20 Friday, March 9, 2018 SPORTS India’s Shikhar Dhawan was in fine form Sharapova (Pic courtesy: AFP) loses to Osaka California 41 in the rankings. ormer world number one “I would have loved to stay Maria Sharapova fell 6-4 longer it is just not going to BRIEF SCORE F6-4 against Japanese number happen this year.” one Naomi Osaka in the first In the only night session India 140 for 4 (Dhawan 55, Rubel round at Indian Wells. match of the day, Osaka, who 2-24) beat Bangladesh 139 for It is a second opening beat defending champion 8 (Liton 34, Unadkat 3-38) by six round loss in succession for Angelique Kerber in the first wickets the 30-year-old after she was round of last year’s US Open knocked out of the Qatar Open built a 3-0 lead in the first set. last month. Sharapova, who returned to Sharapova made six double the tour in April last year after faults, won only 25 per cent a 15-month doping ban, fought of her second-serve points and back to 4-4 but then a double had her serve broken five times. fault handed Osaka a set point Osaka, 20, the world number which she took. 44, wrapped up victory in 95 Osaka was 4-2 up in the next minutes. set before Sharapova recovered “I wanted to do well here to 4-4 once more, only for India hammer and not just because I won another double fault at 4-5 this event a couple times,” to hand her opponent match said Sharapova, who won the point. The Japanese player Indian Wells title in 2006 and will face Polish world number 2013 but was unseeded for this 31 Agnieszka Radwanska in year’s event, having dropped to round two. (BBC) Naomi Osaka plays a shot Bangladesh (Pic courtesy: eurosport) Colombo pick of Bangladesh bowlers, boundaries. India lost young the 15th. Raina’s innings of n-form Shikhar Dhawan while Taskin Ahmed (1/28) Rishabh Pant soon as the 28 (off 27 balls) included a six scored his second fifty in and Mustafizur Rahman left-hander chopped a Rubel and a four. asI many games to help India (1/31) chipped in with a Hossain delivery on to his Taskin Ahmed then got the register a comprehensive wicket apiece. wickets in the sixth over. better of Dhawan in the 17th six-wicket victory over Earlier, Jaydev Unadkat But Dhawan, who scored 90 over but it was too little too Bangladesh in their second (3/38) and Vijay Shankar against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, late by then as India needed Twenty20 Internationals of (2/32) shared five wickets and Raina made sure that the just 17 more in 3.2 overs. the Nidahas Trophy Tri- to help India restrict momentum doesn’t shift as Manish Pandey (27 not Series at the R Premadasa Bangladesh to 139/8. they kept the scoring rate high. out off 19 balls), along with Stadium in Colombo After a good start, 27/0 They also added 68 runs for Dinesh Karthik (2 not out), yesterday. in three overs, Mustafizur the third wicket, which turned then took India home with India chased down the Rahman got the better out to be a match-winning eight balls to spare. modest 140-run target in 18.4 of India skipper Rohit one. Dhawan reached his sixth Sent in to bat, Bangladesh overs, with Dhawan scoring Sharma in the fourth over T20I fifty in just 35 balls. lost wickets at regular 55 off 43 balls that included to give Bangladesh a big India were cruising in their intervals and failed to build five fours and two sixes. breakthrough. Rohit’s chase, at 108/2 in 14 overs, any substantial partnerships Rubel Hossain (2/24) was the 13-ball 17 included three when Raina fell to Hossain in in the middle. (TOI)

Gabriel Jesus (file pic) Injury woes have Lukaku ready for battle London omelu Lukaku is ready to weighed on Rcontinue as Jose Mourinho’s “sergeant on the pitch” as Manchester United prepare to do battle with rivals Liverpool. my mind: Jesus The eyes of the footballing world will be on Old Trafford this Saturday lunchtime as Jurgen Klopp’s swashbuckling third-place side head to their second-place rivals. London had appeared as a substitute Much has been spoken about abriel Jesus admits his in the three previous Liverpool’s potent attack in the build- knee problems have games, also got back on the up, but United boast threats of their Gbeen at the back of his mind scoresheet for the first time own and a front man coming into form during his recent return to since November by netting as the season reaches a conclusion. action for Manchester City. after just eight minutes. Lukaku took his tally for the season The Brazil striker, who It did not prove enough to 23 in Monday’s remarkable 3-2 was sidelined for two months to prevent City’s first loss comeback win at Crystal Palace, but after suffering ligament at the Etihad Stadium believes he offers far more than goals to damage on New Year’s Eve, for 15 months, with the Mourinho and the team. stepped up his comeback Swiss side coming back “It’s been really good,” the Belgium by starting in Wednesday’s to win 2-1, but progress to striker told Sky Sports when asked Champions League clash the quarter-finals was still about linking up again with his former against Basel. comfortably secured 5-2 on Chelsea boss in the summer. “But The 20-year-old, who aggregate. (Eurosport) I think he knows that I have like a soldier mentality. “I think the work rate that I am delivering to the team is a lot.” (PA Romelu Lukaku (file pic) Sport)