QOC Marks Sport Excellence Day, Honours Top Performing Athletes

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SPORT Monday 19 November 2018 PAGE | 27 PAGE | 31 England seal Sri Lanka Upbeat Qatar eye series, eye rankings another upset in summit Iceland friendly QOC marks Sport Excellence Day, honours top performing athletes

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DOHA: Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) held a special ceremony yesterday at Aspire Dome to mark Development of athletes to Sport Excellence Day and reach the highest level is a top recognize those who make the priority of the Qatar Olympic country’s sport achievements a reality and advance its sporting Committee (QOC) as it is a part march. of the QOC strategy which Hundreds of Qatar’s athletes, is aligned to support Qatar coaches, stakeholders and Aspire National Vision 2030. Team student were present to celebrate the successes of Team Qatar over Qatar had a successful year the past year and encourage them H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al across many sports as medals to continue to keep their country Thani, President of Qatar Olympic were won, records were proud. Committee speaking during the Speaking during the event, H broken. The athletes continued Sport Excellence Day at Aspire to perform and bring home E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Dome yesterday. Thani, President of QOC said: many glorious titles “Development of athletes to reach the highest level is a top priority of the Qatar Olympic Committee as H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad it is a part of the QOC strategy Al Thani, President of Qatar which is aligned to support Qatar Olympic Committee National Vision 2030. Team Qatar had a successful year across many sports as medals were won, records were broken. The athletes continued to perform and bring home many glorious titles. “Thank you for your commitment and dedication to building the sporting culture of Qatar. We are here to celebrate some of the successes. It is also important to recognize the commitment and skills of the incredibly talented coaches who support our Team Qatar athletes to reach their full potential. “Doha in the coming years will continue to host internationally recognised world-class sport events such as IAAF World Ath- letics Championships Doha 2019, 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, World Championships 2023 and IJF Masters 2020, 2023 FINA World Championships,” H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani added. Showing his support to the athletes and administrator, Secretary General of QOC Jassim Al Buenain said: “Qatar is a nation passionate about sport and we strongly Asian Games and Asian para Games Qatari athletes, who believe in the power of sport to excelled at the twin events, honoured during the Sport unite, inspire, empower and educate people of all ages and abil- Excellence Day at Aspire Dome yesterday. ities. Our athletes represent everything that Qatar stands for; hard work, dedication and loyalty. We to represent Qatar at the highest and Higher Education for its con- receive and is a great motivation ATHLETES are extremely proud of them on level and raise the maroon flag tinuous support to the Olympic for me in the future,” Al Naji added. SPORT EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS 2018 and off the podium. They are an around the world. Sport Excellence movement in Qatar and Aspire Abderrahman Samba, who won The following is a full list of award winners. inspiration to the young generation Day is our way of thanking them, Zone for supporting sport and the Sport Excellence Award said: `Male Athlete of the Year Award: Mutaz Essa Barshim, Qatar Athletics Federation - High Jump and a source of pride for all of us.” celebrating their success and organising social sport pro- “I’m extremely happy to win this ` Female Athlete of the Year Award: Al Dana Saad Al Mubarak Qatar Shooting and Archery Fed- “We believe that encouraging them to keep up the grammes, which play a critical role award. This gives me extra moti- eration hard work deserves hard work.” in developing athletes from a vation to give even more in the `Male Para-Athlete of the Year Award: Abdulrahman Abdulqader Abdulrahman recognition, and our During the celebrations, young age. coming years. I’d like to thank the ` Female Para-Athlete of the Year Award: Sara Hamdi Masoud athletes work tirelessly awards were presented to athletes Rania Al Naji, Promising Qatar Olympic Committee family `Sport Excellence Award: Abdulrahman Samba, Qatar Athletics Federation and administrators in different cat- Female Athlete of the Year, said: under the leadership of H E Sheikh ` Promising Male Athlete of the Year Award: Abdelaziz Mohammed and Owab Barow, Qatar We believe that egories. Male athlete of the year “This award means a lot to me and Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani for this Athletics Federation hard work deserves was awarded to Mutaz Barshim is a motivation in the start of my great occasion. I hope I will con- `Promising Female Athlete of the Year Award: Rania Raed Al Naji, Qatar Women’s Sport Com- who opened the 2018 Diamond sporting career to continue to tinue to be here in the coming mittee – Athletics recognition, and our League season with a world improve. At the same time, it a years and win more awards” athletes work tirelessly ` Jockey of the Year Award: Faleh Bo Ghneim leading jump of 2.40m on his way motivation to girls to work hard Mohammed Al Dosari who was ` Golden Federation Award: Qatar Athletics Federation to represent Qatar at to victory in Doha in May. He con- and take up more sports thanks to presented with the Male Adminis- ` Men’s Team of the Year Award: Qatar Indoor Handball Team tinues to be a tremendous athlete the support we receive from all trator of the Year stated: “The award the highest level and `Women’s Team of the Year Award: Table Tennis Team, and inspires many from the next entities.” “It’s a great is an incentive for all the winning ` raise the maroon flag generation. feeling because this is athletes, administrators and feder- Qatar Women’s Sport Committee Sport Achievement Award: * Team Qatar Channel Swim around the world. Qatar Parachuting Team * Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah * Qatar Bowling Team Administration Female athlete of the year was the first award I ations to continue to excel”. ` Sport Excellence Day awarded to shooting athlete Al Distinguished Governmental Institution in Supporting Olympic Movement in Qatar: Ministry Dana Saad Al Mubarak, who shows of Education and Higher Education is our way of thanking I’m extremely happy to win this award. This ` success every year as her abilities Distinguished Organisation in Supporting Sport and Organising Social Sport Programmes them, celebrating become stronger. Other awardees gives me extra motivation to give even more Award: Aspire Zone Foundation their success and include Sport Excellence of the in the coming years. I’d like to thank the Qatar ` Coach of the Year Award: Ibrahim Al Said Hassouna, Qatar Weightlifting and Fencing Federation ` encouraging them to Year, which was awarded to Olympic Committee family under the leadership Male Administrator of the Year Award: Mohammed D Al Dosari, Qatar Paralympic Association ` Female Administrator of the Year Award: Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation keep up the hard work: Abdulrahman Samba, who con- of H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani for tinues to beat records and defeat ` Referee of the Year Award: Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Jaida, Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation Jassim Al Buenain, Olympic and world champions at this great occasion. I hope I will continue to be `Camel Trainer of the Year Award: Jaber Salem Jaber Faran Secretary-General of every opportunity given. here in the coming years and win more awards: ` Camel Owner of the Year Award: Nasser Abdulla Al Mesnad QOC Admirative awards were pre- Abderrahman Samba, athlete ` Horse Owner of the Year Award: Khalifa S Al Kuwari sented to the Ministry of Education ` Qatari Horse Trainer of the Year Award: Hadi Nasser Al Ramzany 28 SPORT MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2018 Molinari crowned champion 76ers beat Hornets despite Walker’s after Fleetwood misses out 60 points; Mavs REUTERS DP World Tour DUBAI: Francesco Molinari Championship scores shock Warriors clinched the Race to Dubai title Dubai: Leading final-round scores AFP after defending champion Tommy Fleetwood failed to win yesterday in the $8m DP World the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah CHICAGO: Philadelphia’s Jimmy Butler delivered the overtime Tour Championship yesterday. Golf Estates (par-72, GBR & IRL dagger as the 76ers withstood 60 points from Kemba Walker in a Molinari has enjoyed a unless stated) 122-119 NBA victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. remarkable season, winning his Another nail-biter saw the two-time defending champion maiden major championship at 270: Danny Willett 67-67-68-68 Golden State Warriors drop a 112-109 decision to the Mavericks the British Open along with his 272: Matt Wallace 68-65-71-68, in Dallas. first Rolex Series title at the BMW Patrick Reed (USA) 69-66-67-70 Slovenian rookie Luka Doncic scored 24 points, including the PGA Championship. 274: Jon Rahm (ESP) 67-70-69- jump shot that put Dallas ahead for good with 1:10 remaining. Englishman Fleetwood, who 68, Adrian Otaegui (ESP) 66-68- The Warriors, missing injured starters Stephen Curry and needed to win at the Jumeirah 71-69, Dean Burmester (RSA) 71- Draymond Green -- and still smarting from the dust-up between Golf Estates to overtake Molinari Green and teammate Kevin Durant earlier this week -- led by 65-68-70, Francesco Molinari of in European Tour’s money list, eight in the second half before Dallas rallied to beat the Warriors 275: Dylan Frittelli (RSA) 70-73- Italy poses with the finished with a final-round four- for just the second time in their last 19 meetings. 66-66, Tom Lewis 69-69-67-70, under-par 68 to end 10-under Race to Dubai trophy The champions have now lost four of their last six, and have 276: Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) overall, four shots off the current following the final lost two in a row for the first time this season. clubhouse target. 70-66-71-69, Alexander Noren round of the DP World Durant scored 32 points, but only three in the fourth quarter. “It’s incredible,” Molinari (SWE) 69-71-67-69, Sergio Garcia Tour Championship at Klay Thompson added 22 for Golden State, but the Warriors had said. “Now I’m going to have (ESP) 71-68-67-70. Jumeirah Golf Estates multiple shots in the final minute to tie or take the lead and came time to sit down and relax and golf course in Dubai up empty. really think back about the last yesterday. Far from pushing the panic button, coach Steve Kerr said he few months. was pleased to see the Warriors play well enough to win -- even “This morning on the first tee if they came up short. the announcement is the winner of Merits or Race to Dubais. To Four of those points were “I know how talented he is “What we did tonight was fantastic,” he said. “The effort was of The Open Championship, achieve those things in one won in a pairing with team mate and I really thought at some great. We got incredible energy from the bench. Our guys com- Race to Dubai leader, it doesn’t single season is just incredible.” Fleetwood. point he was going to win it and peted the whole way through. It’s a first step to kind of getting our sound real at the moment. Molinari was also part of “It’s tough in a way because put me in a tough spot. groove back.” “It’s more than I ever Team Europe’s Ryder Cup it would have been probably “He’s obviously a great guy In Charlotte, Walker’s career night ended in disappointment dreamed of achieving. I’ve seen victory over the US at Le Golf easier in a way to play against and a super talented player and as Butler, acquired this week in a blockbuster trade with Min- guys that I think are better National in September, anyone else but him I’m sure being younger than me, nesota, blocked a Walker shot to keep it tied at 119-119 with 15.7 players than me not winning becoming the first European to (Fleetwood),” Molinari said he’s going to win a few more seconds left in overtime then drained a 27-foot jump shot with Majors and not winning Order win five points out of five. yesterday. Races to Dubai.” three-tenths of a second remaining to secure the win. “As much as I wanted the shot to go in to win the game, I also wanted it to go in because I didn’t want Kemba to give me 70,” Ichihara cards Butler quipped. “I wanted it to stop at 60.” 63 to win Ancer wins Australian Walker, the first player in Hornets history to score 60 points in a game, connected on 21 of 34 shots from the field and made all Dunlop 12 of his free throw attempts. He also pulled down seven rebounds, handed out four assists and came up with four steals. Phoenix “I’m still proud of -- that’s an unbelievable thing to do,” a frus- Open by five strokes trated Walker said. “I’m just mad that we lost. It would have been REUTERS even better with a win.” LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers saw their promising REUTERS TOKYO: Kodai Ichihara made to carry out my plan. I had the and watched it spin at an four-game winning streak come to an end with a listless 130-117 an up-and-down birdie from lead at a couple of PGA events extraordinary angle back into loss to the Orlando Magic in Florida. 100 yards at the final hole to SYDNEY: Unheralded last year and it didn’t work the hole for a birdie that Nikola Vucevic scored 24 of his 36 points in the second half win the Dunlop Phoenix by Mexican Abraham Ancer out. I learned a lot from that extended his lead to seven and grabbed 13 rebounds for Orlando, who led by as many as 21 one stroke as an out-of-sorts ignited his round with a and it all worked out today.” shots. points. Brooks Koepka finished 12th remarkable chip-in before Papadatos (67) finished The midas touch con- Three days after a 44-point performance that saw him move in Miyazaki yesterday. winning the Australian Open second on 11-under with tinued with two more birdies into the top-five on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, James was World number 425 by five strokes yesterday to McLeod (66) in third a shot at the eighth and ninth but a limited 22 points on eight-of-19 shooting. Ichihara rattled home with an join a host of golfing greats in further back with both bogey at the par-four 12th He added seven assists and four rebounds, but was on the eight-under-par 63, finishing lifting the Stonehaven Cup. earning the right to play with brought the chasing pack to bench in the fourth quarter, when the Lakers never got the deficit in style by almost holing his The world number 96, Ancer at next year’s British within four shots. Ancer flirted below double digits. third shot at the par-five 18th. whose only previous win as a Open in Northern Ireland. with the water with his “After the first quarter we were pretty bad defensively,” James He sank the short birdie professional came on the Local Marcus Fraser fin- approach shot at the 14th but said, adding that the young Lakers team had plenty of work to do putt and secured a surprise Web.com tour in 2015, started ished with a 70 for fourth on the ball stuck in the rough as before they could begin to think of the post-season. victory when fellow Japanese the day with a five-shot nine-under with a group of it rolled back towards the lake “Right now we’re going to try and get better and better each Mikumu Horikawa bogeyed cushion and a final-round five players sharing fifth, and he was able to snaffle month. I think we’ve done that -- we can’t think about the playoffs the par-five 18th minutes three-under-par 69 proved including Japanese amateur another birdie. just yet.” later. more than enough for victory Keita Nakajima who started Born in Texas but raised A second straight 40-point night from Anthony Davis pro- Horikawa made a com- on 16-under 272. the day in second place and over the border in Mexico, pelled the New Orleans Pelicans to a 125-115 victory over the Denver plete mess of the last, finding Australians Dimitrios rounded out an impressive Ancer joins a glittering honour Nuggets. a fairway bunker with his tee Papadatos and Jake McLeod week with a 72. roll at the Australian Open A day after he scored 43 in a comeback victory over the New shot, and a greenside bunker made things interesting for American drawcards with Gary Player, Jack York Knicks, Davis got 40 points with eight rebounds and eight with his third. He missed a the galleries at The Lakes Golf Keegan Bradley and Matt Nicklaus and Greg Norman assists. 12-foot putt that would have Club with a glut of birdies but Kuchar both shot final round among the former winners. He connected on 10 of 20 shots from the field and made 20 of forced a playoff. Ancer’s overnight lead always 75s to finish well off the pace His margin of victory was the his 21 free throw attempts. Ichihara was on the range looked like being too large a in a share of 17th and 23rd largest since Jordan Spieth tri- Julius Randle added 21 points off the bench and Nikola Mirotic preparing for a playoff at deficit to overcome. respectively. umphed by six shots in 2014, added a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Pel- Miyazaki Country Club when “I’m really on cloud nine Texas-born Ancer had his a win the American said acted icans notched their fifth win in six games. word filtered through that he at the moment,” Ancer told game face on for much of the as a springboard to his annus Eastern Conference leaders Toronto bounced back from their had won for the second time reporters. “I’d never been to day but even he could not mirabilis when he won two Friday night loss to Boston with an emphatic 122-83 victory over this year on the Japan Tour. Australia before this week and resist a huge grin when he majors the following year. the Chicago Bulls. He started the day five I think I’m really starting to chipped in at the fourth. “This win will give me a The Celtics, meanwhile, couldn’t build on their come-from- strokes behind Horikawa, but love this country. The 27-year-old sent the lot of confidence and hope- behind win over the Raptors, falling 98-86 to a Utah Jazz team led vaulted into contention with “I didn’t want to think ball well wide of the flag onto fully it’ll be the case for me as by the game-high 28 points of Donovan Mitchell. three early birdies, followed about my lead, I just wanted a bank at the back of the green well,” Ancer grinned. by an eagle at the par-four ninth. NBA Results Ichihara finished at Australian Open final 15-under 269, while over- round scores LA CLIPPERS 127 BROOKLYN 119 night leader Horikawa carded PHILADELPHIA 122 CHARLOTTE 119 69 for 14-under. SYDNEY: Top final-round scores at the Aus- INDIANA 97 ATLANTA 89 Australian Brendan Jones tralian Open at The Lakes in Sydney yesterday ORLANDO 130 LA LAKERS 117 (68) was two shots behind in (par 72, AUS unless stated, *denotes ama- NEW ORLEANS 125 DENVER 115 third place. He missed a short teur): UTAH 98 BOSTON 86 birdie putt at the last. TORONTO 122 CHICAGO 83 World number one 272 - Abraham Ancer (MEX) 69-69-65-69 HOUSTON 132 SACRAMENTO 112 Brooks Koepka, a double 277 - Dimitrios Papadatos 69-70-71-67 DALLAS 112 GOLDEN STATE 109 major winner in 2018, never 278 - Jake McLeod 70-67-75-66 OKLAHOMA CITY 110 PHOENIX 100 looked like making it a hat- trick of victories at the event 279 - Marcus Fraser 69-69-71-70 after starting the final round 280 - John Sendon 73-71-70-66, *David five shots from the lead. Micheluzzi 68-69-74-69, Matthew Millar NHL Results “I’ve probably hit it the 73-68-71-68, Cameron Percy 69-69-72-70, worst I’ve hit all year today, *Keita Nakajima (JPN) 70-68-70-72 DETROIT 3 NEW JERSEY 2 and I didn’t make any putts,” 281 - Cameron Smith 74-71-70-66, An TAMPA BAY 6 PHILADELPHIA 5 the American said after a 69 Byeong-hun (KOR) 67-69-76-69 BUFFALO 3 MINNESOTA 2 that left him six strokes off the 282 - Brendan Steele (USA) 73-69-73-67 MONTREAL 3 VANCOUVER 2 pace. It’s hard to really expect Selected OTTAWA 6 PITTSBURGH 4 anything different. The fans Mexico’s Abraham Ancer poses with 284 - *Takumi Kanaya (JPN) 70-70-72-72, NY RANGERS 4 FLORIDA 2 here are great, so polite, so the winner’s trophy after his victory in Keegan Bradley (USA) 72-66-71-75 COLUMBUS 4 CAROLINA 1 supportive. It’s fun to play in the final round of the Australian Open 285 - Matt Kuchar (USA) 70-67-73-75 BOSTON 2 ARIZONA 1 front of them. Unfortunately, at the Lakes Golf Club at Eastlakes in 287 - Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 73-72-68-74 NASHVILLE 5 LOS ANGELES 3 I just couldn’t give them any- Sydney yesterday. 287 - Brandt Snedeker (USA) 73-72-73-69 CALGARY 4 EDMONTON 2 thing to get excited about this SAN JOSE 4 ST LOUIS 0 week.” MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2018 SPORT 29 Mayweather and kickboxer will aim to ‘knock each other out’ in bout

AFP

Repsol Honda’s Spanish rider TOKYO: Boxing Dani Pedrosa rides during the superstar Floyd third MotoGP free practice Mayweather Jr and session of the Valencia Grand a Japanese kick- Prix at the Ricardo Tormo boxer half his age racetrack in Cheste. will be aiming to knock each other out next month, despite the match-up being an exhibition, the fight’s Japanese promoter said Floyd Mayweather Jr smiles after Seattle yesterday. Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (not The bout between May- pictured) handed him the ball he caught for Dovizioso rides smart to win weather and a touchdown in the second half against the Tenshin Nasukawa, Los Angeles Rams at the Memorial Coliseum first announced in this November 11, 2018, ﬁle photo. earlier this month, rain-hit Valencia Grand Prix was abruptly scrapped by the American boxer over a “misunderstanding”, AP race was red-flagged because of the become the youngest Grand Prix winner according to the CEO of mixed martial arts promotor RIZIN. treacherous track conditions. in motorcycling at age 15. But on Friday it was back on for New Year’s Eve. CHESTE: Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati took Marquez, who claimed his fifth Oncu secured the historic victory by “It will be a non-official bout. It won’t be on record. So it’s an advantage of a difficult wet track to win MotoGP title in Japan three races ago, taking advantage of crashes on a wet track exhibition match,” Nobuyuki Sakakibara told reporters at Haneda the season-ending Valencia MotoGP crashed with 21 laps to go after starting in front of him. airport in Tokyo returning from talks with Mayweather in Los yesterday. fifth. He competed with pain in his left He started fourth and moved to third Angeles. Poor conditions forced the race to be shoulder after also crashing in qualifying by the end of the first lap, then second- “But at worst it’s not going to be a sparring... they will fight interrupted near its halfway point with on Saturday. place Marco Bezzecchi crashed early in aiming to knock out,” he added. Alex Rins in the lead on a Suzuki, but Andrea Iannone, who is moving from the race and leader Tony Arbolino went The Mayweather side had been confused with the status of the Dovizioso took control after the restart to Suzuki to Aprilia next season, also crashed down with 12 laps to go. bout as it was unclear if it will be an official fight, according to seal his fourth win of the season. early in the race. Oncu won at 15 years, 115 days, Sakakibara. The Italian rider, who had already It was the last MotoGP race for Dani breaking the record held by British rider Asked if the bout could be cancelled again, Sakakibara said: secured second place in the championship, Pedrosa, the 33-year-old Spaniard who Scott Redding since 2008. “I don’t think there will be a cancellation unless unforeseen cir- started third at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. is retiring as a full-time MotoGP rider and Oncu also became the first rider to win cumstances such as extraordinary natural phenomenon occur.” He finished ahead of Rins and Pol will test with KTM next season. He fin- on his grand prix debut since Japan’s Mayweather has already said the fight would go ahead in Espargaro of KTM, who earned the first ished fifth yesterday. Noboru Ueda in a 125cc race in 1991. Saitama, north of Tokyo, but would be an exhibition. podium of his career. Three-time champion Jorge Lorenzo Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira won “We’re going to make it happen. It’s a no-brainer,” the retired Seven-time MotoGP champion Val- ended 12th in his final race before moving the Moto2 race for his third victory of the welterweight boxer told the US website TMZ Sports in California entino Rossi started near the back but from Ducati to Honda to replace Pedrosa. year, finishing ahead of Spanish riders Iker on Wednesday. recovered to second place before crashing Alvaro Bautista, the 33-year-old Lecuona and Alex Marquez, Marc’s The unbeaten 41-year-old, who won world titles in five dif- with five laps to go. Spaniard who will race in Superbikes next younger brother who recovered after ferent weight divisions, told the site the face-off would involve no He still secured third place in the season, also was among the riders who crashing while leading the race with 10 kicking, saying: “It’s going to be a little boxing exhibition.” championship, ahead of teammate Mav- crashed. laps to go. Sakakibara confirmed the fight would be an orthodox boxing erick Vinales, the pole-sitter who was one Earlier yesterday, Turkish rider Can Francesco Bagnaia, the Moto2 style without kicking, which will be a disadvantage for Nasukawa, of the many riders to go down before the Oncu won his maiden Moto3 race to champion in advance, finished 14th. an unbeaten kickboxer. “But I want him to pull off something like a miracle,” he said adding that further details of rules such as a decision will be dis- cussed later. Sakakibara also said a contract of the bout remained unchanged as the highest paid for such an exhibition, but did not reveal the Can he? Yes, he can! Oncu, 15, amount. stuns field to create GP history

MOTOGP.COM

CHESTE: Wildcard rider and 2018 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion Can Oncu (Red Bull KTM Ajo) yesterday became the youngest ever Grand Prix race winner after a simply sensational ride to P1 in wet conditions at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comu- nitat Valenciana. The 15-year-old beat 2018 World Champion Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) by over four seconds, with John McPhee (CIP – Green Power) completing the RIZIN Fighting Federation’s CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara speaks podium in the final Moto3™ race of 2018. during a press conference on the exhibition ﬁght between US It was McPhee who got the initial launch from P3 on the grid but it was pole man Tony boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr and Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Arbolino (Marinelli Snipers Team) and P6 Nasukawa, at Haneda airport in Tokyo yesterday. starter Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PruestelGP) who managed to brake later into Turn 1 to Turkish teenager Can Oncu is seen celebrating his record-creating Motor3 win in this Somalia holds first boxing gran P1 and P2, with Oncu passing McPhee photo posted on MotoGP Twitter handle yesterday. At 15, Oncu becomes the youngest into Turn 2 after getting a good start from rider to win a Grand Prix. P4. There was drama straight away at Turn competition since civil war 4 though as Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra AFP Corse) lost the front of his Honda machine, take P2 in the Championship with Bezzecchi With three to go, the gap was 7.5 seconds taking out the helpless Aron Canet (Estrella crashing. and with two laps remaining, it was still north Galicia 0,0) and Lorenzo Dalla Porta Then, a huge race-defining moment. of seven seconds. Last lap time, the biggest MOGADISHU: Somalia has held its first boxing competition in (Leopard Racing) in the process. Leader Arbolino crashed at Turn 4 with 12 lap of Oncu’s and it was almost disaster at more than three decades, with young fighters in the conflict-torn The top four of Arbolino, Bezzecchi, Oncu laps remaining to hand the lead to 15-year- Turn 6 – a huge moment for the second time nation dreaming of a career in international rings. and McPhee had an immediate gap to the old Oncu, his lead? 6.8 seconds over Di Gian- on the exit, but he kept upright. Then? The three-day lightweight boxing competition that wrapped chasing pack on the opening lap, but after a nantonio, Martin and McPhee. Meanwhile, Jubilation. up yesterday took place in the capital Mogadishu, where athletes couple of laps McPhee couldn’t quite keep Bezzecchi suffered his second crash of the Oncu became the youngest ever Grand squared off in a ring set up on a basketball court surrounded by the pace as Arbolino created a half second race at Turn 12, with teammate Jakub Prix winner at 15 years and 115 days old, ruined buildings that bore witness to the country’s long conflict. lead over Bezzecchi. Then, chasing his com- Kornfeil also crashing at the same corner. taking the record from Scott Redding, set at The fighters were cheered by dozens of enthusiastic residents patriot, Bezzecchi crashed at the treacherous With 10 laps to go, Oncu had stretched Donington Park in 2008. of the capital, many of whom had never seen or heard of boxing Turn 4 on Lap 4 – the Italian remounting to his lead to eight seconds and with eight to What a debut and what a future as Oncu before in a country where football and basketball are far more re-join the race, with second in the Cham- go, it remained at eight. also became the first rider to win on their popular, even before the war when such competitions were rare. pionship slipping away from his grasp. Tensions were high on the Red Bull KTM Grand Prix debut since Noboru Ueda won The last Somali competition he could recall was in 1982. This left Arbolino with a two second lead Ajo pitwall as twin brother Deniz and Team the 125 race at the Japanese GP in 1991, while Ahmed said the competition involved four teams of two people, out front, with wildcard Oncu giving chase Manager Aki Ajo kept telling Oncu to keep he also became the first former Asia Talent all from Mogadishu as “we don’t have access to other regions in – the Turkish rider lucky to stay on after a it calm. Meanwhile, Di Giannantonio had a Cup rider to win a Grand Prix – stunning. the country.” huge scare at Turn 6 though. The Italian’s moment at Turn 2, which handed teammate Behind, Martin crossed the line in P2 to The winner was 21-year-old Mustafa Mohamed Nur, who said: rhythm was frightening as he looked like he and World Champion Martin P2. cap off an incredible year before he moves “This was a big day for me, I have become the first Somali to win was on rails around the Circuit Ricardo History was inching ever closer and with to Moto2™, with McPhee taking P3 on his a boxing competition inside the country since the civil war.” Tormo, edging out the gap to Oncu by a five to go, Oncu’s lead was still eight seconds. last ride for CIP – Green Power, the first since Because of the conflict, many Somali athletes compete inter- couple of tenths a lap, with McPhee falling The battle for the final podium spot was his German GP podium. nationally for adopted nations. into the clutches of the two Del Conca Gresini being won by McPhee as he got the better of Can Oncu, remember the name – we’ll Britain’s most successful track athlete Mo Farah was a Somalian Moto3 bikes – Fabio Di Giannantonio and Di Giannantonio, but all eyes were fixated be seeing him full-time in the lightweight refugee, and title-winning female boxer Ramla Ali and her family Martin, with the former now in a position to on the leading number 61 KTM. class in 2019 and what a season we’re in for. fled Mogadishu during the war. 30 SPORT MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2018 Qatar 2022 countdown is on as beIN chalks out special plans

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: As the four-year countdown for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar kicks off on November 21, beIN is dedicating a full day in honour of one of the biggest sporting events in the world on several of its channels, live from the host nation. From special programs and interviews to reports, beIN will broadcast the captivating history and experiences of the World Cup throughout the years through its unrivalled commentary, expertise, and exclusive footage of some of the most iconic moments in football. Having been the official broadcaster of the FIFA World Cup since 2010, and also the official broadcaster of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, several beIN star presenters and guests will report live from several loca- tions around Qatar, including the revamped and ultra-modern Khalifa International Stadium, giving viewers a glimpse into what to expect in just a few short years. Viewers can tune into beIN’s English and Arabic channels, as well as beIN’s dedicated 4K channel, to catch historic World Cup matches. beIN’s official social media accounts will surprise followers with additional exclusive content and live interviews from Qatar. Commenting on 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, beIN MEDIA GROUP Sports Advisor Jonathan Whitehead said: “As the official broadcaster, beIN MEDIA GROUP’s prime focus is providing millions of viewers with outstanding, top quality and dynamic coverage of the greatest football tournament in the world. As an organization with a strong and very proud footprint in the Middle East, beIN MEDIA GROUP is tremendously excited that the FIFA World Cup will be coming to the Arab region for the first time”. “We are also enormously confident in Qatar’s ability to deliver an exceptional World Cup experience, and recent major events in the country have been terrific successes: the 2006 Asian Games, the 2015 World Men’s Handball Championship and next year the World Championships in Athletics. In addition to combining vibrant Qatari culture and hospi- tality with innovative fan and player experiences, the compact nature of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar will offer millions of fans a unique and dis- tinct experience, and build a lasting legacy in Qatar and the entire MENA region,” he added. beIN is the official broadcaster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, having started its journey as the official broadcaster of the FIFA tournament since 2010. One can follow beIN’s Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts @ beINSPORTS and @beINSPORTS_MENA for Twitter Arabic for all the updates as Qatar counts down to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Loew looking Portugal hold off Italy to reach to rebuild after 2018 collapse Nations League semi-finals REUTERS AFP BERLIN: Germany coach Italy’s midﬁelder Nicolo Barella (centre) goes for the ball under pressure from Portugal’s midﬁelder William Carvalho during the Joachim Loew said the team’s UEFA Nations League group 3 match at the San Siro Stadium in Milan on Saturday. MILAN: European champions demise in 2018 was unex- Portugal became the first team pected but part of a normal to qualify for the Nations League cycle in sport and he is now semi-finals on Saturday after focussed on what the former holding Italy to a 0-0 draw at the world champions need to do San Siro. to rise again. The Portuguese -- despite Germany face the Neth- the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo erlands today in their last -- progressed with one match to Nations League group game, play, and are sure to finish top having already been rele- of Group A3, with Italy’s hopes gated, and are looking to cap in the tournament over. a terrible year with a good Poland had already been rel- performance. egated to League B. They started the year as Roberto Mancini’s Italians reigning world champions needed a win to keep their hopes and overwhelming favourites of advancing to the final four to retain the World Cup in next June alive, but despite Russia. pushing Portugal for over an Yet they exited the tour- hour in front of 73,000 spec- nament at their earliest stage tators at the San Siro, could not in 80 years and are heading find a way through. into 2019 after a German- Instead, they earned a record six defeats so far goalless draw which echoed the within a calendar year. stalemate against Sweden a year Another blow was ago that ended their hopes of delivered on Friday when the reaching the World Cup in Dutch beat France to guar- Russia. antee Germany’s relegation “It’s really satisfying to reach in the inaugural Nations the final phase of this compe- League competition. tition,” said coach Fernando “We now want to say Santos. goodbye (to 2018) with a good “But it was a very difficult performance and show the match, above all the first half fans that we are on the right when I have to admit we had a Portugal threatened after the we’re going to also put the attack sending an effort wide from an and chances, but we must make track to recovery,” Loew told lot of difficulties.” Portugal host break as William Carvalho was into place,” added Mancini after angle. more of our scoring opportu- a news conference. Poland on Tuesday in Gui- denied by Gianluigi Don- Italy maintained their record of Former AC Milan defender nities,” said defender Chiellini, “We had a decade of maraes, in a match that has no narumma and substitute Joao never having been beaten at the Leonardo Bonucci, whistled by who is the Azzurri’s top scorer rising to the top and there significance for either side. Mario fired over the bar. San Siro. the crowd every time he touched with eight goals. sometimes can be a year But Santos insisted: “The “I think we played an Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini the ball after moving back to “We worked so hard and where nothing works,” said final match against Poland will excellent match but we didn’t celebrated his 100th Italy cap, Juventus this season, headed then in the final half-hour we the German. be important because it will be manage to score which is an exactly 14 years to the day since onto the side-netting from a were exhausted, which took “It was something com- in front of our supporters, who important detail,” said Mancini. his debut against Finland. free-kick. away sharpness and meant we pletely new for me. Now we are always with us. “We dominated Portugal and Insigne forced a save from Federico Chiesa came close were risky at the back. have reached a phase where “We have to have a great then had a drop in tempo after Rui Patricio after five minutes on 53 minutes after a cross from “We’ve got the foundations, we have to renew things, match and to win.” Santos’ side 70 minutes, which is only to be firing in from a distance with the Cristiano Biraghi following good we dominated the reigning improve, start from scratch. had beaten Italy 1-0 in Lisbon expected, as we can’t play in Portuguese goalkeeper clearing work from Marco Verratti but the European champions and the We need to draw the right and withstood early pressure their half for 90 minutes. into the path of Immobile. Portuguese defence cleared. issue of not scoring goals will conclusions and take the right from the hosts with Lorenzo “Even if we’re disappointed But the Lazio forward sent “I think we’re on the right improve with time.” Italy play a measures.” Loew started Insigne and Ciro Immobile both at not winning I think we have the rebound over the crossbar, path, as we controlled it for 70 friendly against the United States several youngsters in their going close in the first half. everything and little by little with Alessandro Florenzi also minutes with a lot of great play in Genk tomorrow. 3-0 friendly win over Russia. MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2018 SPORT 31

Qatar’s Hassan nominated for top AFC award

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar national team defender Abdulkraim Hassan has been nominated for the prestigious 2018 AFC-Player-of- the-Year award, it has been confirmed. The AFC Player-of-the-Year awards ceremony will be held on November 28 in Muscat, Oman, AFC said earlier this month. Hassan will compete against Japan’s Yamama Suzuki and Iran’s Ali Reza for the top honours. The last Qatari player to win the award was striker Khalfan Qatar national Ibrahim who bagged the prestigious Asian trophy in 2002. team defender Hassan, an integral part of Qatar football plans, has been seen in top form and fitness in the last few years. Abdulkraim He has rarely missed a Qatar international home or away. Hassan (centre) The 25-year-old, who plays for QNB Stars League giants and his team- Al Sadd, was the captain of the national side that finished mates during fourth in the AFC U-23 Championship held in Qatar. a training He is currently with the national side in Europe where session ahead Qatar are playing two friendlies this week. He featured in of international Qatar’s 1-0 win over Switzerland last Wednesday. friendly against Hassan is expected to play a key role in Qatar’s 2019 Asian Iceland in Cup campaign to be held in the UAE. Eupen, Belgium The awards ceremony - to be hosted by Oman Football on Saturday. Association (OFA) will be held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. The ceremony will be attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, QFA chief Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, and Sports Minister at the Ministry of Sports Sheikh Saad bin Upbeat Qatar eye another Mohammed bin Said Al Mardhouf Al Saadi, it has been confirmed. Football officials from 46 member countries of AFC along with dignitaries from Oman will also be attendance. upset in Iceland friendly QFA officials will also attend the awards ceremony. QSL CUP: ROUND THREE HIGHLIGHTS FAWAD HUSSAIN Qatar take on Iceland today in Eupen in their The third round of the QSL Cup witnessed some exciting battles and interesting results. A THE PENINSULA Qatar’s best result which has ﬁnal friendly on training tour of Europe. left the football world whis- total of 22 goals were scored across the six fixtures. In the Group A matches played on Sat- pering about the Gulf state’s urday, Umm Salal drew 1-1 with Al Duhail, Qatar SC defeated Al Arabi 2-1 and Al Gharafa DOHA: After a stunning 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts stunned football charge in 2022 World Cup on blanked Al Kharaitiyat 3-0. In the Group B games played on Friday, Al Sadd drew 3-3 with Al victory over World No.8 Swit- fraternity with a 1-0 win over World No.8 their home soil. Sailiya, Al Rayyan beat Al Shahania 3-1 and Al Khor defeated Al Ahli 3-1. Group A zerland, Qatar willl be eyeing Switzerland last week. “We are in a good way,” another impressive Spain and Barcelona legend *In Group A, defending champions Al Gharafa registered their first victory. The Cheetahs performance when they take Xavi Hernandez, who captains rode on a double from Moayad Hassan and a goal by Dutch star Wesley Sneijder to put it on Iceland in international Qatar coach Sanchez is expected to test new Al Sadd told AFP recently. across Al Kharaitiyat. friendly in Belgium today. strategies in today’s match. “We have many talented *Abdulla Kamal put Umm Salal ahead, but Al Duhail equalised through star Moroccan striker Today’s game in Eupen players and it means that Yousef El Arabi, the top scorer in the QNB Stars League in the last two seasons. will be Qatar’s second and final (coach) Felix Sanchez is doing *Qatar SC put up a strong performance against Al Arabi, who took the lead through Gaser friendly on training tour of winning form after they were “When you’re facing a top a really good job. Zakaria. Ali Jasemi and Eisa Palangi were on target for Qatar SC. Europe where coach Felix hammered by Belgium 2-0 in team we need to do more “We must keep going like *Al Gharafa, Al Duhail, Qatar SC and Umm Salal all have five points each, but Al Gharafa led Sanchez’s men are preparing Brussels earlier this week. things that we are not used to that. It’s a big win, of course,” the Group A standings on better goal difference (+3). for the next year’s Asian Cup. The European side, ranked do but that’s the way to he said. *Al Duhail, Qatar SC and Umm Salal have scored four, three and two goals respectively. The game will kick off at 36th in the FIFA rankings, will compete,” said Sanchez. Following the European 9:30pm local time. start as favourite against the Today’s match will be friendlies, Qatar will play Group B Qatar will go into match 2022 World Cup hosts, who Qatar’s 6th international more international games *In Group B, Ali Asad scored two goals and Hamed Ismail one for Al Sadd. with full confidence, hoping to are hoping for significant rise friendly this season, and so far next month when they host For Al Sailiya, Mohammed Rajab contributed a brace. Abdul Rauf too got on to the replicate their performance of in the rankings from their the Al Anabi have shown good Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Algeria scoresheet for The Peregrines. Switzerland match, which they current 96th spot. performance as they have won and Iran on December 17, 23, *Lucca Borges, Rodrigo Tabata and Koh Myong-Jin netted Al Rayyan’s goals, while Sultan Al won by 1-0 after a late goal by Sanchez, who said the win four with their only loss this 25 and 31. Kuwari pulled one back for Al Shahania. Akram Afif in Lugano last over Switzerland will motivate season is a 2-0 defeat to The AFC Asian Cup, the Al Rayyan led the group table with nine points. Al Khor too have the same number of points, week. players and boost team’s con- Uzbekistan last month. quadrennial event, will be held but were placed below Al Rayyan on goal difference. Iceland, on the other hand, fidence, is expected to test new The victory over Swit- in the UAE from January 5 to *Al Sadd (four points), Al Ahli (three), Al Sailiya (one) and Al Shahania (zero) follow in that

will be hoping to regain strategies in today’s match. zerland, however, is deemed February 1, 2019. order.

Scots close on Ronaldo still very much part Nations League promotion of Portugal team, says coach AFP to the message the Juventus Group A3 with one match to AFP player sent to wish his team- play, dashing Italy’s hopes in the MILAN: Portugal coach mates good luck via Twitter. process. PARIS: Bournemouth winger Fernando Santos insisted that Portugal booked their ticket “The qualification confirms Ryan Fraser scored his maiden superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to the semi-finals next June after the quality of our football,” said international goal as Alex remains a key part of his holding Italy to a 0-0 draw at Santos. McLeish’s Scotland thrashed national team despite being left the San Siro on Saturday. “I thought it would be a great 10-man Albania 4-0 in Shkoder outt of his Nations League squad, They progressed top of match and instead especially iinn to close in on promotion from afterter the European champions the first half we had a lot of Nations League C. becamecame the first team to difficulties.difficulties. The Scots will secure top advancevance to the semi-finals of thethe “After“After the break I eexplainedxplained spot in Group C1 and a Euro competition.mpetition. to them what was happening,happening, Steven Fletcher scores Scotland 2020 play-off place if they can TheThe five-timefive-time BallonBallon d’Ord’Or andand the gagameme became more second goal from the penalty beat Israel at Hampden Park winnernner sspentpent much of laslastt balanced.”balanced.” tomorrow. spot against Albania on Saturday. monthonth vehementlyvehemently denyingdenying allealle-- PortugalPortugal host relegatedrelegated “I had a good feeling about gationstions ooff rrapeape andand was ddroppedropped PolandPoland in tthreehree daysdays in GuiGui-- it and I felt if the players brought by Santos for the Nations League maraes,maraes, in a match that has no their performance level to the were awarded a penalty shortly volleyed into the corner by internationalsernationals amiamidd accusationaccusationss signisignificanceficance forfor eithereither side.side. game then it would be positive before the interval when Stuart Forrest. The 27-year-old Forrest by former model KathrynKathryn But Santos insisted: “The and that’s how it turned out,” Armstrong’s free-kick struck an has now scored 11 goals in all Mayorgaayorga that Ronaldo raped hherer final match against Poland willwill Scotland manager McLeish told arm in the Albanian wall, and competitions for club and in 2009, just before he joinedjoined be important because it will Sky Sports after Saturday’s win. Sheffield Wednesday striker country this term. Realeal Madrid from MMan-an- bebe on front of our public, Fraser scored an excellent Steven Fletcher stepped up to net “James has been there or chesterester UnitedUnited.. whowhw o are always witwithh individual goal to give the vis- for his country for the first time thereabouts in the last couple of “There“There aarere nnoo us.usu . “W“Wee hhaveave ttoo itors a 14th-minute lead, since September 2016. years for Scotland,” McLeish questionsuestions to ask. plaplayy well and to latching onto the ball after Ryan Scotland made the most of added. “He’s won a lot of caps. Ronaldoonaldo is part ooff win.”win.” Christie won possession, before the wide-open spaces available “He’s been in great scoring thisis team, jjustust cutting inside and curling the to them in the second half, with form for his club and he con- readad the post ball into the far corner to con- Christie sending Celtic winger tinued that which was mar- hee wwroterote tinue his fine form this season. James Forrest clear to loft in his vellous to see.” today,”day,” said Cristiano Ronaldo Scotland were handed a first international goal 10 minutes Earlier on Saturday, Kosovo Santos,a ntos, man advantage midway after the restart. took a big step towards reaching referringferring through the first half as Mergim Fraser turned provider in the the qualifying play-offs for the Mavraj was sent off for head- 67th minute as his cutback was Euros with a 5-0 thrashing of butting Christie. McLeish’s men expertly flicked into the air and Malta. MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2018 SPORT 27

We want to go out and put our CRICKET best foot forward and focus on India’s head coach Ravi FOOTBALL our game rather than what’s Shastri ahead of series UEFA Nations League: First Test: Pakistan vs happening outside. against Australia.

Germany vs Netherlands ACTION New Zealand, Day 4 TODAY’S India ‘taking no prisoners’ against Australia: Shastri REUTERS weak Indian team because you will be surprised.” Shastri said SYDNEY: India’s head coach his side would be “taking no Ravi Shastri says his side will prisoners” in their approach to take no prisoners in their the series. upcoming Test series against “We want to go out and put Australia, who are still formi- our best foot forward and focus dable opponents despite results on our game rather than what’s going against them in the wake happening outside,” he added. of the ball-tampering scandal. India will play a three- The scandal, which match Twenty20 series before occurred during the third Test the first Test starts at Adelaide against South Africa in Cape Oval on December 6. Town in March, resulted in The Australia series will be England’s captain Joe Root (centre) and team-mates acknowledge spectators after their team won against Sri Lanka on the ﬁnal day year-long bans to former Aus- the last chance in 2018 for Virat of the second Test match in Kandy yesterday. tralia captain Steve Smith and Kohli’s men to match their for- vice-captain David Warner, midable home form with with batsman Cameron Ban- success abroad and show the croft suspended for nine world why they are the world’s months. top-ranked test side. Australia have struggled to India, who last lost a Test England seal SL series, recover from the crisis, losing series at home in late 2012 a Test series to Pakistan in the against England, started the United Arab Emirates and being year with a 2-1 loss in South whitewashed 5-0 by England Africa but then thrashed debu- in a one-day international tants Afghanistan at home in a eye rankings summit series in June. one-off Test. AFP They also lost 2-1 to South They then lost a five-match SCOREBOARD “It feels good to have three Africa at home in an ODI series series 4-1 in England before England (I Innings) ...... 290 A Dananjaya (not out) ...... 8 spinners in the team. We all earlier this month. thrashing West Indies 2-0 at KANDY: Captain Joe Root set his Sri Lanka (I Innings) ...... 336 S Lakmal (capt) b Moeen ...... 0 know our roles and help each Shastri, however, believes home. sights on taking England to the England(II Innings) ...... 346 M Pushpakumara c and b Leach ...... 1 other out. It’s nice to make Australia will still be strong in Kohli scored four hundreds top of the world rankings after Sri Lanka (II Innings) Extras (B5, LB4) ...... 9 history and hopefully we can the four-match series that starts during the team’s last trip his spin trio finished off Sri D Karunaratne c Foakes b Rashid ...... 57 Total (all out) ...... 243 carry that on now,” said Rashid. next month and being deprived ‘Down Under’ and Shastri Lanka in the second Test K Silva st Foakes b Leach ...... 4 Fall of Wickets: 14-1, 16-2, 26-3, 103-4, 176-5, Leach, playing just his third of key players will not weaken backed the batting ace to come yesterday to seal the series with D de Silva c Jennings b Leach ...... 1 221-6, 226-7, 240-8, 240-9, 243-10 Test, said the game had been them significantly on home soil. good again. a match to spare. K Mendis lbw b Leach ...... 1 Bowling: Anderson 5-2-12-0, Leach 28-2-83-5, “unbelievable”. Moeen Ali 19-2-72-4, Adil Rashid 17-1-52-1, Root “I always believe no team “He loves coming to Aus- England needed just 30 A Mathews lbw b Moeen ...... 88 Root insisted that England R Silva c Root b Moeen ...... 37 5-0-15-0 is weak at home,” Shastri, tralia, he’s passionate about his minutes on the fifth day to take N Dickwella c Stokes b Moeen ...... 35 Result: England win by 57 runs will not ease up for the third and whose side have never won a game and the pitches here suit the final three Sri Lanka wickets. D Perera lbw b Leach ...... 2 England take winning 2-0 lead in three-match series final Test which starts in Test series in Australia, told hiss stystyle e oof pplay,” ay, former o e India dia Jack Leach got last man Malinda Colombo on Friday. reportersreporters in BrisbaneBrisbane all-rounderall-rounder ShShastriastri said.said. Pushpakumara caught and He faces some tough yesterday.yesterday. “Once“Once yyouou hhaveave donedone wellwell bowled to claim his first five- the summer, and it’s pleasing to wicket of the morning -- Sri selection choices after stand-in “We mightmight inin thisthis part ofof thethe worldworld youyou wicket Test haul. see another close game go our Lanka’s hopes were all but wicketkeeper Ben Foakes again havehave threethree or alwaysalways want to come ououtt Moeen Ali took four wickets way. extinguished. shone with the bat -- hitting a four playersplayers not andand plaplayy well aagain.gain. and Adil Rashid one as England’s “We said we’d come out here Moeen then struck No. 10 crucial unbeaten 65 in the playingplaying wwhenhen a “It’s a ggreatreat pplacelace to playplay three frontline spinners and play bold cricket, and be batsman Suranga Lakmal, the second innings -- just as Jonny teteamam comes toto cricket,cricket, ttheyhey playplay it hard,hard, tthehe accounted for the whole innings, courageous. It’s easy to talk a Sri Lanka skipper, on the pad Bairstow steps up claims for a India,India, bbutut GoGodd sportingsporting ppublicublic reareallylly aappre-ppre- as well as 18 of Sri Lanka’s 20 good game but we’ve backed it next ball for a strong lbw appeal recall after injury. forbid if cciateiate good,good, toutoughgh cricket.cricket. ItIt wickets in the game overall. up,” Root said. which was turned down. He Sri Lanka will be looking to ananyoney one ddoesn’toesn’t matter wwhichhich sisidede Root’s 124 in England’s “We have to keep looking to bowled Lakmal his very next strengthen their rebuilding, said sasaysys itit wwinsins as longlong as there’sthere’s second innings also played a key improve. The team has grown delivery. Pushpakumara lasted coach Chandika is a competition.”competition.” role in the 57-run victory and in the last 18 months but we are only eight balls before chipping Hathurusingha. earned him the man-of-the- not the finished article. We want the ball back to Leach and the “We’re looking at the bigger match award. Celebrating Eng- to get to number one in the game was over. picture,” he said. Ravi Shastri land’s first away series win since world and that means per- Lakmal insisted his side had “This is the first series we beating South Africa in 2015-16 forming in all conditions around been “unlucky”. lost this year. We won against and his first away triumph as the world.” But England’s triumph fol- South Africa 2-0. In these two captain, Root sees England -- Sri Lanka needed 301 in their lowed a crushing 211-run win in games there were very close who are currently ranked third second innings to register an the first Test in Galle, and was set games. We had the opportunity in the world -- challenging India upset win but managed just 243 up by masterful performances to win both games at times. for the top Test team spot. at the Pallekele ground. from Leach, Ali and Rashid. “England played better “It was a brilliant Test They started the day needing The spinners were dominant cricket than us. We have to match,” said Root, whose team 75 more runs and with three for both sides, as Sri Lanka’s Dil- accept that. We have to learn had to twice fight back after their wickets in hand had an outside ruwan Perera took seven from these mistakes,” he added. top order batsmen gave away chance. wickets in the game and Akila “The skill is still there -- cheap wickets. After Niroshan Dickwella Dananjaya -- who now goes off that’s what I’m banking on. “It ebbed and flowed was caught by Ben Stokes off for an investigation into his That’s the hope that I have with throughout, like against India in Moeen Ali for 35 -- the first bowling action -- eight. this team.” Hasan, Yasir set Pakistan on victory path in ﬁrst Test

AFP SCOREBOARD Hasan then wrapped up the New Zealand (I Innings) ...... 153 Extras: (B 4, NB 1, W 1) ...... 6 innings by bowling Ish Sodhi for ABU DHABI: Medium pacer Pakistan (I Innings) ...... 227 Total: (all out) ...... 249 18 and Trent Boult caught off a Hasan Ali and leg-spinner Yasir New Zealand (II Innings) Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-86, 3-105, 4-108, 5-220, miscued drive for nought to Shah took five wickets apiece to J Raval c Sarfraz b Hasan ...... 46 6-224, 7-227, 8-227, 9-249 improve on his previous best set Pakistan on the victory path T Latham b Hasan ...... 0 Bowling: Abbas 22-10-31-0, Hasan 17.4-3-45-5 figures of 4-51 against England on the third day of the first Test K Williamson b Yasir ...... 37 (1nb, 1w), Yasir 37-6-110-5, Sohail 7-1-12-0, Asif 14- at Lord’s in May this year. against New Zealand in Abu R Taylor lbw b Hasan ...... 19 3-43-0, Hafeez 3-1-4-0 New Zealand were in danger Dhabi yesterday. H Nicholls c Sarfraz b Yasir ...... 55 Pakistan (II Innings) of losing the Test yesterday after Imam-ul-Haq (batting) ...... 25 Hasan took his maiden five- BJ Watling lbw b Yasir ...... 59 three quick wickets fell in the C de Grandhomme lbw b Yasir ...... 3 Mohammad Hafeez (batting) ...... 8 wicket haul with 5-45 while Yasir I Sodhi b Hasan ...... 18 Extras: (B4) ...... 4 space of just 22 runs in the first finished with 5-110 -- his 14th five- N Wagner b Yasir ...... 0 Total: (no loss; 8 overs) ...... 37 session with Hasan taking two wicket feat in an innings -- as New Ajaz Patel not out ...... 6 Bowling: Boult 3-0-16-0, de Grandhomme 3-0-15- in the same over. Zealand collapsed from 220-4 to T Boult c Hafeez b Hasan ...... 0 0, Patel 1-1-0-0, Sodhi 1-0-2-0 But Watling survived a leg- 249 all out soon after tea. before decision on review after That left Pakistan with 176 to umpire Bruce Oxenford raised win the Test and at close they fact that Pakistan lost a Test here soon after tea and Yasir had his finger off Bilal Asif for 15. were 37-0 with Imam-ul-Haq on against Sri Lanka by 21 runs after Nicholls caught beautifully by Watling took full advantage of 25 not out and Mohammad set 136 to win last year. wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and the reprieve and added 67 in the Hafeez unbeaten on eight, Bradley-John Watling with then in his next over trapped second session without losing a needing another 139 to win with 59 and Henry Nicholls with 55 Coiln de Grandhomme leg- wicket. all ten wickets in hand and two had defied Pakistan in the post before for three. Hasan, who had opener Tom days to play. lunch session with a fighting Nicholls hit three boundaries Latham yesterday, trapped a With the Sheikh Zayed stand of 112 for the fifth wicket in his 171-ball resistance-packed dangerous looking Taylor leg- Stadium pitch not worrisome for but Yasir took four wickets off knock. An over later, Yasir ended before with a sharp incoming batting Pakistan has high hopes just 15 balls to bring his team Watling’s 145-ball defiance with delivery for 19 and then had Pakistan’s Hasan Ali (left) and Yasir Shah hold the ball in celebration of enforcing a 1-0 lead in the back into contention. a leg-before and then bowled Jeet Raval caught behind by as they leave the ground after New Zealand were all out in their three-match series while New Pakistan took the second Neil Wagner for nought. Watling wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed Zealand can take heart from the new ball with the total at 201-4 had five boundaries in his knock. for 46. second innings during day 3 of ﬁrst Test in Abu Dhabi, yesterday.