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DELHI THE HINDU 18 SPORT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Smith eyes ton as Australia seizes control Kohli among Wisden’s Labuschagne and Warner rally after Boult dismisses Burns first ball Cricketers­of­the­Decade NZ IN AUSTRALIA Press Trust of India featuring in the ODI XI. Dhoni, no cricketer in the London Agence France-Presse “His genius has been to world has operated under Melbourne India captain Virat Kohli rise, time and again, to the such daily pressure as Kohli.” Master batsman Steve Smith has been named in the challenge. Between the ground out an unbeaten 77 Cricketers­of­the­Decade end of the England tour in In the past decade, Kohli on Thursday as he zeroed in list alongside four others 2014 and the second Test has amassed 7,202 runs in on yet another century, put­ by Wisden Cricketers’ against Bangladesh at Tests — including 27 ting Australia in the driving Almanack. Kolkata in November, Kohli hundreds — while in the seat after the opening day of South Africans Dale averaged 63, with 21 shorter formats the Indian the second Test here against Steyn and A.B. de Villiers, hundreds and 13 fifties,” skipper has 11,125 runs in New Zealand. Australia’s Steve Smith and Wisden says. ODIs and 2,633 runs in In the Black Caps’ first women’s all­rounder Ellyse “It left him with a T20s. Boxing Day Test at the Mel­ Perry also find a place in unique set of statistics — Kohli has already bourne Cricket Ground since the list of five. the only batsman to amassed 70 international 1987, skipper Kane William­ Kohli, who has scored average at least 50 in all hundreds and is only son opted to bowl, and it 5,775 more international three international behind Ricky Ponting (71) looked to be a good decision runs than anyone else in formats. Even Steve Smith and Sachin Tendulkar with Joe Burns out first ball the last 10 years, has was moved to remark (100). and David Warner just before arguably been the best recently that there is no lunch. batsman over the last one quite like him. He is third in the list of decade. The 31­year­old “In many ways, there leading run­scorers of all Frustration for Kiwis Indian was named captain isn’t. Since the retirement time with 21,444 runs, But first Marnus Labus­ of the Wisden Test team of of Sachin Tendulkar and behind Ponting (27,483) chagne (63), the world’s lead­ the decade, while also the gradual waning of M.S. and Tendulkar (34,357). ing run­scorer for 2019, and then Smith smacked half­ centuries to seize back con­ Thunderbolt: Trent Boult rearranges Joe Burns’ stumps for a golden duck.* AP trol and leave Australia on over from Trent Boult, back outstanding one­handed mined to build a decent become Australia’s 10th high­ 257 for four, frustrating the after missing two Tests with a catch. The in­form Labus­ score. It was slow going, but est run­scorer, with David disciplined Kiwi bowlers. rib injury. After three testing chagne looked set for anoth­ he brought up his 28th Test Boon’s 7,422 his next target. Along with the fidgety balls to Warner, his fourth er big score after plundering half­century off 103 balls — As in Perth, Matthew Smith, Travis Head was not clattered into Burns’ middle his fifth consecutive 50, hav­ his first in four Tests. Wade again came under a out on 25, desperate for runs stump, with the opener out ing converted three of his Along the way he passed short­ball barrage from Neil after a lean spell. for a golden duck. previous four into centuries. Greg Chappell (7,110 runs) to Wagner. The signs are ominous for New Zealand with Smith Boult and Tim Southee But it wasn’t to be and he scoring centuries in his past found early swing and zip was out in bizarre fashion, SCOREBOARD four Tests in Melbourne, and with the ball. with a rising de Grand­ a fifth looking likely. homme ball ricocheting off Australia — 1st innings: D. overs): 257. It was a bold decision by Boos and cheers his elbow and onto the Warner c Southee b Wagner 41, Fall of wickets: 1­1, 2­61, 3­144, J. Burns b Boult 0, M. 4­216. After Burns fell, Labus­ stumps as he attempted to Williamson to bowl on a Labuschagne b de Grandhomme New Zealand bowling: Boult pitch that has traditionally chagne and Warner dug in to leave it. Smith was met with a 63, S. Smith (batting) 77, M. 20­2­60­1, Southee 21­5­63­0, been docile and favoured the wrestle back the initiative be­ mix of boos and cheers as he Wade c Watling b de Grand­ de Grandhomme 21­5­48­2, batsmen. fore a Neil Wagner delivery walked to the crease and af­ homme 38, T. Head (batting) Wagner 21­7­40­1, Santner Imperious: Virat Kohli has scored 5,775 more international runs than anyone else in the last And it appeared to pay di­ saw Warner caught at slip for ter a poor summer, by his 25; Extras (lb­11, b­1, w­1): 13; 7­1­34­0. 10 years. * FILE PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK vidends in a sizzling opening 41, with Southee taking an standards, appeared deter­ Total (for four wkts. in 90 Toss: New Zealand. Virender Sehwag to de Kock to South Africa’s rescue Ganguly, Dravid have a deliver Pataudi lecture ENGLAND IN SA SCOREBOARD ‘general meeting’ Shayan Acharya Reuters Shayan Acharya fused to conduct a fitness Mumbai CENTURION South Africa — 1st innings: D. MUMBAI test for pace ace Jasprit Quinton de Kock fell five runs Elgar c Buttler b Anderson 0, Virender Sehwag will deliver The Board of Control for Bumrah. the seventh Mansur Ali Khan short of his century after A. Markram c Bairstow b Cur­ Cricket in India (BCCI) presi­ Though it could not be Pataudi Lecture in Mumbai dragging South Africa out of ran 20, Z. Hamza c Stokes b Broad 39, F. du Plessis c Root dent Sourav Ganguly had a confirmed whether this mat­ on January 12. This was con­ early trouble to 277 for nine b Broad 29, H. van der Dussen long meeting with National ter was discussed in the firmed by BCCI president at the close on the opening c Root b Curran 6, Q. de Kock Cricket Academy (NCA) di­ meeting, it was learnt that Sourav Ganguly to Sportstar day of the first Test against c Buttler b Curran 95, D. Pre­ rector Rahul Dravid at the there were conversations on on Thursday. The BCCI England at the SuperSport torius c Root b Curran 33, V. Board’s headquarters on how to make the academy awards will also be given Park on Thursday. Philander (batting) 28, K. Ma­ Thursday. more effective in terms of away on the same day. haraj c Stokes b Archer 6, K. England took a wicket with It has been learned that injury­management. Earlier, it was speculated the opening delivery of the Rabada b Broad 12; Extras (lb­4, nb­2, w­3): 9; Total (for the duo deliberated on the Ever since taking charge that Sachin Tendulkar could four­Test series and had the roadmap for the academy in as the BCCI president in Oc­ Virender Sehwag. * FILE PHOTO nine wkts. in 82.4 overs): 277. deliver the memorial lecture, host teetering on 111 for five a two­hour long meeting. tober, Ganguly has reiterat­ Taking responsibility: Sam Curran led the way for England which is being organised augural lecture was delivered after lunch but de Kock’s bel­ Fall of wickets: 1­0, 2­32, 3­ Dravid did not take ques­ ed that he wants the NCA to by picking up four wickets. * AFP since 2013. However, with by Sunil Gavaskar in Febru­ ligerent innings brought 71, 4­97, 5­111, 6­198, 7­245, tions from the media, and be an academy of Tendulkar travelling around ary 2013 at Chennai. South Africa back into the gar, setting the tourists up for came the second bowler after 8­252, 9­277. Ganguly termed it as a ‘gen­ excellence. that time, the Board has ze­ Apart from Gavaskar, Anil match. early domination of an inex­ Anderson to take 400 Test eral meeting’, without elab­ Last week, Ganguly had roed in on Sehwag — who has Kumble, V.V.S. Laxman, Ra­ perienced home side. wickets this decade. England bowling: Anderson orating. “It was a general told reporters in Kolkata 20­4­69­1, Broad 17.4­4­ played 104 Tests, 251 ODIs hul Dravid and Farokh Engi­ First-ball wicket Sam Curran’s skilful bow­ But de Kock wrested the NCA­related meeting,” Gan­ that the Cricket Advisory and 19 T20Is for India. 52­3, Curran 19­5­57­4, neer have done the honours. James Anderson marked his ling earned him figures of initiative away from England Archer 19­4­65­1, Root 4­0­ guly told Sportstar. Committee will be formed in Established to honour the Former England player Kevin 150th cap and return to the four for 57 and Stuart Broad with an innings that com­ 26­0, Denly 3­0­4­0. The meeting happened the ‘next couple of days’. former India captain, who Pietersen had delivered the England attack with the first­ returned from illness to claim bined early aggression with days after reports surfaced But there hasn’t been a deci­ passed away in 2011, the in­ last lecture in Bengaluru. ball wicket of opener Dean El­ three for 52. Broad also be­ later circumspection. Toss: England. that the NCA allegedly re­ sion on the CAC yet. Goa comes out on top in a thriller Aubameyang saves Chennaiyin’s errors in the first half cost it dear Arsenal’s blushes ISL from as many encounters. Crivellaro and a fine left­foo­ For the first 20­odd mi­ ter by latter reduced the mar­ K. Keerthivasan nutes, even though Goa had gin for Chennaiyin. But Coro­ Kane and Alli give Spurs full points CHENNAI more ball possession, Chen­ minas hit the final nail on the naiyin clearly had the edge in coffin with a clean strike. FC Goa took ample advantage attack. of Chennaiyin FC’s laxity in Crivellaro’s curving left­ However, Goa scored first. the first session to script a footer gave a faint glimmer of A Tondonba Singh back­pass thrilling 4­3 win in the Indian hope for the host, but all found Ferran Corominas, Super League match here on went down the drain, thanks who ran past from the right to Thursday. to lethargic moments in the pass it to Hugo Boumous. The first half. The three goals conceded Frenchman then neatly in the first 45 minutes put passed it to Ahmed Jahouh Displeasure over paid to the hopes of the host and the Moroccan’s right­foo­ in the end analysis. refereeing ter gave little chance to the Chennaiyin’s co­owner Vita Trailing 3­0, Chennaiyiin ’keeper Vishal Kaith. fought well to score two quick Dani has expressed her dis­ The next two goals were in pleasure on the quality of re­ goals in the second session large part due to error in jud­ Drawing level: Harry Kane fires in Spurs’ equaliser. * AFP and one more towards the fi­ fereeing. “It was a disappoint­ gement of the host captain ing game, but the standard of nal moments of the match, Lucian Goian. First, a back­ PREMIER LEAGUE from the back to concede the but those weren’t enough. refereeing is getting poorer opening goal from Dan Gos­ pass from Edwin Vanspaul and poorer. I am sure all The contest saw 11 yellow Agence France-Presse ling. Pierre­Emerick Auba­ saw the Italian central defen­ teams are suffering from this. and two red cards being LONDON meyang again rode to the der fail to collect the ball pro­ However, I think Chennaiyin flashed. Edwin Vanspaul Mikel Arteta got off to an un­ Gunners’ rescue to equalise perly. As a result, Brandon is suffering the most from it,” (Chennaiyin) and Sergio Lob­ derwhelming start as Arsenal just after the hour mark. Fernandes had enough time she said while speaking to ero (head coach of Goa) manager with a 1­1 draw at to put it across the ’keeper. Star Sports. After the highs of victory picked up red cards. Later, Goian hardly made Bournemouth as Chelsea at Spurs, Chelsea again strug­ The result: Chennaiyin FC 3 slumped to another shock gled when faced with break­ With this win, Goa took its an effort to stop a ball from (Andre Schembri 57, Rafael Cri­ tally to 21 points from 10 the right as it landed straight vellaro 59 & 90) lost to FC Goa home reverse, losing 2­0 to ing down stubborn defensive matches to remain at the top to Hugo Boumous who con­ 4 (Ahmed Jahouh 26, Brandon Southampton, on Boxing opponents in Southampton. while Chennaiyin is in eighth verted. A header from Andre Fernandes 41, Hugo Boumous Day. The Blues have now lost to position with nine points Schembri off a corner from 45, Ferran Corominas 63). Carlo Ancelotti had a more West Ham, Bournemouth positive impact on his Ever­ and the Saints in their last ton bow as Dominic Calvert­ four home league games. Lewin’s brilliant diving head­ The result: Aston Villa 1 (Hou­ er earned a 1­0 win over rihane 64) bt Norwich 0; Bour­ Burnley. nemouth 1 (Gosling 35) drew Chelsea’s defeat allowed with Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang Tottenham to move back to 63); Chelsea 0 lost to South­ within three points of the top ampton 2 (Obafemi 31, Red­ four as it came from behind mond 73); Crystal Palace 2 to beat Brighton 2­1 thanks to (Kouyate 68, Ayew 90) bt goals from Harry Kane and West Ham 1 (Snodgrass 57); Everton 1 (Calvert­Lewin 80) Dele Alli. bt Burnley 0; Sheffield United Arteta got an early lesson 1 (Norwood 36­pen) drew with in the flaws that have blight­ Watford 1 (Deulofeu 27); Tot­ Cool finish: Brandon Fernandes of FC Goa had enough time to put one past Chennaiyin FC ed Arsenal’s season as it was tenham 2 (Kane 53, Alli 72) bt goalkeeper Vishal Kaith * R. RAGU caught out trying to play Brighton 1 (Webster 37). CM A ND-NDE YK