majority of drivers and Adel Hussein fourth and Mohammed al-Saeri rounded weathered the storm to confi rm the vic- off the unoffi cial top fi ve with co-driver tory. Zian al-Harbi. Final positions after SS2: The UAE’s Atif al-Zarouni recovered 1. Adel Hussein Abdulla (QAT)/Sébastien well from his super special problems Delaunay (FRA) Nissan Patrol T2 on Thursday evening to fi nish ninth 3hr 40min 52sec overall and fi rst in T3. Kuwait’s Meshari 2. Ibrahim al-Muhanna (SAU)/Osama al-Thafi ri was second in T3 and 15th al-Sanad (SAU) Nissan Patrol T1 3hr overall, while overnight leader Khalid al- 51min 41sec Mohannadi fi nished 23rd and third in the 3. Monef al-Salmani (SAU)/Ali Hassan category. (UAE) Nissan Patrol T2 Abu Dhabi-based Lebanese driver 4hr 40min 45sec Emil Khneisser was one of the retire- 4. Ahmed Shegawi (SAU)/Arif Yousef ments, while Saleh al-Abdulali also Mohammed (UAE) Nissan Patrol T2 blotted his copybook by badly damaging 4hr 59min 58sec Yazeed al-Rajhi’s Hummer in a crash. 5. Mohammed al-Saeri (SAU)/Ziad al- Rajah Farhan al-Shammeri was the third Sébastien Delaunay (L) and Adel Hussein Abdulla pose after winning the two-day Rally Jeddah on Friday. Harbi (SAU) Nissan Patrol T2

RUGBY Fekitoa dashes Irish hopes of All Blacks double

AFP Dublin Laidlaw penalty gives Scotland 19-16 wo tries from dashed win over Pumas Irish hopes of successive wins over world champions New Zealand as the EDINBURGH: A penalty after the hooter by All Blacks prevailed 21-9 in an engross- Greig Laidlaw gave Scotland a last-gasp 19-16 ingT hugely physical encounter at Lansdowne win over Argentina in a fiercely contested test Road yesterday. at Murrayfield yesterday. Fekitoa’s second try killed off the contest Argentina breached the Scottish line 10 min- making up for his being sin-binned early in the utes into the second half when centre Matias second-half — man of the match Beauden Bar- Orlando chased and caught Juan Martin Hern- rett scoring the other 11 including a try. andez’s measured cross kick and ran round to The All Blacks, intent on avenging the 40-29 touch down under the posts. defeat in Chicago a fortnight ago, came sprint- Scotland hit back within four minutes to level at ing out of the blocks from the kick-off imme- 13-13 when winger Sean Maitland scored in the diately pressurising the Irish and scored a try corner from Huw Jones’s fine run and pass and within three minutes. Laidlaw converted from the touchline before a Newly-crowned world player of the year Bar- further exchange of penalties. rett saw space on the left and produced a trade- A tight first half had ended 6-3 to Scotland mark cross kick pass to Fekitoa and he opted to New Zealand players perform the Haka before the match against Ireland in Dublin yesterday. after two Laidlaw penalties to one from Nicolas go on his own to touch down for his seventh Test Sanchez, who then levelled with another kick try. Barrett converted for 7-0 from the Chicago victory — seconds later as he Ringrose had barely settled before a moment of ruled it a try and Barrett converted for 14-3. soon after the restart. Ireland weren’t rattled one bit and stormed took a high hit from which fl attened individual brilliance and vision by Barrett saw Sexton, so infl uential in Chicago with Mur- back, Jamie Heaslip feeding Sean O’Brien who him. The contact gained the Irish a penalty in- him cut inside Conor Murray and sprint clear ray, was the next Irishman to depart this war of charged for the line but was just held up by Bar- side their own half but coach Joe Schmidt looked only for Sexton to catch him and claim he had attrition shaking his head having lasted just 17 minute for two infractions and a superb pas- rett — the Irish eventually won a penalty and less than happy that Cane wasn’t sin-binned for prevented him from touching down cleanly. minutes as he walked down the tunnel and was sage of play with Jackson and Heaslip involved Sexton slotted it over for 7-3. the challenge. One camera angle said he was correct and replaced by Paddy Jackson. had the All Blacks on the back foot — again they However, they were to lose star young centre Henshaw to the relief of all raised his arm as another that Barrett had indeed touched down The momentum shifted back to the hosts came away with just the penalty as Jackson slot- Robbie Henshaw — one of the standout players he was stretchered off . His replacement Garry — the television match offi cial controversially when Aaron Smith was sin-binned in the 17th ted it over for 14-6. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, November 20, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT RANT Man Utd ‘unluckiest team in league’, Late Giroud strike laments Mourinho earns Arsenal draw at Man Utd

‘Last year we would have maybe lost this game and today we didn’t, so we have Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) and Manchester United improved on that front. Hopefully now we can kick on with some wins’ manager Jose Mourinho at the end of the match yesterday. AFP at the moment is the unluckiest Manchester team in the . That is the reality.” Arsenal had not troubled Unit- anchester United ed goalkeeper David de Gea until manager Jose Mour- Giroud climbed to head home inho dubbed his side fellow substitute Alex Oxlade- “the unluckiest team Chamberlain’s cross. Min the Premier League” after they But visiting manager Arsene were held to a 1-1 draw by Arsenal Wenger drew heart from their yesterday. refusal to accept defeat. United claimed reward for “The result in the end is posi- their mounting pressure when tive for us because we were 1-0 Juan Mata put them ahead in the down with two minutes to go,” 69th minute, only for Olivier Gi- the Frenchman told Sky Sports. roud to equalise a minute from “For the rest it was a bit of a time with Arsenal’s fi rst attempt scrappy game with two teams on target. well organised who defended United have won just two of well. their last nine league games and “The players who came on trail Arsenal by six points. made a massive diff erence to- “Of course it is two points day. When you are 1-0 down and dropped. We were the best team come back to 1-1, of course you by far. They had no chances to have to feel happy. win,” Mourinho said. “We lacked a bit of sharpness “They could not be Arsenal the today. What is it down to? I don’t way they normally play football. know, but at least we came back.” We were phenomenal defensive- Arsenal have not won at Unit- ly. The way we pressed and the ed in the league since September way we controlled their counter- 2006 and Wenger admitted his attacks. side’s dismal record at Old Traf- “Then when we had the ball we ford had crossed his mind as he were very comfortable. We scored watched from the bench. a fantastic goal, we had chances “I wondered during the game to win the game and then the only about that. Honestly, you never time they go there and the only know,” he said. time we had a situation we could “Last year we would have not resolve, they scored. maybe lost this game and today “They are the lucky ones and we didn’t, so we have improved we are the unlucky ones. The on that front. Hopefully now we Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud celebrates after his team’s Premier League game against Manchester at Old Traff ord yesterday. It was the Frenchman’s goal that gave Arsenal a draw. team played very well. This team can kick on with some wins.”

AFP Results match, must now rouse his players for You won’t be surprised by that.” Manchester Thursday’s key Europa League home Pogba then teed up Mata, who had ear- TOOTHLESS Crystal Palace 1 Manchester City 2 game with Feyenoord. lier bent a free-kick wide, for a low shot Everton 1 Swansea City 1 that Petr Cech pushed around the post ubstitute Olivier Giroud convert- Manchester United 1 Arsenal 1 VALENCIA PENALTY CLAIM and the Arsenal goalkeeper also saved ed Arsenal’s fi rst eff ort on target Southampton 0 Liverpool 0 Alexis Sanchez came through a fi t- three times from Anthony Martial. Misfi ring Reds held in the 89th minute to rescue a Stoke City 0 Bournemouth 1 ness check on a troublesome hamstring , aiming to redeem him- smash-and-grab 1-1 draw for Ar- Sunderland 3 Hull City 0 to boost Arsenal and he was his usual, self after his late-night carousing while Ssene Wenger’s side at Manchester United buzzing self in the early stages, steering on duty last weekend, and Daley Watford 2 Leicester City 1 in Southampton yesterday. a header off -target from Theo Walcott’s Blind came on, with Martial and Matteo Juan Mata’s 69th-minute strike looked fl ick-on. Darmian making way. to have earned Jose Mourinho’s United a But this was a draw that will have felt But with Michael Carrick anchoring Slowly, United picked up the pace and stalemate much-needed win, only for Giroud to level like a win for Wenger, particularly af- United’s midfi eld again and Antonio Va- with 21 minutes remaining they made the with a last-gasp header from fellow substi- ter Mourinho provocatively cited the lencia, back from a fractured arm, sup- breakthrough. tute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross. Frenchman’s 12-year wait for a league ti- plying drive from right-back, there was Pogba’s pass sent Ander Herrera haring The result preserved Arsenal’s six- tle in the build-up to the game. poise and purpose to the hosts’ football. towards the byline on the right and from point lead over sixth-place United, who “This team at the moment is the un- Carrick’s presence allowed Paul Pogba his cut-back, Spanish compatriot Mata are falling even further behind the Pre- luckiest team in the Premier League. to get forward and he gave a glimpse of arrived to send the ball past Cech with a mier League leaders. That is the reality,” Mourinho said. his ability by steamrollering Francis Co- sumptuously crisp side-foot eff ort. “The result in the end is positive for us “I have absolutely nothing to say quelin and drilling a cross into the box Wenger introduced Giroud for Mo- because we were 1-0 down with two min- against my players. But I feel sorry for that Arsenal managed to clear. hamed Elneny, which saw Sanchez, utes to go,” said Arsenal manager Wenger. them because we feel like a defeat and for United felt they should have had a pen- whose infl uence had dimmed, withdraw “Last year we would have maybe lost sure Arsenal is feeling like a victory.” alty in the 35th minute when Valencia to the left fl ank, and Granit Xhaka also this game and today we didn’t, so we have Giroud’s goal, only his fourth of the nutmegged Nacho Monreal and then went entered the fray. improved on that front. Hopefully now season, extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run down as the Spaniard leaned across him. Mourinho’s men continued to domi- we can kick on with some wins.” to 17 games in all competitions and left But referee Andre Marriner said no, nate, Marcos Rojo heading wide from Arsenal remain without a league win at United with just two wins from their last leaving Mourinho to rage on the touchline. Blind’s deep cross, only for Oxlade- Old Traff ord in 10 years and Wenger has nine league fi xtures. “My view was it was not a penalty. You Chamberlain to skin Marcus Rashford still not beaten Mourinho in the league in Mourinho, who shared an icy hand- won’t be surprised by that,” Wenger said. before crossing for Giroud to snatch an Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino after the game. 12 attempts. shake with Wenger before and after the “Mourinho’s view is it was a penalty. unlikely point. AFP that forced the home side back Southampton towards their own penalty area. BOTTOMLINE But when the Merseysiders were able to fi nd a gap, either remier League lead- their touch or the fi nal pass elud- ers Liverpool missed ed them. a chance to burnish Southampton were seeing lit- Ptheir title credentials as tle of the ball and were restricted they were held to a 0-0 draw at to attacks on the break, one of Toure double gives City victory Southampton yesterday. which ended with right back Ce- Jurgen Klopp’s men had the dric Soares shooting a yard wide AFP touchline for an animated tactical Townsend and gave Benteke a majority of possession, but with his left foot from 22 yards. London discussion during a break in play. strike partner in Wickham. Southampton goalkeeper Fraser The Portugal defender then Then, after Connor Wickham That change stretched the play Forster denied his former team- sent over a cross from the right had drawn Palace level midway and meant more chances were mate Sadio Mane in the fi rst half that Liverpool goalkeeper Loris aya Toure marked his through the second half, Toure created at both ends of the pitch. and Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Karius punched clear under very fi rst Premier League slipped his marker at an 83rd- The momentum of the game Firmino and little pressure. game of the season by minute corner and calmly side- swung in the space of 30 seconds missed second-half chances. scoring both of Man- footed his side to victory. in the 66th minute. Liverpool remain in fi rst place APPEALED IN VAIN chesterY City’s goals in a 2-1 win Palace keeper Wayne Hennes- ahead of Manchester City only Otherwise it was mostly Liver- away to Crystal Palace yesterday. KOMPANY BLOW sey parried the fl ick but needed on goals scored, but now Chelsea pool and they created what could Toure’s goals, allied to a strut- That stoppage was caused by a the help of right-back will go above them with a win at have been a decisive opening in ting display patrolling a City worrying collision between City who scampered back to clear the Middlesbrough today. the 28th minute when Georginio midfi eld of which he used to be keeper Claudio Bravo and club ball off the line and upfi eld. Both sides were without key Wijnaldum found Mane free in the leader, saw the Ivory Coast Vincent Kompany, who The ball eventually found creative players, with South- the penalty area with an intelli- midfi elder make a compelling was shadowing the run of Palace whose jink inside ampton midfi elder Dusan Tadic gent diagonal pass. case to manager Pep Guardiola striker . ended with a slipped pass for not risked after breaking his nose Mane’s shot was struck hard as the visitors maintained their Kompany’s head was rocked Wickham to drive the ball past while on international duty. and true but Saints’ England title challenge at Selhurst Park. back by a combination of his Bravo. Former Southampton captain goalkeeper Forster fl ung himself Toure has been eff ectively fro- keeper’s right knee and thigh. If that equaliser gave Palace Adam Lallana did not travel with to his left to save. zen out since Guardiola’s pre- It appeared to be more a case hope of a fi rst Premier League the Liverpool party after sus- The second half opened in season arrival at Eastlands. Manchester City’s Yaya Toure celebrates scoring their second goal. of whiplash than concussion. point in fi ve matches, it also set taining an injury while playing similar fashion. Apart from a Champions Kompany will be doubtful for the stage for Toure to round off for England. Liverpool appealed confi dent- League outing against Steaua pressing defenders to appease Sergio Aguero inside the home City’s Champions League trip to his return from exile. But Coutinho was deemed fi t ly but in vain for a penalty as Van Bucharest in August — largely Guardiola’s concerns over his area and, with the Palace defence Borussia Moenchengladbach as Unfortunately for Pardew and enough to start despite a ham- Dijk tugged Firmino’s shirt, For- irrelevant after City’s 5-0 win work-rate, Toure demonstrated standing off , he did the same with a result. There was little else of Palace, defeat meant their slide string problem while Dejan ster saved Mane’s shot at the foot in the away leg — Toure had not his confi dence has not been Nolito before rifl ing home a rising note in an insipid fi rst half. down the table continued. Lovren, another ex-Saint, re- of his near post and Coutinho worn a City shirt since the fi nal dulled by repeatedly sitting in shot which clipped James Tom- That the second period was As in recent games, they could turned to the back four after re- sliced his shot wide after Firmi- game of last season. the stands. kins on its way into the net. more open and exciting owed consider themselves unfortu- covering from a virus. no’s pass sent him in on goal. But few would have known it His fi rst goal arrived six min- The goal came fi ve minutes much to the bravery of Palace nate to lose, but that is a habit Lovren was jeered every time And such close missed chanc- by his work against the Eagles. utes before half-time. after Guardiola had called Toure manager , who took of which they will want to rid he received the ball in an early es were what Liverpool were left Bristling with intent and even Toure exchanged passes with and Kevin De Bruyne over to the off ineff ective winger Andros themselves soon. spell of Liverpool possession ruing at the end of the day. Gulf Times Sunday, November 20, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

BUNDESLIGA EPL Kane the hero as Spurs fi ght back to Dortmund defeat defeat West Ham Bayern to leave Leipzig at the top ‘I suff ered during several phases but when you climb into the ring with Bayern you can’t think you will come out without a black eye’ Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane celebrates after scoring their third goal from the penalty spot yesterday.

AFP side. London Sppurs felt they should have had a penalty for Pedro Obiang’s manhandling of Harry Kane but arry Kane scored two Dean wasn’t interested. late goals as Totten- West Ham had already shown ham Hotspur came they were keen to attack, how- Hfrom behind to beat ever, and Antonio cut inside from West Ham 3-2 yesterday in a the right to fi re just over. bad-tempered derby that fea- Antonio saw an eff ort from tured two controversial penalty closer range defl ected behind for awards by referee Mike Dean. a corner that Cheikhou Kouy- Dean, already known to be ate headed against the bar in the the most zealous offi cial when 24th minute. it comes to enforcing this sea- Reid was fi rst to the rebound to son’s directive to clamp down on set up the alert Antonio to nod in. grappling in the box, penalised Spurs were level, however, in Spurs’s Vincent Janssen for im- the 51st minute. peding Winston Reid in the 67th Janssen’s fi erce shot was par- minute at White Hart Lane. ried by Randolph at his near post That allowed West Ham’s but Winks was fi rst to the re- Manuel Lanzini to add to Michail bound and despatched it despite Antonio’s fi rst-half opener for the goalkeeper getting a touch. the visitors. That sparked Tottenham into But Tottenham, for whom life and West Ham survived two Harry Winks scored on his fi rst penalty appeals for handball be- Premier League start, saw Kane fore Randolph did well to block equalise and then win the game Eric Dier’s header with his foot. in added time thanks to another Then it was the turn of Dean to disputed penalty. make the headlines, the referee Dean has now awarded nine pointing to the spot when Reid penalties this season, more than went down with Janssen’s arms any other Premier League of- all over him. fi cial, having previously penal- Lanzini made no mistake with ised Manchester City’s Raheem the penalty, in the 68th minute, Sterling and Charlie Daniels of and the Dutchman was immedi- Bournemouth for off -the-ball ately replaced by Spurs manager off ences other referees might Mauricio Pochettino with Dele well have let go. Alli. And just before yesterday’s Kane made it 2-2 with two fi nal whistle, Dean also sent off minutes remaining with a back- Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reacts after his team’s Bundesliga match against FC Bayern Munich at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund yesterday. Reid for a clash with Kane. post fi nish after Randolph could Winks, the 20-year-old mid- only spoon out a cross by Son DPA player Alfred “Aki” Schmidt, enjoyed too imprecise, allowing Manuel Neuer in the 32nd minute but Anthony Modeste fi elder, fi red an early chance wide Heung-Min, the substitute. Berlin their fi rst home win over Bayern since goal to save. levelled on the hour. as Tottenham made the livelier Then, in stoppage time, Ham- April 2012. Bayern then came close to snatching a The France striker’s goal was a little start. mers substitute Havard Nor- The record champions had meanwhile point when Robert Lewandowski headed fortunate after defender Jannik Vester- Christian Eriksen found the dtveit tangled with Son on the orussia Dortmund beat Bay- not been beaten in the league since a narrowly wide in the third minute of gaard got his head fi rst to a long pass from net from Spurs’ next attack, slot- edge of the box and again Dean ern Munich 1-0 yesterday to home defeat to Mainz on March 2. stoppage time. Dominique Heintz but the ball came off ting past Darren Randolph, in for pointed to the spot, for Kane to leave promoted RB Leipzig three Dortmund led from the 11th minute Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel said the head of Modeste into goal. Adrian in the West Ham goal, but win a game that ended with Reid points clear at the top of the after former Bayern midfi elder Mario it was a “diffi cult” game, telling Sky TV: The 90 minutes were up when Cologne it was correctly ruled out for off - shown a red card. GermanB football Bundesliga. Goetze crossed through the legs of “I suff ered during several phases but substitute Salih Oezcan tapped a free- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted former Dormund defender Mats Hum- when you climb into the ring with Bayern kick to Marcel Risse who let fl y into the the only goal in the 11th minute to hand mels for Aubameyang to stretch out his you can’t think you will come out with- roof of the net from 30 metres. PREVIEW Bayern a fi rst league defeat of the season left leg and turn the ball over the line. out a black eye.” Cologne coach Peter Stoeg said: “It and a fi rst loss in the league since March. The Gabon striker celebrated his 12th Hoff enheim could leapfrog Dortmund was a diffi cult game against a team who Leipzig, who won 3-2 at Bayer league goal of the season by doing some to go third if they win at home on Sunday showed what quality they have. The team Leverkusen on Friday, top the table on 27 press-ups before being embraced by against bottom side SV Hamburg, while gave everything you could expect.” Costa and Hazard points, with Bayern on 24 and Dortmund team-mates. Werder Bremen greet Eintracht Frankfurt third on 21, level with Cologne and Her- Franck Ribery had a back-heeled goal in the day’s other game. tha Berlin. disallowed after the break for off side as Elsewhere, struggling Wolfsburg RESULTS boost Chelsea It is the fi rst time in 14 months that Bayern up the pressure, and Xabi Alonso slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Schal- Borussia Moenchengladbach 1 (Stindl 32) Bayern have not been on top of the league curled a shot against the bar with keeper ke, Mainz defeated Freiburg 4-2, while Cologne 2 (Modeste 59, Risse 90+1) after a weekend programme. Roman Buerki a spectator. Ingolstadt won 1-0 at fellow strugglers Mainz 4 (Bungert 15, Malli 20-pen, Bell 82, ahead of Boro clash Cologne meanwhile snatched a last- But Aubameyang, who had missed two Darmstadt for their fi rst league victory Onisiwo 90+5) SC Freiburg 2 (Grifo 67, gasp 2-1 win at Borussia Moencheng- opportunities shortly after the break, had of the season in Maik Walpurgis’ debut Petersen 85) AFP are a bit worried for your players ladbach, while Hertha were goalless at a golden chance to increase Dortmund’s as coach. Wolfsburg 0 Schalke 1 (Goretzka 82) London it’s important to play for the na- Augsburg. lead when he was gifted the ball by Alon- In Moenchengladbach, the home Augsburg 0 Hertha Berlin 0 tional team. Dortmund, who were wearing black so on the half-way line. side went in front in the Rhineland duel Darmstadt 0 Ingolstadt 1 (Hartmann 68) “Until now, so far, we were armbands following the death of former The striker raced clear but his shot was against Cologne through Lars Stindl in Borussia Dortmund 1 Bayern Munich 0 helsea head to Middles- lucky because no one player brough today buoyed came back from the national by the knowledge that team injured after the interna- LA LIGA star men Diego Costa tional break,” former Italy man- andC Eden Hazard have both been ager Conte added. passed fi t as the resume Premier League duty after the ‘PHILOSOPHY’ international break Conte believes he is building The pair had been considered a new-look side with his men doubts due to a groin injury and second in the Premier League Messi-less Barca held by Malaga an unspecifi ed knock respective- over the international break ly but manager Antonio Conte following the disappointment AFP Malaga had to see out of the fi - Results has confi rmed they had each re- of failing to qualify for Euro- Madrid nal 21 minutes with 10 men when ceived the all clear as the West pean football last season. Real Madrid loanee Llorente Deportivo Coruna 2 Sevilla 3 Londoners bid for a sixth straight “I see a chance to build some- cynically chopped down Ney- Eibar 1 Celta Vigo 0 league win. thing important with Chelsea arcelona paid a heavy mar and was shown a straight Barcelona 0 Malaga 0 Costa’s fi tness was of par- here, a new method and phi- price for the absence of red card. ticular concern after the forward losophy,” he said. “These are the Lionel Messi and Luis Yet, even with a man advan- suff ered an injury at Everton most important things. Then Suarez as nine-man tage, Barca badly missed the more when Ryan Babel’s fi rst- which meant he missed Spain’s it’s logical, when you play this MalagaB held out for a 0-0 draw creativity of Messi and injured minute opener and a wonder- international matches with championship, that you want to at the Camp Nou yesterday. captain Andres Iniesta as they ful individual eff ort from Florin Macedonia and England. fi ght until the end. To win the ti- Carlos Kameni produced resorted to launching cross balls Andone handed struggling De- But he is now at the service of tle, or for a place in the Champi- an incredible 94th minute into Gerard Pique, who moved portivo a 2-0 lead. Italian manager Conte, while mid- ons League. save from Neymar after Diego forward from central defence to However, in-form French fi elder Cesc Fabregas is also fully “It’s important now to work Llorente had been sent-off mid- act as an emergency forward. midfi elder Steven N’Zonzi fi t following a muscle problem. with the players, to continue to way through the second-half. Substitute Ivan Rakitic head- launched the comeback with a “I have all the players avail- build something of importance Juan Carlos also then saw a ed inches wide, whilst Pique also vital goal just before half-time to able,” said Conte. “They are in for Chelsea for the present and straight red in the sixth minute had a goal ruled out for off side give Sevilla hope. good form. Costa had a bit of the future.” of time added on, but Ma- Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Neymar gestures during the Spanish after Andre Gomes had struck Jorge Sampaoli then intro- an injury after the game against Conte, meanwhile, insisted laga hung on as Barca blew the league football match against Malaga CF at the Camp Nou stadium. the bar. duced Spanish international Vi- Everton, and started to train with Oscar still has a future at Stam- chance to go top of the table. However, Barca’s best chance tolo at the break and Sevilla were us on Wednesday. But his physi- ford Bridge despite the midfi eld- Five-time World Player of partners, the focus was on Ney- possession without a cutting came deep into stoppage time transformed in the second half. cal condition is good. er failing to start a league game the Year Messi was ruled out mar to break down the mass edge at the start of the second when an injured Kameni some- The visitors had to wait until “Hazard is fi t, yes. It was only a since September. just hours before the game due ranks of Malaga defence. period and should have been how clawed Neymar’s header three minutes from time to level tackle. But he recovered very well. “Oscar’s future is Chelsea, to illness, whilst Suarez was The Brazilian fi red into the caught out on the counter-at- from point-blank range to safety. when Vitolo fi red home at the Fabregas is in good shape. He’s Chelsea, full stop,” said the man- suspended. In the absence of side-netting inside the fi rst 10 tack. Earlier, Sevilla moved up to back post despite Przemyslaw available for Sunday, for sure. ager. “For me, Oscar is an impor- the Uruguayan, Paco Alcacer minutes, but Barca’s bright start Carlos had the best chance of third as defender Gabriel Mer- Tyton’s best eff orts. “I’m always worried when I see tant player in the squad. He’s in was handed a rare start, but his quickly fi zzled out. the game just before the hour cado sealed a stunning fi ghtback And Tyton was beaten again that there is a probability that one good form. search for a fi rst Barca goal con- Rafi nha’s drive produced Ka- mark when he rounded Barca from 2-0 down at Deportivo la deep into stoppage time when he player of my team, of my squad, is “It’s logical I have to take the tinues as he failed to make any meni’s only serious save of the ‘keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen Coruna to win 3-2. saved Nico Pareja’s fi rst eff ort, not able to play the game. starting XI every week, but Oscar meaningful impact. fi rst 45 minutes. but fi red into the side-netting Sevilla’s demons away from but Mercado followed up to blast “But, in this case, when there is a great player. For me, he stays Without his usual two strike Barca continued to dominate with the goal gaping. home looked set to strike once home the rebound. is an international break and you at Chelsea.” Gulf Times 4 Sunday, November 20, 2016 FOOTBALL

QATAR STARS LEAGUE SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP Rangers leave it late to secure Dundee win Gharafa see off old AFP Windass pass on the edge of the Glasgow box before he spun and fl ashed a low shot narrowly wide. Garner, who has enjoyed a uper sub Harry Forrester stuttering start to his Ibrox ca- scored in stoppage time as reer following his summer move Rangers left it late to secure from Preston, was clearly in the a 1-0 win over struggling mood and turned provider as he rivals Arabi 4-2 DundeeS at Ibrox yesterday. launched a dangerous ball across The Glasgow giants looked to be the face of the Dundee goal that Al Gharafa move up to fifth in the QSL table after a comprehensive defeat of Arabi heading to their second successive veteran striker Kenny Miller was draw in the Scottish Premiership close to converting. until substitute Forrester popped Dundee fi nally came to life in up in the third minute of injury the 25th minute as Wes Foder- time to head home fellow sub Joe ingham was forced to scramble Dodoo’s cross. low to his right to push a dip- The win - only their sixth of ping 25-yard free-kick from Tom the season - means third place Hately round the post. Rangers reduce the gap with From the resultant corner league leaders Celtic to 11 points Marcus Haber was handed a free and remain one point behind header at the far post but his ef- second place Aberdeen who fort was cleared off the line by came from behind to secure a 3-1 the Rangers defence. win away to Inverness. Rangers started the second Defeat sees Dundee slip to the half on the front foot and Garner bottom of the table after Ross was inches away from connect- County defeated St Johnstone 3-1 ing with Windass’ from to end a 10-match winless run. the right. Rangers kept faith with the Rangers rallied but Garner’s same starting 11 that were held to luck in front of goal failed to im- a disappointing draw with Ross prove with the forward again not County before the international able to get on the end of substi- break and the Gers players looked tute Joe Dodoo’s cross from right. like they were desperate to make However, with time running amends for their drab display in out Dodoo swung the ball deep Dingwall as they dominated the into the Dundee box from the left early proceedings. and Forrester sent a backward The fi rst real chance fell to Joe header into the bottom right Garner after he collected a Josh hand corner of Bain’s net.

FIFA threatens legal action against Kuwait World football body FIFA has football club Nottingham joined the International Olym- Forest, said: “FIFA hereby pic Committee in threatening reserves all its rights to take legal action against Kuwait any action against all those over the government takeover who have been involved in of sporting bodies, according any way, directly or indirectly, to a letter obtained by AFP. in the establishment as well The letter from FIFA secre- as any other activities of the tary general Fatma Samoura interim committee.” also reaff irmed that Kuwait It added that the action could would be kept in international include “claims for the conse- isolation as long as the Kuwait quences of any damages result- Football Association is run by ing from your illegal acts”. government-named off icials The IOC sent a similar warning following the passing of a new at the start of November. sports law this year. The IOC and FIFA protested The IOC and FIFA suspended after police were used to for- Kuwait in October last year cibly take over the headquar- Action during the Qatar Stars league match between Al Gharafa and Al Arabi held yesterday at the Al Gharafa stadium. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil over government interference ters of the Kuwait Olympic in sport. Committee and the KFA. By Sports Reporter The pace of the game intensifi ed and Al Ahli and Umm Salal settle for a point It is the second time in five “FIFA will not accept any of its Doha Gharafa began putting pressure on Al each in 1-1 draw years the Gulf state has been members to establish contact Arabi, dominating in the fi nal third and Al Ahli and Umm Salal had to settle for a suspended. or sporting relations with creating chance after chance. Gharafa’s point each yesterday at Al Ahli stadium The letter to the state-backed the government-appointed l Gharafa moved up to fi fth in intensity eventually paid off and took after the game fi nished 1-1 in a hard- KFA head Fawaz Mubarak off icials,” the FIFA secretary the QSL table after beating their the lead through their skipper Lawrence fought draw. Both sides have endured a al-Hasawi, owner of English general said in the latest letter. old rivals Al Arabi 4-2 yesterday Quaye in the 28th minute. mixed start to the 2016/17 QSL season at the Al Gharafa stadium. Just fi ve minutes later though, Al Arabi and would have both welcomed three AAl Arabi, with new coach Edison were level again after Boualem Khoukhi points to push up the table but neither Aguirre in charge, started brightly and bagged his second goal of the match. side was able to create many chances in AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL had good spells of possession early on. But then a two-goal burst from Gharafa, a game which saw limited shots on goal. Just 13 minutes into the match, the Dream in a span of fi ve minutes turned the match Al Ahli got off to a dream start and after Team’s captain, Boualem Khoukhi, gave on its head. Gharafa’s fi rst came in the 68th just 48 seconds found themselves 1-0 up the new coach a reason to smile after he minute when Kwasi stabbed home from thanks to Yessoh N’Guessan taking ad- Renaissance man scored what will surely be a contender just a yard out after a teammate’s header vantage of some sloppy defending from for goal of the season. The number 10 re- bounced favourably off the crossbar. Umm Salal’s back four. ceived a lay off 35 yards out and with one Then on the 72nd minute Gharafa Salal survived a few chances before Leonardo gives touch, smashed a long range shot into the were awarded a penalty after the ref- fi nally scoring an equaliser in the 83rd top corner that gave Gharafa’s goalkeeper eree deemed that Al Arabi’s captain, minute through substitute Tha’er Bawab. no chance, and gave his team the lead. Khoukhi, blocked a Gharafa shot with his Both teams pressed for the winner Jeonbuk the edge Unfortunately, Al Arabi’s lead didn’t arm. Hungarian international Krisztian in the remaining ten minutes but nei- last long. Just minutes later Aguirre’s Nemeth converted from the spot to make ther were able to fi nd the back of the net AFP Jeonbuk won a string of free compatriot Paulinho was deemed to it 4-2 and secure all three points for The and both teams left with a much needed Jeonju, South Korea kicks around the box but Leonar- have fouled fellow Brazilian Johnson Cheetah’s. point. do’s delivery was disappointing Kendrick in the box and a penalty was Aguirre has his work cut out with the with Al Ain’s Khalid Eisa having given. Gharafa’s Slovakian international, Dream Team languishing in 11th place in Action during the Qatar Stars league Results razilian forward Le- little trouble punching clear. Vladimir Weiss, stepped up to and made the league. Gharafa leapfrog Umm Salal match between Al Ahli and Umm Salal Al Ahli 1 – 1 Umm Salal onardo hit a blistering Abdulhrahman, in a more ad- no mistake from the spot. into fi fth. held yesterday. PICTURE: Othman Iraqi Al Gharafa 4 – 2 Al Arabi second-half double as vanced role than his usual play- Jeonbuk Hyundai Mo- maker position, was anonymous torsB came from behind to beat Al and Al Ain’s best chance was ac- BOTTOMLINE Ain 2-1 and seize the initiative in cidental, when Caio’s cross-shot the two-legged AFC Champions zipped past the post. League fi nal yesterday. The mohican-sporting front- Brilliant equaliser man grabbed his ninth and 10th It was dour stuff but Al Ain goals of the competition to out- fl icked the switch at half-time shine Al Ain hotshot Omar Ab- and Abdulrahman suddenly Injury-hit PSG warm up for dulrahman and put Jeonbuk in came alive, forcing Kwoun Sun- the driving seat ahead of next Tae into a fi ne save with an in- week’s second leg. stinctive snap-shot on 54 min- Top-rated Abdulrahman, utes. nicknamed “Amoory”, delivered Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ Arsenal with Ligue 1 victory a sublime assist for Danilo As- Leonardo Rodrigues Pereira (L) prilla’s second-half opener but celebrates his goal against Al Reuters France international was injured Leonardo then took control with Ain during the AFC Champions Paris with the national team earlier a scorching equaliser and an ice- League Final 1st Leg. this week. cool penalty seven minutes later. Argentine winger Di Maria It gives South Korea’s Jeonbuk His assist on 63 minutes was aris St Germain suf- slotted home after being set up the edge going into next week’s one for the ages, when he held fered a double injury at the end of a fi ne collective game against the Emiratis in Abu off three defenders before pick- scare as they warmed move by forward Jean-Kevin Dhabi, where both teams are ing out Asprilla, who had time up for their Champions Augustin, who started up front seeking their second AFC Cham- to select his spot and rifl e home PLeague clash at Arsenal with a as Unai Emery decided to rest pions League title. left-footed. 2-0 home win against Nantes in Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani. “Of course none of the players But Leonardo then had the Ligue 1 yesterday. Keeper Kevin Trapp, stand- wanted to concede but Al Ain are crowd on its feet with a brilliant The French champions, who ing in for the injured Alphonse a strong team. Even though we equaliser on 70 minutes, when play at the Emirates Stadium Areola, denied Guillaume Gil- conceded one goal, we worked he made space and slammed his on Wednesday with top spot in let from point-blank range as really hard to come back into shot into the top corner from Group A at stake, are second in Nantes threatened. the game and that made me very well outside the area. the league with 29 points from 13 Di Maria limped off 10 min- proud,” said Jeonbuk’s coach Seven minutes later, the Bra- games, behind leaders Monaco utes before the interval and was Choi Kang-Hee. zilian put Jeonbuk ahead from on goal diff erence. Paris St Germain’s Jese reacts replaced by . He added: “Leonardo has the spot. Third-place Nice will reclaim after scoring against Nantes. Nine minutes into the second spent fi ve years here but he’s But Al Ain will take heart from the lead if they avoid defeat at St half, Blaise Matuidi fi red a fi erce rarely been the diff erence in big their valuable away goal and Ab- Etienne today. triot, Javier Pastore, who came shot against the post. matches. He knew that and has dulrahman especially will be des- Angel Di Maria netted the on as a late replacement for his Second-half substitute Jese tried to focus on it and I expect perate to underline his undoubted fi rst goal, his fi rst in Ligue 1 this fi rst appearance since suff ering rounded it off with a penalty af- him to be the diff erence-maker talent with his fi rst major title. season, in the fi rst half before a calf injury in September, sus- ter Pastore was fouled by Diego more in the future.” “We now have 90 more min- limping off with a suspected tained a knee injury in stoppage Carlos in the last minute. A tense fi rst half saw plenty of utes to play but we are in a good thigh muscle injury before Jese time. But there was still time for the uncompromising tackles but lit- position,” said Choi. “It will be wrapped up the win with a late PSG will already be with- Argentine midfi elder to pick up tle goalmouth action in front of a very hard but we’ll prepare the penalty. out infl uential midfi elder Adr- another injury and limp off dur- packed and noisy crowd at Jeonju best we can to get through the Di Maria’s Argentine compa- Paris St Germain’s Angel Di Maria reacts after goal against Nantes. ien Rabiot at Arsenal after the ing stoppage time. World Cup Stadium. next match.” Gulf Times Sunday, November 20, 2016 5 RUGBY

EMPHATIC SPOTLIGHT Last-gasp drop-goal saves Wales blushes Rokoduguni brace against Japan as England hand crushing defeat Jones had requested plain old fish and chips rugby from his players — nothing fanciful or daring

Wales’ Liam Williams and Sam Davies hug at full time after their match against Japan yesterday.

AFP Japanese scrum to set up their Cardiff second score. The ball was worked to Jonathan Davies, who was tack- am Davies held his nerve led, but found Roberts with an to hit a drop-goal with offl oad, and there was no stop- just nine seconds re- ping the giant centre. maining to seal a 33-30 Halfpenny converted to make triumphS for Wales over Japan at it 14-6. the Principality Stadium in Car- But just when Wales were in diff yesterday. complete control, Anscombe, The Brave Blossoms looked who had impressed on his fi rst to have snatched a draw after a start at fl y-half, threw a loose late try from replacement wing pass that was scooped up by Ya- Amanaki Lotoahea, before Dav- mada, and the wing raced home ies stepped up to break Japanese from 40 metres. hearts. converted Wales were never in complete to cut the gap to a single point control despite scores from Dan at half-time despite the Welsh Lydiate, Jamie Roberts and Sam dominance. Warburton. Wales restored their four- Japan’s wingers Kenki Fuku- point lead seconds after the re- oka and crossed start thanks to the boot of Half- to keep the visitors in touch, penny, after the Japan scrum with outside-half creaked once more. adding 13 points from the kick- Alun Wyn Jones injected some ing tee. much-needed go-forward when But 23-year-old Davies land- he charged though a gap in mid- ed the drop-goal on only his fi eld and found skipper Warbur- second cap to steal victory in the ton, who crashed over for the try most dramatic of circumstances on 52 minutes. right at the death. Halfpenny converted, but Ja- Japan, who only fi elded fi ve pan would not be beaten. survivors from their famous ’s men showed Rugby World Cup triumph over their slick handling skills to South Africa, made a positive freeze the Welsh defence as start at the Principality Stadium. hooker found Ta- Scott Baldwin’s overthrown mura, who combined with Mal- lineout allowed the Brave Blos- gene Ilaua to send Fukuoka over soms to swing the ball wide, at the corner. England’s wing (R) holds off Fiji’s full back Metuisela Talebula during their Test match at in southwest London yesterday. but Leigh Halfpenny, who had Tamura converted to make it switched places with Liam 24-20, and Wales showed their AFP a bit and allowed them to cross for three cap and Farrell converted both tries. Suddenly Fiji were awake and a real Williams onto the right wing, nerves as they opted to kick a London tries. You already sensed a hard afternoon for threat. stopped Fukuoka 10 metres penalty in front of the posts in- “We will have to improve against Ar- the visitors lay ahead. The confidence returned and when short. stead of going for the try. gentina next weekend because they will That feeling increased with Rokodu- full-back Metuisela Talebula surged However, Japan did take But Japan stayed in touch with iji-born England winger Semesa come here believing they can beat us. But guni bursting over for what was also his over for an early second half try the odd the lead moments later after another Tamura penalty after Rokoduguni scored a brace as Ed- we’re enjoying this winning habit and fi rst England try in his second cap hav- alarm bell began to ring amongst the Jonathan Davies high-tackled Samson Lee went off side. die Jones’ team buried an over- want it to continue.” ing made his debut two years ago against hosts. full-back , The tighthead prop was re- powered Fiji under an avalanche Jones requested plain old fi sh and chips New Zealand. Just moments later Alex Goode dived allowing Tamura to give Japan a placed after giving away a sec- ofF tries to record their biggest win over rugby from his players — nothing too ex- The Twickenham crowd were lapping over for his fi rst international try to give 3-0 lead. ond off side penalty, but his in- the Pacifi c Islanders in a one-sided con- otic, fanciful or daring. up the one-sided aff air, and the white England regained dominance and Farrell Wales full-back Liam Wil- fringement went unpunished as test at Twickenham yesterday. And he got a no-nonsense approach to Fijians shirts just could not halt the dark converted. liams was then sent to the sin- Tamura missed the target. Jones saw his side pick up where they the game and a few frills and thrills on top blue tide as next it was fl anker Teimana And ’s fl oated pass was bin for blocking Yamada, who Instead it was Wales who left off in last weekend’s win over South as his team feasted on a glut of sumptu- Harrison’s turn to grab his fi rst try in his snaffl ed by Joseph who strolled over for looked to be on his way to the moved 30-23 ahead thanks to Africa, overpowering their opponents to ous tries. third England appearance. his second. try-line after Alex Cuthbert Halfpenny’s third penalty of the run in nine tries in a 58-15 win. Five tries in the opening 26 minutes Fiji made their fi rst attack on the Eng- The visitors’ defence was split apart failed to deal with his chip ahead. afternoon. England made it 12 successive wins, left Fiji dazed as England blitzed their op- land line pay dividends as the ball was twice again as fi rst Rokoduguni and then Tamura kicked his second Japan looked to have snatched and 11 of those coming since Jones took ponents into submission and led 34-10 swept across to , and even Launchbury crossed with no tackler in penalty to make it 6-0, before a draw when no.8 Amanaki Mafi over the reins after the World Cup fail- at their break. They took less than four Rokoduguni, no slight fi gure himself, had sight as England cruised to victory. Wales struck back. charged down the right wing ure. minutes to break through the visitors’ de- little chance of stopping the most power- England are now two wins from two Outside-half Gareth Ans- and somehow offl oaded to re- They are now just two victories away fence for the opening score. ful back in world rugby at full tilt. games in this home Autumn series but combe looped a perfectly placement wing Lotoahea, who from England’s best ever winning streak Owen Farrell fed Jonathan Joseph who Nadolo burst over and his side were on they know Argentina will be tougher op- weighted pass to fl anker Lydiate, side-stepped full-back Williams which was the 14 under Clive Woodward. found a big gap and charged over. the board. ponents next Saturday. who charged over at the corner to score. Fly-half George Ford admitted: “It’s And when the Fijians fell over them- Surprisingly, Farrell kicked a penalty Fiji captain admitted: for his fi rst try in 62 Test match- Tamura landed the conversion another good win but we know we can selves trying to stop another England at- when England were back on the attend- “We were half asleep in the fi rst half and es. to level the scores at 30-30 with play better. tack, left wing Elliot Daly coasted over for ancy but Fiji had the fi nal say of the fi rst England came out fi ring at us. And Wales reasserted their seven minutes remaining, but “We did a lot of good things right in the the second try from 30 metres. half with lock forcing his They are one of the top teams in the dominance up-front after 24 Davies broke Japan’s resilience opening half but then let ourselves down It was Daly’s fi rst Test try in his seventh way across for his side’s second try. world and our poor start cost us.” minutes as they drove back the with the last-gasp drop-goal.

UPSET Italy maul Springboks for historic victory

AFP It is South Africa’s fi rst defeat to Carlo Canna hit the conversion to Lambie kicked the penalty to take Florence, Italy Italy in 13 matches and will heap more give the hosts a 7-5 lead on 13 mins. the Boks’ lead to 15-10, but the visi- pressure on Coetzee ahead of their fi - It sparked an immediate response, tors spurned several chances to cross nal November Test against Wales next but Edoardo Padovani did well to stop for their third try, Le Roux narrowly iovanbattista Venditti scored week. Ruan Combrinck with a great touch missing going over in the corner be- a crucial second-half try as Coetzee pinpointed Italy’s defence tackle as the Boks charged down the fore seeing his pass back in field go Italy bounced back from an as the key and he was vindicated in an middle. awry. All Blacks mauling to score an entertaining fi rst half that saw the Boks But the visitors were dogged and kept The Boks, however, were caught out Ghistoric fi rst 20-18 win over embattled left frustrated with their two-point the ball moving in the middle before spectacularly on 55 minues when the South Africa yesterday. half-time lead. scrum-half plucked it out ball was fed out to the left and Venditti Bryan Habana, winning his 124th But Coetzee’s decision to recall and eventually found Damian de Al- went over in the corner. cap for the Springboks, gave Allister Habana paid dividends almost imme- lende in space on the right. Canna hit the conversion for a 17-15 Coetzee’s men an early boost with an diately when he touched over after full- Italy captain Sergio Parisse made a lead to revive thoughts of the Boks’ his- eighth-minute try that took his test to- back Willie Le Roux’s powerful run. despairing attempt at a tackle but there toric defeat by Japan at the 2015 World tal to 67. Patrick Lambie missed the conver- was no stopping the big centre. This Cup in England. But Italy, now under Irish coach sion from wide on the left just inside time Lambie found a way through the When Parisse was caught off side in Conor O’Shea, were on a mission to the 22. posts and South Africa were ahead. his own half on the hour, Elton Jantjies play creative rugby and did so while re- Italian heads went down quickly in When Vincent Koch penalised from fi red his long-range eff ort over to take pelling several promising South African Rome last week when the All Blacks angling in at a scrum, Padovani hit a the score to 17-18. attacks during an entertaining game in scored the fi rst of 10 tries inside fi ve 50-metre penalty to take the score to But De Jaeger failed to roll away at a Florence. minutes, but the Azzurri had been giv- 12-10. ruck, and Canna hit the penalty to take Praising his players’ “courage”, en hope by the Boks’ recent crisis. South Africa started the second pe- Italy’s lead to 20-18. O’Shea was quick to calm hopes of an Action from the Italy-South Africa match in Florence yesterday. From the restart, Italy won a pen- riod in determined fashion and were Italy thought they had won the Italian renaissance in Florence. alty and kicked deep into Bok territory given a boost when Fuser was shown a match two minutes from the end when “I’m very happy for the players and “We have a lot to do to change rugby and we had some problems with dis- where a driving maul, and some cha- yellow card for a tip tackle on De Jaeger. Marco Fuser touched down following a the fans, but this is only the start us,” in Italy, but we have the capability, tal- cipline. But the sheer heart and cour- otic defence, saw Bloemfontein-born Play continued, but Combrinck driving maul. said O’Shea, who succeeded French- ent and potential to do it. age... they weren’t just brave, they were Andries Van Schalkwyk crash over for a missed an inside pass from Habana Amid South African protests, the try man Jacques Brunel in July. “Today, we made a lot of mistakes just heroic.” pushover try. with the tryline begging. was ruled out by video replays. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, November 20, 2016 SPORT

NBA MLB Bryant and Trout James returns for Cavs win MVP awards

Reuters blowout over Pistons New York ris Bryant of the World ‘When you play hard, you can cover for mistakes. I thought we did a great job of just playing hard’ Series champion Chicago Cubs capped off a dream season by winning the NationalK League MVP award, while AFP Los Angeles Mike Trout backed up his case as baseball’s best by claiming AL hon- ours for a second time. eBron James hailed the Cleve- The versatile, power-hitting Bry- land Cavaliers for produc- ant, 24, was still in the afterglow of ing their best performance of joining with his teammates to end the the season in a blowout vic- Cubs’ 108-year wait for a World Se- Ltory over the Detroit Pistons on Fri- ries triumph with their seven-game day while Russell Westbrook reached victory over the Cleveland Indians. a statistical milestone with his fourth “Obviously, I want to continue to triple double of the year. get better and win more World Se- James had been rested for the Cav- ries. But it’s all downhill from here,” aliers in Wednesday’s surprise loss he joked on a conference call with against the Indiana Pacers, but was reporters. “This year has defi nitely back in the starting line-up on Friday been one of the best years of my life. to score 21 points in a 104-81 win. Winning the World Series, now this Kyrie Irving topscored with 25 is just icing on the cake.” points and added 11 assists while After a unanimous victory in last Kevin Love fi nished with 12 points and year’s Rookie of the Year vote, Bry- 13 rebounds in a formidable all-round ant nearly duplicated the feat. He re- display. ceived 29 of the 30 fi rst-place votes “Off ensively and defensively this is in romping to victory over Daniel the best we’ve played all year,” James Murphy of the Washington Nation- said after a win saw the Cavs improve als. Bryant belted 39 homers and had to 10-2. 102 RBIs with a league-leading 121 It was the 12th consecutive game in runs scored, while hitting for a.292 which the Cavs have made at least 10 average. three-pointers, an NBA record. Before settling in as a Fall Classic Head coach Tyronn Lue however fi xture at third base, Bryant played was less emphatic, stating that hard 107 games at third, 69 in the outfi eld work had obscured mistakes. and manned fi rst base nine times. “We made some mistakes, but we Los Angeles Angels outfi elder played hard,” Lue said. “When you Trout won his second AL Most Valu- play hard, you can cover for mistakes. I able Player award after fi rst receiving thought we did a great job of just play- it in 2014. The 25-year-old Trout, ing hard in that fi rst half.” who blends power, speed and de- fensive prowess, hit 29 home runs, ‘We got crushed’ drove in 100, scored a league-lead- The defeat continues Detroit’s poor ing 123 runs, stole 30 bases and led record on the road this season. The the league with an on-base percent- Pistons have now gone 1-7 on their age of.441. travels, and coach Stan Van Gundy was Trout received 19 fi rst-place votes in no mood to mince his words after to nine for runner-up Mookie Betts Friday’s rout. of the AL East champion Boston Red “We got crushed,” Van Gundy said. Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (R) drives past Detroit Pistons Marcus Morris during the second half of their NBA game. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Sox. Despite playing for a Los Ange- “They did everything better. We were les team that fi nished fourth in the just awful.” In Boston meanwhile, Kevin Durant Durant who soared above the cover In New Orleans, Anthony Davis into the rhythm and I think the way AL West at 74-88, Trout’s outstand- In Oklahoma City, Westbrook and reminded Boston what they missed to smash in a one-hand alley-oop turned in another dazzling individual they were moving the ball before I ing season brought him recognition the Thunder were similarly convincing out on as the Golden State Warriors that fi nally drew applause from the performance with 38 points as the Pel- came just kind of helped. They were for a fi fth successive campaign. winners against the visiting Brooklyn romped to a 104-88 win at the TD crowd. “(Curry) tossed it up and I was icans grabbed only their third win of all really encouraging and they were Trout fi nished second in the MVP Nets, coming home 124-05. Garden. just trying my best to go get it,” Durant the season, downing Portland 113-101. passing the ball and looking for me so voting in his 2012 rookie season, was Westbrook’s latest triple double — Durant, who was aggressively said. “We’ve been working on that in While Davis’ masterclass helped it felt good.” runner-up again in 2013, won MLB’s in which he scored 30 points — helped courted by the Celtics this year be- practice.” keep his average above 30 points per top honour in 2014 and was runner- him become only the second player fore deciding to join Golden State in game this season, the win also marked Results up once more last year. after the legendary Oscar Robertson to a blockbuster move from Oklahoma Happy Holiday the return to duty of Jrue Holiday. Charlotte 100 Atlanta 96 “It humbles you, it’s an outstand- reach 13,000 points, 3,400 rebounds City, was booed relentlessly by the Elsewhere Friday, the San Antonio Holiday, who has missed the fi rst Phoenix 116 Indiana 96 ing honor,” Trout said in a confer- and 4,500 assists inside his fi rst 600 home fans throughout. Spurs were made to work all the way 12 games of the campaign to care for Cleveland 104 Detroit 81 ence call. Trout is only the second career games. However, it did little to throw Du- by the resurgent Los Angeles Lakers his wife, Lauren, who underwent New Orleans 113 Portland 101 MVP winner in either league to have “He’s unique. Really unique,” Nets rant off his game as he fi nished with 23 before claiming a 116-107 win at the brain surgery after giving birth to the Oklahoma City 124 Brooklyn 105 won twice after fi nishing second in coach Kenny Atkinson said of West- points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Staples Center. couple’s fi rst child, showed no sign Golden State 104 Boston 88 the previous election. The other was brook. The highlight was a spectacular play Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus of rustiness with 21 points from the Memphis 80 Dallas 64 Barry Bonds in the National League “Everything he brings to the table is in the second half, when the Warriors Aldridge each scored 23 points for the bench. Toronto 113 Denver 111 (OT) in 1992 and 2001. “I was very sur- competitiveness. How fast he is, how broke quickly. Spurs, who improved to 10-3 while the “These guys made it easy for me,” San Antonio 116 LA LAKERS 107 prised,” he said about winning. “It’s strong he is. Very impressive player.” Stephen Curry fl oated a pass up to Lakers slipped to 7-6. Holiday said. “We were trying to get LA Clippers 121 Sacramento 115 an unbelievable feeling.”

NHL Hossa’s goal wins it for Blackhawks over Flames

By Chris Hine Chad Johnson at the 7:42 mark. Chicago Tribune It was Hartman’s third goal of the season. The Hawks were poised to take a two-goal lead in he Calgary Flames were the second period when Patrick there for the taking. Kane had a chance at an open The usually enthu- net after Johnson fell. But Kane siastic hockey city was double-tapped his shot in close Tstill coping with the loss of star and failed to score - and then the player Johnny Gaudreau for four Hawks’ night took a bad turn. to six weeks because of a broken Moments after Kane’s misfor- fi nger, giving the Saddledome a tune, Kane and Corey Crawford funereal feel Friday. could not handle a loose puck Normally, the Chicago Black- in the crease, and Flames center hawks bring out the noise in op- Sam Bennett scooped up a goal posing fans, but it was hard not at 3:33. to notice the listless atmosphere The top line of Kane, Jonathan and lack of energy. Toews and Richard Panik allowed If there was a gimme game for another goal a few minutes later. the Hawks on this circus trip, The Hawks surrendered an odd- this was it. They had two days of man rush, leading to a goal by rest in their legs and a battered Sean Monahan that defl ected off opponent. They grabbed that the skate of defenseman Gustav opportunity with a 3-2 victory Forsling at 7:03. to improve to 1-1 on the seven- Former Hawk Troy Brouwer, game trip and avoid their fi rst who helped end the Hawks’ two-game losing streak since the season with the winning goal in fi rst two games of the season. Game 7 of the playoff series with Marian Hossa scored the win- the St. Louis Blues, assisted on ner, breaking a tie with 2 min- both goals. utes, 23 seconds remaining by Through two periods, the top stuffi ng in the rebound of an Ar- line was on the ice for as many temi Panarin shot. opponent goals as it generated The Hawks did what they were shots on Johnson _ two. supposed to do in the fi rst peri- The Hawks tied it later in the od, seizing an early lead against a period on their fi rst power play teetering opponent. The scoring when Brent Seabrook launched sequence began with Artem Ani- a slap shot that rattled around simov rifl ing a stretch pass from the net at 14:34. It was a vintage the Hawks zone to Ryan Hart- Seabrook bomb from the right man near center ice. circle that Johnson had little Chicago Blackhawks Marian Hossa (R) scores the game winning goal against Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Hartman outraced Flames chance to stop. defenseman Dennis Wideman It was also a sight for a sore ond goal of the season. in the third when Giordano used inconclusive and the no-goal call they didn’t need them in the end. Washington 1 Detroit 0 and used his posterior to keep Hawks power play that had con- Johnson and defenseman his stick to prevent a Toews shot stood. Columbus 4 NY Rangers 2 Wideman from interrupting his verted just one of its previous 16 Mark Giordano saved a poten- from crossing the goal line. Offi - It was the second could-have- REULTS Carolina 3 Montreal 2 shot before beating goaltender chances and was Seabrook’s sec- tial Hawks go-ahead goal early cials reviewed the play, but it was been goal for the Hawks, but Pittsburgh 3 NY Islanders 2 (OT) Chicago 3 Calgary 2 Gulf Times Sunday, November 20, 2016 7 GOLF

SPOTLIGHT Rookie Hughes edges clear in Sea Island

AFP “Today was defi nitely a little more on Stewart Cink on nine under. Miami work,” a satisfi ed Hughes said after his With benign conditions perfect for round. low scoring, the cut came at a fi ve- That is “no slouch of a score and under-par, leaving the likes of Matt anadian rookie Mackenzie I would take two more of those in a Kuchar, Zach Johnson, Ernie Els, Dav- Hughes took a two-shot lead heartbeat,” he added. is Love III and Vijay Singh all out of at the US PGA Tour’s RSM Both Hughes and Pan are rookies the weekend action. Classic in Georgia on Friday on the US PGA Tour after playing on afterC following up his spectacular the Web.com Tour. Pan is looking for- LEADING SCORES opening round with a fi ve-under-par ward to dueling with Hughes over the (USA unless noted) 67. weekend. “It should be fun,” Pan said. 128-Mackenzie Hughes (CAN) 61-67 Hughes, playing in only his ninth “It’s exciting to see both of us play 130-Pan Cheng-Tsung (TPE) 66-64 event on the tour, had lit up the fi rst well out there because it’s a dream 131-Hudson Swaff ord 64-67, Blayne round with a superb 61 on Sea Island’s come true for both of us.” Barber 63-68, Chad Campbell 66-65, par-70 Seaside Course to start the day Four players – Hudson Swaff ord, Chesson Hadley 65-66 one stroke clear of the fi eld. Blayne Barber, Chad Campbell and 132-Jonathan Byrd 62-70, Jason The 25-year-old swapped to the Chesson Hadley – were tied for third Kokrak 67-65, Noh Seung-Yul (KOR) par-72 Plantation Course on Friday on 11 under. 66-66, Billy Horschel 66-66, Kyle and was quickly back in the groove, Jonathan Byrd, who fi nished the Stanley 65-67, Russell Henley 67-65, hitting three birdies over the front opening round with a 62 on the Sea- Charles Howell III 67-65, Bryce Molder nine before adding two more after the side Course, carded a two-under-par 67-65, Josh Teater 66-66, Hiroshi turn. 70 to remain in the hunt at 10 under Iwata (JPN) 65-67 Hughes stands at 14 under after 36 along with nine other players, includ- 133-Jamie Lovemark 67-66, Camilo holes heading into the weekend, two ing Billy Horschel and Japan’s Hiroshi Villegas (COL) 66-67, Lucas Glover clear of Taiwan’s Pan Cheng-Tsung, Iwata. 66-67, Jim Furyk 64-69, J.J. Spaun another rookie, who shot a 64 on the Behind that pack were a cluster of 68-65, Tyler Aldridge 66-67, Kelly Seaside Course to back up his opening nine players tied for 17th including Jim Kraft 67-66, Luke List 69-64, Stewart Mackenzie Hughes of Canada plays his tee shot during the second round of the RSM Classic at Sea Island Resort Seaside round of 66. Furyk and 2009 British Open champi- Cink 62-71 Course in St Simons Island, Georgia. (Getty Images/AFP)

DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP AUSTRALIAN OPEN Ogilvy hits lead to set up Open showdown Stenson fi nally with Spieth

AFP gressive on the greens tomorrow Sydney now that I feel more comfort- able,” he said. “I feel like my best golf is yet ormer US Open cham- to come out and, therefore I feel clicks as money-list pion Geoff Ogilvy fired confi dent about where things an eight-under-par 64 are.” to move into the outright Baddeley, 35, began the third leadF at the Australian Open and round with back-to-back bird- set up a fi nal round showdown ies on his way to a fi ve-under 67 with two-time major winner and will play alongside Ogilvy in Jordan Spieth yesterday. today’s fi nal pairing. Ogilvy, 39, was 11-under-par The 35-year-old is chasing a title moves closer and two shots ahead of Ameri- third Australian Open title, 17 can Spieth, fellow Australian years after his win as an 18-year- Aaron Baddeley and New Zea- old amateur at Royal Sydney in ‘...I’ve got to be pretty pleased with the way we managed to play on the way home’ land’s Ryan Fox with one round 1999. remaining at the Royal Sydney “You have so many good Golf Club. memories here, lots of good Veteran Australian Rod Pam- shots, putts made, so it defi nite- pling was one shot further back ly helps when you go back to a after a third round 70 while course that you’ve played well at world No.7 Adam Scott carded a and have got such good memo- tumultuous 71. ries at like here,” Baddeley said. Scott joined fellow Austral- “It would be pretty cool to win ians Jake Higginbottom, Jason here tomorrow, I mean, 17 years Scrivener, Lucas Herbert and later, that would be super spe- James Nitties in a fi ve-way tie cial.” for sixth at seven-under. Scott mixed four birdies with Ogilvy began the day six shots three bogeys and was upbeat af- behind overnight leader Nit- ter his 71 despite missing a short ties and produced six front- birdie putt on the fi nal green. nine birdies – including four in “I didn’t play good on the a row – to join the lead halfway front nine and I was happy to through his round. hang in there and shoot an under The 2010 Australian Open par score,” Scott said. champion consolidated with “I only lost one shot to the birdies at the par-fi ve 16th and lead, which is not bad consider- par-four 18th for a tournament- ing it wasn’t a good day for me,” low round. “That was kind of an the 2013 US Masters champion easy 64 if there is such a thing,” said. “A hot start tomorrow is Ogilvy said. what I need, a quick front nine “I didn’t really see 64 on the and I’ll be right in it.” fi rst tee, but after going out so The top three players at the well on the front nine, I kind of Australian Open will win direct started seeing a score like that. entry into next July’s British “When you’ve been seeing Open at Royal Birkdale. putts hit the edge and not go in for a few months, or years, you Leading third-round scores feel a lot better when they actu- 205-Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 70-71-64 ally lip in instead of lip out.” 207-Aaron Baddeley (AUS) 74- Former world No. 1 Spieth 66-67, Jordan Spieth (USA) 69- began the day at fi ve-under and 70-68, Ryan Fox (NZL) 68-68-71 Victor Dubuisson of France measures his shot during the third day of the DP World Tour Championship event at the Jumeirah Golf Estates yesterday in Dubai. (AFP) recovered from a slow start with 208-Rod Pampling (AUS) 71- fi ve birdies from the sixth to 67-70 Reuters for the tournament, level with for shot of the tournament on (POR) 72-69-71 the 14th to post 68 and his best 209-Jake Higginbottom (AUS) Dubai world number two Rory McIl- hole fi ve – a majestic approach Third-round scores 213-Gregory Bourdy (FRA) round of the tournament. 73-70-66, Jason Scrivener (AUS) roy, who had earlier threatened which gently spun back into the 203-Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 72-73-68, Li Haotong (CHN) “After being one over through 70-70-69, Lucas Herbert (AUS) one of his familiar surges to give cup. “Yeah, sometimes it goes 70-69-64 74-70-69, Renato Parattore (ITA) the fi rst fi ve holes and really be- 67-71-71, Adam Scott (AUS) 73-65- enrik Stenson has one himself a sniff of a chance to in,” Dubuisson said of the eagle. 204-Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 70-73-70, George Coetzee (RSA) ing all over the golf course, I re- 71, James Nitties (AUS) 70-65-74 hand on the European usurp Stenson. “I made a lucky bogey on the 69-69-66, Nicolas Colsaerts 72-70-71, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) ally could have been three or four 210-Nick Cullen (AUS) 72-70-68, Order of Merit title However, the Northern Irish- next hole, so it kind of set it up.” (BEL) 67-71-66, Tyrrell Hatton 71-71-71, Alexander Levy (FRA) over at that point and turned it Steven Jeff ress (AUS) 71-71-68, after a string of bird- man found the water with his Rivalling the Frenchman – (ENG)71-66-67 69-73-71, Jaco van Zyl (RSA) around into a four-under round, Robert Allenby (AUS) 71-71-68, Hies on the back nine of his third second shot on 18, and the both for the tournament and 205-Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) 69-71-73 so I’m very pleased with being at Cameron Smith (AUS) 74-68-68, round at the DP World Tour eventual bogey left him four individual piece of brilliance – 71-71-63, Lee Westwood (ENG) 214-Felipe Aguilar (CHI) 74-73- nine under,” Spieth said. Anthony Summers (AUS) 73-68- Championship yesterday lifted under for the day. was English youngster Matthew 66-70-69, Francesco Molinari 67, Scott Hend (AUS) 72-73- The 2014 Australian Open 69, Ashley Hall (AUS) 71-69-70, the Swede up the leaderboard “Maybe I just was a little too Fitzpatrick. (ITA) 68-67-70 69, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) champion needed 25 putts on Sat- Min Woo Lee (AUS) 72-67-71, as his money-list rivals failed to aggressive with it and pulled it His six-under par 66 includ- 207-Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 74-70-70, Thomas Pieters (BEL) urday and said he feels confi dent Rhein Gibson (AUS) 71-66-73 make headway. slightly, as anything left of that ed a monster eagle putt on hole 70-69-68, Nacho Elvira (ESP) 72-72-70, Padraig Harrington on the greens after lamenting 211-Travis Smyth (AUS) 69-73-69, While the 40-year-old was pin is going to go in the water, seven, as well as seven birdies. 70-69-68, Bernd Wiesberger (IRL) 72-71-71 poor putting on the fi rst two days. Jake McLeod (AUS) 71-69-71, making moves towards topping unless you hit it way past the The only aberration was a dou- (AUT) 70-67-70, Charl Schwart- 215-Alejandro Canizares (ESP) “I’m just going to be more ag- Peter Lonard (AUS) 70-69-72 the season’s rankings, France’s pin,” McIlroy said. ble-bogey on 13. zel (RSA) 70-67-70 73-72-70, Joakim Lagergren Victor Dubuisson fi red himself Coming into the tournament The 22-year-old was joined 208-Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) (SWE) 74-69-72, David Lipsky into contention for the tourna- second on the money list, Dan- on 12 under par by fellow Eng- 70-71-67 (USA) 72-71-72, Raphael Jacque- ment win with an eight-under- ny Willett’s challenge wilted on lishman Tyrrell Hatton and 209-Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 72- line (FRA) 72-71-72 par round to lead by one shot Saturday as a four-over par 76 Nicolas Colsaerts. Tied-second 70-67, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 216-Matthew Southgate (ENG) after 54 holes. left him well out of contention after day one, it is where the 71-70-68, Alex Noren (SWE) 72-74-70, Kiradech Aphibarnrat Having continued his strug- for both the event and season Belgian is placed once more af- 71-69-69, Byeong Hun An (KOR) (THA) 69-74-73, Mikko Ilonen gles of the fi rst two days into honours. Sweden’s Alex Noren ter a topsy-turvy round three of 70-69-70, Sergio Garcia (ESP) (FIN) 70-73-73 day three with bogeys on holes posted a three-under-par 69 to two eagles, six birdies but also 68-67-74 217-Richard Bland (ENG) 71-76- four, six and 10, Stenson fi nally leave him tied for 13th overall at four bogeys. 210-David Horsey (ENG) 72-71- 70, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) clicked into gear in the after- seven-under. A further shot back were the 67, Ross Fisher (ENG) 72-71-67, 69-74-74, Danny Willett (ENG) noon sunshine in Dubai as he He needs a top-two fi nish in trio of Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Shane Lowry (IRL) 70-71-69, 71-70-76 holed fi ve birdies in the last sev- Dubai to be in with a shout of Bello, who made 10 birdies and Joost Luiten (NED) 68-69-73 218-Chris Wood (ENG) 75-72-71 en holes – including chipping topping the money list. a bogey to record the lowest 211-Branden Grace (RSA) 72-74- 219-Bradley Dredge (WAL) straight in from the greenside round of the tournament, Eng- 67, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 75-68-68, 72-75-72 rough on 16. FRENCH REVELATION land’s Lee Westwood and over- Julien Quesne (FRA) 67-76-68, 220-Romain Wattel (FRA) “I turned it around at least After a steady fi rst two days, night co-leader Francesco Mo- Jorge Campillo (ESP) 72-71-68, 82-68-70, Soomin Lee (KOR) and, yeah, I’ve got to be pretty Dubuisson emerged from the linari of Italy. Henrik Stenson (SWE) 72-69-70, 71-73-76 pleased with the way we man- pack to head the season-ending Fellow halfway leader Sergio Richard Sterne (RSA) 70-70-71 221-Brandon Stone (RSA) aged to play on the way home,” championship. The French- Garcia of Spain fell away after a 212-Jeunghun Wang (KOR) 74-73-74, Marcus Fraser (AUS) Stenson told reporters. man’s eight-under par 64 in- two-over par round of 74 which 75-72-65, Martin Kaymer (GER) 69-74-78 His two-under par round cluded seven birdies and a eagle included four bogeys and a dou- 71-74-67, Andy Sullivan (ENG) 226-Andrew Johnston (ENG) Australian golfer Geoff Ogilvy tees off on the 16th hole on day three of of 70 moved him to fi ve under achieved through a contender ble-bogey on the front nine. 76-66-70, Ricardo Gouveia 78-70-78 Australian Open in Sydney yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times 8 Sunday, November 20, 2016 SPORT

WORLD MILITARY SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF Wood has no regrets Chinese shooters hog over Westwood limelight on last day WCup snub Reuters China clinch two gold and one silver on the concluding day of the CISM championship Dubai hris Wood has no regrets over By Sports Reporter ditching Lee Westwood as his Doha partner for next week’s World Cup of Golf in Australia, with the Eng- lishmanC banking on his team spirit with hina hogged the lime- Andy Sullivan to carry the duo to glory. light on the last day Westwood and Danny Willett, sec- of the 49the CISM ond in the European Tour money-list, World Military Shoot- were lined up to represent England at the ingC Championship by winning team event in Melbourne until the latter three medals yesterday. pulled out with a back complaint, mean- At the Losail shooting ing Wood stepped in as the next highest- Range, China’s Zhenxiang and ranked Englishman. Yongde Jin won the men’s 25m Under tournament rules, Wood could rapid fi re pistol gold and silver then select his own playing partner and, respectively, while France’s instead of maintaining Westwood’s place Fabrice Daumal claimed the chose Sullivan — a move which, accord- bronze. ing to British media reports, left the Xu Ying completed the Chi- former world number one fuming. nese domination by clinching “I completely understand his frustra- the men’s individual skeet gold tion, but Dan’s the one who decided to with a perfect score in the gold pull out when Lee’s plans were all done. medal shoot-out in the last The rules are the rules and I had the event of the day. choice,” Wood told Reuters at the DP The 33-year-old from Hu- World Tour Championship in Dubai. nan, who has been competing “Obviously, it’s hard on Lee but I’d like for the last 16 years in interna- to think that me and Sully can go there tional competitions, took skeet and be good enough to compete and try gold beating off the challenge and win it.” Wood noted that himself and from Jan Sychra of Czech Re- Sullivan represented Europe at the Ryder public 16-14 in the shoot-out. Cup this year and were at the top end of In the fi nal shoot-out, Xu the European Tour’s Order of Merit going shot down all the 16 targets into the fi nal round in Dubai this week- which were thrown in his di- China’s Xu Ying in action during the skeet event of the 49th CISM World Military Shooting Championship yesterday. PICTURES: Thaju Dheen end in ninth and 13th respectively. rection, while Sychra, the Sullivan has been in good recent form, 47-year-old, who fi nished fi fth coming second in the Portugal Masters at the 2012 London Olympic at the end of October and tied-third at Games fumbled at the fag end the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South missing two targets to give Xu Africa last weekend. However, West- the gold medal. Oskari Kossi of wood’s blistering performance so far in Finland took the bronze win- Dubai, leading the fi eld after day one and ning the shoot-out with Yang standing one shot behind at halfway, has Wang of China (12-11). placed increased scrutiny on Wood’s de- In the team event, Xu along cision. “It’s typical really that it comes with Yang Wang and Fan Zhang out and Westy leads the fi rst day. Good shot down 364 clay pigeons in on him — I hope he wins it,” Wood said. a new championship record to “I obviously made the decision last give the Chinese team the gold. week and if Lee wins the tournament, The Russian team of Alek- I’m going to look even more of a tit. The sei Skorobogatov, Alexander decision’s been made and I will have to Zemlin and Anton Astakhov, live with it.” were on target 362 times but Westwood’s performance in the desert that was good enough for them emirate contrasts sharply with Wood’s to take only the silver, while own struggles here. He was speaking af- Finland trio of Oskari Ko- ter carding a one-under par third round ssi, Tomi Aspholm and Miikka score which moved him to two-over for Peltonen took the bronze. the tournament. “I could stand on the Chinese men won the 25m putting green for two hours this afternoon centre fi re pistol event, win- and feel like I’m not going to make a dif- ning both the individual and Qatar military off icers enjoying the men’s skeet final yesterday. ference,” Wood said. “Sometimes you get team gold Wednesday. weeks like that, and once it’s in your mind Hosts Qatar were pushed Yongde Jin. Fabrice Daumal Rapid Fire Rifl e, individual and silver followed by Denmark gold while Bernhard Pickl of gold while Michelle Skeries of — where you can’t see the lines — it’s a to the fourth spot having shot fi nished third. team. Arne Odd Brekne along team of Lars Jepsen, Allan Aa- Austria took the silver while Germany took silver followed nightmare.” 354 targets two less the bronze In the other medals de- with Aannestad Kim-Andre gaard and Steff en Olsen took Aannestad Kim-Andre Lund by Hyun Joo Park of Korea. On He hoped to solve some of his issues winning team. China’s third cided yesterday, Norway took Lund and Boe Kristian Hans the bronze. baaged the bronze. Friday, Germany led by Sker- with rest and “one or two beers” on gold medal came in the 25m two gold while Germany and helped Norway take the gold In the individual event, Thailand’s gold came in ies had won the 25m Rapid Fire Sunday with the friends and family who Rapid Fire Pistol men’s event. Thailand walked away with while Austrian trio of Alexan- Arne Odd Brekne continued the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol in- Pistol team event, while Mon- have accompanied him to Dubai, but his Zhenxiang Xie took the top one each. Norway’s twin gold der Schmirl, Bernhard Pickl from where he left off from the dividual event for women. golia took the silver and Russia camaraderie with Sullivan will also give spot followed by compatriot medals came in the 300m and Gernot Rumpler took the team event to give Norway the Naphaswan Yangpaiboon took the bronze. him a boost going into Melbourne.

SPOTLIGHT Belarusian envoy, Aspire discuss potential co-operation

By Sports Reporter services. Our hope is that this in this impressive visit. Aspetar, of the Budapest 2024 Olympic Doha visit serves as a stepping stone a research partner of the IOC, bid, Attila Mizser added: “It’s for potential cooperation be- has provided signifi cant re- challenging for a small city to bid tween us, as Aspetar and the Na- search contributions to the fi eld for global events, as it is often high-level delegation tional Olympic Committee are of sports medicine, and I’m glad awarded to bigger cities. participating in the As- currently in discussions around for being able to experience the However, we are hopeful that sociation of National signing a Memorandum of Un- hospital fi rst-hand.” we’ll be able to showcase our ca- Olympic Committees derstanding to provide medical Meanwhile at Aspire Acade- pabilities through our sustain- (ANOC)A assembly taking place services to Belarusian athletes.” my, professor Erdener was given able solutions and memorable in Doha this week, was wel- Maksim Ryzhenkov added: a tour of the Academy’s premises projects.” comed in Aspire Zone and taken “The main purpose of my second and sports science laboratories. Meanwhile, the CEO of the on a tour of its venues, includ- visit is to improve cooperation Professor Erdener remarked that Los Angeles 2024 Olympic bid ing Aspire Academy, Aspetar, with Aspire Zone. I was very im- Qatar‘s reputation as a multi- Gene Sykes, accompanied by Khalifa International Stadium, pressed by Aspetar when I fi rst sporting hub has grown rapidly Consul General of Qatar in Los Hamad Aquatic Centre and the visited and have shared what I in recent years, partly due to in- Angeles Khalid Yousuf al-Sada Torch Hotel. learned about its facilities and stitutions such as Aspire were given a tour around Aspire The delegation, represented services with our specialists in Academy. Dome in Aspire Zone Foundation by the First Vice President of the Belarus, who found Aspetar to be “This is my fi rst time back by an Aspire Zone delegation. National Olympic Committee of very progressive. in 10 years and l have been im- Commenting on the occa- Belarus Maksim Ryzhenkov and “As such, we believe it would mensely impressed by the de- sion, Sykes said: “I’m impressed the Charge d’Aff aires at the em- be a great opportunity for the velopment that has taken place,” by the extent and ambition of bassy of Belarus Vitaly Mirutko, National Olympic Committee of Erdener said. After the visit, he Aspire Zone, and how success- were greeted by several offi cials Belarus and Aspetar to develop signed the Academy’s Wall of ful they are at off ering local and from Aspire Zone, including the an agreement that allows As- First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus Maksim Ryzhenkov (L) with Acting Fame before receiving a memo- international athletes the op- Director General of Aspire Lo- petar to provide rehabilitation Chief Administrative Off icer of Aspetar Khalid Ali al-Mawlawi. rial token from Aspire Zone’s portunity to improve their per- gistics Abdullah Nasser al-Nai- programmes for our athletes.” CEO Mohamed al-Suwaidi. formance, and make it more mi, the Deputy Director General Meanwhile in Aspire Academy aims to discuss possible coop- the ANOC assembly, comprised Suwaidi, CEO of Aspire Zone, in Vice Chairman of the Buda- possible for them to succeed. of Aspire Academy Ali Salem Maksim Ryzhenkov was taken eration agreements between As- of the International Olympic addition to Chief Medical Offi cer pest 2024 Olympic bid, Gusztav There’s nothing like it, and the Afi fa, Acting Chief Administra- on a tour by the Director General pire Academy and six Belarusian Committee Vice President and at Aspetar Dr. Scott Gillogly and Bienerth, said, “Hungary can Academy should be very proud.” tive Offi cer of Aspetar Khalid of Aspire Logistics, Abdullah sports academies, specialising in President of the National Olym- Chief Administrative Offi cer relate to the Qatar 2022 World Mohammed al-Suwaidi, add- Ali al-Mawlawi and the Direc- Nasser al-Naimi, and the Deputy various sports.” pic Committee of Turkey, Pro- Khalid Ali al-Mawlawi. Cup bid. It is time for mid-sized ed: “We are indeed proud of our tor of PR and Communications Director General of Aspire Acad- Ryzhenkov concluded his fessor Ugur Erdener, the CEO of Prof. Erdener was given a cities to be given a chance to achievements, it’s challenging to of Aspire Zone, Nasser Abdullah emy, Ali Salem Afi fa. speech by praising the eff orts the Los Angeles 2024 Olympic comprehensive tour of Asp- host the greatest multi- sport produce elite athletes, as it is not al-Hajri. After the visit, Ryzhenkov met Qatar has taken to establish itself bid, Gene Sykes, Vice Chairman etar’s facilities, including the event on the globe, the Olympic a one-day job. It takes years and Commenting on the occa- with Aspire Academy Director as a sporting leader in the region, of the Budapest 2024 Olympic Sports Surgery Training Centre Games. a lot of hard work. sion, Acting Chief Administra- General Ivan Bravo to discuss saying: “The work being carried bid, Gusztav Bienerth, and the (SSTC), media imaging and west :We are confi dent the right “Thankfully, we have suc- tive Offi cer of Aspetar, Khalid bilateral relations in sports de- out in Aspire Zone and its mem- Director of Sport and Venues of expansion departments, and was choice was made by FIFA to se- ceeded in producing star ath- Ali al-Mawlawi, said: “We are velopment. ber organisations is impressive. the Budapest 2024 Olympic bid, briefed about the services the lect Qatar for the hosting of the letes, such as Olympic silver thrilled to welcome Mr. Maksim Commenting on this, Qatar has taken signifi cant steps Attila Mizser. hospital provides to athletes. FIFA 2022 World Cup. Aspire medallist Mutaz Barshim. We Ryzhenkov for the second time Ryzhenkov, said: “Aspire Acad- to develop its sports and medical Professor Erdener, visited As- Professor Erdener praised As- Zone is a testament to Qatar’s will continue moving forward in Aspetar. During his fi rst visit emy’s philosophy of combining infrastructure.” petar and Aspire Academy on petar and said: “I’m very happy sporting capabilities and proof with dedication to enable the we introduced him to Aspetar’s sports training and education This follows a series of visits Wednesday, where he was greet- to have the opportunity to join of what it can off er.” sporting potential of young local facilities and briefed him on our is worthy of note. My visit here by VIP delegates participating in ed by Mr. Mohamed Khalifa Al- my fellow scientists in Aspetar Director of Sport and Venues athletes.” Gulf Times Sunday, November 20, 2016 9 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Spain’s golden Murray digs deep era is fading to down Raonic in but Lopez stays positive

Reuters ning in nearly every sport. But London that’s not normal. “We will still have great players but it’s impos- thriller to reach fi nal sible to have a generation like our pain must accept the fact generation. People should realise that the sun is setting on how diffi cult it is to stay there Scot will face world number two Djokovic or Nishikori in tonight’s final its golden generation in and achieve all we achieved. We men’s tennis and the next won the Davis Cup fi ve times in oneS may take a while to arrive, 10 years. That’s huge.” AFP London Feliciano Lopez said at the ATP Spain dropped out of the World Tour Finals this week. World Group in the Davis Cup in For the fi rst time since 1999, 2014, something that would have ndy Murray remains on no Spanish player was involved once been unthinkable, although course for a dramatic in the singles at the showpiece they have fought their way back. showdown with Novak event featuring the world’s top Nadal and Marc Lopez also won Djokovic as the world eight players, with only Lopez Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro numberA one staged a superb fi ght- and his namesake Marc Lopez this year. back to defeat Milos Raonic 5-7, 7-6 fl ying the fl ag for the power- It hardly looks like a crisis (7/5), 7-6 (11/9) in the semi-fi nals of house nation in the doubles. The when 11 Spaniards are in the top the ATP Tour Finals last night. pair bowed out on Friday, losing 100 of the ATP rankings — but Murray will face world number their fi nal group match to Raven seven of those are 30 or over. two Djokovic or Japan’s Kei Nishiko- Klaasen and Rajeev Ram. Roberto Bautista Agut, the sec- ri in tonight’s fi nal after surviving a No Spanish player has won the ond Spaniard on the ATP rank- three-hour 39-minute classic that singles title since Alex Corretja ings at 14 has been something of ranked as the longest match in Tour beat compatriot Carlos Moya in a late bloomer at the age of 28 but Finals history. The Scot, who saved Hannover in 1998, but the likes despite two titles this year he is a match point in the fi nal set tie- of Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero, rarely talked about as a potential break, must win the Tour Finals for Tommy Robredo, David Ferrer, grand slam champion. the fi rst time to be guaranteed to Fernando Verdasco and Nadal Likewise, Pablo Carreno Bus- fi nish 2016 on top of the world rank- have all been regulars. ta, at 25 the youngest of Spain’s ings, with Djokovic able to overhaul Nadal would have crept into top 100 brigade. He also won two him if he takes the title for a record- the top eight this year but ended titles this year to climb to a ca- equalling sixth time. his season early to recover from reer-high ranking of 30. Leaner Murray would also fi nish number injury. times may be ahead for the Span- one if Djokovic loses to Nishikori The clock is ticking on ish men but Lopez, currently in late last night match. If Djokovic 30-year-old Nadal though and ranked 28, still thinks there is no does make the fi nal, he might fi nd there are serious doubts about cause for panic. Murray running low on energy af- whether he will ever return to the “We will see next year what ter the Wimbledon champion was level that once made in the most happens,” he said. “Obviously pushed to his limits by Raonic just feared opponent in tennis. our generation is getting older, days after he had to endured the pre- Ferrer is 34 and Verdasco, Ro- we are over 30, but we are still fi t vious longest match in the tourna- bredo and Lopez are all in their and we still have some energy to ment, a victory over Nishikori that 30s. “It’s something that we have compete against the young guys. took three hours and 20 minutes. to accept, our tennis is not go- We are in good shape. I think Rafa “I played some great points and ing to be successful forever,” the will be back next year. It was sen- managed to get the break at the end,” 35-year-old Lopez told Reuters sible for him to quit and prepare Murray said. “It was an amazing at the O2 Arena. for next season, and Roberto and atmosphere. The longer the match “Of course we were a bit Pablo are really improving. They went on the louder the crowd got. spoiled. People in our country have a great work ethic. And I’m This is what we play for. Matches think we are going to be there confi dent we’ll see more. like this and arenas like this. This is forever and we will win every- Maybe not like fi ve or six in the one of hardest matches I’ve played thing. It was the same with foot- top 20 like before, but it is not all indoors. ball and basketball, we were win- negative.” “I didn’t expect to play a long one with someone with a serve like Mi- los. I’m tired. I’ve played so much tennis over the last few months. I’ll give it my best eff ort, the best of what I have.” Raonic twice broke Murray when he served for the match in the fi nal set and saved three match points in the decisive tie-break. But the Ca- nadian fourth seed couldn’t take the one match point that came his way in a thrilling denouement that even- tually went Murray’s way to repeat the outcome of their meetings in the Wimbledon and Queen’s fi nals on the other side of London earlier this year. Murray’s 23rd successive victory set a new career-best for the 29-year-old but only a 24th would bring a fi tting fi nale to the best year of his life. Nishikori has lost to Djokovic on his previous appearance in the semi-fi nals in 2014. The 26-year- old suff ered a frustrating warm-up Britain’s Andy Murray returns during his for his latest meeting with Djokovic win over Canada’s Milos Raonic in the as the world number fi ve was beaten semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 by Marin Cilic in the tournament in London last night. (AFP) evening session on Friday to leave Spain’s Feliciano Lopez (left) and Marc Lopez lost to USA’s Rajeev him with two defeats in his three Ram and South Africa’s Raven Klaasen during their round robin stage group matches. doubles match at the ATP World Tour Finals on Friday. (AFP)

MOTOR SPORT Losail Circuit all set for night-time WTCC season closer

By Sports Reporter Trophy winner for 2016 following ing classifi cation order. In addition, Doha another impressive season driving Manufacturers Against the Clock Jose Maria Lopez has wrapped a Sebastien Loeb Racing Citroën C- (MAC3) is a Tour de France-inspired up his third WTCC title. Elysée WTCC. team trial and new for 2016. It puts here will be a duel in the He is sixth in the WTCC Drivers’ team competition to the fore at each desert when the 2016 FIA standings with 176 points but could WTCC weekend with three drivers World Touring Car Champi- end up a career-high third in the ta- from each manufacturer lapping to- onship reaches its climax at ble if results go his way in Qatar. gether against the clock. TWTCC Race of Qatar on 24th and 25 Emerging young stars take on cate- On Thursday 24th November, th November, as second and third in gory experts and ex-grand prix driv- track activity starts at 16:00 with the fi nal standings are decided at the ers in race-ready versions of punch- 30’ of Free Practice 1 and fi nishes at Losail International Circuit. packing road cars from Chevrolet, 21:00 with another 30’ for the Free While Jose Maria Lopez has Citroën, Honda, LADA and Volvo. Practice 2. On Friday 25th November, wrapped up his third WTCC title, With aerodynamic aids, carbon Qualifying sessions are from 14:30 the battle for the coveted runner-up fi bre parts, 1.6-litre turbo engines until 15:30, when it starts the session spot and, indeed, third place will be and six-speed sequential gearboxes, of Manufacturers Against the Clock intense. Yvan Muller, Lopez’s factory World Touring Cars can reach a top (MAC3). The Opening Race is sched- Citroën teammate and is preparing speed of 265kph, placing a huge onus uled at 21:00 and the Main Race will for his fi nal WTCC races before he on driver skill and judgement, while be at 22:10. retires, occupies second place on 235 creating a dramatic spectacle for The entrance at the Grandstand points. fans. and PADDOCK is free for the 2-days But Honda trio Tiago Monteiro Race strategy goes out of the win- event and the VIP ticket is 1200QR (204 points), Norbert Michelisz (190) dow as drivers push hard from start for the 2 days or 700QR for Friday and Rob Huff (180) all retain math- to fi nish without the need to make only. And for those fans wanting an ematical possibilities to snatch the pit stops. They don’t do favours and adrenaline rush and fun with friends, position.The Moroccan driver Mehdi certainly don’t expect any in return. the Go Karting track will be open Bennani, who became the fi rst Arabic The grid for the Opening Race is during the 2-day event with a price driver to win an FIA world champi- decided by the Qualifying Q2 re- of QR 100 for a 15-minute session onship motor race when he won at sults with the fastest 10 lining up in from 16:00 to 21:00. More informa- WTCC Race of China in 2014, will reverse order. The grid for the Main tion and tickets is available at www. head to the Middle East as the WTCC Race follows the combined qualify- lcsc.qa Gulf Times 10 Sunday, November 20, 2016 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT LOCAL SPORT Camels consolidate top spot in Qatar Bulut the hero as Rugby Sevens

Sports Reporter etrate the solid defense of Doha Doha to post any points. The win el- evated Doha to 2nd on the com- petition standings on points for Novi Sad notch up here were fi ve matches and against. played in the fi nal pre- Final score: Doha 29 Lions 0. liminary rounds of the Best players: Doha: Luke TQatar Rugby Sevens on Masirewa and Samuel Spencer; Friday night at the Aspire Warm Lions: Sharith Amit and Gihan up and Rugby Pitch. The Camels Sliva. continued to top the standings at Match 4. The Stallions were the end of the day. back on a winning streak as they FIBA 3x3 hat-trick Match 1: The Blue Phoenix accounted for Al Khor scoring 4 registered a good opening win tries and 2 goal conversions. The Serbian World Cup winner had casually mentioned in the pre-event press against Al Khor. They scored Final score: Stallions 24 - Al four tries and three conversions. Khor 0. conference that he was looking forward to a holiday after collecting the $20,000 top prize Al Khor managed to score one Best players: Stallions: Ra- unconverted try but it was not chid Boudala, Al Ameen Mo- By Anil John enough to aff ect the fi nal results hammed and Sandy Dwili. Doha and standings. Match 5. The fi nal match saw Final score: Blue Phoenix 24 Blue Phoenix battle and beat the Al Khor 5. Pirates. Posting 4 tries and land- usan Domovic Bulut: as it is, Best players: Phoenix: Re- ing 3 conversions, the Phoenix the name sounds intimidating mis Salati and Rony Georges; were too strong for ‘never say enough. What chance, then, Al Khor: Oskar O’Halloran, Tom die’ Pirates. when you face him in a game of Cartwright and Conner O’Brien Final score: Phoenix 26 - Pi- 3x3D basketball? Match 2. The Camels con- rates 0. On Friday night, in front of a cheer- solidated their top spot on the Best players: Phoenix: Remis ing crowd — no prizes for guessing they competition standings dominat- Salati and Nicolas Faivre; Pirates were mostly Filipino — Bulut lived up to ing the Pirates from the outset. Ahmed Essam & TJ. his reputation as the world’s best bas- They scored a whopping 10 tries, ketball player in its truncated format by 5 in each stanza, with 7 converted STANDINGS powering Novi Sad Al Wahda of the UAE goals. 1ST. Camels to a historic hat-trick in the FIBA 3x3 All Final score: Camels 64 Pi- 2ND. Doha Stars at the Al Gharafa Sports Complex. rates 0. 3RD. Lions The Serbian World Cup winner had Best players: Camels: Isri- 4TH.Stallions casually mentioned in the pre-event eli Biumaiwai, Abdual Karim al- 5TH. Phoenix press-conference that he was looking Muhanndi. 6TH.Pirates forward to a holiday after collecting the Match 3. Doha played with 7TH.Al Khor $20,000 top prize. much enthusiasm stinging a very On Friday, he proved he was not joking tired Lions outfi t. They scored 5 Friday 25 November will see the as Novi Sad Al Wahda clinically demol- tries and 3 goals. The Lions had closing of the QR7’s with a semis ished all opposition to bring the curtains a few chances but could not pen- and finals series. down on the fourth and last edition of the FIBA 3x3 All Stars after which Qatar will be part of the World Tour programme. “It is a great feeling to win the FIBA 3x3 All Stars for the third time in a row,” the 30-year-old said after his side thrashed Ljubljana 22-12 in the fi nal. Qatar Basketball Federation President Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani hands over the winner’s trophy to Novi Sad Al “It is always great to play in Doha and a Wahda captain Dusan Domovic Bulut while posing with other Novi Sad players and basketball off icials at the Al Gharafa Sports third straight win here is the icing on the Complex on Friday night. cake,” he added. Ljubljana, the 2016 FIBA 3x3 World Tour winners, fell woefully short in the title-deciding match despite the pres- ence of shooting ace Jasmin Hercegovac in their ranks. Hercegovac emerged as the leading scorer with 23 points in three matches, but the number four 3x3 player in the world was limited to just four points in the fi nal, with Novi Sadd Al Wahda hardly allowing him to get into a rhythm. Bulut had been sweeping most of the MVP awards on the 3x3 circuit and it was Action from the Qatar Rugby Sevens tournament on Friday. the same old story in Doha too. Although he had an indiff erent start to the event, scoring just two points in the quarter-fi nal against Manila, “Mr Bul- lutproof” raised his game several notches when he took to the court in the semi-fi nal against Doha. Doha, the champions of the inaugural edition in 2013, were represent- ed by Tanguy Ngombo, Erfan Ali Saeed and Adamu Saaka, but they were no match for Bulut’s heroics. He peppered the loop with long-rang- ers to score a whopping 14 points in a ri- diculously easy 21-8 win. It was virtually a one-man show as the Doha players found it hard to stop his bursts towards the circle or his shots from the far court. Bulut goes for the basket against Ljubljana in the final of the FIBA All Stars on Friday. The winners received their cheque from FIBA Vice-President Hamane Niang and where he scored 14 points, just one shy of entertained the crowd with their spirited Doha 21 Hamamatsu 11 Qatar Basketball Federation President HE the all-time record. acrobatic drills between games. Novi Sad Al Wahda 18, Manila 11 Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahaman al-Tha- The fi nal edition of the FIBA 3x3 All Semi-finals ni. Bulut was tied second in the scoring list Stars brought together the best players in RESULTS Ljubljana 22 New York NBA 14 with teammate Dejan Majstorovic with 21 the format according to their individual Quarter-finals Novi Sad Al Wahda 21 Doha 8 points. Majstorovic extended his team’s world ranking. Ljubljana 22 McGill University (CAN) 11 Final domination to the Shoot-Out Contest, Filipino schoolchildren in Qatar also New York Harlem NBA 21, Saskatoon 19 Novi Sad Al Wahda 21 Ljubljana 12

BOTTOMLINE First cohort of delegates graduate from Josoor fl agship programmes osoor Institute successfully com- pleted the fi rst cohort of its “Major Josoor Institute graduates pose with of- Events Management” and “Foot- ficials for a group picture. At right, Qatar Jball and Sports Management” pro- 2022 chief Hassan al-Thawadi presents a fessional certifi cate and diploma pro- certificate to a graduate. grammes as the programmes came to an end with its fi nal block. Following an 18-month journey packed with valuable knowledge transfer sessions, engaging debates and interactive group activities, 68 delegates from Qatar and the region are now fully equipped to face and over- come the challenges of delivering ex- ceptional events. Josoor Institute is a centre of excel- lence for the sports and events indus- tries, inspired and developed by the Su- preme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC). The certifi cate and diploma pro- grammes are among Josoor Institute’s most prominent educational off erings and is organised in partnership with teaching that was supported by online leading sports organisations including and trained delegates on topics such as delegates to make the most out of their a burgeoning sports industry. And so leading international academic in- and classroom delivery. The certifi cate the Saudi Pro League, Yemen Football creative event design and entrepreneur- learning journey and utilise the bond Josoor Institute was founded. To stand stitutions. All three academic partners and diploma programmes featured a Association, Palestinian Football As- ship, business strategies for event pro- and connections established during the here today in front of the fi rst cohort of including Georgetown University, Uni- number of leading academics and in- sociation, Oman Football Association fessionals, and applied legal profession- programmes. graduates, makes me immensely proud. versity of Liverpool and Leeds Beck- dustry experts who came to Qatar to among others. Participating delegates al practices. Block six of the event was While addressing the delegates at the I fi rmly believe that Josoor Institute of- ett University lent support in a vari- share with delegates their wealth of from Qatar included professionals culminated with a special graduation ceremony, HE al-Thawadi said: “The fers something remarkably unique not ety of ways, notably through knowledge knowledge and experience and carried coming from some of the nation’s lead- ceremony that was held in the pres- concept of a Centre of Excellence was only for the region, but also on a global sharing by their faculty and off ering on the learning experience through on- ing sports organisations including the ence of VIPs and dignitaries including on our agenda from a very early stage, as level in the fi eld of sports and events guidance on creating educational pro- line advisory sessions. Qatar Football Association, Qatar Stars His Excellency Hassan al-Thawadi, the we were mindful of the need to provide management. I sincerely hope that grammes tailored to national and re- Graduating delegates included pro- League, SC, and Aspire Academy. Secretary General of the SC. HE al-Tha- a platform for cultivating the talent in what you have learned over the past 18 gional needs. The programmes were fessionals from Yemen, Oman, Pal- The sixth and fi nal block of the pro- wadi delivered a heartfelt congratulato- our region to deliver a successful World months prepares you for taking the next divided into six blocks and included estine and Saudi Arabia coming from grammes ran from 06 – 10 November ry speech during the graduation urging Cup and also a platform for growing steps in your professional lives.” Gulf Times Sunday, November 20, 2016 11 CRICKET

FIRST TEST Steyn wades into ball tampering Kiwis in charge as Wagner, debate Sydney: South Africa pace spearhead Dale Steyn has not allowed a series-ending injury to prevent him from backing his captain Faf du Boult shatter Pakistan Plessis over allegations of ball tampering, suggesting Australia are using the inci- Boult took three for 18 off 15 overs while Wagner, who started the spree, had two for 21 dent as an excuse for losing. Du Plessis was charged AFP with ball tampering on Christchurch, New Zealand Friday after Australian televi- sion pictures showed him applying saliva to the ball eil Wagner and Trent Boult with a sweet in his mouth left Pakistan’s second innings during the second Test, in tatters yesterday to put New which South Africa won Zealand in sight of a compre- to clinch the series with a Nhensive fi rst Test victory at the end of match to spare. the third day in Christchurch. The tour- The International Cricket ists lost six in the fi nal session Council (ICC) could ban Du at Hagley Oval to be 129-7 at stumps, Plessis from one Test match ahead by only 62 runs with two days re- if he is found guilty, putting maining. him in doubt for next week’s Boult had three for 18 off 15 overs third Test in Adelaide. Du while Wagner, who started the wicket Plessis has pleaded not spree, had two for 21. “We’ve been out- guilty. Hashim Amla and the played so far,” Pakistan coach Mickey rest of the Proteas squad Arthur said, but he refused to concede made clear on Friday how defeat saying they would not need many they felt about the charge, more runs to set up a tight fi nish. “We the batsman describing it as feel that 150-170, we could have a real a “joke” with his teammates chance because there’s still enough in standing behind him. the wicket.” Steyn added his thoughts for Pakistan were Sohail Khan on Twitter yesterday. “Beat- on 22 and Asad Shafi q on six with the en with the bat. Beaten with Test likely to be all over in three play- the ball. Beaten in the field. ing days after the scheduled fi rst day Mentally stronger. Here’s a was washed out. Until Wagner struck, idea, Let’s blame it on a lol- Pakistan were clawing their way back lipop, #soft,” he posted. into the Test having started the day on Steyn later tried to clarify the back foot. his comment with another They ripped out the last seven New post. “Just so we clear, I’m Zealand wickets for only 96 runs and not blaming the aussies, but Azhar Ali and Babar Azam were pains- I won’t let a fantastic series takingly building their second innings win be tarnished by some — accumulating 37 runs in 23 overs. lollipop fabrication. 3-0 But, in the sixth over after tea Azam on mission.” 29 attempted to fend away a Wagner A fractured bone in his ball targeting his ribs only for it to skim shoulder, sustained in the the gloves and wicketkeeper BJ Watling first Test in Perth, has ruled completed the dismissal. Steyn out for the remainder It gave Wagner his 100th scalp in his of the series and is likely to 26th Test, making him the second-fast- keep the paceman on the est New Zealander to claim a century of sidelines for six months. His wickets after Richard Hadlee reached New Zealand’s fast bowler Trent Boult (right) appeals for a leg before decision against Pakistan’s Sami Aslam during the first Test in Christchurch yesterday. (AFP) fellow South African quick the mark in 25 matches. Younis Khan Kagiso Rabada also took to lasted only eight balls before he gloved in which he faced 173 balls in more than and a pitch that suited seam bowlers. SCOREBOARD Pakistan II innings Twitter to give his opinion a Wagner bouncer to Watling and Paki- four hours for only 31 runs. Boult, on a Overnight batsmen Jeet Raval and Pakistan I innings 133 Sami Aslam c Watling b de Grandhomme 7 more obliquely, posting a stan had gone from 58-1 to 64-3. roll, bowled Sarfraz Ahmed for two and Henry Nicholls were gone in the fi rst New Zealand I innings (overnight 104-3) Azhar Ali b Boult 31 dictionary definition of the Wagner said the short ball was part of had Mohammad Amir caught for six. four overs with Raval unable to add to J. Raval c Aslam b Amir 55 Babar Azam c Watling b Wagner 29 word “excuse”. New Zealand’s game plan when condi- Until the late collapse Pakistan had his overnight 55 and Nicholls adding H. Nicholls lbw Sohail 30 Younis Khan c Watling b Wagner 1 Du Plessis may yet play in tions did not off er much swing. “You’ve been all concentration with only 44 only one run to be gone for 30. C. de Grandhomme c Rahat b Sohail 29 Misban-ul-Haq c Bould b Southee 13 Adelaide starting on Thurs- got to fi nd a way of creating doubt in a runs scored in the middle session to be De Grandhomme, who has rarely B. Watling c Younis b Rahat 18 Asad Shafiq not out 6 day as Cricket South Africa batter’s footwork... It’s obviously about 50 for one at tea, medium-pacer Colin been out of the spotlight in his maiden T. Astle c Shafiq b Rahat 0 Sarfraz Ahmed b Boult 2 have asked the ICC to give picking the right moments and adapt- de Grandhomme, whose fi rst innings Test, belted a quickfi re 29 that included T. Southee c Ahmed b Amir 22 Mohammad Amir c Astle b Boult 6 them time “to consult and ing to the conditions and then you’ve 6-41 was the best performance six boundaries while Southee (22) and N. Wagner c Shafiq by Rahat 21 Sohail Khan not out 22 appoint legal representation got to execute it and lucky it was one of by a New Zealander on debut, made Wagner (21) also plundered quick runs T. Boult not out 3 Extras: (b5, lb7) 12 and make the necessary those days it worked.” the opening breakthrough in Paki- in their brief cameos. Extras: (lb1, w1, nb4) 6 Total: (7 wkts; 66 overs) 129 logistical arrangements”. Pakistan Captain Misbah-ul-Haq stan’s second innings when he had Sami The New Zealand innings folded in Total: (all out; 59.5 overs) 200 Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Aslam), 2-58 (Azam), Du Plessis was fined 50 tried to knock Tim Southee out of the Aslam, who faced 57 deliveries, out for 55.5 overs, just four more than Paki- Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Latham), 2-15 (William- 3-64 (Younis), 4-93 (Misbah), 5-93 (Azhar), % of his match fee for ball attack with a four and two off succes- seven. stan’s fi rst innings of 133. son), 3-40 (Taylor), 4-105 (Nicholls), 5-109 6-95 (Ahmed), 7-105 (Amir) tampering in the second sive balls but he pulled the next delivery After New Zealand resumed the day Fast bolwer Rahat Ali was the chief (Raval), 6-146 (de Grandhomme) 7-146 Bowling: Boult 15-5-18-3, Southee 19-10- Test against Pakistan in 2013 to Boult running around the long-leg in a commanding position at 104-3, destroyer for Pakistan with four for 62 (Astle), 8-171 (Watling), 9-177 (Southee), 43-1, de Grandhomme 14-4-23-1, Wagner after being caught on cam- boundary and he was gone for 13. some impetuous shot-making saw while other seamers Sohail Khan and 10-200 (Wagner) 14-6-21-2, Astle 4-0-12-0 era rubbing the ball against An inspired Boult then bowled Azhar them all out for 200 as they tried to hur- Mohammad Amir took three wickets Bowling: Amir 18-4-43-3 (1w, 4nb), Sohail Pakistan lead by 62 runs with 3 wickets a zip on his pocket. to end the opener’s marathon innings ry the score along under cloudy skies each. 22-5-78-3, Rahat 15.5-2-62-4, Shah 4-0-16-0 remaining

FOCUS ROUND-UP Wagner still making things South Africa beaten in happen, claims 100th wicket Test warm-up game AFP Melbourne Reuters Christchurch outh Africa were beaten by 53 runs by a Victorian XI in their 50-over day-night ith the fi rst Test be- tour warm-up game yesterday as their tween New Zealand fi nal preparation for next week’s third and Pakistan ticking TestS against Australia in Adelaide. Hashim Amla along at a pedestrian scored an unbeaten 81 and Dean Elgar 40 retired Wpace on the third day in Christch- out in the tourists 205 for four, chasing Victoria’s urch yesterday, Neil Wagner ful- 258 all out. fi lled his duty as the bowler who The Proteas originally had a two-day planned “makes things happen”. against the Victorian team at the Melbourne Wagner’s double breakthrough Cricket Ground but opted for a one-dayer under triggered Pakistan’s slumped Test rather than one-day rules to enable them to Hashim Amla scored an unbeaten 81. from 58-1 to 105-7 in their second get to Adelaide earlier. innings and that he snared his Captain Faf du Plessis, facing an ICC hear- club ground on Friday to secure two points. 100th Test wicket in the proc- ing for alleged ball tampering during the second Set 223 to win, the Kenyan chase – spearheaded ess was icing on the cake for the Hobart Test against Australia, won the toss and by opener-cum-wicketkeeper Irfan Karim, who left-armer. Before Wagner’s in- elected to bowl fi rst and then spend time in the smashed 67 from 92 balls – was jolted when rain tervention, the tourists had been middle under lights to adapt to match conditions twice interrupted play, forcing the target to be ad- trying to slow the game at Hagley with the pink ball ahead of the third Test. justed to 200 runs in 43 overs on the Duckworth- Oval with Babar Azam and Azhar Left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi boosted his Lewis method. Ali well set to lay the foundations chances of a Test debut by capturing four for 72 The weather change also hit the rhythm of the for a solid second innings. from 12 overs, while young gun fast bowler Ka- match -- Karim and his second-wicket part- Persisting with a short-bowl- giso Rababa claimed three for three for 37 off ner Dhiren Gondaria, who were steadily helping ing plan, however, Wagner had four overs. Shamsi took three for 36 at home in to recover after the loss of fellow opener Babar caught behind for 29 be- New Zealand’s Neil Wagner (centre) is pumped up after having Pakistan’s Younis Khan caught behind. a one-dayer against Australia last October and is , were removed in quick succession. fore an even better bouncer got delighted with talk the Australians have struggled Gondaria was snared by Ehsan Khan and Karim, rid of the prolifi c Younus Khan New Zealand in 2008 and got on In the last couple of seasons career-best form. In eight games to pick some of his deliveries. Young Victorian whose innings included fi ve fours and a six, soon for one as Pakistan slumped to the selector’s radar when he took Wagner has developed short- in 2016 he has taken 34 wickets at batsmen Seb Gotch (53) and Matthew Short (52) followed. The home side looked to be in disarray 64 for three. fi ve wickets in one over for Otago pitched bowling into the body as an average of 21.58. provided the backbone of the Victorian innings after skipper Rakep Patel, whose tight bowling “That’s my job to do that,” against Wellington in 2011. part of his armoury. Consistently Boult has 31 wickets at 32.51 before all-rounder Evan Gulbis smashed 53 from had helped restrict the Hong Kong batting line- Wagner said. “When it’s not After establishing his resi- aiming for the ribs unsettles in 10 games, while Southee has 28 balls at No.8. up, was trapped lbw off Khan with only four runs swinging and also conditions dency, he was selected for New batsmen and coach Mike Hesson taken 17 at 41.70 in seven. “I’m BRIEF SCORES: Victoria XI 258 (S. Gotch 53, E. to his credit. start getting a little bit easier to Zealand’s tour of West Indies in said earlier this year it took con- not surprised to see him doing Gulbis 53, M. Short 52; T. Shamsi 4-72, K.Rabada 3-37) It took tailenders Narendra Patel and Nehemiah bat, I’ve obviously got to try and 2012 with Kieran Powell his fi rst siderable skill to keep putting the exceptionally well. He’s a whole- beat South Africa 205-4 (H. Amla 81 not out, D. Elgat Odhiambo to push the Kenyan score beyond the make something happen.” wicket in Antigua. Wagner has ball in a place that causes such hearted trier,” Pakistan’s South 40 retired out; J. Coleman 2-26) 200 target, and put the home side in the driving Wagner has been making often been the third seamer in discomfort. African coach Mickey Arthur, seat before the second match on Sunday. things happen for the New Zea- the side, a role that involves run- It also results in wickets. While who watched a young Wagner KENYA DEFY RAIN TO BEAT Anshuman Rath top-scored with 90 off 92 balls land side a lot this year. Origi- ning into the wind, bowling a lot Wagner took 35 wickets in 10 develop in Pretoria, said. “He’s HONG KONG BY THREE WICKETS for Hong Kong, who needed all four points to go nally a line and length swing of overs while keeping the runs matches in 2013, the last year he a guy, who gives it his all and he Kenya beat Hong Kong by three wickets in their top of the eight-team ICC World Cricket League, bowler in his home country of down and giving Tim Southee was consistently in the team, but kept running in. I thought he was rain-aff ected fi rst match of the World Cricket which counts towards the 2019 World Cup in South Africa, Wagner came to and Trent Boult a rest. this year he has been in arguably magnifi cent.” League Championship at the Nairobi Gymkhana England. Sunday, November 20, 2016 GULF TIMES CRICKET

SECOND TEST Injured Broad doubtful for third Test Ashwin and Kohli put Visakhapatnam: England fast bowler Stuart Broad is doubtful to feature in the third Test against India after a foot injury forced the team management to review his fitness. Broad, who underwent a India in driver’s seat scan on his right foot after Friday’s play in the ongoing second Test, has suff ered It will be an uphill battle for England from here on as hosts stretched their lead to a formidable 298 damage to a tendon. “Stuart Broad has strained AFP well. We should could bat in the sub- a tendon and one of the Visakhapatnam, India continental conditions” said Bairstow. small joints in his right fore- Bairstow’s knock was cut short just foot. The injury will be re- before lunch when Umesh Yadav cas- viewed further at the end of avichandran Ashwin claimed tled the wicketkeeper-batsman for 53. the Test,” an England media fi ve wickets while skipper Vi- Bairstow’s departure ended a 110-run statement said yesterday. rat Kohli struck a dominant sixth-wicket partnership between him However Broad, who half-century to help India and his overnight partner Stokes who rattled the Indian top-order tightenR its grip over England on the carried on the good work into the post- with his twin strikes in the third day of the second Test in Visa- lunch session. final session on day three, khapatnam yesterday. Ashwin fi nally trapped the left- will “continue to bowl” in the India, who dismissed England for handed Stokes lbw and even though rest of the innings. Broad, 255 in the fi rst innings, were 98 for the batsman reviewed the decision, the 30, also got Indian opener three at stumps with Kohli (56) and on-fi eld call was upheld by the third Lokesh Rahul for a duck Ajinkya Rahane (22) at the crease. umpire. Adil Rashid scored an un- in the second over of the With the hosts having stretched beaten 32 as Broad also came out to bat match but struggled as the their second innings lead to a formi- with purpose, but the English batting game progressed. dable 298, it will be an uphill battle for struggled to get close to India’s 455. Broad’s injury scare has England from here on. Ashwin got Broad (13) and Anderson added to the woes of a team It was Ashwin’s 22nd fi ve-wicket (0) off consecutive deliveries as the already missing leading haul in 41 Tests that helped India bowl visitors fell one run short of avoiding paceman Chris Woakes who out England shortly before tea and gain the follow-on. is nursing a knee injury. a crucial 200-run lead. “Right now, Ash (Ashwin) is bowl- Woakes’ replacement James “The accuracy that he bowls with is ing beautifully, like a dream. You have Anderson has just returned something that is a challenge,” Eng- to work on it (drift and spin), it doesn’t to action after recovering land wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, just come overnight,” debutant India from a shoulder injury. who tackled Ashwin’s guile during his spinner Jayant Yadav said of his senior England have Steven Finn fi ghting fi fty in England’s fi rst innings, partner. and Jake Ball in the squad as told reporters. “He bowled nicely The tourists, who gave India a run pace backup for the mara- today but we are not going into the for their money in the drawn Test in thon five-match series. fourth innings thinking that we can’t Rajkot, have struggled against the In- The first Test at Rajkot play Ashwin well,” said Bairstow. dian spinners at Visakhapatnam which ended in a draw. England seamers came back roaring is hosting its fi rst-ever Test. as Stuart Broad, who is nursing a foot TAKING FIVE WICKETS injury, sent the Indian openers trudg- SCOREBOARD WAS NOT ON MY MIND, ing back to the pavilion early in their INDIA I INNINGS 455 SAYS ASHWIN second essay. ENGLAND I INNINGS (OVERNIGHT Off -spinner Ravichandran Murali Vijay (3) was caught at gully 103/5) Ashwin, who yesterday while Lokesh Rahul (10) was plucked B. Stokes lbw b Ashwin 70 bowled India to a 200-run behind as England successfully used J. Bairstow b U. Yadav 53 lead against England with the review system on both occasions A. Rashid not out 32 his career’s 22nd five wicket after the on-fi eld umpire had adjudged Z. Ansari lbw b Jadeja 4 haul, said he only wanted to the batsmen not out. Senior pacer S. Broad lbw b Ashwin 13 bowl to his strength. James Anderson also swung into ac- J. Anderson lbw b Ashwin 0 Ashwin returned with tion to clean up fi rst innings centurion Extras (b6, lb3) 9 figures of 5/67 as England Cheteshwar Pujara for one, reducing Total (all out; 102.5 overs) 255 were bowled out for 255. the hosts to 40 for three. Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Cook), 2-51 (Hameed), “Hadn’t had a five-wicket Kohli and Rahane then got together 3-72 (Duckett), 4-79 (Root), 5-80 (Ali), haul against England, but to put up an unbeaten 58-run stand 6-190 (Bairstow), 7-225 (Stokes), 8-234 it was not at the top of my and thwart the persistent bowling at- (Ansari), 9-255 (Broad), 10-255 (Anderson) mind. I knew I would get it tack in the fi nal hour of play. Bowling: Shami 14-5-28-1, U. Yadav 18-2- if I stuck to what I do right. Kohli, who led from the front with 56-1, R. Jadeja 29-10-57-1, Ashwin 29.5-6- The challenges are actually a sparkling 167 in the fi rst innings, re- 67-5, J. Yadav 12-3-38-1 a hassle for the batsmen. corded his 13th Test half-century as he Not every ball spins,” Ashwin raised his bat to an applauding home INDIA II INNINGS said after the match. crowd. Rahane played the supporting M. Vijay c Root b Broad 3 He explained about the role to perfection with his patient 54- L. Rahul c Bairstow b Broad 10 plan which he and Skipper ball knock. C. Pujara b Anderson 1 Virat Kohli discussed to England skipper Alastair Cook jug- V. Kohli not out 56 dismiss Joe Root (53). “I was gled with his seam and spin options A. Rahane not out 22 in the middle of a very good but failed to make any more headway Extras (lb 5, b 1) 6 rhythm. I told Virat I will get into the Indian batting. Earlier Ben Total (3 wickets; 34 overs) 98 Root out caught out at short Stokes, who top-scored with 70, and Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Vijay), 2-17 (Rahul), midwicket. Virat said let’s Bairstow struck gritty half-centuries 3-40 (Anderson) get mid-on up and make to revive England after they resumed Bowling: Anderson 8-1-16-1, Broad 6-5- him go for a slog sweep. on the overnight 103 for fi ve. 6-2, Rashid 12-1-37-0, Stokes 5-0-25-0, Ali I thought the moment he “We compliment each other ob- 3-1-9-0 steps out I was going to go India’s off -spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (left) celebrates with Virat Kohli after the dismissal of England’s Ben Stokes during the viously being left and right handed To bat: R. Ashwin, W. Saha, R. Jadeja, J. wider. That worked,” he said. Second Test at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, India, yesterday. (Reuters) helps. And we rotated the strike pretty Yadav, M. Shami, U. Yadav

TRI-SERIES Zimbabwe salvage tie in thriller with West Indies

AFP SCOREBOARD Bulawayo, Zimbabwe ZIMBABWE INNINGS B. Chari c Holder b C. Brathwaite 15 C. Chibhabha run out 25 hai Hope hit his maiden one-day inter- C. Ervine c Powell b Gabriel 92 national century but the West Indies Sikandar Raza c K. Brathwaite b C. Brathwaite 77 could only stutter to a dramatic tie in a S. Williams lbw b Nurse 2 triangular series clash with Zimbabwe in E. Chigumbura c Hope b Holder 8 BulawayoS yesterday. With Hope scoring 101 in P. Moor c Powell b Holder 6 just his second ODI the West Indies were well on G. Cremer c Gabriel b C. Brathwaite 8 track to overhaul the hosts’ 257 all out, until his D. Tiripano b Gabriel 14 dismissal sparked a late collapse. T. Chisoro not out 0 The tourists went into the fi nal over need- C. Mpofu b C. Brathwaite 2 ing just four runs to win off seamer Donald Extras (8w) 8 Tiripano, but lost three wickets — two of them Total (all out, 50 overs) 257 to run-outs — to fi nish on 257 for eight. “We Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Chibhabha), 2-46 (Chari), 3-190 should have won the game, but that’s cricket,” (Sikandar Raza), 4-197 (Williams), 5-218 (Chigum- said West Indies captain Jason Holder. “It’s im- bura), 6-228 (Moor), 7-233 (Ervine), 8-255 (Tiripano), portant for the guys to learn from this occasion. 9-255 (Cremer), 10-257 (Mpofu) As a young team we just need to think a bit more Bowling: Gabriel 10-0-45-2, Holder 10-0-47-2, Benn when we get into these tight positions.” 8-0-45-0, C. Brathwaite 10-0-48-4, Nurse 10-0-55-1, The game was set up by two dominant part- Carter 2-0-17-0 nerships for the third wicket, with Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza Butt putting on 144 for Zim- WEST INDIES INNINGS babwe before Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite’s 162- J. Charles lbw b Tiripano 19 run stand for the West Indies. K. Brathwaite c Ervine b Williams 78 With Ervine scoring 92 and Raza hitting 77, E. Lewis c Chibhabha b Cremer 18 Zimbabwe went into the fi nal 12 overs of their S. Hope c Moor b Mpofu 101 innings on 188 for two, with their eye on a win- R. Powell b Williams 17 ning total. Instead the innings unravelled with C. Brathwaite c Williams b Tiripano 9 Raza’s dismissal, as the hosts lost eight for 69 J. Holder not out 4 in the remaining overs to be bowled out off the A. Nurse run out 0 fi nal ball of the innings. J. Carter run out 1 Carlos Brathwaite picked up the key wicket of Zimbabwe (right) and West Indies players shake hands after the third tri-nation match ended in a tie at the Queens Extras (1b, 3lb, 5w, 1nb) 10 Raza as well as two more late dismissals to fi n- Sports Club in Bulawayo yesterday. (AFP) Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 257 ish with fi gures of four for 48. The West Indies Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Charles), 2-58 (Lewis), 3-220 looked in control throughout their chase, with bwe were able to squeeze the new batsmen on when he defl ected Holder’s drive onto the they fought and secured the tie,” said Cremer. (Hope), 4-234 (K. Brathwaite), 5-242 (Powell), 6-255 Kraigg Brathwaite scoring 78 and Hope taking a two-paced pitch. Although Sean Williams stumps at the non-striker’s end to run out Ash- “We were a bit sloppy in the fi eld, we prob- (Brathwaite), 7-255 (Nurse), 8-257 (Carter) advantage of being dropped on 69 and 84, both picked up two wickets in his fi nal over, the West ley Nurse. Holder only needed a single off the -fi ably gave away 20 runs and dropped a couple Did not bat: S. Benn, S. Gabriel times by Raza off the bowling of Graeme Cre- Indies were still heavy favourites when Carlos nal delivery, but could not make contact and saw of catches, but we’ll take the positives from this Bowling: Mpofu 10-0-64-1, Tiripano 6-0-26-2, mer. Brathwaite hit the fi nal ball of the penultimate his partner Jonathan Carter run out as he tried game into the fi nal two matches.” Chisoro 10-1-42-0, Cremer 10-0-44-1, Williams 10-0- The tourists reached the end of the 44th over over for six. to steal a bye. Zimbabwe take on at the same 52-2, Sikandar Raza 4-0-25-0 on 217 for two, but when Hope was caught be- But Tiripano held his nerve to have Brathwaite “We made some mistakes and it could have Queen Sports Club venue tomorrow in the next Match ended in a tie hind off the bowling of Chris Mpofu, Zimba- caught in the deep, then enjoyed some luck gone our way, but credit to the guys for the way game of the series. Toss: Zimbabwe