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SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2020 Golf:Go world number two Jon Rahm moves intoin tie for Masters second-round lead I ddidn’t want to end the day on the wrong note. I wasn’t suresu on the read I had. I came out today and it felt like a differentd putt with the greens being a lot faster.

Jon Rahm Sport | 06

SENIOR VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE: Al Arabi bt Al Sadd 3-0 (25-20, 27-25,25-19), Al Gharafa bt Al Shamal 3-2 (20-25, 25-16, 20-25, 25-17, 15-11) Stroll upstages title-chasing Hamilton to take maiden pole AFP – ISTANBUL Lance Stroll F1: TURKISH GRAND PRIX GRID 1st row 6th row Lance Stroll upstaged Formula One’s Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) title-chasing Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) yesterday when he grabbed the first 2nd row 7th row pole position of his career at the Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault) Turkish Grand Prix, the Canadian Alex Albon (THA/Red Bull-Honda) Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) saying “it feels really good right 3rd row 8th row now”. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Honda) The 22-year-old Racing Point Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) driver made the most of drying con- 4th row 9th row ditions on a treacherous track to end Estéban Ocon (FRA/Renault) Daniil Kvyat (RUS/AlphaTauri-Honda) Mercedes’ 13 race domination of Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) qualifying this year. 5th row 10th row Stroll delivered a dazzling fastest Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) lap in one minute and 47.765 seconds Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) in the closing seconds to usurp his Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Italian rider Franco team-mate Sergio Perez and then Morbidelli in action yesterday. resist a last surge from Red Bull’s championship and draw level with weeks when he had to miss the Eifel twice for red flags, when Race Max Verstappen. seven-time champion Michael Grand Prix, testing positive for coro- Control declared the track was The disappointed Dutchman Schumacher. navirus the next day. unsafe - firstly due to the conditions was second, three-tenths behind The six-time champion wound “It has been a pretty rough ride and then, secondly, when Romain Morbidelli Stroll, but ahead of Mexican Perez up sixth behind Alex Albon in the for me so it feels good. Feels really Grosjean spun into a gravel trap in who claimed his career-best starting second Red Bull and Renault’s Daniel good right now.” his Haas. position after finishing fourth nine Ricciardo whose team-mate Esteban This is the first time this season The interruptions added 50 times in the past. Ocon qualified seventh. that neither Hamilton (nine) nor minutes to the schedule as daylight on Valencia Stroll was the first Canadian “Yes, Yes, Yes boys,” Stroll Bottas (four) have topped receded in the appalling conditions, to take pole since Jacques Ville- screamed on the team radio. qualifying. but the brilliant car control of Ver- neuve at the 1997 European Grand “I can’t really put it into words,” Hamilton can seal a record- stappen and his Red Bull team-mat MotoGP pole Prix at Jerez and it was the Silver- he added. equalling seventh drivers’ world title Albon was on display as they topped stone-based Racing Point team’s “I’m shocked. I didn’t expect to today if he prevents Bottas from out- the times, the Dutchman 1.9 seconds first pole since, racing as Jordan, be up here after FP3. scoring him by eight points. clear. AFP – MADRID they did so at the 2009 Belgian “There were a lot of things we After Friday’s ice rink conditions In the drama, Leclerc slithered Grand Prix. weren’t sure about coming into qual- on the resurfaced circuit, heavy rain through to Q2 while Hamilton, his Italian Franco Morbidelli will start in pole The outcome left Mercedes well- ifying. We didn’t look that compet- ushered in even more treacherous best lap cancelled for exceeding position for the Valencia MotoGP, with Joan beaten on the weekend when Lewis itive in Q3.” challenges in which most of the track limits, struggled through in 14th Mir’s closest challengers for the World Cham- Hamilton bids to seal a record- His surprise qualifying per- drivers slithered and spun. place. pionship unable to capitalise on the Spaniard’s equalling seventh drivers’ formance comes after a difficult few The Q1 session was interrupted Grosjean was eliminated along underwhelming performance in qualifying with his Haas team-mate Kevin yesterday. Magnussen, the two Williams of Morbidelli of Petronas Yamaha recorded George Russell and Nicholas Latifi the fastest qualifying time of 1min 30.191sec at and Alpha Tauri’s Daniil Kvyat. the Ricardo Tormo circuit while Australian Jack In the severe conditions, the Miller and Japan’s Takaaki Nakagami joined teams were making extreme use of him on the front row for Sunday’s race. their tyre-warming facilities to On an unexpectedly damp day on Spain’s ensure drivers could find at least east coast, Mir was able only to secure 12th and some minimal grip before the rain last place in Q2 but he would have been relieved relented, encouraging some to try to see Frenchman Fabio Quartararo and intermediates. Spanish rider Alex Rins, who sit second and In Q2, both Mercedes were third respectively in the standings, fail to take clearly struggling to keep any heat advantage. Mir’s 37-point lead means the in their tyres while Verstappen, Suzuki rider only needs to finish on the podium oozing confidence, set the pace. in the championship’s penultimate race on At the flag, the Dutchman was Sunday to secure the title, while fourth would two seconds clear of Albon with be enough if neither Rins nor Quartararo win. Hamilton 2.4 down in third and Quartararo will start 11th, just ahead of Mir, Bottas seventh while both Ferraris with Rins behind him in 14th. failed to make the cut to the top-ten France’s Johann Zarco secured fourth spot Drivers in action during shootout. on the starting grid while another Spaniard, the qualifying session In Q3 Verstappen went four Pol Espargaro completes the front five. at the Intecity Istanbul seconds clear of nearest rival Bottas Iker Lecuona will not race for the second Park Circuit in Istanbul before Perez, on intermediates, week in a row after the Tech 3 KTM rider tested ahead of the Turksish re-set expectations by topping the positive for coronavirus. Lecuona missed last Formula One Grand Dutchman and prompting a switch weekend’s European Grand Prix, which was Prix yesterday. of tyres for everyone else for the final also held in Valencia, after his brother and surprising runs. assistant had also tested positive. After 8-month stoppage, ACL East set to resume action in Doha

AP - SEOUL Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, one of the venues which will host the Asian Champions League Eastern “We put in a lot of hard Zone matches, is ready for action. work and effort to defend our More than eight months since Our original concern was championship and it is very the Asian Champions League the health and safety of regrettable that we could not (ACL) was suspended due to the our players but I think the do so,” Guangzhou coach Fabio coronavirus, the Eastern Zone AFC has done a great job Cannavaro said. finally resumes next Sunday and it seems that International commitments with teams from Japan, South everything in Qatar is will also affect some teams. Korea, Australia, Thailand and Beijing Guoan starts without China. safe. Chinese Super League top But the tournament will be FC Chief Executive scorer Cedric Bakambu as the far from normal. Danny Townsend striker has flown to Africa to Malaysian side Johor Darul help Congo qualify for the 2021 Ta’zim (JDT) will not make the African Cup of Nations. trip to host nation Qatar after Shanghai SIPG forward failing to receive permission There were concerns that Marko Arnautovic is also in from the Malaysian government Australian and Chinese repre- action for Austria while South to leave the country which is in sentatives would also not travel Korea’s Ulsan Horangi has four lockdown in a bid to limit the to the biosecure hub of Qatar but from the tournament after 30 Australia has had only one Korea, Japan and China arrived players in action for the spread of coronavirus. 15 of the 16 teams from the east, players and officials tested pos- ACL winner, Western Sydney in Qatar tired and depleted after national team in Europe who “While JDT are extremely the tournament is divided into itive for COVID-19. Wanderers in 2014. But teams having either just finished or will then head to Qatar to par- disappointed in not being able two geographic zones until the There is confidence that the from Down Under, seeking to about to finish grueling domestic ticipate in later group games. to participate in Asia’s flagship final, will be aiming to get out of protocols put in place in Qatar reach the Dec. 18 final to take on seasons. Yokohama F.Marinos, club competition, we respect the their groups and into the will ensure that all runs Persepolis of Iran, may have an Perth’s first opponents, Vissel Kobe and FC Tokyo will decision by the Malaysian gov- knockout stage. smoothly on and off the field. advantage. Shanghai Shenhua, had 11 split their rosters in two in ernment and understand that The Asian Football Confed- “Our original concern was Perth Glory, Melbourne injuries in its final league order to compete at opposite such safety measures need to be eration (AFC) is hoping that there the health and safety of our Victory as well as Sydney FC Chinese Super League game ends of the continent at the enforced due to the rising cases will be no repeat of events in players but I think the AFC has have been able to rest since earlier this week and could not same time. of the COVID-19 pandemic,” September when the western done a great job and it seems August as they prepare for the fill its substitutes bench. On It is far from ideal for any Alistair Edwards, Johor’s tech- zone resumed and defending that everything in Qatar is safe,” start of the new domestic season Wednesday, Guangzhou Ever- of the teams, but just finishing nical director, said in a champion Al Hilal of Saudi said Sydney FC chief executive on Dec. 27. grande lost its Chinese title to the tournament is the statement. Arabia was forced to withdraw Danny Townsend. Opposition from South Jiangsu Suning. priority. SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2020 SPORT 07 Amir Cup Shooting: Abu Sharb clinches gold Saeed Hamad Abu Sharb (pictured left)yesterday clinched the gold medal in the men's trap as the Amir Cup 2020 Shooting and Archery Championships continued at the Lusail Shooting Range. Muhammad Ahmad Al Rumaihi won the second place and the bronze medal was won by Khalid Rashid Al Muhannadi. In the women's competition, Noura Al Ali emerged victorious ahead of Noura Al Mohannadi and Kholoud Al Khalaf who won the silver and bronze medals respectively. In the youth category of the trap competition, Ibrahim Al Tamimi won the first place while Ahmed Al Khulaifi won the The podium winners of the Women's Trap event posing for a photograph after the medal beginners' category. ceremony at the Lusail Shooting Range yesterday.

Harry Kane Uruguay beat Neymar-less Brazil struggle to Colombia beat Venezuela but top group 3-0 in Qatar 2022 qualifier AFP – SAO PAULO REUTERS – BARRANQUILLA Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino scored the crucial goal Uruguay’s Edinson as Brazil laboured to a 1-0 win Cavani scored early and over a well organised but fellow striker Luis Suarez limited Venezuela in their converted a second-half ‘Phenomenal’ World Cup qualifier on Friday. penalty, his fourth in Firmino broke the deadlock three games for his Kane can be on 66 minutes in Sao Paulo, country, as they beat poaching a goal after Vene- Colombia 3-0 in Friday’s record scorer: zuelan defender Darwin Machis' World Cup qualifier. attempt to clear an Everton Cavani got the opener Southgate Ribeiro cross fell to him a few in the fifth minute after yards out. Nahitan Nandez had done AFP – Firmino's 16th goal in 47 the hard work in midfield appearances for the Selecao by robbing the ball and Gareth Southgate says was enough to maintain their setting him up to fire “phenomenal” Harry Kane is 100 percent record in the 2022 home a low right-foot capable of becoming ’s World Cup qualifiers. shot. record goal-scorer as the Brazil have already beaten Suarez then added to Tottenham striker prepares to Bolivia (5-0) and Peru (4-2) and the lead nine minutes into win his 50th cap against top the South American quali- the second period when Belgium today. fying table with Argentina he scored from the spot England Kane is second. after Jeison Murillo sixth on his country’s all-time Venezuela, who lost their Brazil’s Roberto Firmino in action with Venezuela players during their Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup brought down Rodrigo scoring chart with 32 interna- first two qualifiers, were set up South American qualifier in Sao Paulo, Brazil, yesterday. Bentancur. tional goals, 21 behind record to contain and held the Bra- Darwin Nunez com- holder Wayne Rooney. zilians scoreless at half time in flying save to beat away a Rondon was hacked away by when he fired a 25-meter free pleted the scoring after 73 Southgate believes the the deserted Morumbi stadium. bouncing shot from Firmino just Marquinhos. kick over Ederson's bar in injury minutes when his pot 27-year-old should be setting The hosts missed the injured before the half-hour, the Liv- Rondon, formerly of West time. A worried Brazilian coach shot from 25 metres beat his sights on passing Rooney. Neymar's creativity in midfield, erpool striker heading the Bromwich Albion and now Tite will have seen how sorely the diving David Ospina. Kane has scored 13 times but even with an attack sporting resulting corner well wide. plying his trade for Chinese his side missed Neymar's Yerry Mina was sent for Tottenham already this Firmino, Gabriel Jesus and With 75 percent possession Super Lague club Dalian Pro- invention. off for Colombia after a season, but drew a blank in each Richarlison, they could find no but short of ideas in attack, fessional, otherwise cut an iso- The Paris Saint-Germain second yellow card in the of his four appearances for way through the mass Vene- most of Brazil's threat came lated figure when not busy with star, who suffered a thigh injury final minute of the game England this term. zuelan defence in the first half. from the left and it was from defensive duties. in a Champions League match to complete a miserable Ahead of his side’s Nations Richarlison did have the ball there they worked their best Manchester City goalkeeper last month, is also set to miss afternoon for the home League visit to Belgium, England in the net early on but the chance on 32 minutes, Atletico Ederson, who hardly touched Tuesday's match with Uruguay side. boss Southgate outlined the case Everton striker's celebrations Madrid's Renan Lodi whipping the ball during the whole match, in Montevideo. Suarez’s goal was his for Kane to chase football were cut short when Firmino in a cross that Gabriel Jesus and reacted quickly to scramble the Venezuela host a resurgent 63rd international strike immortality. was adjuged to have been nar- then Richarlison, at full stretch, ball away when Rondon briefly Chile in Caracas on Tuesday. and came after he scored “In terms of what is possible, rowly offside in the buildup. failed to turn in to a gaping goal. threatened the Brazil goal at the Jose Peseiro's side are likely twice from the penalty the goalscoring record is the For all Brazil's pressing, Venezuela's only threat death. to maintain their uncomfortable spot in Uruguay’s 4-2 loss really interesting one because Wuilker Farinez had little came from a break up the left Venezuela's Corinthians star record of being the only South to Ecuador and once in his strike rate for us is phe- enough to do in the Venezuela wing by Yeferson Soteldo, Romulo Otero wasted Vene- American team never to qualify their 2-1 win over Chile nomenal and he has time on his goal, but the keeper made a whose cross for Salomon zuela's only other real chance for a World Cup. in their opening qualifier side to chase Wayne Rooney’s last month. record which would be a The victory takes remarkable feat,” Southgate told Uruguay to six points a press conference yesterday. MLS plans to start 2021 season on time after three games, while “I know from his per- Colombia, who beat Ven- spective, while the personal AP – NEW YORK international calendar next It remains to be seen Nashville SC were unable to ezuela and drew away to achievement is something he is year, we are targeting to start whether fans will be allowed to participate because of positive Chile in their first two driven towards, it is the team Major League Soccer intends to our season in early March as attend 2021 matches. COVID-19 tests. games, have four. achievement. open its 2021 season as planned usual. The restrictions on our Like other professional The tournament was made The top four sides in “He is so focused on the in early March but will remain ability to have fans in our sta- sports leagues, MLS took a sig- possible by a June agreement the 10-team South team having success and he nimble because of the corona- diums this year contributed to nificant financial hit as a result with the Major League Soccer American group qualify would want to look back over virus. very significant financial of the virus. Commissioner Don Players Association following automatically for the the next few years at the team The league plans to play an losses,” MLS President Mark Garber estimated $1 billion in tense talks that led to some Qatar 2022 finals and the achieving.” entire regular season while Abbott said. “Like all leagues, losses earlier this year. players skipping voluntary fifth-placed team go into Kane has enjoyed a host of working around the interna- we are concerned about those MLS teams played two workouts and the league threat- an inter-regional playoff. memorable moments since tional calendar, which was restrictions continuing for a games this season before play ening a lockout. Uruguay now travel winning his first England cap made busier because of events second year and are continually was suspended on March 12. The revised CBA, a six-year home to face Brazil on four years ago, including fin- pushed back by the evaluating how to manage The league then staged a tour- deal through 2025, includes Tuesday when Colombia ishing as top scorer at the 2018 pandemic. through the impact of the pan- nament in a bubble in Florida across-the-board pay cuts and will be away to Ecuador. World Cup. “Based on the crowded demic in 2021.” over the summer. FC Dallas and reduced bonuses. Open Water Swimming 2020 at Katara Senior Volleyball Participants in action during the Open League Water Swimming Championships 2020, organised by the Qatar Swimming Federation, at the Katara Beach yesterday. The event, which saw 84 swimmers from nine Qatari clubs in action under different age categories, was conducted with strict safety measures in place to curb COVID-19 threat. INSET: Ibrahim Al Rumaihi posing for a photograph with team Qatar swimmers Al Arabi and Al Sadd players in action during their Qatar Senior Men's following the event League match played at the Qatar Volleyball Association Hall yesterday. Al at Katara Beach Arabi won 3-0 (25-20, 27-25,25-19). Later, at the same venue, Al Gharafa yesterday. yesterday beat Al Shamal 3-2 (20-25, 25-16, 20-25, 25-17, 15-11) in the day's second match. Sport SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2020 06

Jon Rahm of Spain Rugby: George grabs hat-trick as plays his shot from the 18th tee during the continuation of the second round England thump Georgia 40-0 of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in REUTERS - LONDON famed Georgian scrum threat It was a bizarre atmosphere However, once the forwards Augusta, Georgia. and never looked remotely like in the cavernous took control again, two pow- Hooker scored a conceding a try - but it was a 82,000-capacity stadium, the erful lineout drives sent George hat-trick of identical rolling performance that certainly triple-decker stands of green over for two tries in three maul tries as England swept lacked sparkle, albeit in a game seats punctuated only by two minutes. aside a spirited but limited played in difficult conditions. giant cloth poppies and a col- The backs finally got going Georgia 40-0 in their opening “It was great team per- ourful collection of club shirts. shortly before halftime when match at formance,” George said. “We After 15 minutes of virtual Jonathan Joseph carved a lovely a rain-lashed and eerily quiet were fully aware of their ability non-stop, but uninspired, line to set up Daly to score in fan-free Twickenham up front, how much pride they England forward pressure, the the corner, unfortunately yesterday. take in their set piece and how sturdy Georgian defence finally Joseph picking up an injury in Jack Willis marked physical they would be. Most cracked when flanker Willis the act and having to go off just his debut with a try, while Elliot pleasing for me was forwards- bundled over for the opening before his team mates jogged Daly, in a rare moment of wise was that we stepped up to try. off 26-0 up. backline enterprise, and the plate. England continued to dom- The rain started to lash replacement scrumhalf Dan “We are back here at inate possession but too often down harder in the second half Robson also crossed in a pre- Twickenham, missing the kicked it away with speculative and Georgia got their hands on dictably one-sided contest. crowd massively, but we con- chips and grubbers and, had the ball for a while, albeit England will consider it a stantly try to push it with our there been the usual November without ever threatening the job well done - an efficient set piece so it was great to get crowd, it would have been England line. victory where they nullified the over the line.” getting restless. The hosts then reverted to their most effective weapon as George was mauled over for his hat-trick after 58 minutes and Robson, one of a host of Golf: Rahm moves replacements Eddie Jones sent on, threw a neat dummy from a ruck to score 10 minutes later. into tie for Masters There was no late flurry of tries, however, as the game dribbled to a close. second-round lead For the Georgians, playing at Twickenham for the first time, it will be something of a landmark game, but few of the REUTERS - AUGUSTA absent England fans are likely to be talking about it in the days Spanish world number two Jon Rahm moved into a tie for the to come, let alone years. lead when the delayed second round of the Masters was completed England’s flanker (second England will face a stiffer on Saturday, taking advantage of ideal morning conditions to right) gathers the ball during test next week when they host shoot a six-under-par 66. the Autumn Nations Cup match Ireland, while Georgia, revelling Rahm, at 26 primed to win a major championship, was among between England and Georgia at in a rare opportunity for a series 48 players who resumed the round at 7.30 am at Augusta National Twickenham in London yesterday. of games against Tier One as officials tried to get the tournament back on schedule after opposition, play Wales. Thursday’s long break for bad weather. Resuming with a birdie putt at the 13th, Rahm stroked it home on the smooth green, and helped later by a chip-in at the par-five 15th, parred in to match the second lowest score of the round. On a packed leader board, he joined Americans Dustin Johnson Sinner becomes youngest player and Justin Thomas, Australian Cameron Smith and Mexican Abraham Ancer at nine-under 135 on a packed leader board. Five others were one stroke behind, including 2018 winner in 12 years to win ATP Tour title Patrick Reed, while defending champion and five-times winner Tiger Woods (71) was four back, tied for 17th. Pre-tournament favourite Bryson DeChambeau (74) made AFP - SOFIA Kecmanovic, Thiago the cut with nothing to spare, nine shots back after bogeying the Seyboth Wild and John final two holes. Teenager Jannik Sinner yesterday Millman as a first-time He said he had been feeling “weird” and took a coronavirus became the youngest ATP champion. This time last test on Friday night as a precaution. It came back negative. champion in 12 years when he year he won the Rahm, meanwhile, had plenty of time to contemplate his first defeated Canada’s Vasek Pospisil NextGen title in Milan. putt of the day, after opting not to putt it when play was halted in the Sofia final. “It is a nice feeling to by darkness on Friday. The 19-year-old, ranked at 44 win the first title like last “I didn’t want to end the day on the wrong note. I wasn’t sure in the world, racked up a 6-4, 3-6, year in the same week. on the read I had,” he said. “I came out today and it felt like a dif- 7-6 (7/3) victory over Pospisil, his It is good,” he said. “I felt ferent putt with the greens being a lot faster.” 19th win of the season. well the whole week Rahm gave compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal, a two-times Sinner, the youngest Italian here. It is beautiful Masters champion, a shout-out for helping his short game. winner of an ATP title in the playing here. The crowd His sharpness showed at the 15th where, after misjudging his modern era, withstood 14 aces was amazing and it is a third shot and sending it hurtling over the green, he was in danger and won 75 percent of his first- nice achievement.” of running up a big number. serve points (45/60) to become Sinner received 250 He misjudged his 20-yard pitch, but more than made amends the youngest man to capture an FedEx ATP Ranking by then calmly chipping from half that distance. ATP Tour title since 18-year-old points and collected “Let’s just say he saved me a couple of shots,” Rahm said of Kei Nishikori won the 2008 €24,880 in prize Olazabal. “It was huge (to) keep that bogey-free round going. A Delray Beach Open. Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner celebrates with the trophy during the money. Pospisil claimed chip-in is always a huge boost of confidence.” “It is always special when you podium ceremony after winning the final against his Canadian opponent at 150 points and earned The second round had barely finished before the third round win tournaments,” said Sinner. “I the ATP 250 Sofia Open tennis tournament in Sofia yesterday. €19,795. started at 10.20 am (1520 GMT), with the leaders due to tee off at felt well this week. It is special. “It is a great feeling 11.59 am Playing finals like this, 7-6 in the tried to stay there every point and I think ending the year with a They will finish well before darkness, getting the tournament third... is always tough. But when you win, it is a very special week for me.” tournament win,” said Sinner. “Now I think back on schedule. it is an even better win than winning 6-1 Sinner is also the sixth player this year the hard work is going to start once more… What started out with a morning chill in the air gave way to 6-1. to lift his maiden tour-level title joining Ugo I hope I am going to start even better next bright sunshine and pleasant November warmth in this unique “I am happy about the match, how I Humbert, Casper Ruud, Miomir year than I did this year.” spectator-free event being played for the first time in autumn. PSL: Kings beat Sultans to reach final as Qalandars edge Zalmi

AGENCIES - KARACHI , thanks to former Pakistan BRIEF SCORES: captain Shoaib Malik's 24-ball 39. The reached their 141/7 in 20 overs (R Lahore overhauled the target on the last maiden final yesterday after outlasting Bopara 40, S Tanvir 25 , A Iqbal ball of the 19th and penultimate over the Multan Sultans in a thrilling tie- 2/21) vs Karachi Kings 141/8 in 20 overs after South African fast bowler David breaker finish as Pakistan’s Super (B Azam 65, S Tanvir 3/25) Wiese slammed Wahab Riaz for two League resumed eight months after Karachi Kings beat Multan Sultans in successive sixes. The winners ended up stopping due to the pandemic. super over at 171 for five wickets in 19 overs. The match at Karachi’s National at No.4, Hafeez took the Stadium went into a Super Over after Peshawar Zalmi: 170/9 (Shoaib Malik responsibility after Lahore lost three 40 overs ended with both teams tied 39, Hardus Viljoen 37, 31, wickets for just 33 runs inside five on 141 -- thanks to Kings skipper Imad 3/33) lost to Lahore overs and steadied the innings. Wasim hitting a last-minute boundary. Qalandars: 171/5 wkts in 19 overs Earlier, ' decision Karachi King’s cricketers celebrate after winning their (PSL) The local team scored 13-2 in the ( 74 not out, to bowl first seemed correct initially match against Multan Sultan at the National Stadium in Karachi Super Over, with the Sultans falling 20, 20, Saqib Mahmood 3/41) as gangling fast bowler Shaeen Afridi four runs short. by 5 wickets. bowled opener Haider Ali for nought yesterday. The Sultans managed a below-par when the team score was solitary run. 141-7 in their 20 overs after they were two sixes and five boundaries before -keeper-opener Imam-ul- sent in to bat, with former England all- falling with 25 still needed. Haq (24) and Sohaib Maqsood (16) also Ganguly says Saha to be fit for Tests rounder Ravi Bopara scoring a 31-ball The final is scheduled for Tuesday, couldn't do much. Then, 38-year-old 40 spiced with three boundaries and also in Karachi. Malik made a 24-ball 39 - the top score REUTERS - NEW DELHI a late call on Saha’s availability for the a six. Elsewhere, veteran Mohammad of the innings -- and South African Faf tour which begins with the first of six The Sultans’ Sohail Tanvir, a Hafeez hammered an unbeaten 74 off du Plessis played 24-ball 31 cameo to Indian cricket board (BCCI) president short-form internationals on Nov. 27 in former Pakistan paceman, turned the just 46 balls and pacer Dilbar Hussain steady the ship somewhat. Down the Sourav Ganguly has no doubt wicket- Sydney. match on its head in the 17th over as bagged three wickets to help Lahore order, du Plessis's brother-in-law keeper Wriddhiman Saha, currently “I think people don’t know how the the Karachi Kings were seemingly Qalandars defeat Peshawar Zalmi by Hardus Viljoen, also of South Africa, nursing a double hamstring injury, will BCCI works,” Ganguly told The Week cruising to victory, needing just 26 five wickets in Eliminator 1. blasted a 17-ball 37 to help Peshawar be fit for India’s four-Test series in magazine, dismissing criticism of the runs in the last four overs. Qalandars will now play Multan Zalmi to 170 for nine wickets in 20 Australia beginning next month. board’s handling of player injuries. Tanvir dismissed Babar Azam off Sultans in Qualifier 2 today. The overs. Saha, considered technically the best “The BCCI trainers, physio and the third ball and Chadwick Walton winner will meet Karachi Kings in the Lahore Qalandars' fast bowler wicketkeeper in India, injured both the Wriddhi himself know that he has two for two. final. Dilbar Hussain was the top wicket- hamstrings during the Indian Premier hamstring issues.” Azam, Pakistan’s national captain After Lahore Qalandars captain taker with three scalps while Afridi, League and missed the play-offs in the “Wriddhi is travelling to Australia and one of the world’s best white-ball won the toss and chose Harid Rauf, and took two United Arab Emirates. because he will be fit for Tests. He is not batsmen, smacked a 53-ball 65, hitting to bowl, Peshawar scored 170 for nine wickets each. The BCCI last week said it would take part of the shorter formats.”