SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2017 SPORTS

Zain: More surprises to come at Al Roudhan Tournament KUWAIT: Zain, the Diamond sponsor of grams include the participation of the 38th edition of Al Roudhan international football legends that have Ramadan Football Tournament, millions of fans around the world. The announced the continuation of its daily tournament already hosted Wales and participation in the event’s many activi- Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, ties and programs. Zain is organizing a and the upcoming days will see more number of competitions with valuable star players including Spain and prizes for the attending thrill-seeking Barcelona legend AndrÈs Iniesta, Spain crowds on a daily basis in Martyr Fahad and former Real Madrid legend Iker Al Ahmad Hall in Daiya Area. Casillas, as well as Egypt and Al Ahli Al Roudhan Ramadan Football legend Mohammed Abutrika. Tournament, sponsored by Zain for the Zain, being a leading National com- second consecutive year, is considered pany supporting this major Kuwaiti the most prominent sporting event in sporting event, did not miss the chance Kuwait during the Holy Month of to include the traditional aspect into the Ramadan of every year. Football fans in event. The company organized a Kuwait look forward to it with great pas- Gergiaan activity where it distributed sion, given the fact that it witnesses high gifts and candy while hosting a tradi- levels of professionalism through both tional performance. The company also the competing local teams as well as the participated in a special friendly match international football stars hosted. between ministers and members of the Zain is present at Al Roudhan parliament, which was held under the Tournament on a daily basis, where it patronage of His Highness the Prime interacts with the attending audiences Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al through various competitions, activi- Hamad Al Sabah. ball enthusiasts from across Kuwait and to support the various sectors of the Responsibility campaign during the Holy ties, and entertainment programs. The Zain’s support to this unique event is the GCC, and Zain will remain committed Kuwaiti society, and the company is keen Month of Ramadan, which includes an company also distributes valuable in line with the company’s belief in the to supporting and sponsoring sports, on reflecting the religious as well as tra- extensive array of programs that cover prizes and holds daily challenges and importance of supporting the youth and emphasizing its dedication to the eleva- ditional humanitarian values and princi- different areas. The initiatives and pro- competitions on its official social media sports sectors and encouraging the vari- tion of Kuwaiti youth and sports. ples to enrich the art of giving and to grams include humanitarian, voluntary, channels and more. ous sporting initiatives that cater to Zain stressed that it has always been increase bonding between individuals. cultural, religious, sports, and recreation- Every year, Al Roudhan young people in Kuwait. The event wit- keen to organize a number of social and The company further affirmed its al activities to cater to the different seg- Tournament’s most anticipated pro- nesses impressive participation of foot- humanitarian initiatives during Ramadan Corporate Sustainability and Social ments of society.

CRICKET SCOREBOARD Shakib, CARDIFF, United Kingdom: Completed scoreboard in the Champions Trophy Group A match between Bangladesh and New Zealand at Cardiff on Friday: New Zealand (1w); Mosaddek 3-0-13-3. M. Guptill lbw b 33 stun New Zealand L. Ronchi c Mustafizur Rahman b Taskin Bangladesh Ahmed 16 lbw b Southee 0 K. Williamson run out (Mosaddek/Shakib) lbw b Southee 3 CARDIFF: and Mahmudullah India, while for Bangladesh it was another mem- out recording a single win. “It was certainly an 57 Rahman c Ronchi b Southee 8 both made superb centuries as Bangladesh kept orable triumph in Cardiff following their shock innings of two halves,” beaten New Zealand R. Taylor c Mustafizur Rahman b Taskin b Milne 14 their hopes of a Champions Trophy semi-final 2005 ODI win over Australia on this ground. “We Kane Williamson told BBC Radio’s Test Ahmed 63 Shakib Al Hasan b Boult 114 alive with a stunning five- victory over just said keep going,” explained Shakib, the man- Match Special. “The first 20 overs we were sim- N. Broom c Tamim Iqbal b Mosaddek Mahmudullah 102 New Zealand at Cardiff on Friday. of-the-match, at the presentation ceremony. ply outstanding. The way our bowlers applied Hossain 36 not out 7 Bangladesh, chasing a modest 266 for victory, “We didn’t talk about the target, we just themselves was brilliant. J. Neesham st Mushfiqur Rahim b Extras (lb2, w18) 20 had collapsed to 12 for three when left-hander wanted to bat for 40 overs and see where we got “Hats off to Shakib and Mahmudullah, they Mosaddek Hossain 23 Total (5 wkts, 47.2 overs) 268 Shakib (114) came in. And they were not much to. “It’s very important, and a big thing for us. batted simply superbly.” Bangladesh’s run chase C. Anderson lbw b Mosaddek Hossain 0 Did not bat: , Taskin suffered a dreadful start when Tamim Iqbal, fresh M. Santner not out 14 Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur from scores of 128 and 95 against England and A. Milne b Mustafizur Rahman 7 Rahman Australia respectively, was lbw for a second ball T. Southee not out 10 Fall of : 1-0 (Tamim), 2-10 (Sabbir), duck to Tim Southee. Extras (w6) 6 3-12 (Soumya), 4-33 Southee then had caught Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 265 (Mushfiqur), 5-257 (Shakib) behind. And when Soumya Sarkar was lbw to Did not bat: T Boult : Southee 9-1-45-3 (4w); Boult 10- Southee, Bangaladesh were 12 for three. Fall of wickets: 1-46 (Ronchi), 2-69 0-48-1 (4w); Milne 9.2-0-58-1 Bangladesh lost another key batsmen cheaply (Guptill), 3-152 (Williamson), 4-201 (3w); Neesham 4-0-30-0 (1w); Santner 10- when Mushfiqur (14) was bowled by Milne. (Taylor), 5-228 (Broom), 6-229 (Anderson), 0-47-0 (2w); Anderson 3-0-19-0; They were now 33 for four in the 12th over 7-240 (Neesham), 8-252 (Milne) Williamson 2-0-19-0 but, importantly, still had plenty of overs left in Bowling: Mortaza 10-1-45-0 (1w); Result: Bangladesh won by five wickets which to chase down their target. Mahmudullah Mustafizur 9-0-52-1 (3w); Taskin 8-0-43-2; Man-of-the-match: Shakib Al Hasan got the Bangladesh fans in a sparse crowd Rubel 10-0-60-1 (1w); Shakib 10-0-52-0 (BAN) cheering when he pulled Jimmy Neesham for a six and a four off successive deliveries. In a des- perate bid to break the stand, Williamson brought himself on to bowl his occasional off- Afghanistan stun Windies spin but Mahmudullah hit him for six over long- on and Shakib drove him for a four. Nothing Williamson tried worked, with in ODI series opener Shakib completing his century in style when he pulled Milne for six. When left-arm paceman GROS-ISLET: Rashid Khan destroyed the bombing that killed more than 150 people Trent Boult bowled him to end a 115-ball innings West Indies line-up with outstand- in Kabul last week, an attack that has also featuring 11 fours, Bangladesh were almost ing figures of seven for 18 to bowl sparked anti-government protests. “West home at 257 for five. Mahmudullah followed Afghanistan to a stunning 63-run victory in Indies are a big team and to achieve this Shakib to a century by launching Boult over the opening fixture of a three-match One- against them is brilliant.” Day International series at the Darren CARDIFF: Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah (R) celebrates their victory in the ICC Champions Trophy square leg for his eighth four in 102 balls. Sammy Stadium in St Lucia on Friday. ‘NO EXPLANATION’ match between New Zealand and Bangladesh in Cardiff on Friday. Bangladesh beat New Earlier, Bangladesh restricted New Zealand to After opener Javed Ahmadi’s 81 provid- Holder was left bewildered by both his Zealand by five wickets in their Champions Trophy Group A match. — AFP 265 for eight after Williamson won the toss. Recalled bowlers Mosaddek (three for 13 in ed the foundation for the visitors’ total of team’s capitulation and the painfully slow better off when Mahmudullah (102 not out) From here, we can only go forward.” three overs) and (two for 43 in 212 for six batting first, the leg-spinner batting which preceded it. “There’s really no walked out at 33 for four. Mahmudullah added: “We had to stay positive. eight) did the bulk of the damage. New Zealand Khan tore through an inept home team explanation for what happened out there But their fifth-wicket partnership of 224 — Once the ball stopped swinging it became easier were well set while Williamson (57) and Ross batting line-up to claim the fourth-best other than we were not professional in the Bangladesh’s highest-ever one-day international to bat on.” But despite this latest success in the Taylor (63) shared a partnership of 83. bowling figures ever in an ODI, routing the way we went about getting those runs,” he stand, surpassing the 178 shared by Tamim amd Welsh capital, Bangladesh still need already-qual- But, as happened in their no-result washout Caribbean side for 149 off 44.4 overs to stated. “I won’t even respond to sugges- Mushfiqur Rahim against Pakistan at in ified England to beat Australia at Edgbaston on with Australia and defeat by England, they stum- take a 1-0 lead in the series ahead of the tions that we underestimated Afghanistan 2015, turned the match on its head. Shakib fell Saturday or hope that the match ends-as both bled once the experienced batsmen were out in second match at the same venue today. but will expect us to come with a totally dif- just before the end but when Mosaddek Australia’s previous Group A fixtures have done- quick succession. Surprisingly brought on as the sixth ferent effort on Sunday.” Earlier, the Afghans Hossain, who’d earlier justified his recall with in a no result if they are to reach the semi-finals. Williamson, who made 100 and 87 against bowler by his captain, Asghar Stanikzai, were struggling to get any momentum in three wickets, edged Adam Milne for a four, the England and Australia respectively, needlessly with the West Indies at 68 for two after 22 their innings despite Ahmadi’s effort which Tigers had finished on 268 for five and won with ‘INNINGS OF TWO HALVES’ ran himself out when he set off for a non-exis- overs, Afghanistan’s premier bowler had an equalled his previous best in ODI’s. 16 balls to spare. This was the latest upset in a Defeat ended New Zealand’s hopes of reach- tent single after Taylor turned Shakib behind instant, devastating impact, removing He never really dominated the bowling week of surprises at the Champions Trophy, a ing the last four and meant that for the first square to Mosaddek. Taylor exited soon after- Jason Mohammed and debutant Roston and when he eventually departed in the tournament featuring the world’s top eight ODI time in 25 International Cricket Council tourna- wards when caught at short fine leg after mist- Chase with his first two deliveries and then 37th over with the score at 131 for five, sides, after Pakistan’s win over top-ranked South ments (World Cup, World Twenty20 and iming an extravagant ‘ramp’ shot off Taskin and repeating the feat at the start of his second Afghanistan were desperately in need of Africa and Sri Lanka’s defeat of title-holders Champions Trophy), they had taken part with- the innings never recovered. — AFP over in prising out topscorer (35) acceleration. His innings spanned 102 and captain Jason Holder. deliveries and included two sixes and eight At that point he had taken four for one fours. That much-needed urgency was and he added the scalp of finally injected into the innings with the PREVIEW shortly after to have the hosts tottering at arrival of Naib at the crease as he belted an 90 for seven. Jonathan Carter and Alzarri unbeaten 41 off 28 deliveries, dominating Joseph then added 45 runs for the eighth an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of wicket before Gulbadin Naib had Carter 58 with (27 not out). Captain Kohli ready for caught on the midwicket , paving Holder was the main sufferer in the late the way for Khan to return to finish off the assault, conceding 36 runs off his last three match with the wickets of Joseph and overs. In an attack dominated by pacers, India’s crunch clash Miguel Cummins in quick succession to seal off-spinner Nurse emerged as the most a famous victory. successful of the West Indies bowlers, tak- “I have worked hard on my bowling and ing two for 34 off his ten-over allotment. LONDON: Virat Kohli says India will thrive for sure.” South Africa also come into the final tain things in mind which didn’t come off well this was a really special effort for the peo- “I knew on this pitch a total of 220 under pressure in their make or break fixture on the back of a defeat, against against Sri Lanka. ple of Afghanistan who have suffered so would have given us a chance,” said a Champions Trophy clash with South Africa Pakistan on Wednesday, but Kohli warned his “There will be a lot of things discussed, much in the past week,” said Khan on delighted Stanikzai. “We weren’t at our best today. After slumping to a shock defeat team not to underestimate the Proteas. what went wrong and what combinations we receiving the “Man of the Match” award and in the T20’s and I am happy we are now against Sri Lanka on Thursday, holders India “We are against a very high quality side and can come out within the next game. acknowledging the devastating truck showing what we are capable of.”— AFP must win their final Group B fixture at The Oval we have to go out there and play good crick- “If you want to bring in a bit more balance to avoid an embarrassing exit. et,” he said. “So there’s no room for complacen- into the bowling attack by changing it up a lit- India came into the tournament as cy in a tournament like this, and we as a team tle bit, that will be up for discussion as well.” favourites to lift the silverware, but failure to certainly don’t feel that. South Africa go into the game with ques- build on their opening match thrashing of “Even if we had four points on the board tion marks over the form and fitness of captain Pakistan has put their title defence in jeop- right now, we still would have gone out there AB de Villiers, who was dismissed for his first ardy. Although he is well aware of the criticism to try to beat South Africa, and that’s exactly ODI golden duck against Pakistan. that would come with elimination at the the mindset we are going to take into the next De Villiers’s maiden first-ball exit came dur- group stage, India captain Kohli is remaining game.” Although India posted a solid score of ing South Africa’s shock 19-run loss. upbeat and he called on his players to 321 against Sri Lanka, their batsman failed to Also nursing a hamstring injury suffered embrace the high-stakes nature of their show- push on for an unassailable total. against Pakistan, De Villiers has managed just down with South Africa. India’s bowlers were even more culpable four runs in the tournament. “It’s become very exciting. Every game is after a lacklustre effort allowing Sri Lanka to However, South Africa coach Russell effectively a quarter-final now,” Kohli said. win for the loss of just three wickets. Domingo expects his side’s talisman to come “In our group especially, all teams are on good. “He’s a quality player, everybody gets two points, and you have to win your next COMBINATIONS first-ballers, it’s just taken him 200 games! I’ve game to go through, which is an exciting posi- Kohli hinted changes are on the agenda got no concerns with AB de Villiers,” he said. tion to be in for all teams. as he looks to find the right balance in his “He did pick up a bit of a niggle with his “It’s a great scenario where you literally bowling attack. hamstring but the medical team will have a have two matches now which are going to be “We will have to sit down and think of how look at it. “But I’m expecting a big perform- even more competitive cricket. we match up against the opposition that we’re ance from him today. He’s that type of player “So we are pretty clear about the whole sit- playing against,” Kohli said. that when the team needs him he’ll turn it up, GROS ISLET: Gros Islet, Saint Lucia : Ashley Nurse (R) of West Indies is dismissed by lbw by uation. It certainly opened up the whole table “As I said, all options are open. We had cer- I’m sure about that.” — AFP Rashid Khan (L)of Afghanistan during the 1st ODI match between West Indies and Afghanistan at Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St. Lucia, Friday. —AFP