SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014 SPORTS T20 farewell gift for greats De Luca signs for Biarritz Cellino to purchase Leeds MIRPUR: Winning the World Twenty20 title will be a perfect farewell gift for the LONDON: Italian businessman Massimo Cellino has been given approval to complete LONDON: Scotland centre Nick de Luca will leave Edinburgh to join the purchase of second tier club Leeds United after an independent QC overturned the departing Sri Lankan greats Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, stand-in fallen French giants Biarritz at the end of the season, the Celtic skipper Lasith Malinga said yesterday. Today’s final against India will be the last Football League’s initial decision to block him. Twenty20 international for both former captains who have played a combined 265 League club announced yesterday. Cellino, president of Italian Serie A club Cagliari, agreed in February to buy a 75 per- tests and 781 ODIs, totalling 46,000-plus international runs. The 30-year-old de Luca rejoined the Scottish capital club from cent stake in former English champions Leeds for a reported 25 million pounds ($41.48 Against India, Sri Lanka now have an opportunity the now disbanded Border Reivers in 2007 and has gone on to make million) from Dubai-based GFH Capital. However, the Football to better their dismal final record in a global compe- 125 appearances for Edinburgh. League’s board blocked Cellino from completing the deal tition, having been beaten in the title showdown De Luca has also won 41 Scotland caps since making his debut in after an Italian court found him guilty of tax evasion. of the 50-over World Cup in 2007 and 2011 and 2008 but did not feature in this season’s Six Nations, with his most Cellino will now become president of Leeds, and man- aging director David Haigh will become chief executive. at the World Twenty20 in 2009 and 2012. recent international the 21-15 defeat by Australia at Murrayfield in “This is a significant day in the history of Leeds United,” Malinga sounded determined to make sure November. Biarritz, the club of France great Serge Blanco, were rele- Haigh said in a statement on the club website (www.leed- the departing duo tasted a World Cup triumph gated from the elite Top 14 last month and will play in the second sunited.com). before their exit from Twenty20 internationals. division next season. “Since GFH Capital took over the club in December “We all know they are great players of interna- Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons, explaining de Luca’s departure, 2012, the stated aim has always been to introduce strategic tional cricket,” Malinga told reporters. “I’m the said in a club statement: “There comes a time in a player’s career investors to ensure a sustainable future for the club. captain now (and I’m) very happy to be in that sometimes, especially when you’ve been at a club for a long period, “I have met with many potential investors and worked position. They’ve helped the young players, that you realise you could benefit from something fresh and new. closely with them, and I realised very quickly that Massimo is (including) myself. “We are looking forward to do our someone who has the attributes to take this club forward. “He best for these two ... We have to do (something) spe- “It will be reinvigorating for him, while it opens up opportunities for others in the club, for example young Scottish centres Michael has a proven track record in Italy, and I believe the intro- cial tomorrow.” India captain Mahendra Singh duction of Eleonora Sport, coupled with Massimo’s drive Dhoni also paid tribute to the departing Tait and Chris Dean, who we’ve already signed for next season,” the and determination, will be key to a successful and sus- greats.—Reuters South African added.—AFP tainable future for this great football club.” —Reuters Blackhawks defeat Blue Jackets COLUMBUS: Ben Smith tapped in a rebound with 3.7 seconds left on a wild scrum to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 vic- tory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night. With time running out, Duncan Keith threw the puck on net and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky blocked it with his arm but it popped out of his reach. While he and two teammates scram- bled to get to the loose puck, Smith got a stick on it and pushed it into the net. Jeremy Morin, Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa also had goals for Chicago, and Keith had three assists. Antti Raanta had 24 saves. Derek MacKenzie, Ryan Johansen and Artem Anisimov scored for Columbus, in the middle of a fight for the playoffs and in dire need of points. Bobrovsky had 34 saves. FLAMES 2, PANTHERS 1 Mike Cammalleri scored the tiebreaking goal in the second period and Calgary beat Florida. Kenny Agostino also scored RANCHO MIRAGE: Lexi Thompson hits her second shot on for the Flames and Joey MacDonald stopped 34 shots. Vincent the ninth hole during the second round of the Kraft Nabisco Trocheck scored for the Panthers, and Roberto Luongo made Championship at Mission Hills Country Club. — AFP 15 saves. Luongo started his first game since March 27th against Carolina when he left after the first period following a collision with the Hurricanes’ Radek Dvorak. Luongo sus- Thompson, tained a mild concussion and missed three games. The Flames won their second straight and fifth in their last eight. The Pak take lead Panthers have lost five straight and eight of nine. DEVILS 2, CAPITALS 1 CALIFORNIA: American teenager Lexi Thompson compiled a Ryan Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 4:54 remain- COLUMBUS: Bryan Bickell No. 29 of the Chicago Blackhawks takes down James Wisniewski No. 21 of the Columbus brilliant eight-under-par 64 to tie South Korean Pak Se Ri for ing to lift New Jersey. Tuomo Ruutu also scored for the Devils, Blue Jackets while battling for control of the puck during the third period. — AFP the halfway lead at the $2 million Kraft Nabisco Championship and Cory Schneider made 24 saves. Alex Ovechkin scored for on Friday. Thompson, unhappy with her putting on Thursday, assists as Nashville snapped a six-game losing streak to the shootout to lift the Edmonton Oilers over the Phoenix Washington, which lost its fifth straight. Jaroslav Halak found her touch on the greens to plunder eight birdies in her Ducks and preserved its playoff chances with five games to Coyotes. Oilers defenseman Justin Schultz also scored and stopped 29 shots. On the game-winner, Carter was sprung by final 13 holes and join Pak at seven-under 137 in perfect play. Hornqvist has 13 points (six goals and seven assists) in Ben Scrivens stopped 24 shots through overtime. Oliver a leading pass from Marek Zidlicky, and he snapped a shot morning conditions at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, his last 10 games. Pekka Rinne stopped 27 shots for the Ekman-Larsson scored the tying goal for the Coyotes in the that eluded Halak. California. Predators, who led 4-1 in the first period. Kyle Palmieri and second period, and Kyle Chipchura put them ahead with 7:18 They lead the first LPGA major of the year by one stroke Daniel Winnik scored for Anaheim. left in the third. Thomas Greiss also stopped 24 shots for RED WINGS 3, SABRES 2 from American Michelle Wie, who missed a golden birdie Phoenix. It was a tough loss for the Coyotes, who are vying for Daniel Alfredsson had a goal and an assist and Detroit held chance at her final hole, and are two in front of American OILERS 3, COYOTES 2 the last wild-card spot in the Western Cconference. Phoenix off Buffalo. Darren Helm and Tomas Jurco also scored for Cristie Kerr and first round leader Shanshan Feng, of China. Sam Gagner got the tying goal with 40.4 seconds to play in moved one point ahead of ninth-place Dallas, but the Stars Detroit. Danny DeKeyser had two assists and Jimmy Howard The three frontrunners all played in the calm morning con- regulation, then scored the winner in the fourth round of the have two games in hand. — AP made 21 saves. It was Red Wings coach Mike Babcock’s 413 ditions, while Kerr and Feng had to contend with an afternoon win for Detroit, which ties him with Jack Adams for the all- breeze. Thompson became what was then the youngest ever time franchise record. LPGA winner at the age of 16 in 2011 and she added two Jamie McBain scored and Nicolas Deslauriers got his first more victories last year. career goal for Buffalo, which has the NHL’s worst record. Matt A major title is her next target. “Obviously this is one of my Hackett stopped 28 shots. main goals, to win a major this year, especially the Kraft Nabisco would be a huge honour,” Thompson told reporters. CANADIENS 7, SENATORS 4 “I struggled a bit yesterday on the greens, just struggled to Max Pacioretty had a hat trick as Montreal Canadiens get my putts to the hole, but I figured out some things after scored seven straight goals to rally past Ottawa. Andrei my round yesterday with my putting and some of my iron Markov, Mike Weaver, Lars Eller and David Desharnais also shots.” Thompson was only three when Pak won her first major scored for Montreal, which trailed 3-0 less than 6 minutes into championship in 1998. Now 36, Pak has won just about every- the game. Peter Budaj stopped 39 shots for his 10th win of the thing worth winning, except for this tournament.