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Sunday, August 5, 2018 FOOTBALL Dhul-Qa’da 23, 1439 AH Neymar returns GULF TIMES as PSG thrash Monaco in China SPORT Page 3 QNB STARS LEAGUE Hussein’s double as Qatar Sports Club beat Al Gharafa Both teams created chances, but it was The Kings, who ended up 10th last season, who had the last laugh

Hussein Ali was the star of the match, his 71st and 90th minute goals seeing them through after captain Ali Awad had put them ahead in the 51st minute. Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi scored Al Gharafa’s sole reply in the 87th minute. Both teams created many chances, but it was The Kings, who ended up 10th last season, who had the last laugh. Qatar SC played under same coach from last season, Abdulla Mu- barak, while Al Gharafa took the fi eld under Frenchman Christian Gourcuff , who replaced Turk Bulent Uygun. Al Gharafa were on the attack straightaway, with Dutch star Wesley Sneijder and Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi moving forward. On the other hand, Qatar SC mostly resorted to counter-attacks and one such move saw Syrian spearhead Os- ama Omari miss a sitter in the 34th minute. Slovakian midfi elder Vladimir Weiss, who played his fi rst competi- tive match after a long injury layoff , was the live-wire in the Al Gharafa ranks, whereas new recruit Sandro gust 10 and Al Gharafa take on Al Saili- from close range, but the ball hit the Ferreira pulled the Qatar SC midfi eld ya the following day. far goalpost and bounced back into together. Meanwhile, Al Arabi kicked off the play without causing any anguish for After changing ends, Ali Awad, who season with a hard-fought 1-0 win Al Arabi backline. assisted Osama in the attack, deserv- over Al Khor at the Khalifa Interna- After Al Arabi’s Brazilian forward ingly put Qatar SC ahead with a plac- tional Stadium. Diego Jardel curled in a well-taken ing shot to an open goal. Al Khor started off with quick free-kick that was palmed away by After Abdelaziz Hatem hit his shot moves, but it was Al Arabi who scored Al Khor goalkeeper for a corner, well- over the bar, Qatar SC’s Rami Fayez the only goal in the 22nd minute built Franco gave a spectacular fi nish Hussein Ali, (L) celebrates with teammates after his two goals helped Qatar Sports Club beat Al Gharafa yesterday. made a goalline save. through new recruit Franco Arizala, to an indirect corner kick by sending At right, Al Arabi players celebrate their win over Al Khor. PICTURES: Ram Chand and Anas Khalid Then came new recruit Hussein’s with the Colombian striker heading in a loopy cross into the rival net. twin-goal eff ort on either side of a home from close range. In the third match of the day, Ab- By Sports Reporter of their rivals, made a sensational start eight-times champions’ last title came consolation goal by Al Gharafa’s Tare- Al Khor’s Salem Khalifa produced a dulqader Bakoor’s brace helped Al Doha to their QNB Stars League campaign way back in 2003 after which they had mi off a cross from Weiss. powerful shot from inside the rival box Sailiya defeat Umm Salal 2-1. yesterday when they outclassed Al run off steam. Hussein fi rst found the mark af- in the very fi rst minute, but the ball Bakoor struck the winner in the Gharafa 3-1 on the opening day of the Yesterday, however, they gave an ter he latched on to a through pass by bounced off the goalpost. Four min- fourth minute of injury time after Yan- atar Sports Club, once a for- tournament yesterday. early indication of a possible turna- Omari. The wily striker was at it again utes later, another attempt at goal by nick Sagbo had equalised for Umm midable team but now in a Qatar Sports Club’s dominance in round with a commanding display just before the fi ve-minute stoppage Tunisian Adel Sellimi’s boys proved in Salal in the 81st minute. seemingly perpetual strug- the late 60s and early 70s earned them that left Al Gharafa, the fourth-placed time began to make it 3-1. vain. Al Khor’s Brazilian striker Diego Earlier, Bakoor had put Al Sailiya Qgle to stay in step with some the sobriquet of “The Kings”, but the team last season, stunned. Qatar SC next play Al Ahli on Au- da Silva then produced a snap-header ahead in the 45th minute.

SPOTLIGHT SWIMMING Kolesnikov sets Qatar bowling team top in 50m backstroke world record World Youth Championships onds. “I said to myself to keep Reuters Glasfow calm. I realised I could win af- QNA ter the semi-fi nal yesterday but Washington I didn’t think much about the liment Kolesnikov world record,” Kolesnikov said. of Russia set a world Kolesnikov, who has long atar’s bowling team won two gold medals to top record for the 50 me- been tipped to lead the new the 2018 World Youth Championships which tres backstroke while generation of talented Russian concluded in Detroit, Michigan on Friday. The winningK the European Cham- swimmers, had already enjoyed Qmedals came in the teams’ competition and the pionship title in Glasgow yes- a stellar career since earning all-event. terday his fi rst international call-up in Ghanem Abu Jassoum won the gold medal of the All- The teenager clocked 24.00 2016 for Russia at the European Event leading the 132 players in the general rankings. Abu seconds to take 0.04 seconds Junior Championships. Jassoum scored a total of 1,428 point in the singles, 1,353 off the record set by Britain’s Meanwhile, Adam Peaty points in the doubles competition and 1,360 points in the Liam Tancock at the world added more lustre to his repu- teams’ competition to top his peers and claim the gold championships in Rome in tation as perhaps the world’s medal. 2009. most dominant swimmer when The Qatari team won their second gold medal in the Kolesnikov, who had been he smashed his own 100 me- teams’ competition where the bowlers Ghanem Abu Jas- part of Russia’s 4x100 metres tres breaststroke world record soum, Jassim Mohamed al-Muraikhi, Mohamed Hamad freestyle gold medal-winning in 57.00 seconds while winning al-Muraikhi and Jassim Ibrahim al-Theyab put up a for- quartet on Friday, powered the European Championships midable performance. They are coached by Pedro Merani. down the length of the Toll- gold medal. The runners-up were the Swedish team who won one cross International Centre pool The 23-year-old English- gold and two bronze medals, while the Danish team took to earn his second gold just a man knocked 0.13 seconds off the third place with a single gold medal. month after turning 18. his own record set at the Rio de The president of Qatar Bowling Federation Abdulsalam His performance was so Janeiro Olympics in 2016 — the Abdullah, congratulated the the team on their victory. He dominant that he beat Roma- fourth time he has set a new attributed it to the wise leadership of the state. He said the nian silver medallist Robert- mark in the discipline in which players will be motivated by this success which will help Andrei Glinta, a former world he has been unbeaten for four them in their future endeavours. junior champion, by 0.55 sec- years. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, August 5, 2018 FOOTBALL

QNB STARS LEAGUE Duhail open campaign today as Maaloul plots another title Two other big guns, Al Rayyan and Al Sadd will also be in action today

By Sports Reporter Doha

l Duhail new manager Nabil Maaloul will have a huge legacy to leave up to, as the defending QNB Stars LeagueA champions kick-off their cam- paign today. Maaloul, who has taken over from Duhail’s long-serving and highly suc- cessful coach Djamel Belmadi, did not have a great to start to his tenure. The Tunisian’s fi rst match in charge ended up in a defeat to Al Rayyan in the Sheikh Jassim Cup on Wednesday. Al Duhail have been handed an easy fi rst league match against minnows Shahania today and Maaloul will be desperate for a victory. Under Belmadi, Duhail won three trophies last season, eased into the AFC Champions League quarter-fi nals and are a formidable force in Asia. For Maaloul, the chal- lenge will be to ensure the Qatar cham- Duhail’s new coach Nabil Maaloul. pions leave up to the high standards set by his Algerian predecessor. “We also have games against Al Khor Winners of the Qatar league title six and Al Rayyan before our AFC Champi- times in the last few years, Al Duhail ons League quarter-fi nal against Iran’s will be a massive force in the new sea- Persepolis. We will try to build on our son as well. But they are expected to strengths and take the positives that we have fi erce battles with Al Sadd besides had in the previous seasons, to our ad- former champions Al Rayyan and Al vantage,” he added. Gharafa. Captain Karim Boudiaf, who sus- The Red Knights’ star-studded squad tained an injury in the Sheikh Jassim consists of Moroccan striker Yousef el Cup, will miss out for today’s match. Arabi, South Korean playmaker Nam Maaloul, however, was hopeful Boudi- Tae-Hee and Brazilian defender Lucas af’s absence was short term. “Boudiaf’s Mendes. However, they will be without injury is fortunately a minor one and he their Tunisian talisman Youssef Msa- will hopefully return to the side quickly, kni, who suff ered a serious knee liga- in time for the Persepolis game. He is an ment injury in his knee towards the end infl uential player and playmaker, and of last season and had to miss the World a good link between the defenders and Cup for Tunisia. Msakni is expected to midfi elders,” the coach said. Defending champions Al Duhail will be keen to forget their defeat in the Sheikh Jassim Cup and move ahead. be back only in November or December. Meanwhile, for Shahania they could On the eve of the match against not have asked for a diffi cult opponent our overseas professional players and Two other big guns Al Rayyan and Hamdallah. Another Moroccan mid- Woo-Young to an already-impressive prompted side Shahania, Maaloul said to start their season. Shahania will rely have added some new Qatari players Al Sadd will also be in action today. Al fi elder Mohsen Moutaouli switched squad that includes the likes of Span- Duhail were ready to launch their cam- on their overseas professional play- to the squad. I hope they gel well with Rayyan will face Al Ahli, while last year’s to Al Ahli, while Uruguayan defender ish great Xavi Hernandez, Baghdad paign and defend the title. “We have ers — Nader Awad, Vazquez, Alvaro the foreign recruits sooner rather than runner-up Sadd take on Al Kharaitiyat. Gonzalo Vieira and South Korean Koh Bounedjah, Hassan al-Haydous and reached the fi fth week of preparations and Claudio — who played vital roles in later. I am sure they will combine well Rayyan Lions are on a high after win- Myong-Jin stayed with the team. Akram Afi f. and we are ready for the new season. We their triumph in the Second Division. and lift their game when it matters the ning the season-opening Sheikh Jas- Al Ahli have strengthened the side Al Kharaitiyat, under Tunisian coach are facing Second Division champions “We did a good job in the pre-season most,” he added. sim Cup. They ended the contract with with Dutch midfi elder Nigel de Jong, Nassif al-Bayawi who replaced Syr- Al Shahania fi rst and certainly the con- camp. We hope to build on our strong “I coached the team in the Second Denmark’s Michael Laudrup and ap- Medio Omid Ebrahimi and defender ian Yasser Sebaei, have a tough opener. frontation will be diffi cult even though preparations and do a good job on our Division and know the players well. pointed Argentinian Rodolfo Arruabar- Mohammad Reza, both from Iran. This season, Al Kharaitiyat signed three we are the defending champions. We return to the QNB Stars League,” said Even though the top fl ight is a diff er- rena, who has straightaway made an Al Sadd look formidable with the new players — Youssef al-Knaoui, Ab- will try to retain the QNB Stars League Shahania coach Jose Murcia. ent ball game altogether, we are upbeat impact. Rayyan may miss the services addition of Spanish star Gabi Fernan- dulhadi Halhoul and Ali Faiz — and kept title,” he said yesterday. “We have retained the services of all about our prospects,” said Murcia. of injured Moroccan ace Abderrazaq dez and South Korean midfi elder Jung the services of Anwar Diba.

TRANSFER SPOTLIGHT Celtic off to winning start Barcelona to sign former Aspire Rangers boss Gerrard in quest for 8th Football Dreams player Wague straight title Glasgow: Celtic began their spire Zone Foundation Academy Senegal. ball Dreams’ scholarship players shrugs off title talk bid for an eighth consecutive (AZF)-owned KAS Eu- Wague made his international to guarantee a smooth and suc- Scottish Premiership title in pen and FC Barcelona breakthrough at the 2018 World cessful transition from youth to AFP style with a convincing 3-1 have agreed to trans- Cup with the Senegalese national professional football. Glasgow victory against Livingston ferA Senegal international and team. In Russia, he started in two When Aspire Zone Founda- yesterday. Goals from mid- former Aspire Football Dreams matches and played as a substi- tion became the new owner of fielder Tom Rogic and striker player, Moussa Wague, from KAS tute in the third group match for KAS Eupen in June 2012, the ini- teven Gerrard refused to be drawn on a Odsonne Edouard secured a to FC Barcelona. The clubs and 15 minutes. With his goal against tial response from the city on the potential Rangers title challenge, saying comfortable lead at half- the 19-year-old right-back have Japan, Wague became Africa’s German-Belgian border, popu- the club are under enough pressure al- time at Celtic Park. French agreed the terms and the corre- youngest scorer of all time, at lation 18,000, was reserved. But ready as fans’ hopes grow that they can midfielder Olivier Ntcham sponding formalities will be set- just 19 years, 8 months and 20 the foreign investor from distant deposeS Scottish Premiership champions Celtic. added a third with a penalty tled in the coming days. Wague days old. Qatar was soon recognised as The appointment of the former Liverpool and five minutes after the break, completed his medical tests at Eupen is a Belgian professional a highly professional partner – England skipper and the team’s unbeaten start rendering Scott Robinson’s FC Barcelona on Friday morning football club that currently plays one who laid solid foundations to their Europa League qualifying campaign added-time goal a mere and trained with his team for the in the ‘Jupiler Pro League’ (1st Di- for future success, modernised have boosted optimism that the Glasgow giants consolation. Brendan Rodgers fi rst time at Ciutat Esportiva Joan vision) and serves an important the structure and organisation of can win their fi rst title since 2011. side play AEK Athens in a Gamper yesterday. role in the philosophy of Aspire the club, quickly earned trust by But ahead of their opening league match Champions League qualifier In the last year and a half, Academy: The club, in which the honouring current contracts and against Aberdeen today, Gerrard shrugged off on Wednesday. Wague has played 23 Pro League football related activities of the bolstered the team by recruit- questions about how ready his side are to take Celtic were ahead inside championship matches, 17 Play club were taken over by AZF in ing a raft of new players who had on Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic, who have won the eight minutes when Jonny Off II matches and three cup 2012 while still playing in the 2nd previously been part of the foot- title seven times in a row. Hayes, making his first matches for the fi rst KAS Eupen Division, functions as a stepping ball programme of Aspire Acad- “It’s a diffi cult question to answer as it’s a competitive appearance team. Before moving to Belgium, stone for Aspire’s local Qatari emy in Doha or ‘Aspire Football long season and this is just the start,” he said. in more than eight months Wague was trained at the Aspire players as well as ‘Aspire Foot- Dreams’ in Senegal. “We made a lot of changes for a reason — we after recovering from injury, felt the squad needed that amount of surgery to crossed for Rogic to head help it compete. We don’t want to put any tar- home. Rogic was the architect gets or added pressure on them than is already of the second in the 26th on us at the moment.” minute as he led a counter- Gerrard said the aim was to have strength attack and Ntcham’s cut-back and variety in every position to allow Rangers to was finished by Edouard. make a sustained challenge. “Every fan, every Livingston’s problems pundit, every media guy will have his opinion increased when Declan on where Rangers are at the minute,” he said. “I Gallagher was adjudged to don’t think we need to get involved in that. We have fouled Callum McGregor have confi dence and belief in ourselves. We’re inside the box and Ntcham trying to create a culture, a winning mental- slotted the ball home. Hearts ity, in the dressing room which helps us grow also strolled to an opening- stronger but it will take time.” day win as summer signing Aberdeen gave Premier League club Burnley Peter Haring scored twice in a a scare on Thursday as they forced Sean Dyche’s 4-1 victory at Hamilton. side to extra-time in their Europa League clash St Mirren marked their at Turf Moor before eventually slumping to a return to the top flight after a 3-1 defeat and a 4-2 loss over the two legs. three-year absence with a 2-1 Gerrard’s men were also in action but did not win over Dundee. need extra time, drawing 1-1 against Croatian an awful lot of eff ort in trying to get qualifi ca- Kilmarnock won on the outfi t Osijek for a 2-1 aggregate victory and the tion. I’m sure Derek (McInnes) is trying to pick opening weekend of the Pre- Before moving to Rangers boss wants his team to use their fresh- his players up but it’s a great game for them to miership season for the first Belgium, Moussa Wague ness to their advantage. bounce back in as I’m sure they will want to time since 2009, beating St was trained at the Aspire He said: “Aberdeen looked fi t against Burnley, turn us over.” Johnstone 2-0 at Rugby Park. Academy Senegal. they look in good shape. They have played an Celtic started their title defence at home with Steven Gerrard’s Rangers play extra 30 minutes than us and we’ve got to use a win over Livingston yesterday. Rangers and Aberdeen today while Hiber- that to our advantage. I think you’ll fi nd today Celtic will meet in the fi rst Old Firm derby of nian take on Motherwell. both teams will be tired. Both teams have put the season at Celtic Park on September 2. Gulf Times Sunday, August 5, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Neymar returns as PSG thrash Monaco in China

AFP characters on the back of their shirts, Shenzhen, China were the aggressors and they took the lead via Di Maria’s sumptuous strike. The Argentina winger swept the ball razilian superstar Neymar over the wall and into the top right made his fi rst club appearance corner from 25 metres, evading Diego since February as Paris Saint- Benaglio’s despairing dive. Germain thrashed Monaco As Tuchel watched while sitting on 4-0B in the French Champions Trophy an ice box in the technical area, Nkunku in China yesterday. Angel Di Maria’s made it 2-0 on 40 minutes with a close- double fi red PSG to their fi rst silver- range fi nish from Stanley Nsoki’s invit- ware under new coach Thomas Tuchel ing cross. Weah, son of former PSG star as Neymar, long sidelined by a foot in- and Liberian President George Weah, jury, came on as a late substitute. went close and Di Maria then left Bena- Di Maria’s thunderous free-kick glio nursing sore fi ngers with a power- opened the scoring on 33 minutes in ful drive as the capital-city club went searing heat and he grabbed PSG’s into half-time fi rmly in control. fourth in injury time following strikes The 18-year-old Weah put the win from youngsters Christopher Nkunku beyond doubt in the 67th minute when and Timothy Weah. It was a compre- he stroked home Nsoki’s pull-back to hensive win for the reigning French score his fi rst PSG goal, before Nkunku champions in the season’s curtain- rattled the crossbar from close range raiser, even without Kylian Mbappe and shortly afterwards. Edinson Cavani who are yet to return Italian goalkeeping great Gianluigi after the World Cup. Buff on was rarely troubled on his com- PSG start their Ligue 1 title defence petitive debut, with Stevan Jovetic an on Sunday, August 12, with a home isolated fi gure up front for Monaco in match against Caen. Former Borussia the absence of captain Radamel Falcao Dortmund boss Tuchel was drenched and several other key players. in champagne by his players during There were loud cheers from the his post-match press conference, like 41,000-strong Shenzhen crowd when Didier Deschamps was after France’s Neymar was introduced on 76 minutes World Cup triumph last month. but the world’s most expensive player, “I’m very happy, because we won last seen in Brazil’s World Cup quarter- our fi rst fi nal. It’s great, winning 4-0 fi nal loss to Belgium, couldn’t add his is incredible,” said the 44-year-old. name to the scoresheet. “I really like the fact that we played as Di Maria, deservedly, had the last a team. It was a very young team and word when Adrien Rabiot’s long run set the conditions were very hard, but we him up for an easy fi nish which he slot- played with a lot of intensity.” ted past the beleaguered Benaglio in the PSG, with their names in Chinese third added minute. Paris Saint-Germain’s captain Thiago Silva holds the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the French Champions Trophy in Shenzhen. (AFP)

PREVIEW West Brom lose on return to Championship London: West Bromwich Albion suff ered a blow in City, Chelsea lock horns their bid to bounce straight back to the Premier League yesterday, conceding late to slip to defeat against Bolton as fancied Middlesbrough scored a last-gasp equaliser against Millwall. Bolton nearly slipped in Community Shield back into League One last season but they were able to celebrate a 2-1 victory at The Hawthorns on the open- The game is set to feature various youngsters and fringe players as World Cup stars are still on a break ing weekend of the season. Josh Magennis’ opener was AFP cancelled out on the stroke of London half-time by Harvey Barnes, and Magennis looked like he might have missed Bolton’s anchester City take on chance to win it. Chelsea in today’s Commu- But Yanic Wildschut, mak- nity Shield — the traditional ing his debut after signing on curtain raiser to the English loan from Norwich, scored Mseason — but the Wembley showpiece the winner in the 89th minute, will off er few clues as to the destination and Bolton survived a late of the Premier League title. onslaught from West Brom, The glorifi ed friendly between the which included Ahmed He- league champions and the FA Cup gazi heading against the bar. winners has been a notoriously poor Middlesbrough staged a predictor of success in recent years — late fightback to claim a 2-2 no winner has gone on to be crowned draw with Millwall, who domi- champions in the same season since nated much of the match and Manchester United in 2010-11. The led through goals from Aiden game, likely to be played in sizzling O’Brien and Lee Gregory. But summer temperatures in London, is set Martin Braithwaite pulled one to feature various youngsters and fringe back in the 87th minute and players as World Cup stars ease their there was still time for George way back into club action. But whatever Friend to level up in the 97th the line-ups, there are plenty of talk- minute. There were mixed ing points and the game will be closely fortunes for Championship watched for clues as domestic football new boys Wigan, Blackburn reclaims centre stage just three weeks and Rotherham. Wigan were after the World Cup fi nal in Russia. promoted back to the second Can Manchester City pick up where tier as League One champions they left off last season or will they have and made a winning start with a serious challenger? Will new manager a 3-2 victory against Sheff ield Maurizio Sarri be able to revive FA Cup Wednesday. winners Chelsea, who fi nished fi fth last Michael Jacobs scored season after winning the title the previ- For Chelsea, midfielder Cesc Fabregas (right) is a doubt with a minor knee injury. (AFP) twice in the first half for ous year under Antonio Conte? Paul Cook’s men, with Atdhe One question for City fans is how ted Sarri in the Champions League last I think it will be a good game, always uayi, plus England’s Gary Cahill, are yet immediately have a trophy. But in this Nuhiu, who was later sent manager Pep Guardiola will deploy season when the Italian was managing Chelsea is a big rival. Antonio was, to return following the World Cup. moment of the season it’s very impor- off , briefly equalising for the Riyad Mahrez — the only signifi cant ad- Napoli. Most of the players who were Maurizio will be too. The style of play Sarri suggested a similar side to the tant, the performance.” visitors. Jacobs then created dition to their already-impressive list on duty at the World Cup have now re- will be perfect for English football.” one that featured in pre-season would There has been speculation in the past a third for Nick Powell on of forward options during the summer turned to training but Raheem Sterling Guardiola admitted the match comes play at Wembley, meaning 17-year-old few weeks over a number of Chelsea’s the hour mark and, although transfer window. The manager has con- and Kevin De Bruyne are still on their at a tricky time without his full comple- Callum Hudson-Odoi could be includ- most high-profi le players, with goal- Fernando Forestieri pulled fi rmed his record £60mn ($78mn) sign- post-Russia breaks. The City manager ment of players but said City were pre- ed. The 59-year-old is eager to do well keeper Courtois and midfi elders Willian one back, Wednesday could ing is in contention to start the match also revealed how much he was look- pared and would target their fi fth Com- but he acknowledges the size of the task and Hazard all linked with moves away not find an equaliser. after he was forced off during last week- ing forward to locking horns with Sarri, munity Shield win. Both sides have four against the Premier League champions. from Stamford Bridge. Sarri said he was Blackburn pushed Wigan end’s fi nal match of the US pre-season who replaced Conte last month. victories apiece in the fi xture. Sarri, who has not won a trophy in confi dent that Brazil playmaker Willian all the way in League One tour against Bayern Munich. “I am happy that he is here in the For Chelsea, Cesc Fabregas is a doubt his career, said: “The match for us is would remain at the club but was less last season but they had to “Mahrez is good. He had a little bit of Premier League,” Guardiola said. “I will with a minor knee injury. And France very diffi cult for one reason: they have sure over the future of Courtois. City settle for a point at Portman pain but he trained day before yesterday learn a lot to see his team every week- World Cup winners N’Golo Kante and worked all together for two years. We face Arsenal away on August 12 in the Road after debutant Tayo — I think so (he can play on Sunday),” end. I saw three games — he gets it, the Olivier Giroud, Belgium trio Eden Haz- started two and a half weeks ago. I want Premier League while Chelsea travel to Edun’s late equaliser in a 2-2 said Guardiola, who twice outwit- team in a short time plays like he wants. ard, Thibaut Courtois and Michy Batsh- to win, because it’s very important to to Huddersfi eld the previous day. draw. Winger Gwion Edwards scored five minutes into his Ipswich debut but goals from Seedorf, Kluivert take over Courtois wants Madrid Arsenal’s Kolasinac faces Barcelona agree Vidal Eto’o leaves Konyaspor Danny Graham and Bradley Cameroon national side move for family reasons up to 10 weeks out injured switch in 30mn euro deal by mutual consent Dack put Rovers ahead inside half an hour. Rotherham also Clarence Seedorf has been appointed Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac will be Barcelona announced that they had Ex-Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o has bounced back at the first head coach of the Cameroon national wants a move back to Spain for fam- out of action for eight to 10 weeks after reached an agreement with Bayern left Konyaspor by mutual consent with time of asking but, after their team, with his former Netherlands ily reasons, his agent said, following suff ering an injury to his left knee, the Munich to sign Chile midfielder Arturo two years still left on his contract. The struggles of 2016-17, when teammate Patrick Kluivert as his as- reports linking him with a move to Real Premier League club said on Friday. Vidal in a deal reportedly worth 30mn Turkish club say the former Chelsea they managed just 23 points, sistant, Cameroonian Minister of Sport Madrid. The Belgian is due to return to The Bosnia international was forced off euros ($35mn). Vidal will reportedly and Everton striker, 37, has had his deal they endured a sobering first Pierre Ismael Bidoung Mkpatt said. Chelsea training over the next few days during Wednesday’s pre-season win earn around 9mn euros per season with cancelled, “on the basis of a previously match against Brentford, The two former AC Milan players take after helping his country finish third at over London rivals Chelsea in Dublin the Spanish giants. His arrival will make agreed negotiation”. which ended in a 5-1 loss. over from Belgian Hugo Broos, who left the World Cup and being voted the best after a clash with Victor Moses. Arsenal up for the surprise departure of Brazil- Eto’o joined struggling Konyaspor from There was late drama at St last year after the Indomitable Lions goalkeeper in Russia. won the match on penalties. ian midfielder Paulinho, who Barcelona rivals Antalyaspor in January, scoring Andrew’s, where Birmingham failed to qualify for the World Cup in The 26-year-old former Atletico Madrid Wales midfielder and Aaron Ramsey loaned to Chinese side Guangzhou six goals in 14 appearances to help the drew 2-2 with Norwich. Alan Russia. Seedorf has had little success number one has a year remaining on his missed that game with a tight calf Evergrande. Barcelona had to move club maintain their top-flight status. The Browne’s 50th-minute eff ort as a coach, failing to last six months Chelsea contract, but agent Christophe and will aim to return to training next fast to sign Vidal as the player had also club thanked him for “his services on earned Preston a 1-0 win over in any of his previous roles with Milan, Henrotay said Courtois wants a move week, the club added. Arsenal start reportedly sparked interest from Inter behalf of our colours”. QPR while Bristol City drew Chinese side Shenzhen and Deportivo to the Spanish capital to be close to his their Premier League campaign under Milan following the departure of their The four-time African footballer of the 1-1 with Nottingham For- La Coruna. The 42-year-old won four two children. Courtois has a three-year- new manager Unai Emery at home to French midfielder Adrien Rabiot. Vidal is year winner has been widely linked with est. Frank Lampard’s Derby Champions League titles as a player, old daughter and one-year-old son from defending champions Manchester City the Barcelona’s fourth signing since the a move to Ligue 1 in France, as well as a County beat Reading 2-1. though, and made 87 appearances. a previous relationship. on August 12. end of the last season. possible return to Spain. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, August 5, 2018 SPORT

MOTOGP FORMULA 1 Ricciardo’s move leaves plenty of Dovizioso beats questions to be answered

Reuters waiting to see what double London world champion and Le Mans Rossi and Marquez 24 Hours winner Fernando Alonso, now 37, decides to he ‘toughest decision’ do next. That big decision of Daniel Ricciardo’s will also aff ect the futures of life, in opting to leave struggling Belgian team mate Red Bull and join Re- Stoff el Vandoorne and up- Tnault next season, could be and-coming British reserve good news for some Formula Lando Norris. Toro Rosso ex- to clinch Brno pole One drivers but leaves others pressed an interest in Norris facing an uncertain future. when a replacement for Hart- ‘It was really hot and so it was hard to ride fast enough to do a lap time below 1min 55(sec). The immediate questions ley was mooted earlier in the to be answered are who will be season but McLaren did not But my bike performed great, at the end I was pushing it very hard and it responded’ the Australian’s replacement play ball. Whether that might alongside Max Verstappen and change if there is no 2019 seat AFP what will happen to Spaniard at Woking available remains to Brno, Czech Republic Ducati Team’s Italian rider Andrea Davizioso Carlos Sainz, whose place he be seen. rides his Ducati during a qualifying session of has taken? the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Czech Republic in The two go together, with KNOCK-ON EFFECT talian Andrea Dovizioso will Brno yesterday. (AFP) 23-year-old Sainz loaned to Renault’s surprise signing start the Czech MotoGP on Renault by Red Bull for 2018 of Ricciardo, which came as pole after pipping Valentino after the French manufac- almost everyone in Formula Rossi and runaway champi- turer needed a replacement One assumed his staying at Ionship leader Marc Marquez in for under-performing Briton Red Bull was a done deal, also qualifying yesterday. Jolyon Palmer. Sainz could has a knock-on eff ect on the Yamaha star Rossi had clocked slot in at Red Bull but the pre- plans of Mercedes, Force India the fastest time in the free prac- vious pairing of him and Ver- and Williams. Force India are tice sessions but was knocked stappen at Toro Rosso was far in administration with their off top spot by just two tenths of from smooth and the Dutch future uncertain. a second. 20-year-old is now the senior It had been widely assumed For Ducati rider Dovizioso this team’s clear focus. that the team’s Mercedes- was his fi rst pole of the season French rookie and 2016 GP2 backed French driver Esteban and sixth of his career. champion Pierre Gasly has Ocon was bound for Renault. “Anything can happen in the meanwhile impressed at Toro The speculation was that race but I’m happy,” was the pole Rosso and, with previous ex- Canadian Lance Stroll was sitter’s reaction. perience racing for Red Bull’s in turn poised to switch from His team tweeted: “What can new for 2019 engine partners Williams, bringing also some you see on his face? Yes, fi rst Honda, could be in line for a sort of investment from his pole position of the season for @ promotion. billionaire father. The vacancy AndreaDovizioso. What a lap!” Until Red Bull decide, at Williams could then have “It was really hot and so it was Sainz’s hands are tied and any gone to another Mercedes pro- hard to ride fast enough to do other move - and McLaren tege and Formula Two leader a lap time below 1min 55(sec). have expressed interest - must George Russell, whose route But my bike performed great, remain on hold. Gasly’s pro- now looks less certain - unless at the end I was pushing it very motion would leave Red Bull Force India’s Mexican driver hard and it responded,” added with a headache at Toro Ros- Sergio Perez also moves. Dovizioso. He is placed fourth in so, with no as-yet qualifi ed There could also be open- a MotoGP standings dominated youngster seemingly in a po- ings at U.S.-owned Haas, with by Marquez who is closing in on sition to step in from the ranks Frenchman Romain Grosjean his fi fth title in the top division. of Red Bull junior drivers and having an erratic and costly Brno marks his 100th MotoGP Sainz unlikely to return there. season, and at Sauber where start. That could mean Gasly’s Monegasque rookie Charles The 25-year-old Spaniard, 2018 teammate, New Zea- Leclerc is tipped to replace who has taken fi ve of the sea- lander Brendon Hartley, gets Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari. son’s nine races so far, has a a reprieve just as the exit door The Finn could then become 46-point advantage over Rossi had appeared to be opening. another player in the game of with Maverick Vinales 56 points McLaren are meanwhile musical chairs. adrift. Dovizioso took the Czech qualifying honours with a lap of 1min 54.689sec with Rossi 0.267 off the pace and only 0.005 quicker than Marquez. Waiting to pounce on this trio is Jorge Lorenzo who heads the second row. Alongside Dovizio- STARTING GRID so’s Ducati teammate are Cal Crutchlow and Danilo Petrucci. 1st row: 1. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 1:54.689 While Rossi had to settle for 2. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) at 0.267sec second best, his half-brother 3. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 0.272 Luca Marini went one better 2nd row: 4. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Ducati) 0.349, 5. Cal Crutchlow when grabbing pole on his Kalex (GBR/Honda) 0.366, 6. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati Pramac) 0.514 for the Moto2 race. 3rd row: 7. Johann Zarco (FRA/Yamaha Tech3) 0.532, 8. Andrea Ian- In Moto3 that honour goes to none (ITA/Suzuki) 0.581, 9. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 0.742. home favourite Jakub Kornfeil, his fi rst ever pole at his 154th at- Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo before qualifying at Hockenheimring, tempt since 2009. Hockenheim, Germany, on July 21, 2018. (Reuters)

BADMINTON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Sindhu overcomes Yamaguchi to enter fi nal IANS good starts in both the games. on body-smashes on the Indian. Nanjing, China Sindhu benefi ted a lot from sev- Afterwards, Sindhu forced an eral unforced errors on the part of error before a drop shot hit the Yamaguchi. net and fell on the other side of ndian women’s singles star P In the fi rst game, Yamaguchi the net as Yamaguchi dived un- V Sindhu overcame Japanese raced away to a 5-0 lead when successfully to reach it, giving second seed Akane Yamaguchi Sindhu showed the urgency to the Sindhu a 24-22 win. With in straight games here yes- win three consecutive points. this win, Sindhu has taken a 7-4 Iterday to march into the second Sindhu pulled level on the eight- lead in head-to-head record. consecutive fi nal of the Badminton point mark riding on a fi ve points Meanwhile, the men’s singles World Championships. on the trot which also gave her fi nal will be fought between Chi- Third seed Sindhu, a three- the 9-8 lead even though the nese third seed Shi Yuqi and Jap- time World Championships Japanese went into the mid-game anese sixth seed Kento Momota. medallist, prevailed 21-16, 24-22 interval with a one-point lead. Yuqi moved past compatriot in 55 minutes over Yamaguchi After the break, Yamaguchi and two-time world champion in a semi-fi nal to set up the title looked rusty and hurried as she Chen Long 21-11, 21-17 in 44 clash against Spanish seventh lacked concentration, hitting de- minutes, while rising star Mo- seed and two-time former world cent opportunistic shots wide and mota ended the dream run of champion Carolina Marin. long. It helped Sindhu to race to an Malaysian Daren Liew with a 21- Carolina, the 2016 Olympic 18-12 lead before she won it 21-16. 16, 21-5 victory in 38 minutes. champion, overcame China’s In the second game, Yamaguchi “He was very fast and I did not sixth seed He Bingjiao with a 13- slightly changed her approach adapt myself well to his pace,” he 21, 21-16, 21-13 victory in an hour as she didn’t give much fl ight on said, vowing not to repeat that in and nine minutes in the other the shuttle to Sindhu. Yamaguchi the fi nal. semi-fi nal. The fi nal pits Sindhu played very quick and fast bad- “Shi is a world-class player against Carolina, who defeated minton to trouble the Indian’s mo- and all-rounder so it will be a the Hyderabadi in the Rio Games mentum. A very bright start gave very tough game.” 2016. Even though they have won Yamaguchi an 8-4 lead but Sindhu In the mixed doubles fi nal, six matches each against each came closest to equalise at 7-8. Chinese top seeds Zheng and other, Sindhu has won three out However, Yamaguchi con- Huang Yaqiong will meet com- of four games she faced Carolina tinued her impressive start by patriot second seeds Wang Yilyu since the fi nal loss in Rio. sticking to her sharp shuttle play. and Huang Dongping. For Sindhu, it will be yet an- She was very quick on her move- The women’s doubles fi nal other great opportunity to be- ments and the strokes fl ew right- will be an all-Japanese aff air be- come the fi rst Indian to win a ly with her confi dence. She made tween second seeds Yuki Fuku- world title as she continues to Sinfhu play back and forth and shima and Sayaka Hirota and drive the country’s badminton the Indian made some defensive PV Sindhu of India hits a shot against Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in their semi-final at the Badminton World Championships in Nanjing, China, 11th seeds Mayu Matsumoto and to newer heights. Against 2017 errors, especially on her left side. yesterday. (AFP) Wakana Nagahara. Asian Championships silver It seemed the match was going In the men’s doubles fi nal, medallist Yamaguchi, Sindhu, to the third and fi nal game when However, despite the wide gap, whom every point counts. She Yamaguchi tried to play cun- hu then exchanged a point each Japanese fi fth seeds Takeshi Ka- 23, was calm and composed even Yamaguchi led 19-12, only two a determined Sindhu refused to reeled off eight points on the trot ning net game but it didn’t work with some extraordinary rallies mura and Keigo Sonoda will take though the 21-year-old Japanese points away from the winning surrender, digging deep into the to stun her younger rival who for her as Sindhu retrieved from till the 22-point mark, with the on Chinese fourth seeds Li Jun- put her in diffi cult situations with the second game. approach of a professional for looked complacent. all angles. Yamaguchi and Sind- Japanese earning couple of point hui and Liu Yuchen. Gulf Times Sunday, August 5, 2018 5 SPORT

MLB SPOTLIGHT Trump aims tweet at LeBron, questions Porcello goes the his intelligence

Reuters children. New York During the sit-down, James spoke of sports as something that unites people, and added o the sporting world and that the president was “using distance, Red Sox largely beyond, he’s King sports to kinda divide us.” James, but to President Trump has repeatedly and Trump, LeBron James’ is strongly criticised the NFL in Tno intellectual genius. particular for not punishing In a tweet, Trump took aim at players who kneel during the na- two of his regular critics, James tional anthem in a form of pro- and cable TV news personal- test. ity Don Lemon. His tweet called “Sports has never been some- beat Yankees again Lemon the “the dumbest man on thing that divides people,” James television,” and then said Lemon said during the interview. “It’s ‘I think the story is Rick Porcello. He was outstanding today’ “made LeBron look smart, which always been something that isn’t easy to do.” brings someone together.” Reuters Trump fi nished the tweet with James has previously criti- Boston “I like Mike!” an apparent ref- cised Trump on several occa- erence to favouring NBA legend sions, publicly supporting Dem- Michael Jordan in a comparison ocratic candidate Hillary Clinton ick Porcello retired the last 21 with James as perhaps the best before the 2016 election and batters he faced en route to a NBA player ever. calling Trump a “bum” in Sep- one-hitter, and Steve Pearce hit James – who last month an- tember 2017, after the president a two-run homer in an explosive nounced his decision to leave the rescinded an invitation to the three-runR fi rst inning Friday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers for a second Golden State Warriors to visit host Boston Red Sox beat the New York time, this time to come to Los the White House after winning Yankees 4-1 in a game that featured Alex Angeles and play for the Lakers the NBA title. Cora’s fi rst ejection as Red Sox manager. – gave an interview with Lemon “Going to the White House Porcello (14-4) hit Brett Gardner with on Monday, in large part to tout was a great honour until you his third pitch of the game and served up a new elementary school in his showed up!” James tweeted at a home run to Miguel Andujar leading off hometown of Akron, Ohio. the time. the third inning. The school, which is a joint Trump’s fi rst comments about But he did not give up another base- eff ort of the LeBron James Fam- the NFL and players who protest runner the rest of the way in his 10th ily Foundation and Akron Pub- during the anthem came later career complete game and fi rst of the lic Schools, will benefi t at-risk that month. season. The right-hander struck out nine and did not walk a batter. He faced just one LEBRON JAMES batter over the minimum, with Gardner having been erased on a double play in the fi rst inning. Pearce, who homered three times in Thursday’s series-opening, 15-7 win, connected off Luis Severino (14-5) with one out in the bottom of the fi rst af- ter Andrew Benintendi had smacked a ground-rule double. The homer was Pearce’s ninth of the season. “I think the story is Rick Porcello,” said Red Sox manager Cora. “He was outstanding today. Forget me getting thrown out, or them throwing at Mookie. I think the story has to be Rick.” The Red Sox weren’t done scoring in the fi rst. Ian Kinsler drew a two-out walk, stole second and came around on a Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Rick Porcello pitches during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. single by Eduardo Nunez for a 3-0 lead. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Much had already taken place before Pearce’s homer, however. seven games, and gave the Red Sox a 6-5 to the opposite fi eld. hit bid after 5 1/3 innings. Iglesias got no After Porcello hit Gardner in the top of lead over the Yankees in the season se- RESULTS farther than second base. the fi rst, Severino responded by brushing ries. The Red Sox increased their lead in The Tigers’ best chance to score came back Mookie Betts leading off the bottom the American League East to 7 1/2 games Red Sox 4-1 Yankees in the seventh, when Nick Castellanos of the fi rst. That prompted plate umpire over the Yankees, who lost their third A’s 1-0 Tigers singled and Niko Goodrum walked with Reds’ prospect Greene out for season Adam Hamari to warn both teams. straight. Brewers 5-3 Rockies no outs. Castellanos reached third when The season came to an abrupt ening, a combination that has Cora argued the need for a warning John Hicks grounded into a double play, end for the Cincinnati Reds’ high- proven successful for Cincinnati and was ejected. The Red Sox started the A’S WALK OFF OVER TIGERS IN 13TH Astros 2-3 Dodgers and Anderson escaped the threat when ly touted right-hander, Hunter pitchers Michael Lorenzen and second with a new second baseman after ON LAUREANO’S FIRST MLB HIT Angeles 7-4 Indians he got Victor Martinez to ground out. Greene, who has a ligament Anthony DeSclafani in the last Kinsler strained his left hamstring on his Ramon Laureano’s fi rst major league hit, Cubs 5-4 Paders Anderson was pulled after seven in- sprain in his pitching elbow. few seasons. fi rst-inning steal. Betts moved in from a 13th-inning single that one-hopped the nings, having allowed two hits and one Greene, the No. 2 pick overall in “Right now, it’s rehab,” Cincinnati Braves 2-1 Mets the outfi eld to play second for the fi rst fence in right fi eld, drove in Nick Mar- walk. He struck out two. the 2017 draft and the 18th- general manager Nick Krall said. time in his career. tini with the only run of the game Friday Pirates 7-6 Cardinals Hardy, who had walked Matt Olson in best prospect overall in MLB “It’s not surgical at this point. After Andujar got the Yankees on the night as the Oakland Athletics outlasted White Sox 3-2 Rays the second and fi fth innings, fi nally al- Pipeline’s recent rankings, threw We’re going to evaluate it as we board with his 14th homer of the year the Detroit Tigers 1-0 in Oakland, Cali- lowed a hit when Jed Lowrie beat out a Diamondbacks 6-3 Giants 19 pitches of at least 100 mph in move through the off season, in the third, the Red Sox regained their fornia, in one of the season’s best pitch- grounder to shortstop leading off the the Futures Game of up-and- and go from there.” three-run cushion on Mitch Moreland’s ing duels. Philles 5-3 Marlins seventh. But like Olson both times he got coming prospects held two days After making 18 starts for the RBI single in the fi fth to score J.D. Mar- Well after left-handers Brett Anderson aboard, the A’s couldn’t get Lowrie far- before Major League Baseball’s Reds at Single-A Dayton this tinez, who had doubled. of the A’s and Blaine Hardy of the Tigers The 24-year-old Laureano had been ther than fi rst base. All-Star Game. The sprain is to season, Greene will be sent to Severino was pulled two outs into the had taken no-hitters past the midpoint promoted from Triple-A earlier in the day. Hardy was done after seven innings, Greene’s ulnar collateral liga- the team’s spring training facility sixth inning and charged with four runs of the contest and left a scoreless tie, He’d gone 0-for-4 with two strikeouts having given up just the one hit. He ment, notorious as a precursor in Goodyear, Ariz., to strengthen on seven hits. He walked three and struck Martini led off the 13th with a walk off the before the game-winner. Emilio Pagan walked two and struck out six. The fi rst to Tommy John surgery, depend- the arm. Greene, who turns 19 on out two. fi fth Tigerspitcher, right-hander Buck (3-0), who worked a one-hit top half of Oakland batter to reach second was ing on the extent of damage Monday, was 3-7 with a 4.61 for Moreland, with a pair of singles, was Farmer (3-4). the inning, was credited with the win. Stephen Piscotty, who doubled leading to the ligament. The Reds are Dayton. In 68 1/3 innings, he al- the only player in the game with multi- Two outs later, Jonathan Lucroy sin- Neither team had a hit until the Tigers’ off the eighth against Louis Coleman. hoping to avoid the surgery lowed 66 hits, while striking out ple hits. The Red Sox out-hit the Yankees gled Martini to second, from where he Jose Iglesias doubled to left fi eld with one But the right-hander got the next three through rest and then strength- 89 batters and walking 23. 7-1. The win was Boston’s sixth in its last coasted home on Laureano’s walk-off hit out in the sixth, ending Anderson’s no- A’s in order, retaining the scoreless tie.

NBA Markkanen lauds Parker’s addition to Bulls By K.C. Johnson signed Jabari Parker and drafted over his fi nal seven games while of everybody.” Chicago Tribune Wendell Carter Jr. and Chan- shooting 50 percent overall and The Bulls plan to start Parker JABARI PARKER dler Hutchison. Carter, in par- from 3-point range. at small forward even though ticular, displayed a skill level in He attempted double-digit his natural – and more eff ec- he bulked-up biceps are the Las Vegas Summer League shots in all seven. Now comes the tive – position is power forward. noticeable. The stoic, that projects to complement challenge for coach Fred Hoiberg The Bulls are set there with unfl appable demean- Markkanen nicely. and the on-court personnel to Markkanen and Portis. our remains as sturdy as “I feel like we got better,” integrate Parker and Carter into But Hoiberg envisions ver- Tever. Some things have changed Markkanen said. the mix. While Carter doesn’t satile, smaller lineups with about Lauri Markkanen, while “Wendell, I thought he was necessarily need touches to be Markkanen or Portis playing others have not. And that’s a supposed to be a top-fi ve pick. eff ective, Parker does. center at times. That’s why Por- good thing for the Bulls and for I’m glad he fell to us (at No. 7). “We’re not worried about it tis is high on the Parker addition the player executive vice presi- He’s a big guy who can do a lot of at all. We’re just trying to win,” as well. dent John Paxson has labelled a diff erent stuff well, so he should Markkanen said. “Jabari gives us another ver- franchise cornerstone. only help my game and us. I’m “I know when we play the satile player to put in our front- Markkanen’s public person- looking forward to playing with right way, everybody is going court. We can have mismatches ality is to downplay and then him. to get their shots. If someone is all over the fl oor,” Portis said. try to dominate where it mat- “It’s great to have Jabari here having a bad game, we have a lot “We’re turning in the right ters – on the court. That’s why obviously. He’s a talented player. of diff erent guys we can go to.” direction. Obviously, last year he shrugged off a question about He has had some injuries, but it Bobby Portis, who, like was tough. We don’t want to talk his added bulk with his typical hasn’t taken anything away from Markkanen, has been working about that. Hopefully, we can aw-shucks smile. him. It’s nice to have him home.” out consistently at the Advo- make some big moves this year.” “Everybody has been say- Markkanen grew tired of cate Center, acknowledged the Portis is eligible until the sea- ing I’m bigger, but I don’t know questions about the inability of chemistry will take time. Portis son opener to sign an extension about all that. I just know I feel him, LaVine and Kris Dunn to proved last season he can be a of his rookie contract. good,” Markkanen told the Trib- form consistent chemistry to- reliable reserve scorer. “We’ve been talking about une this week. gether last season. But he, too, is a shoot-fi rst, it,” he said. “We’re going to talk “I’ve put on about 14 pounds. He repeatedly pointed to their ask-questions-later player. more in the next week or so. In general, I feel stronger. Hope- disjointed minutes and then “You just have to move the Hopefully, we get things done. fully, I can keep this weight up management shutting down La- basketball and take the right I’m not stressing about it. I still and play with it because I feel it Vine and Dunn with minor sore- shots, the open shots,” Portis work as hard as I can every day. will help my game.” ness to prioritize draft-lottery said this week. I let my agent handle all that. I What Markkanen also be- position. “It will be a little diff erent this handle everything on the court. lieves will help his game is the Still, Markkanen thrived as the year with everybody wanting to Just try to get better each day.” added talent around him. Be- focal point of the off ense down take more shots. But each guy That’s what Markkanen, yond retaining Zach LaVine in the stretch. The rookie averaged has something to prove, and I Parker and the rest of the Bulls restricted free agency, the Bulls 18.9 points and 6.3 rebounds think that will bring the best out are doing too. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, August 5, 2018 SPORT

GOLF TENNIS Perfect six as Klizan wins Kitzbuehel title Fleetwood, Thomas The 29-year-old converted Reuters Kitzbuehel, Austria all four of his break points as he added a fourth career clay- court title to his collection. lovakia’s Martin Klizan “Sometimes in the fi nals I beat fellow qualifi er was lucky, sometimes it was Denis Istomin of Uz- hard work and sometimes I bekistan 6-2 6-2 yes- was better on court. You never and Poulter set terdayS to win the Kitzbuehel know what is going to hap- Open. pen,” Klizan said of his exem- Claycourt specialist Klizan plary record in fi nals. was in dominant form as he “I am just happy to have took his record in ATP Tour that kind of statistic, win- fi nals to 6-0. ning six titles from six fi nals. Yesterday’s showdown was In doubles, I have four titles only the second all-qualifi er from four fi nals... It is very second-round pace fi nal since 1990 and Klizan good and I am very proud.” needed only 68 minutes to Klizan’s route to the title Fleetwood matches career-low round on PGA Tour, Woods five shots behind fi nish it off . included taking out top seed “I think my performance and home favourite Dominic Reuters today was the best of the tour- Thiem in the second round. Akron nament,” the 112th-ranked His ranking slumped last Klizan said. “I did a great job year after a calf injury but he today and I deserved to win. I will rocket back into the top ommy Fleetwood and played a very solid game.” 100 next week. Justin Thomas plun- dered Firestone Country Club to join Ian Poulter Tin the second-round lead at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio on Friday as Tiger Woods lurked fi ve shots behind. Englishman Fleetwood carded seven birdies to match his low- est career round on the PGA Tour, a seven-under-par 63, while American Thomas drove the ball superbly for a 64 that included seven birdies in a 10-hole stretch. First round leader Poulter managed a solid 67 to match Fleetwood and Thomas at 11-under 129, two strokes ahead of Australian Jason Day and Martin Klizan of Slovakia poses with the trophy after winning the American Kyle Stanley. North- ATP Generali Open in Kitzbuehel yesterday. (AFP) ern Irishman Rory McIlroy bat- tled inconsistent wedge play, his frustration eased by a holed SPOTLIGHT bunker shot at the 17th, which helped him join South Korean Kim Si-woo three back. Woods, an eight-times win- World No. 1 Nadal ner at Firestone, electrifi ed the gallery with three early birdies but in the end managed only a leads Toronto fi eld middling 68 on a course that was there for the taking, with soft AFP and will return on August 13 greens allowing players to fi re Toronto in Cincinnati, where Murray is aggressively at the pins. also expected. Fleetwood, who contended at Federer, limiting his sched- both the US and British Opens op-ranked Rafael ule to extend his longevity, this summer, has emerged as Tommy Fleetwood of England plays his shot from the eighth tee during the second round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Nadal will be work- turns 37 on Wednesday. a player of the highest calibre, Invitational at Firestone at Firestone Country Club South Course in Akron, Ohio. (Getty Images/AFP) ing to increase grip Nadal will be making his even without a breakthrough atop the rankings at fi rst appearance on court since win in the United States. Tthe ATP Toronto Masters, an a fi ve-set Wimbledon semi- LEADING SECOND-ROUND SCORES India’s Bhullar leads in Fiji as Els charges “It’s great we keep getting in event which lost an exhausted fi nal loss to Novak Djokovic. position,” he told Golf Channel. 129-Ian Poulter (ENG) 62-67, 66-68, Webb Simpson 69-65 Gaganjeet Bhullar held a one with four birdies in round three. Andy Murray prior to Mon- With most of the rankings “We’re obviously doing a lot Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 66-63, 135-Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 68-67, shot lead after the third round “I had a great start to the day,” day’s start. top 10 in Canada, Nadal’s path of things right. Winning is hard. Justin Thomas 65-64 Patton Kizzire 68-67, Ross of the Fiji International yes- the 30-year-old Indian said. Britain’s Murray, winner of to a potential fourth title in Hopefully eventually it will hap- 131-Kyle Stanley 63-68, Jason Fisher (ENG) 67-68, Phil Mickel- terday as Ernie Els began his “Despite the windy conditions, three matches in four days this the country after 2005, 2008 pen but it’s great to put myself Day (AUS) 65-66 son 66-69, Anirban Lahiri (IND) charge at the Natadola Bay Golf I kept the ball in play and actu- week in Washington, with- and 2013 will be a predictable back in position again.” 132-Kim Si-woo (KOR) 64-68, 65-70, Rafa Cabrera Bello 68-67 Club. ally I holed a lot of really tricky drew from Washington and challenge. World number three Thomas Rory McIlroy (NIR) 65-67 136-Patrick Reed 66-70, Brooks Ben Campbell, who started the putts today.” Canada on Friday after fi nish- The Spaniard resumed was pleased his score refl ected 133-Li Haotong (CHN) 66-67, Koepka 66-70, Ted Potter 70-66, day with a four-shot lead, held McLeod shot a third-round 70, ing his latest victory after 3am, training recently on his home the quality of his game as he Luke List 65-68 Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 66- on to top spot for most of the with Felton and Pilkadaris each breaking down in tears after island of Mallorca after spend- warms up to defend his PGA 134-Jon Rahm (ESP) 64-70, 70, Patrick Cantlay 64-72 day before a late stumble with registering 71, while two time the match. ing off -time sailing. Championship title next week. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 68-66, 137-Rickie Fowler 63-74, Kevin a bogey and double bogey European Tour winner Dodt But the cumulative eff ort Nadal opens play on Wednes- “I know I’ve been close for a Tony Finau 68-66, Marc Leish- Na 65-72, Andrew Landry 70-67, saw him slip two shots off the was left frustrated after a level was too much for the 31-year- day against either American while,” he said. “I just haven’t man (AUS) 65-69, Tiger Woods Russell Knox (SCO) 67-70. pace. par 72. old Scotsman, who underwent Jared Donaldson or Frenchman really had the results or the score Bhullar, seeking his first Euro- Campbell dropped three shots right hip surgery in January. Benoit Paire, fi ned $16,500 this to (refl ect) it. I’m just trying to pean Tour title after 106 starts, in his last three holes en route “I’m exhausted after play- week for a racquet-smashing stay patient, continue to work Players Championship winner cluding one on the 18th hole, to signed for a 69 to get to eight to a 77 while Els’ two-birdie fin- ing so much over the past four outburst in Washington. The on the things that we’re working Webb Simpson holed a wedge reach 26 points in the modifi ed under 208 and lead ish gave him a 69. days, having not competed on 17-time Grand Slam champion on and glad that’s it’s showed the from 111 yards for eagle at the Stableford scoring event. Australians Andrew Dodt, The South African drawcard the hard courts for 18 months,” isn’t looking ahead at other last two days.” par-fi ve 16th and joined Woods “That’s a good day,” Badde- Jarryd Felton, Jake McLeod and turned at level par before lifting Murray said. “I also need to potential foes such as Swiss Poulter was also a happy man. on six-under in the World Golf ley told reporters of his round. Terry Pilkadaris by one with his game with gains on the 11th, be careful and to listen to my three-time Grand Slam winner “I think it was pretty good,” Championships event. Out- “Played solid. Didn’t get in any Campbell a stroke further back. 17th and 18th. body as I come back from a Stan Wawrinka or Australian said the Englishman. “It’s al- of-form defending champion trouble. Putted nicely. Did eve- Four-time major winner Ernie “It’s been a while so it’s very long-term injury.” Nick Kyrgios. ways tough to follow a near per- Hideki Matsuyama battled to a rything nicely. Defi nitely ex- Els closed at seventh with two nice,” Els said. The former number one, “I cannot think about fect round of golf. Today I didn’t 72 and fell 10 shots off the pace. citing to be in that spot. And birdies going into the final “We’re having a good week, now ranked 832, was playing Wawrinka, Kyrgios, Joao (Sou- drive it quite as well, didn’t putt Meanwhile Aaron Baddeley hopefully we can stay there the day, only three strokes behind myself, my daughter, my wife the third event in his slow- sa) before playing Benoit or a quite as good as I wanted to. leaped in front of fi rst round rest of the weekend.” The for- Bhullar. – we’re enjoying Fiji. The locals running comeback after fi rst qualifi er,” Nadal said. “Playing golf the way I’ve been leader Ollie Schniederjans to mat awards eight points for an Bhullar, who has had three top have been wonderful, every- returning in June on grass in “I know the fi rst round is playing is enjoyable. Two years take the edge after the second albatross, fi ve for eagle, two for tens in his last four appearanc- one’s been great, so it’s nice to Britain before withdrawing going to be a tough battle. But ago golf wasn’t fun. “I’d like to round of the Barracuda Champi- birdie, zero for par, and subtracts es, showed excellent scram- play a tournament and actually from Wimbledon. the full draw doesn’t distract get back in the winners’ circle onship in Reno on Friday. a point for bogey and three for bling with just one bogey to go have a sniff at it tomorrow.” World number two Roger me from being focused on that and if it comes this year great.” Baddeley made six birdies, in- double-bogey or worse. Federer is skipping Canada fi rst round.”

FOCUS Zverev reaches semi-fi nals, Murray withdraws Reuters was delayed for more than two Washington hours by rain with Zverev leading Sakkari ousts Venus to reach San Jose semis 3-2 with a break in the third set. When play resumed, Zverev Greece’s Maria Sakkari delivered one of her sister Serena, who suff ered the most anything can happen,” Mertens said. “I op seed and defending took a second break thanks to a the biggest upsets of her career at the lopsided loss of her career, 6-1, 6-0 to believed in myself because it was just one champion Alexander series of errors by Nishikori and WTA San Jose tournament on Friday, Johanna Konta in round one. break and I was really happy that I took Zverev overcame Kei closed out the match. ousting former seven-time Grand Slam Between the two of them, the Williams the first set.” Nishikori to win their Nishikori had earlier control- champion Venus Williams in a straight sisters committed 68 unforced errors Mertens reached the semi-finals of the Train-delayed Citi Open quarter- led play as Zverev stayed largely sets shocker. The 23-year-old Sakkari in their elimination games. American Australian Open in January, but she and fi nal in three sets on Friday, after behind the baseline but that saved two set points in the second set en Collins moved into the semi-finals after Romania’s Buzarnescu will both be bat- Andy Murray withdrew from the changed in the second set, when route to a 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) victory over the her opponent, former World No.1 Victoria tling to reach a first premier level final. tournament citing fatigue. the German became far more ag- former world number one, punching her Azarenka, retired midway through the Buzarnescu, who beat Australia’s Ajla Zverev bounced back after gressive, especially on return. ticket to the semi-finals where she will face second set due to a back injury. Tomljanovic 6-1, 7-5, fell to Mertens in the dropping the opening set to The teenaged Tsitsipas took another unseeded player, Danielle Collins. Sakkari’s mother Angeliki Kanellopoulou final in Hobart in January. overhaul the seventh-seeded advantage of an uncharacteristic World No.49 Sakkari needed one hour and was also a top 50 ranked WTA player back Japanese 3-6 6-1 6-4, eliminat- slew of unforced errors by Goffi n 43 minutes to dispatch Williams as she has in the late 1980s. SERENA WITHDRAWS FROM ing him from the tournament for to topple the world number 11. rolled through her first three matches at Fourth-seeded Elise Mertens ended the MONTREAL AFTER LOPSIDED LOSS the second consecutive year. He saved all three break points this event without dropping a set. Sakkari giant-killing run of Konta to set up the Former world number one Serena Wil- German Zverev will meet Ste- he faced and fi red seven aces to converted six of her eight break points other semi-final clash with fifth-seeded liams has withdrawn from next week’s fanos Tsitsipas in the semi-fi nals Goffi n’s four in the upset. He in the match, and hammered 21 winners, Mihaela Buzarnescu. Belgium’s Mertens WTA tournament in Montreal citing “per- on Saturday after the up-and- also won 86 per cent of his fi rst three more than the 38-year-old Williams. emerged from a tight match with a 7-6 sonal reasons,” organizers said yesterday. coming Greek upset third seed serve points. “I was ready for the match, compared (7/4), 6-3 victory over Konta. “Of course, we are disappointed that David Goffi n 6-3 6-4. Murray’s De Minaur moved into his to the last times I played against her. I Mertens broke Konta at love when she Serena will not be joining us,” tourna- withdrawal, announced earlier third ATP semi-fi nal, after was ready for a battle and ready to play served for the opening set, and saved two ment director Eugene Lapierre said in a on Friday, gave Australia’s Alex reaching his fi rst two in Janu- against Venus Williams,” said Sakkari. set points before forcing the tiebreaker. statement, noting that despite the 23-time de Minaur a free pass to the ary at Brisbane and Sydney. The Williams, who has won this event twice After dropping her serve in the opening Grand Slam winner’s absence, all of the semi-fi nals where he will meet 19-year-old is projected to soar Alexander Zverev of Germany returns a in 2000 and 2002, made a whopping 43 game of the second, Mertens won four top 10 players in the world are in the draw the winner of Andrey Rublev and past his previous career-best backhand shot to Kei Nishikori of Japan unforced errors. Venus’ defeat follows games in a row and wouldn’t trail again. for one of the key tuneups for the US American Denis Kudler. world ranking of 68 and could during Day Seven of the Citi Open in Wash- the shocking upset three days ago of “I just played point-by-point, because Open. The Zverev-Nishikori result make the top 50. ington, DC. (AFP) Gulf Times Sunday, August 5, 2018 7 HORSE RACING

FOCUS Sheikh Joaan always seeks to develop Qatar Goodwood Festival, says Duke of Richmond

By Our Correspondent meet whether in the UK or in Qatar, Qatari team has always been asking year while it has been held for 200 London I always feel his keen interest to bring what they can do and off er to further years, so thanks to Qatar’s sponsor- about more development. enhance the Festival and this attitude ship, it has become a Group One for “Honestly speaking, the Qatari does foster the standing and value of the fi rst time in its long history. In the uke of Richmond hailed the team is very co-operative and work the event. near future, we will seek to upgrade eff orts of Qatar Olympic very closely with us and this has been the seven-furlong Lennox to Group Committee President HE key in making the Qatar Goodwood Both sides are considering One. In fact, the Qatari side has wide Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al- Festival what it is now. We will con- holding a Goodwood Cup knowledge and excellent under- ThaniD for the ongoing development tinue such collaboration in our per- standing of racing.” race at the QREC Al Rayyan of the annual Qatar Goodwood Festi- manent pursuit of ever-improving racecourse in future. It will Describing horse racing events in val in the United Kingdom. outcomes.” ‘ Qatar having attended many of them be fantastic to organise this Duke of Richmond stated that the When asked about his views on race in Qatar over the last few years, the Duke of presence of HE Sheikh Joaan during this year’s edition, he said, “I think — Duke of Richmond Richmond said: “Races in Qatar are the fi rst two days of this year’s edi- everyone has seen the extent of very enjoyable. I have noticed the in- tion of the Festival has been a valu- progress the Festival has reached creasing numbers of families present able support to the event. and the top-level racing it has. The “Thanks to Qatar’s sponsorship, at the QREC racecourse. “I was pleased to meet HE Sheikh turnout speaks for itself indeed. The we have been able to improve the fa- “At present, we are working with Joaan at this year’s edition. He spoke weather has been fantastic this year. cilities at Goodwood racecourse as our Qatari partners to maximise co- to me about the importance of the The high quality of runners is very part of our eff orts and commitment operation between us to enhance ongoing development of the Festi- remarkable this year thanks to Qa- to continuous improvement. In fact, racing at QREC although our sup- val and reaching the optimum level tar’s sponsorship, which has led to the Qatari side has been very clever port will be less than the support as a Qatar-sponsored event,” Duke raising the prize money, which in in their interest in raising the prize we received at the Qatar Goodwood Richmond said on the sidelines of turn attracts top-class horses.” money of the races, which in turn has Festival. Both sides are considering the Qatar Goodwood Festival, which Speaking of the positive impact of been refl ected in attracting some of holding a Goodwood Cup race at the concluded yesterday. Qatar’s sponsorship on the Festival, the very-best runners and increasing QREC Al Rayyan racecourse in fu- “His presence has given a consid- he said, “Qatar always seeks inno- numbers of racegoers. ture. It will be fantastic to organise erable momentum to the Festival and vation. For four years, since the be- “The Goodwood Cup, for exam- this race in Qatar as all elements of added to its success. Whenever we ginning of Qatar’s sponsorship, the ple, was promoted to Group One last success are available there.” Duke of Richmond on the fifth and final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday.

QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL Johnston and Moore take Cross Counter records trainer and jockey honours

By Our Correspondent fi rst Group success London

he result of the Qatar Scottish trainer Jim Goldie records a double on the concluding day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival Handicap, race six on Tthe final day of the By Our Correspondent 2018 Qatar Goodwood Festi- London val, proved to be decisive in the Leading Trainer Award battle. The winner, Lake harlie Appleby-trained Volta, gave trainer Mark Cross Counter won the Johnston his fourth winner one-mile-and-four- of the week, equalling Wil- furlong Qatar Gordon liam Haggas’ total. StakesC (Gr3) in impressive fash- However, Johnston also had ion and a track record time of five horses finish second over 2min 31.39secs on the fi fth and the five days compared to fi nal day of the Qatar Goodwood Haggas’ one and this put the Festival yesterday. Yorkshire-based handler at A fi rst Group race success for the top of the trainers’ list. It the three-year-old colt, Cross is the 12th time that Johnston Counter was the clear four-and- has won the Qatar Goodwood a-half length winner from the Festival trainers’ title and his Investec Derby runner-up Dee third victory in succession. Ex Bee. “We’ve come with a strong Alex Merriam, assistant to Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Racing manager Abdulla al-Kubaisi team so it’s great to come Appleby, said, “It was a very nice (second from left) presents the trophy to the representative of Qatar out on top again. It has been performance, very impressive. Steward’s Sprint Handicap Stakes winner Tommy G. a little frustrating over the He has done everything right, last two days – we’ve had a it is all going the right way and put his head on the line to win in gelding travelled with men- few second places – so it’s he won a handicap at Ascot last a fast 1m 9.56s. ace throughout the 14-furlong great to get this win. It is a time very nicely. He only started It was a fi rst win in the famous handicap and showed a willing big team eff ort,” he said. up and had his fi rst run in De- handicap for Newmarket trainer attitude in the closing stages to Ryan Moore, the Racing UK cember, so he’s improving all the Hugo Palmer, who has trained master Melting Dew, trained by Top Jockey with five winners time. He’s a big raw horse and I this horse since he was bought Sir Michael Stoute, to score by a ahead of runner-up Silvestre think there is some more im- as a yearling. half-length under Robert Win- de Sousa on four, has do- provement to come.” “He has won all his handicap ston. The fi rst two clear of the nated his £1,000 prize to the Apprentice Scott McCullagh outings now,” said Palmer. “He third, Hochfeld. Stevie Fisher Trust. registered his fi rst winner at was our fi rst two-year-old win- Goldie had landed the fi rst race It is Moore’s third Qatar Goodwood following the success ner of the year as a juvenile when of the day, the Qatar Stewards’ Goodwood Festival title in a of Mick Channon’s The Night he won at the Craven meeting in Sprint Handicap, with Tommy G. row and his fifth in total. Porter in the concluding race of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club general manager Nasser bin Sherida al-Kaabi (third from left) with the April, he fi nished his two year- It might have taken Tommy Moore donated his cash the 2018 edition of the Festival, winners of the Qatar EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes, which was won by Duke of Hazzard, on the fifth and old season rated 112 and he has G 12 hours to reach Goodwood prize to the Trust, set up to the Qatar Apprentice Handicap final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim and Zuzanna been rated that at two, three and Racecourse from Scotland, but raise funds for Stevie Fisher, over nine furlongs. four and now at fi ve and now he he made the long trip worth- a friend of the Moore family The three-year-old son of en-furlong Qatar Handicap. The Paul Cole-trained Duke by a half-length. has just won a Stewards’ Cup off while with the win under in- and Sire De Grugy’s former Sixties Icon ran on strongly in The three-year-old son of Ko- Of Hazzard showed a willing at- Gifted Master took his career top-weight.” form Silvestre De Sousa. farrier. Fisher, who suff ered a the closing stages to score by a diac, trained by Mark Johnston, titude to land the seven-furlong earnings to just shy £750,000 Scottish trainer Jim Goldie re- The fi ve-year-old son of Mak- debilitating stroke four years half-length. was a neck second at Goodwood Qatar EBF Stallions Maiden un- with his short-head victory in corded a double in the fi rst two fi was a three-quarter length ago has now been left with Joe Fanning registered his on Wednesday in the Goodwood der David Probert. the Qatar Stewards’ Cup. Al- races on the concluding day of second in the 2017 edition but Locked In Syndrome, which fi rst victory of this year’s Qa- Racehorse Owners and Fanning Owned by Fitri Hay, Duke of ways near the front of the fi eld, the Festival with the victory of made no mistake in 2018, keep- means he can only move his tar Goodwood Festival with the was delighted with the three- Hazzard was challenged by Sky he was headed two furlongs out, Sir Chauvelin in the Qatar Sum- ing on in tremendous fashion head and communicate via nose success of the well-sup- year-old’s performance in yes- Defender, but the two-year-old but jockey Jason Watson kept his mer Handicap. in the closing stages to score by moving his eyes. ported Vale Of Kent in the sev- terday’s event. found plenty in reserves to score cool and produced the horse to The six-year-old Authorized three-quarters of a length.

Adam McNamara rides Al Shaqab Racing’s Kassar (centre) to second place in the Qatar Apprentice Handicap Stakes yesterday. Robert Winston (left) rides Sir Chauvelin to victory in the Qatar Summer Handicap yesterday.

Sunday, August 5, 2018 GULF TIMES CRICKET

ENG VS IND, DAY 4, 1ST TEST Nepal edge Netherlands by one run for fi rst ODI win Nepal defeated the Netherlands by one run off the last ball on Stokes treble sees Friday to record their first ever one-day international victory. Chasing 217 to win, the Dutch were comfortably placed at 114-2 at one stage, before losing their next seven wickets for 71. Final pair Paul van Meekeren (12) and Fred Klaassen (13) steadied England to thrilling the ship to leave the home side needing six off the last over. However, needing one run to tie Captain Kohli’s half-century and two to win off the last ball, Klaassen was run out by Nepal goes in vain after India are skipper Paras Khadka off his own bowling to give the sport’s bowled out for 162 newest one-day international win over India side a thrilling win. The series finished 1-1 after the AFP Netherlands won the first match Birmingham, United Kingdom Scorecard at the same venue by 55 runs on Wednesday. ENGLAND 1st Innings 287 Earlier, Sompal Kami, batting at en Stokes took three wickets INDIA 1st Innings 274 eight, top-scored for Nepal with yesterday, including the prize 61 off 46 balls with five bounda- scalp of India captain Virat ENGLAND 2nd Innings 180 ries and three sixes. Kohli, as England won the fi rst INDIA 2nd Innings (overnight: 110-5) Khadka added 51 with six fours BTest by 31 runs in a thrilling fi nish at M. Vijay lbw b Broad 6 and two sixes as Nepal recov- Edgbaston. ered from 88-5 to reach 216 all S. Dhawan c Bairstow b Broad 13 The all-rounder, who could miss out in the 49th over. next week’s second Test of a fi ve- KL Rahul c Bairstow b Stokes 13 For the Dutch, Wesley Barresi match series at Lord’s because of a V. Kohli lbw b Stokes 51 top-scored with 71, an innings court trial on a charge of aff ray starting which featured eight bounda- A. Rahane c Bairstow b Curran 2 tomorrow, took two wickets in an over ries. including that of Kohli. R. Ashwin c Bairstow b Anderson 13 Teenage leg-spinner Sandeep Stokes ended the match, England’s D. Karthik c Malan b Anderson 20 Lamichanne was the pick of the 1,000th Test, when he had Hardik Pan- H. Pandya c Cook b Stokes 31 Nepal bowlers with 3-41. dya (31) caught at fi rst slip by Alastair Cook, with India bowled out for 162, M. Shami c Bairstow b Stokes 0 India’s Sharma having been set 194 to win. I. Sharma lbw b Rashid 11 fi ned for Malan Stokes fi nished with innings fi gures U. Yadav not out 0 of four for 40 in 14.2 overs. send-off However, fellow England all-round- Extras (b1, lb2) 2 er Sam Curran was named Man of the Total (all out, 54.2 overs) 162 India’s Ishant Sharma has been Match after starring with both bat and Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Vijay), 2-22 fined 15 percent of his match fee ball. (Dhawan), 3-46 (Rahul), 4-63 (Ra- and received one demerit point That England had a target of 194 hane), 5-78 (Ashwin), 6-112 (Karthik), under the International Cricket to defend was largely down to the 7-141 (Kohli), 8-141 (Shami), 9-154 Council’s code of conduct for 20-year-old Curran’s 63, his maiden (Sharma), 10-162 (Pandya) the ‘send-off ’ he gave England’s Test fi fty in just his second match at Dawid Malan during the first Bowling: Anderson 16-2-50-2; Broad this level rescuing the hosts from the Test at Edgbaston, the global 14-2-43-2; Stokes 14.2-40-4; Curran depths of 87 for seven. governing body announced 6-0-18-1; Rashid 4-1-9-1 Curran’s innings came just a day af- yesterday. ter the Surrey left-arm swing bowler’s RESULT: England won by 31 runs Fast bowler Sharma was found Test-best haul of four for 74 during In- to have contravened article dia’s fi rst innings of 274 that featured 2.1.7 of the code, which relates a brilliant 149 by Kohli — his maiden fi ve wickets. to “using language, actions or Test century in England. Given the sunny conditions in Bir- gestures which disparage or An elated Stokes told Sky Sports: mingham, the only certainty then was which could provoke an aggres- “Virat played a brilliant knock in the the match would fi nish with more than sive reaction from a batsman fi rst innings but moments like that a day to spare. upon his/her dismissal during an (getting him out) change games. Kohli was 43 not out and wicket- international match”. “I am proud to be part of his group. I keeper Dinesh Karthik unbeaten on 18. The incident in question took thought we were a bit behind yesterday England knew they needed early place during the opening ses- (Friday) but for Sam Curran to play the strikes and James Anderson, their all- sion of Friday’s third day when way he did was a real turning point.” time leading Test wicket-taker, duly Sharma dismissed Malan for 20 A stunned Curran added: “I can’t obliged when he had Karthik (20) caught and then celebrated his exit in take it all in, it is all very special.” low down by Dawid Malan at second slip close proximity to the Middlesex For England captain Joe Root there off just the sixth ball of the day. left-hander — an action which in was the relief of seeing his side win the It was a morale-boosting moment the view of the match off icials fi rst Test of a series after a run of three for Malan, who had dropped three slip could have provoked an aggres- straight defeats in campaign openers catches this match, including fl ooring sive reaction from the departing against Australia, New Zealand and Kohli on 21 and 51 during the star bats- batsman. Pakistan. man’s fi rst-innings century. Following the day’s play, Sharma “I am thrilled, it was a fantastic team New batsman Pandya played several accepted the off ence and the performance,” said Root. “I asked the solid defensive shots before driving sanction put forward by match guys to play with passion and show be- Stuart Broad down the ground for a referee Jeff Crowe, the former lief. If we did that, we would give our- textbook four. New Zealand captain. selves a chance.” Kohli then completed an 88-ball fi f- Sharma was found to have com- ty when he glanced Anderson down to mitted a level-one breach of the ‘FEARLESS’ fi ne leg, the fourth four of his innings. code. Meanwhile Kohli urged India to remain India were 141 for six, needing 53 The charge was levelled by “positive and fearless” during the rest more runs to win, when paceman on-field umpires Aleem Dar and of the series. Stokes had Kohli lbw for 51 with just his Chris Gaff aney, third umpire Ma- “It was a great game of cricket and I third ball of the day. rais Erasmus, as well as reserve was glad to be involved in such a fan- Kohli reviewed but experienced Pa- off icial Tim Robinson. tastic Test match,” said Kohli. kistan umpire Aleem Dar’s decision Level One breaches carry a “We showed character at times but was upheld. minimum penalty of an off icial England were relentless in the areas Three balls later, Stokes had Mo- reprimand, a maximum penalty of they hit. Our bowlers were outstanding hamed Shami caught behind for a duck 50 percent of a player’s match fee, in the second innings. Hopefully we and India were 141 for eight, with their and one or two demerit points. will build on that. There is no hiding hopes of just a seventh win in 58 Tests When a player reaches four or from this game. We have to play posi- in England fading fast. more demerit points within a tive and fearless.” And when Sharma was lbw to leg- 24-month period, these are con- Yesterday’s play started with the spinner Adil Rashid’s googly for 11, verted into suspension points match on a knife edge. India had been reduced to 154 for nine and lead to a ban from interna- India were 110 for fi ve — still 84 runs and soon afterwards Pandya nicked England’s Ben Stokes (centre) celebrates the wicket of India’s Hardik Pandya with teammates on fourth day of the first Test at tional cricket. shy of victory — with England needing Stokes to Cook. Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, yesterday. (Reuters)

SPOTLIGHT He bats, he bowls, he’s SuperSam

By Nasser Hussain ran operates, both with the bat and the He ran down the pitch to him twice England collapse’. But Curran got them Daily Mail ball, that he has character in abun- in successive balls, clobbered a six and a going, and his teammates fed off him to dance. He has fi ght and an over-my- four, and hit him out of the attack. Then reclaim the momentum. dead-body attitude. he bopped Ishant Sharma over extra cov- Just as we shouldn’t have got ou have to give credit to the On the second day, he showed real er for six more to move to 50. And they too down on him after his debut at selectors for picking Sam skill to swing the ball and knock over were proper cricket shots — not slogs. Headingley, however, so we shouldn’t Curran in the fi rst place — India’s top order after their openers I’ve always felt with Ashwin that he get too excited after one good game. then for sticking with him had put 50 on the board. But he was reacts badly to being hit. He bowls faster Curran looks a useful and combative afterY a quiet debut against Pakistan at even more impressive on the third day and faster, and loses the fl ight and guile cricketer when the ball is swinging, Headingley. with the bat. that makes him so dangerous the rest of but if he makes the tour of Sri Lanka A few people who saw him in his When he walked out after lunch, the time. It’s why he doesn’t play white- this winter, I hope he seeks out another fi rst game wondered what some of the England were 86 for six. Two balls ball cricket for India any more, because skiddy left-armer, Chaminda Vaas, fuss was about. He was short, left-arm later, Jos Buttler was caught behind he tends to bowl negative leg-stump and asks him how he added to his game and skiddy, and scored a few runs in and the score was 87 for seven. darts when he’s under pressure. when conditions didn’t suit him. the lower-middle order. But it wasn’t Some players might have given up Kohli also likes control, which is I don’t want to sound negative after immediately obvious how he was going at that point, because an Indian win why he withdrew Ashwin immediately he’s made such an exciting contribu- to forge a long-term career in the team, seemed inevitable. They might have after Curran got after him. It was a tion to this game, but the obvious especially in less helpful conditions slogged the next one up in the air. big moment for both teams — and for concern is how eff ective Curran would away from home. But Curran knuckled down and Curran to have the nous to put India be if the ball isn’t swinging. However, what this brilliant Test struck the perfect balance between on the back foot at the age of 20 spoke Would he, for example, have been at Edgbaston has shown us is that, attack and defence. Just as Virat Kohli volumes for his temperament. dangerous with the Kookaburra in when it comes to cricket at the highest did so well during India’s fi rst innings, England’s top-order batsmen will Australia over the winter? level, you pick a guy above all on his Curran seemed to know when to make now need to work out their own meth- So that will be the next phase of his character. the transition from one to the other. ods against Ashwin too. development. The good news is he Yes, he has to have a lot of skill to And you could see it rattled India. The other thing Curran’s counter- strikes me as someone who’s willing to succeed at Test level, that almost goes More than anyone in England’s attack achieved was to wake up the look honestly at his own game, and has without saying. But after that, it’s what line-up, he took the attack to Ravi- Hollies Stand. They had been asleep the desire to improve. And if he man- is between your ears that counts. chandran Ashwin, which is not easy for until then, probably because they ages to do that, England could have a And you can see from the way Cur- a left-hander. thought, ‘Here we go again, another hell of a cricketer on their hands.