ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2021 SPORTS 14

Pooran hits winning runs to remain unbeaten on 32 Gayle guides West Indies to T20 series victory over Australia GROS ISLET, St Lucia, July 13, (AP): some runs today was very pleasing.” belted 67 from 38 balls to Gayle said his main focus was on the guide the West Indies to a six-, T20 World Cup starting in October in series-clinching win over Australia in the United Arab Emirates, when he’ll international. be 42. The West Indies fi nished 142-4, Pooran, who is deputizng for the chasing down Australia’s total 141-6 injured , is now 3-0 in with 31 balls to spare in the third of his fi rst three games as West Indies fi ve T20s. Stand-in Nicholas captain. Pooran hit the winning runs to remain “Top game. We kept asking for im- unbeaten on 32. provement and tonight we came out But game three in St. Lucia was and executed our plans with bat and all about former captain Gayle, who ball,” Pooran said. “There’s a reason passed 14,000 runs in the T20 format why Chris Gayle has 14,000 T20 runs, and returned to form after struggling the greatest T20 batsman to play the for runs since his return to the West In- game.” dies lineup. The West Indies won the fi rst game The 41-year- of the series by 18 runs after a stunning old left-hander batting collapse from the Australians, slogged seven and took the second game by 56 runs. sixes and four Australia needed a win to have any boundaries as he chance of staying in contention in the posted his fi rst Twenty20 In- ternational half CRICKET since series, but didn’t post enough runs. an unbeaten 100 Openers Aaron Finch (30 off 31) and against England Matthew Wade (23 off 16) and middle- in March 2016. Gayle Australian order batsmen Moises Henriques (33) fast bowler Mitchell Starc (1-15) took and Ashton Turner (24) made starts but a wicket in the fi rst over of the West didn’t go on to post big scores. Indies innings before Gayle went on “We just haven’t had the top order the attack in the next over of the reply, go on deep in the innings,” Finch said. plundering Josh Hazlewood for a six “It’s been quite similar the whole way and three consecutive boundaries. through. Credit to West Indies. They He hit three straight sixes against bowled beautifully especially at that spinner Adam Zampa to reach his 50 back end. They’re an experienced side in the 11th over, raising his “Six Ma- and they showed it tonight.” chine” bat to show “The Boss” sticker Wrist spinner Hayden Walsh Jr., on the blade. who played eight T20 internationals for He was out in the next over when he the United States before getting picked swiped at a slower bouncer from Riley for the West Indies in 2019, took two Meredith (3-48) and got a thick edge to in his second over with the wicketkeeper Alex Carey to make the kind of bowling which restricted Aus- total 109-3. tralia’s run-rate. Accepting the award for player of He returned 2-18 from four overs to the match, Gayle recommended fans lead the attack, while Obed McCoy, France’s Anthony Jelonch, (left), is chased by Australia’s Lukhan Salakaia-Loto during the second rugby Test between France and Australia in Melbourne, shouldn’t watch the statistics too close- Dwayne Brave and all Australia, on July 13. (AP) ly but instead “just respect the Uni- took a wicket apiece. verse Boss.” The fourth game in the series will be “You all knew I was struggling with played Wednesday. the bat,” he said. “To be able to get France win in Australia after Predators’ Rinne retiring Lightning dent Stanley Cup after 31 years by edging Wallabies another Tampa Bay boat parade TAMPA, Fla., July 13, (AP): Turns Jaminet coolly slotted penalty to cap victory out the Stanley Cup is going to Mon- treal after all. But it will return to the Tampa Bay MELBOURNE, Australia, Lightning’s possession for an extended July 13, (AP): Melvyn Ja- party. Pumas fullback Mallia banned for 3 Tests After the Lightning celebrated a minet landed a seventh second consecutive championship penalty with two minutes DUBLIN, July 13, (AP): Fullback dangerous high tackle. against South Africa in August. with another signature ‘Champa Bay’ remaining for France to Juan Cruz Mallia was banned from An independent disciplinary com- However, his suspension will end boat parade on Monday, hockey’s end a 31-year drought by Argentina’s next three rugby Tests mittee called it reckless following early if he completes World Rugby’s holy grail needed to be sent north of for his red card in the weekend draw a hearing but, recognizing Mallia’s new coaching intervention on tackle the border for repairs. The bowl of the beating the Wallabies in with Wales. guilty plea and remorse, reduced techniques to avoid head contact. 128-year-old was dented to the point it Australia 28-26 on Tues- Mallia was making a tackle when his suspension from a starting point Do the program successfully, and looked like Flat Stanley Cup. his head hit the head of Wales of six matches to three. Mallia’s suspension will last two It has been damaged and fi xed be- day and sending the three- scrumhalf Kieran Hardy in the fi rst Mallia will miss the second test tests, and he will be free to play the fore, including when the 2018 cham- test series to a decider. half of Saturday’s match in Cardiff. against Wales this weekend, and second test against the Springboks pion Washington Capitals did “Cup” France lost the opening test by He was automatically sent off for a the two Rugby Championships tests on Aug. 21. stands after winning the fi rst NHL tile two points last Wednesday after a in franchise history. The Cup is still late blunder in its own quarter in scheduled to be ready for the start of verted Damian Penaud’s counterat- The Australian forwards attacked penalties and led 25-16 with about 15 the Lightning’s summer of Stanley Brisbane. tacking try in the 21st minute to give the French line for seven phases be- minutes to go. In this June 20, 2018 file photo, Pek- There was no mistake this time. that players didn’t get to enjoy after ka Rinne of the Nashville Predators the visitors a 13-3 lead. fore prop Taniela Tupou picked up The French knocked on over the winning last fall. Australia had only just taken the The Australians had chances to take from the base of a ruck and, instead of tryline in the 55th minute but Jaminet poses with the Vezina Trophy after lead for the fi rst time in the 75th the lead, with winger Marika Koroi- burrowing for the line, threw a cut-out added three points from the penalty winning the award at the NHL Awards minute when the French pack shoved bete crossing the line twice early in the pass wide to an unmarked Gordon to advantage. They went close to another ICE HOCKEY in Las Vegas. (AP) the Wallabies off the ball to earn a fi rst half but having tries disallowed dive across the line. try on the hour, with back-rower Cam- scrum penalty. Jaminet coolly slotted Eventually, Lightning owner Jeff both times - once for a knock on early Flyhalf Noah Lolesio, who kicked eron Woki winning a lineout against “What we’re hoping is getting the penalty to cap the victory, a fi rst in the movement and another for a for- Australia’s stoppage-time winner in the throw near his own tryline and then Vinik and players took the podium to over the Wallabies in Australia since ward pass. the fi rst test, added the sideline con- orchestrating an attack down the short two days with the Cup: back-to-back address the crowd in a steady rain. 1990, and take his personal match haul The French led 16-6 with halftime versation to cut the halftime margin to side to get his team deep in Australian days,” three-in-a-row champion Pat- At one point, forward Yanni Gourde to 23 points. approaching when scrumhalf Jake three points. territory. rick Maroon said last week. slid across the stage on a trolley while Gordon scored a roles-reversed try in- He equalized at 16-all soon after the Seven phases later, the French for- The second Lightning boat parade some other players and coach Jon RUGBY side the left corner post. break but the French added three more wards were held up over the line but in 10 months was fi tting of that desire Cooper climbed down to interact with Jaminet again was able to nail the pen- for more celebration. Captain Steven fans along barricades. alty goal. They were seemingly right Stamkos wore a T-shirt bearing the Meanwhile, Nashville Predators The French controlled the ball in the on top on the eve of Bastille Day. message “BACK TO BOAT,” and goaltender Pekka Rinne, the 2018 dying minutes and kicked for touch as But just as in the series-opener, the the back-to-back champs were toasted Vezina Trophy winner, is retiring after soon as the siren sounded, in contrast Australians rallied to set up a dramatic with a boat parade on the Hillsborough 15 seasons. to the fi rst test when they should have fi nish. River, with thousands of fans no long- Rinne, 38, announced his decision done the same thing but, instead, saw Skipper Michael Hooper dived over er burdened by COVID-19 restrictions Tuesday. The Predators have a previ- an errant late pass literally throw away in the left corner to cap a long-range gathering downtown to join the fun. ously scheduled morning news confer- the match. try in the 71st after Lolesio threw an The scene – fi ve days after the Light- ence. “I’m really proud for what we’ve inside pass to Tom Banks, who cut ning closed out a fi ve-game Stanley “For more than 15 years, I’ve been done tonight,” France captain Anthony through a big gap in the defense from Cup Final win over the Montreal Cana- on an incredible, life-changing journey Jelonch said. “We managed to do what behind halfway and took the ball to- diens – hardly resembled the riverfront with the Nashville Predators that has we couldn’t do last Wednesday.” ward the attacking quarter. gathering organized after the team won taken me to more places than I could France coach Fabien Galthie said His over-the-top pass to his sup- last year’s title while playing in empty have ever imagined and given me the win by his depleted squad was a port hit Jaminet’s hand before Andrew arenas because of the pandemic. more than I could ever hope to give “victory for all those who support us.” Kellaway regathered for Australia and Dozens of residents on boats and back,” Rinne said in a statement. “This He said it would kick off the Jul 14 unloaded to fl anker Hooper to score in other watercraft enjoyed a close view decision wasn’t easy, but I know this is national holiday a few hours in ad- the corner. of vessels carrying players and coach- the right one at the right time. vance: “Let’s savor together!” Lolesio converted from the sideline es. A post-parade rally in a downtown He made his last start on May 10 The series-deciding third test will be to cut the gap to 25-23 and landed an- park was delayed more than an hour in Nashville’s regular-season fi nale, a back in Brisbane on Saturday. other penalty from 40 meters out to put when a heavy thunderstorm accompa- 5-0 win over Carolina in which he tied France led most of the match, again. French supporters celebrate after the second rugby Test between France Australia ahead 26-25 with fi ve min- nied by gusting winds sent fans scat- Tom Barrasso for No. 19 in NHL his- Jaminet landed two penalties and con- and Australia in Melbourne, Australia, on July 13. (AP) utes remaining. tering for cover. tory with his 369th victory.