SPORT TUESDAY 18 JULY 2017 21 MLB: Quintana strikes Al Attiyah aims to extend out 12 in Cubs debut

Washington World Cup lead in Spain AFP BASEBALL RESULTS Boston 3 NY Yankees 0 eft-handed hurler Jose San Diego 7 San Francisco 1 Teruel, Spain Quintana made a stellar Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah will Oakland 7 Cleveland 3 The Peninsula debut for the Chicago be hoping to extend his FIA L La Angels 4 Tampa Bay 3 Cubs on Sunday, striking out 12 Kansas City 4 Texas 3 verdrive Racing’s World Cup lead in Spain. in seven scoreless innings as the Houston 5 Minnesota 3 and Toyota GAZOO World Series champions beat Philadelphia 5 Milwaukee 2 Racing South Afri- the Orioles 8-0 in Baltimore. ca’s decision to miss The Cubs acquired the Seattle 7 Chicago White Sox 6 the ongoing Silk 28-year-old Colombian from Atlanta 7 Arizona 1 OWay Rally has enabled the two the cross-town rival Chicago Chicago Cubs 8 Baltimore 0 teams to join forces to mount a White Sox on Thursday. Pittsburgh 4 St. Louis 3 powerful challenge for honours “I felt a little nervous in the Colorado 13 Ny Mets 4 in this weekend’s Baja Spain first inning,” he admitted. “But, LA Dodgers 3 Miami 2 Aragón - round seven of the FIA after a couple of throws, I threw Detroit 6 Toronto 5 World Cup for Cross-Country everything out and could focus Washington 14 Cincinnati 4 Rallies. on my game.” NY Yankees 3 Boston 0 The team has entered four The Cubs, who ended the Toyota Hiluxes in the most pop- longest championship drought ular of all the European Bajas, in North American sport last .500 at 46-45 and pulled within as ’s Nasser Saleh Al Atti- year by winning their first 4 1/2 games of the Brewers -- yah aims to extend his World Series since 1908, had who lost at home to the championship lead and Spain’s ended the first half of the sea- Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 on Joan ‘Nani’ Roma, South African son with a 43-45 record and Sunday. Leeroy Poulter and Poland’s trailing the Milwaukee Brew- “The most impressive part Aron Domzala target podium ers by 5 1/2 games in the has been the energy,” Cubs finishes and vital hours behind National League Central manager Joe Maddon said. “I the wheel of the South African- division. really believe if we play with built V8 Toyotas. But they have opened the that kind of internal fire and A date clash forced Al Atti- Overdrive Racing a first ever vic- event that he holds close to his and the tracks and the dust can second half of the season with energy, we are going to win a yah to miss the last round of the tory at this event. He also won heart. He was victorious here in be tricky. It’s important that we a three-game sweep of the Ori- lot of games in the second half. series in Italy, but the Qatari has this Baja with Swedish female 2005, 2009 and 2013, 2014 and continue our winning momen- oles, scoring 27 runs and hitting “That’s the difference for claimed three victories so far this navigator Tina Thorner back in 2015 on four wheels after pre- tum to take into the latter part 10 home runs in the series. me. It’s just how we feel about season in Dubai, Qatar and 2008. vious success as a factory enduro of the year.” The Cubs climbed back over ourselves.” Kazakhstan and heads to the Leeroy Poulter enjoyed an rider. After technical scrutineer- baking heat of Teruel in Spain’s impressive showing in Qatar Poland’s Aron Domzala suf- ing and administration checks Aragón Province keen to defend back in April and the demand- fered engine issues at the last on Thursday (July 20) and Fri- his 36-point lead in the Drivers’ ing tracks and punishing heat of round of the series in Italy and day morning, the competitive Championship. Baja Spain will give the South was unable to improve upon his action gets underway with a He teams up with usual African even more experience sixth position in the champion- timed 9.6km super special stage French navigator Matthieu on which to build his Dakar ship standings. He continues to from 18.25hrs on Friday evening. Baumel. challenge next January. Germa- work alongside fellow country- The bulk of the action takes Last year, Al Attiyah deliv- ny’s Dirk von Zitzewitz will man Maciej Marton in the fourth place on revised stages on Sat- ered a sensational last stage co-drive the Toyota GAZOO Rac- of the Toyota Hiluxes entered in urday (July 22) and Sunday (July performance to earn Toyota and ing South Africa car. Spain. 23). There are two selective sec- Joan ‘Nani’ Roma was Over- Overdrive Racing’s CEO tions of 216.8km (08.48hrs – first STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 6 drive Racing’s highest-placed Jean-Marc Fortin said: “This is car) and 139.2km (14.00hrs – finisher in this year’s Dakar in an important event for us for first car) on Saturday and one of 1. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT) 150pts fourth position and the two-time several reasons. It’s a chance for 178.7m from 11.20hrs on Sunday 2. Jakub Przygonski (POL) 114pts Dakar champion and five-time Nani and Leeroy to gain more before the podium finishing cer- 3. Khalid Al-Qassimi (ARE) 105pts winner of Baja Spain in a car seat time this season and for emony in Teruel at 15.30hrs on 4. Yasir Saeidan (SAU) 93pts returns to action in an Overdrive Nani to continue his remarka- Sunday. 5. Mohammed Abu Issa (QAT) 84pts Toyota Hilux with navigator Alex ble record of success on his Saturday’s route will not be 6. Aron Domzala (POL) 76pts Haro. home event. repeated on Sunday on this 7. Martin Prokop (CZE) 54pts Roma is one of the most But it is also an important occasion either and the entire 8. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE) 37pts experienced of the off-road driv- event for Nasser and Aron in route is centred on the Teruel Chicago Cubs pitcher Jose Quintana throws the ball in the

9. Leeroy Poulter (ZAF) 32pts ers racing at the top level of the terms of the championship. area in the regions of Jiloca,

first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at 10. Yayha Al-Helai (ARE) 30pts sport and is a firm favourite There is always a strong entry, Cuencas Mineras and Comarca amongst the local crowds on an temperatures are often very high de Teruel. Camden Yards in Baltimore on Sunday.

Tampa Bay re-sign Palat All still to play for, insist Froome’s rivals to five-year Le Puy-en-Velay, France Bardet said it was the AFP strength of Froome’s Sky team deal that has nullified any hopes of hris Froome’s main Tour ganging up on him. New York de France rivals insisted “For the moment it doesn’t Agencies Cthey still had everything look likely as no-one’s taken the to ride for despite missing an initiative,” said the 27-year-old he Tampa Bay Lightning opportunity to gain time on the AG2R leader. secured the last of “The champion in the Massif “Froome has an incredible TTriplets” by re-signing Central. armada around him. That’s the forward Ondrej Palat to a Froome had a mechanical strength of Sky, to have three five-year, $26.5m contract problem on a rapid run-in to the or four potential team leaders last weekend. foot of a first category climb that around Froome, that discour- Palat’s deal is on par crested some 30km from the ages a lot of people.” annually with that of fellow finish of Sunday’s 15th stage. For Ireland’s Dan Martin, Triplets Tyler Johnson and The Briton dropped 50 sec- fifth at 1min 12sec, it is as much Nikita Kucherov. onds behind his main rivals but Froome’s own strength as an Johnson recently signed helped by a concerted effort unwillingness in his rivals to a seven-year pact with $35m from his Sky team, and a 20km work together that saved the while Kucherov’s contract chase, he bridged the gap before day for the Briton on Sunday. goes for an average $4.77m – the summit and saved the day. “Chris showed that he’s very although that pact ends after Many observers felt that strong at the moment because the 2018-19 season. was an opportunity wasted for it’s not as if we waited for him,” Meanwhile, the Calgary the likes of Romain Bardet, said the 30-year-old Quick- Flames signed restricted Fabio Aru and Rigoberto Uran, Step rider. free-agent forward Curtis particularly as they are all likely “If it had been a mountain Lazar to a two-year, $1.9m to lose time to Froome on Sat- From left: Italy’s Fabio Aru, Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran, Great Britain’s Chris Froome wearing top finish maybe it would have contract. Lazar collected one urday’s 22.5km stage 20 the overall leader’s yellow jersey, France’s Romain Bardet and France’s Alexis Vuillermoz played out differently.” goal, three assists and four time-trial in Marseille. ride in a breakaway during the 189,5 km fifteenth stage of the 104th edition of the Tour If the difference is not made penalty minutes over 37 But they all claimed Thurs- de France cycling race between Laissac-Severac l’Eglise and Le Puy-en-Velay on Sunday. on the Izoard on Thursday, then games split between the day’s Alpine summit finish on the it will all come down to Satur- Ottawa Senators and the Col d’Izoard will be decisive, “The level these days in the On Sunday, the three clos- that situation,” said the day’s time-trial. Flames in the last season. especially as it comes a day after mountains was very equal with est challengers to Froome had Italian. And in that discipline, eve- The Los Angeles Kings for- another tough stage in the Alps. Froome, Bardet and Aru,” said a chance to work together to put “We’ll see how the race ryone knows Froome is the ward Jonny Brodzinski signed “With the two back-to-back Uran, fourth at 29sec. some time into the three-time goes. In my opinion, you have strongest. a two-year contract extension. Alpine stages and the altitude “But there is a climb like the winner, but they didn’t and Aru, to make things up on the bike “It will be a tough week, I For Brodzinski, the first year is finish, there could be some big Izoard, with its last few kilome- second at 18sec, said it’s diffi- as you go. think there will be a lot of a two-way deal while the sec- gaps. For me, that’s the key tres at more than 2,000-metres cult to organise such teamwork “You can come up with all the attacking and quite a show ond is strictly one way. The stage, given my qualities,” said (above sea level). That’s where between rivals. great tactics possible, but it’s in because, Froome apart, we’re contract carries an average Bardet, third overall at 23sec, you could get some big “You can’t know what you’ll the race that you’ll see whether all a similar level in the time- annual value of $650,000 at on Monday. differences.” do before finding yourself in or not you have the legs.” trial,” said Aru. the NHL level. 22 SPORT TUESDAY 18 JULY 2017 Federer eyes new era of supremacy

London But the gamble paid off as a rejuvenated 100% healthy and you’re well-prepared, AFP Federer won a fifth Australian Open on his you’re eager to play, then anything’s return before adding back-to-back Mas- possible. uoyed by his record-setting ters at Indian Wells and Miami. “That’s how it played out, so they were eighth Wimbledon title, Roger He skipped the clay court season in the all right. I believed them. I had the same Federer warned rivals yester- knowledge that a fully-fit Nadal was always feeling. I think that’s why the break last year day that he could play until he’s likely to dominate the French Open. was necessary to reassess and get back to 40, spearheading a late-life era Back on grass, Federer won a ninth 100% physically.” B of supremacy alongside Rafael Nadal. Halle title before easing to his stunning Federer is also within touching distance Federer eased past injury-hit Marin Wimbledon landmark. of returning to the world number one rank- Cilic to become the oldest Wimbledon Wimbledon, where he became the first ing by the end of the year. men’s champion of the modern era on Sun- man to win the trophy without dropping a Eleven of the last 14 Wimbledon cham- day, breaking the tie for seven All England set since Bjorn Borg in 1976, was only his pions have finished the season on top of Club titles he had shared with Pete Sam- seventh tournament of 2017. the pile. pras since his last triumph in 2012. By contrast, the unfortunate Cilic was That list includes Nadal who, despite It also gave him a 19th Grand Slam title playing his 15th, so it was hardly surpris- losing to Gilles Muller in a five-set last-16 in his 29th final at the majors. ing that wear and tear contributed to his epic at Wimbledon, remains one of the With his 36th birthday just three weeks downfall, albeit in the shape of a humble year’s in-form players with 46 wins and away Federer believes that he could still but debilitating blister. just seven losses. be playing the tournament when he’s 40. Federer’s match-win record for 2017 The 31-year-old Nadal made history in “You would think so, if health permit- now stands at 31-2. June with a 10th French Open. ting and everything is okay,” said Federer, His appearances on the tour will remain As well as winning the first three majors who won his first Wimbledon title in 2003 limited. of 2017, Nadal and Federer have also cap- when he beat Australia’s Mark He hinted he may sit out the Montreal tured four of the five Masters played so far. Philippoussis. Masters and play only in Cincinnati before Where Federer triumphed in Califor- His confidence in his longevity is based an assault on a sixth US Open where he nia and Miami, Nadal swept to victories in on the radical transformation he’s made to hasn’t won since 2008. Monte Carlo and Madrid. his playing schedule since his semi-final As always, it’s a decision he’ll make Highly-rated, but still unproven, Alex- defeat to Milos Raonic at Wimbledon in with those closest to him just as he did ander Zverev prevented a Masters sweep 2016. when he took his six-month break in 2016. by the two old-stagers by winning in Rome. He immediately shut down his season, “I did ask them the question sincerely, If Federer and Nadal remain fit, they missing the Olympics and US Open, to rest to everybody on my team, if they thought will start as favourites for the US Open a knee injury. I could win majors again,” Federer which gets underway in six weeks’ time As a consequence, his world ranking explained. especially with question marks over the slumped to 17 in January, his lowest since “Basically the answer was always the fitness of Andy Murray (hip) and Novak 2000. same from them: that they thought if you’re Djokovic (elbow). Never count out the player who dictates terms on grass

London Wimbledon without a dropping a set, fin- Murray, the defending champion and No. AP ishing the fortnight with a 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 1 seed, lost in the quarter-finals while victory over 2014 US Open champion clearly hampered by a sore left hip. Djok- Marin Cilic in Sunday’s final. ovic, a three-time champion and No. 2 ever count out Roger Federer. “Honestly, I’m incredibly surprised seed, stopped playing in the same round Seems obvious, right? Especially how well this year is going. How well I’m because his right elbow was too painful. N after he won his record-breaking feeling, as well. How things are turning “We both had a very long, very tough eighth Wimbledon championship and out to be on the courts. How I’m manag- year, a lot of matches, a lot of emotions, second Grand Slam title of this resurgent ing tougher situations. Where my level of a lot of things in play,” Djokovic said. season. play is on a daily basis. I am surprised that “Our bodies have taken a lot There have been times, though, when it’s this good,” Federer said. “I knew I physically.” folks wondered whether he was done could do great again, maybe one day, but winning major tournaments. He was get- not at this level. So I guess you would have THE WILLIAMS SISTERS ting older. He went 4½ years without such laughed, too, if I told you I was going to When Serena Williams missed a a title. He was surpassed in the rankings win two Slams this year. People wouldn’t Grand Slam tournament, as she did at the by the other members of tennis’ Big 4 as believe me if I said that. I also didn’t French Open and Wimbledon because they began accumulating Grand Slam tro- believe that I was going to win two this she is pregnant, the whole complexion of phies — first Rafael Nadal, then Novak year.” the event changes. Everyone knows it. All Switzerland’s Roger Djokovic, then Andy Murray. of a sudden, her older sister, Venus, is Federer celebrates Even Federer himself began to won- Here’s what else we learned during once again a title contender at age 37. with the trophy der. He took the last half of 2016 off to let the 131st edition of Wimbledon: Venus is the only woman to have reached after winning his surgically repaired left knee heal prop- at least the fourth round at each of the the final against erly and has returned to the top of the DJOKOVIC AND MURRAY past six majors. She proved that her run Croatia’s Marin Cilic game. First, he ended his Slam drought Both Djokovic and Murray will con- to the Australian Open final (where she on Sunday. by winning the Australian Open in Janu- sider taking some time off, the way lost to Serena) was no fluke by getting to ary. Then, after skipping the French Open, Federer did, after their bodies caused the Wimbledon final — her first at the he raised his major total to 19 by winning them problems at the All England Club. grass-court tournament since 2009. She was the oldest finalist at the All England Club since 1994. Like Federer, no sense WORLD RANKINGS in trying to write her off. Switzerland’s Roger Federer poses with MUGURUZA AND OSTAPENKO ATP Tour his trophy at the Venus faded in Saturday’s final, los- 1 (1) Andy Murray(Britain) ...... 7750 Champions Dinner ing the last nine games against Garbine 2 (2) Rafa Nadal(Spain) ...... 7465 in central London. Muguruza, who became the only woman 3 (5) Roger Federer(Switzerland) ...... 6545 to have won a major title match against 4 (4) Novak Djokovic(Serbia) ...... 6325 each Williams sister. Muguruza, who got 5 (3) Stan Wawrinka(Switzerland) ...... 6140 past Serena in the 2016 French Open final, 6 (6) Marin Cilic(Croatia) ...... 5075 has stamped herself as a fearless, pow- 7 (8) Dominic Thiem(Austria) ...... 4030 erful force at 23, in position to accumulate 8 (9) Kei Nishikori(Japan) ...... 3740 big titles for years. Another woman who 9 (7) Milos Raonic(Canada) ...... 3310 fits that description is Jelena Ostapenko, 10 (11) Grigor Dimitrov(Bulgaria) ...... 3160 20, who won the French Open last month, 11 (12) Alexander Zverev(Germany) ...... 3160 then followed that up by reaching the 12 (10) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga(France) ...... 2805 quarter-finals. 13 (14) Gael Monfils(France) ...... 2775 14 (13) David Goffin(Belgium) ...... 2605 AMERICANS It’s still been nearly 14 full years since an American man won a Grand WTA Tour Slam singles title (Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open), but one of them did get 1 (3) Karolina Pliskova(Czech Republic)...... 6855 to the semifinals of a major for the first 2 (2) Simona Halep(Romania) ...... 6670 time since 2009: Sam Querrey, who 3 (1) Angelique Kerber(Germany) ...... 5975 upset Murray in the quarterfinals, a year 4 (7) Johanna Konta(Britain) ...... 5110 after he upset Djokovic in the third 5 (15) Garbine Muguruza Blanco(Spain) ...... 4990 round. “American tennis isn’t that bad. 6 (5) Elina Svitolina(Ukraine) ...... 4935 I know it kind of gets a bad rep. That’s 7 (6) Caroline Wozniacki(Denmark) ...... 4780 just ‘cause guys don’t win majors. We’ve 8 (8) Svetlana Kuznetsova(Russia) ...... 4500 got four guys in the top 30, a great group 9 (11) Venus Williams(US) ...... 4461 of young guys,” said Querrey, a 29-year- 10 (10) Agnieszka Radwanska(Poland) ...... 3985 old from California. “To be in the semis 11 (9) Dominika Cibulkova(Slovakia) ...... 3710 is great. Hopefully myself and the other 12 (13) Jelena Ostapenko(Latvia) ...... 3530 guys up there can have more weeks like 13 (14) Kristina Mladenovic(France) ...... 3155

this. Hopefully, you know, American 14 (12) Petra Kvitova(Czech Republic) ...... 3135

15 (4) Serena Williams(US) ...... 2810 tennis will get a little boost from this, maybe.” TUESDAY 18 JULY 2017 SPORT 23

Dhawan replaces Philander plays star role as injured Vijay for SL Tests

New South Africa crush England AFP

njured opener Murali Vijay Nottingham South Africa (centre) and South was yesteday ruled out AFP Africa’s players carry the stumps as they leave the field on Ifrom India’s upcoming the fourth day of the second Test match at Trent Bridge Test series against , ernon Philander led ground in Nottingham, central England, yesterday. the cricket board said Mon- a fine all-round day, with Shikhar Dhawan effort as named as his replacement. South Africa Vijay, who underwent thrashed England by surgery on his wrist in Eng- 340V runs in the second Test at land after the four-Test series Trent Bridge yesterday. against Australia, has already Victory saw the Proteas level missed the 10th edition of the the four-match series at 1-1 after they themselves had been well tournament. beaten by 211 runs in the first The 33-year-old batsman Test at Lord’s. is set to undergo rehabilita- England, set a mammoth 474 tion after pain reappeared in runs for victory, collapsed to 133 his wrist while playing a all out 40 minutes before tea on warm-up match, the Board the fourth day. of Control for Cricket in India Man-of-the-match Philan- said in a statement. der took three for 24 Dhawan, who has played runs in 10 overs, including an 23 Tests at an average of early double strike. 38.52 since making his debut That gave him five wickets in 2013, is now part of the in total in a match where he also 16-man squad for the three made scores of 54 and 42 with Tests starting in on July the bat. 26. No England batsman made The left-handed batsman, a fifty in a second innings where who last played a Test in former captain Alastair Cook’s October against New Zealand, 42 was the top score. was the highest run-scorer in The most made by any side the 50-over Champions Tro- to win in the fourth innings of a England captain (eight) commentating on BBC Radio’s Rabada was banned -- ending lbw to Philander on review. phy in England and Wales in Test is the West Indies’ 418 for and Cook. Test Match Special. the match when he dismissed England were 28 for two, June. seven against Australia at St At lunch, England had “All you need to do is dangle tailenders Mark Wood and James with Root once more coming in India, led by skipper Virat John’s in 2003. slumped to 79 for four, with the carrot and they’ll go for it. Anderson with successive after a top-order slump. Kohli, are also slated to play But the more immediate task Jonny Bairstow 12 and Dumb ! What is he deliveries. Root had made 190 in his five one-day internationals for England yesterday was to see Ben Stokes five not out. thinking? England resumed with Cook first innings as England captain and a single Twenty20 after if they could at least keep South Only last year, the pair “Even if it goes for four or and fellow left-handed opener at Lord’s and top-scored with 78 the Test series wraps up. Africa in the field. shared a stunning of six... that’s not the point now. It’s Jennings both nought not out in their meagre first innings 205 Test squad: They failed miserably, the 399 against South Africa at Cape about batting time.” after surviving four overs late on this match. (Captain), hosts bowled out in 44.2 overs Town, with Stokes making 258 Moeen Ali hit six fours in his Sunday. But he fell cheaply yesterday, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh despite South Africa being with- and Bairstow an unbeaten 150. 27 before he too made a present Philander, renowned for his Morris producing an excellent Rahul, , out Kagiso Rabada after the fast But their stand on Monday of his to Maharaj, sweep- ability to move the ball at a lively yorker to knock over the York- (vice cap- bowler was suspended for was worth just 12 when Bairstow ing the spinner straight to square fast-medium pace, had a wicket shireman’s off-stump. tain), Rohit Sharma, swearing at England’s Ben Stokes (16) advanced down the pitch to leg. with just his fifth ball on Cook, however, struck four Ravichandran Ashwin, at Lord’s. left-arm spinner Keshav Maha- Stokes at least battled it out Monday. fours in eight balls off Olivier. Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhi- Philander removed left- raj only to drag an intended drive for more than an hour while South Africa-born Jennings But his near two-hour man Saha (wk), Ishant handers Keaton Jennings (three) straight to Morris at mid-on. making 18 before he was caught was undone by an excellent innings ended when he was Sharma, Umesh Yadav, and Gary Ballance (four) during It was an extraordinary shot and bowled off a low checked that nipped back to beaten for pace by a well- Hardik Pandya, Bhuv- a burst of two for eight in 19 balls. given England’s dire position. drive by Philander. uproot his off stump. directed Morris bouncer and neshwar Kumar, Mohammed Recalled all-rounder Chris “I can’t believe I have seen England lost their last three Ballance, in his third stint of gloved down the legside, where Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhi- Morris followed up with two for that,” said angry former England wickets on 133, paceman Duanne and under huge wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock nav Mukund. two in 20 balls to dismiss captain Michael Vaughan, Olivier -- only playing because pressure for his place, was then held a fine catch. Coach: Ravi Shastri

SCOREBOARD South Africa (I innings): ...... 335 S Broad c Morkel b Maharaj ...... 5 England (I innings): ...... 205 M Wood c Morris b Olivier ...... 0 Mendis stays firm with 60 as South Africa (II innings): ...... 343-9 decl. J Anderson c de Kock b Olivier ...... 0 England (II innings): Extras (LB5) ...... 5 A Cook c de Kock b Morris ...... 42 Total (all out) ...... 133 K Jennings b Philander ...... 3 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-28, 3-55, 4-72, 5-84, 6-122, G Ballance lbw b Philander ...... 4 7-126, 8-133, 9-133, 10-133 (Anderson) Sri Lanka chase record score J Root b Morris ...... 8 Bowling: Morkel 13-4-30-0; Philander 10-3-24-3; J Bairstow c Morris b Maharaj ...... 16 Olivier 3.2-0-25-2; Morris 6-3-7-2; Maharaj 12-2-42-3 B Stokes c and b Philander ...... 18 : South Africa won by 340 runs

M Ali c Kuhn b Maharaj ...... 27 Man-of-the-match: Vernon Philander (RSA) L Dawson (not out) ...... 5 Series: Four-match series level at 1-1 AFP

usal Mendis scored a flu- Former Australian cricketer ent half-century to keep Glenn McGrath looks on during KSri Lanka’s hopes of chas- a press conference in Chennai. ing a record 388 alive on day four of the one-off Test against The retired pacer is in town yesterday. to mark the silver jubilee of The hosts were 170 for three the association between MRF at stumps, with Mendis (60) bat- Pace Foundation and Cricket ting alongside Australia. (17) at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. Sri Lanka’s highest-ever suc- cessful run chase was against South Africa in 2006, when they achieved their 352-run target in Colombo. Zimbabwe skipper Graeme Zimbabwe cricketer Hamilton Masakadza (third left) Cremer dented the hosts with his celebrates with after dismissing Sri Lankan captain leg-spin, claiming the important during the fourth day of a one-off Test wickets of (27) match at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo. and his opposite number Dinesh SCOREBOARD Chandimal (15). Zimbabwe (I innings): ...... 356 7-289, 8-306, 9-361, 10-377 Opener Karunaratne told reporters bowled out for 377 in the second with Malcolm Waller (68) was Sri Lanka (I innings): ...... 346 Bowling: Lakmal 14-0-43-0; Herath 39.1-5-133-6; was bowled by left-arm spinner yesterday. session, with (127) the highlight of the Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (II innings): Perera 30-2-95-3; L Kumara 20-3-72-1 (nb1, w3); K Sean Williams for 49 as the vis- “We have already got 170 top-scoring for the visitors with innings after the pair resumed H Masakadza lbw b Herath ...... 7 Mendis 4-0-16-0 itors persisted with an all-spin runs on the board... once the ball his maiden Test century. on the overnight score of R Chakabva b Herath ...... 6 Sri Lanka (II innings): attack in the 48 overs bowled in gets softer, it gets easier. If these Cremer was the last man out 252-6. T Musakanda c Karunaratne b Herath ...... 0 D Karunaratne b Williams ...... 49 C Ervine c Karunaratne b Perera ...... 5 U Tharanga c Moor b Cremer ...... 27 the innings so far. two guys are able to hang in for 48 off left-arm spinner Ran- “Feels great to get my S Williams b Herath ...... 22 K Mendis (batting) ...... 60 Karunaratne said Cremer -- there for one and a half hours gana Herath, who returned maiden Test hundred,” said all- S Raza b Herath ...... 127 D Chandimal c Masakadza b Cremer ...... 15 who bagged his maiden we will get into an interesting figures of 6-133 to take his match rounder Raza, who also opened P Moor c sub (Gunathilaka) b Kumara ...... 40 A Mathews (batting) ...... 17 five-wicket Test haul in Sri Lan- position.” tally to 11 wickets. Zimbabwe’s bowling with his M Waller c Tharanga b Perera ...... 68 Extras (LB2) ...... 2 ka’s first innings -- would pose Mendis, who fought off ham- The Pakistan-born Raza off-spin. G Cremer c Karunaratne b Herath ...... 48 Total (3 wkts) ...... 170 the biggest threat on a fifth-day string trouble in the final session steered the team’s middle and “All the batters put up a tre- D Tiripano lbw b Perera ...... 19 Still to bat: A Gunaratne, N Dickwella, D Perera, R track. of play, put together an unbeaten lower order to help his side mendous show. Brilliant effort C Mpofu (not out) ...... 9 Herath, S Lakmal, L Kumara Extras (B4, LB14, W7, NB1) ...... 26 Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-108, 3-133 “We have got to watch out 37-run stand with Mathews to accumulate another 318 runs by all the guys to get us into this

Total (all out) ...... 377 Bowling: Raza 9-1-29-0; Williams 16-0-62-1; Cremer for Cremer. He is creating the take the delicately poised Test after being reduced to 59-5 on position. Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-16, 3-17, 4-23, 5-59, 6-145, 19-0-67-2; Waller 4-0-10-0 most trouble. There is lot of into its final day. day three. “The result of this game now assistance for the wrist spinner,” Zimbabwe were earlier Raza’s 144-run partnership can go our way.” SPORT Tuesday 188 July 2017

PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 Al Attiyah aims to Federer eyes PhilanderP plays star extend FIA World Cupup new era of roler as South Africa lead supremacy crush England Qatar Olympic squad ready for Asian challenge at home AFC U-23 FIXTURES Tomorrow SYRIA vs INDIA Luis Jimenez Venue: Al Sadd Stadium, Kick-off: 5:00pm QATAR vs TURKMENISTAN Al Gharafa

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Rizwan Rehmat midfielder The Peninsula Jimenez osts Qatar have overcome training challenges with The Peninsula courage and are well prepared for atar Stars League (QSL) Hthis week’s AFC U-23 Asian Cup side Al Gharafa have qualifying matches, team coach Qcontinued their busy Felix Sanchez said as the home summer transfer window by team gets ready for their open- announcing the capture of ing game tomorrow. former Al Arabi midfielder Qatar face Turkmenistan in Luis Jimenez (pictured their first match at Jassim Bin above) on a two-year deal. Hamad Stadium and coach Gharafa unveiled the Sanchez said his young boys former Chile international Qatari players during a training session have shown positive energy in midfielder late on Saturday the build-up of the four-team ahead of their opening game of AFC evening, in the presence of event which will conclude on U-23 Asian Cup qualifying tournament club officials and head coach July 23. against Turkmenistan. Jean Fernandez. India and Syria are the other Jimenez has been handed two sides besides Turkmenistan the number 10 shirt this sea- and hosts Qatar. combinations (during the state-of-the art cooling Meanwhile, India arrive in It has been under Constan- son, and the move seems to “We started our preparations friendlies),” Sanchez added in technology. Doha having played two friend- tine’s coaching that the senior mean that Slovakian winger on June 5 in Doha and since then a statement. “We know we will Sanchez said the morale of lies against Singapore. India national team has jumped 73 Vladimir Weiss is set to leave we have played eight friendlies. have little rest ahead of our the boys was ‘high’. drew one game and lost the places in the FIFA Rankings to the Cheetahs this season. Although things were not easy games but that applies to all “The players are ready and second. be currently placed at 100 spot. Speaking on his move to because of the hot weather but teams,” he added. they are looking forward to the India coach Stephen Con- In a news report last week, Gharafa, Jiménez revealed it the players have shown good Qatar will take on India on first game. Our goal is to provide stantine said: “I am disappointed Constantine said there is “no was an easy process switch- energy level in the matches,” July 21 followed by their final the best, to be among the sixteen with the result. I thought the boys room for complacency.” ing from his former club Al Sanchez said. clash against Syria on July 23. All teams locked in the Asian Cup fought very hard but we lacked “We will not be complacent,” Arabi. “We tried to get the boys matches will be played at Jassim finals (to be held in China),” a bit of quality in the final third Constantine said. “In fact, we “The negotiations have ready by playing different Bin Hamad Stadium which has Sanchez said. and it cost us in the end. can’t afford it,” he added. been very smooth with Al “Our players have the expe- “However, I can say that we Gharafa, after my contract rience of competing in such didn’t deserve to lose the game. had been terminated with Al competitions that are held in a The objective is to find players Arabi by mutual consent,” short period of time. So they are for the senior team and there are said the seasoned player in a required to avoid making mis- certainly some players who if statement. takes and show better focus,” the they continue in the manner they Although things “I am no stranger to foot- coach said. are doing now have a serious were not easy ball in Qatar, and I know that He added all the players who chance to push for the senior Al Gharafa is a strong side. were in the preliminary list got national team,” he stated. because of the hot “We have the potential to Qatar’s Olympic the opportunity during the prac- “It’s been two weeks that we weather but the compete this season for tro- team coach tice games saying he would have been together and the U-23 phies and I hope this is the Felix Sanchez choose the best ones for the boys needed competitive games. players have shown case” added the 33 year old home event. The tour to Singapore was a val- good energy level midfielder who scored ten The Qatar Olympic squad uable experience for the squad goals last season for Al Arabi,” appeared in a three-nation to gauge the intensity of inter- in the matches, he added. friendly tournament a little over national encounters. I thank AIFF says Al Anabi coach Jimenez will now join his two weeks ago. Teams from Kyr- for arranging the matches ahead team-mates for preseason gyzstan and Uzbekistan featured of our AFC Qualifiers.” Sanchez training ahead of the new QSL in the three-nation tourney. Constantine added: “The campaign. Al Gharafa are set Al Anabi have been boosted by games were competitive and for a preseason training camp the presence of Akram Afif, a team provided us the much needed in Turkey which is scheduled official said earlier in the week. exposure.” to run from August 2 to 22. Duhail begin QSL preparations QSL: Al Sailiya flex for new season

The Peninsula Hee and midfielder . ewly-formed Qatar Whilst the four new play- Stars League (QSL) side ers signed from El Jaish, NAl Duhail have under- goalkeepers Saoud Al Khater gone their first ever training and Ahmed Soufiane along session on Sunday evening as with Murad Naji and Abdurah- the side begun preparations man Abker also joined in with prepared for their first ever the session. QSL campaign. Al Duhail will now train in Duhail returned to train- Doha till July 20, before head- ing, under the watchful eye of lining onto their preseason head coach training camp in Austria till the Al Sailiya players during a training session in Doha yesterday. The team kicked off training (pictured). training, including leading August 10. The new QSL sea- for the new Qatar Stars League (QSL) season which will begin in September. Lekhwiya A host of former Lekhwiya scorer Yusef El Arabi, QFA son will kick off in players turned out for Player-of-the-Year Nam Tae September. won the prestigious title earlier this year.