ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021 SPORTS 14

Thirimanne, Fernando keep up team’s concerted fi ght back lead West Indies by 153 runs in 1st Test NORTH POINT, Antigua, March Sri Lanka is working toward a 24, (AP): Sri Lanka led the West In- strong position because the West In- dies by 153 runs with six second in- dies, who won the toss and bowled, nings in hand by stumps on face the task of last on a the third day of the fi rst test. wearing pitch at the Sir Vivian Rich- On a day of changing fortunes, ards Stadium. Sri Lanka fi rst wrapped up the West “I think the is a good one. Indies fi rst innings for 271 - a lead It’s fl attened out nicely,” Mayers of 102 over its own fi rst innings of said. “Obviously they had the up- 169. Sri Lanka then reached stumps per hand today but the game is still at 255-4. evenly poised. Lahiru “We’re still in the game - 150-run Thirimanne lead. All we need is two early wick- and Oshada Fernando kept up Sri Lanka’s CRICKET concerted fi ght back, batting ets tomorrow and then we’re in with the tourists a chance.” into a strong Sri Lanka began the day by swiftly position at wrapping up the West Indies fi rst in- 170-1. Thiri- Thirimanne nings, dismissing top-scorer Rah- manne made keem Cornwall for 61. 76 to follow his 70 in Sri Lanka’s The West Indies had early suc- fi rst innings and Fernando made 91 cess with the new ball, removing Sri in a partnership of 162 for the second Lanka Dimuth Karunaratne wicket from 301 balls. (3) when Sri Lanka was 8 in the fi fth Kyle Mayers then struck back for over. the West Indies, dismissing Fernan- Thirimanne and Fernando then do for his fi rst wicket in tests, then stuck together for almost 51 overs adding the wicket of the out-of-form to erase the fi rst innings defi cit and Dinesh Chandimal (4), both caught to bat Sri Lanka into a strong posi- by wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva. tion. Fernando reached his second When Kemar Roach bowled test half century from 84 balls and Thirimanne, Sri Lanka was 189- Thirimanne his seventh from 123 4, 87 ahead, after having lost three balls. quick wickets for 19 runs. Mayers began his fi rst class ca- Dhananjaya de Silva and Pathum reer as a allrounder but has Nissanka then rallied Sri Lanka bowled less often recently after an again, putting on 66 in an unbroken ankle injury. He had bowled only fi fth wicket partnership by stumps. 16 overs in two tests before Tuesday ’s Krunal Pandya, (left), plays a shot during the fi rst cricket match between India and England at Maharashtra Cricket Associa- De Silva was 46 and Nissanka 21 at when his four overs returned 2-10. tion Stadium in Pune, India, on March 23. (AP) close of play. Kemar Roach has 2-28. India pummel England by 66 runs in fi rst ODI

Krishna stars Bears sign LB Jones, OL Wilkinson to 1-yr deals PUNE, India, March 24, (AP): Prasidh Krishna be- Mariota returns to Raiders after taking pay cut Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland (21) throws against the came the fi rst India bowler Oakland Athletics during the fi rst inning of a spring training baseball game LAS VEGAS, March 24, (AP): Marcus on March 23, in Mesa, Arizona. (AP) to take four wickets on his Mariota agreed to take a pay cut to re- one-day international de- main as backup quarterback for a sec- Rockies concern with Freeland but as the hosts defeated ond season for the Las Vegas Raiders. Mariota had been due to be paid England by 66 runs in the $10.5 million in the second year of fi rst game of the three- his contract with the team after mak- Padres star Tatis has shoulder match series. ing $7.5 million last year. The Raiders England, chasing 318 to win, were unwilling to pay that much for Mariota to be Derek Carr’s backup and discomfort, to be re-evaluated made an outstanding start when reached agreement to bring him back and Jason Roy put on a cheaper deal. SAN DIEGO, California, March 24, time in fi ve games for New York. J.D. on 135 for the fi rst wicket from just NFL Network reported that Mariota (AP): The fl ash and dash of Fernando Davis also homered. Kevin Pillar tri- 86 balls. will be paid $3.5 million this season Tatis Jr. came to a sudden halt when pled, singled and also was thrown out But India then showcased its fast- with a chance to increase the deal to $8 the star San Diego Padres shortstop trying to steal home. Marcus Stroman bowling strength in the absence of million with incentives. slowly walked off the fi eld after mak- made his fi fth start, allowing three runs and Mohammad ❑ ❑ ❑ ing an awkward throw in an exhibition on nine hits in fi ve-plus innings. Shami. Krishna took 4-54 while game. Daniel Castano made his second The Chicago Bears signed veteran Shardul Thakur picked up 3-37 and The Padres said Tatis had discom- linebacker Christian Jones and offen- start in his fourth appearance for Mi- Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed 2-30 as fort in his non-throwing left shoulder ami, giving up three runs on fi ve hits in the tourists were bowled out for 251 sive lineman Elijah Wilkinson to one- year contracts. and would be re-evaluated. 3 2/3 innings, striking out six. Miguel in 42.1 overs, losing 10 wickets for Jones has seven sacks over 108 Tatis went into the hole to backhand Rojas hit his fi rst home run and stole 116 runs. games. He started 42 games over three a grounder in the third inning hit by his fi rst base. Starling Marte doubled seasons in Detroit and had three sacks Cincinnati’s Jonathan India in Peo- and singled. and forced one fumble. He also started ria, Arizona. Tatis’ throwing motion Cardinals 5, Nationals 5 (9 Innings) CRICKET seemed off, even though he got the out. Washington threw a bit of a wrinkle In this, Dec 17, 2020 fi le photo, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus 31 games with the Bears from 2014 through 2017. The 22-year-old Tatis began to leave into its infi eld plans by using regular “One of our sweetest victories in the Mariota (8) runs against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half the diamond and was met by manager second baseman Starlin Castro as the of an NFL football game in Las Vegas. (AP) The 6-foot-6, 329-pound Wilkinson recent past,” said India skipper Virat played in 45 games and made 26 starts Jayce Tingler and a trainer. After a few starter at third, instead of Carter Kie- Kohli. “We haven’t won many good with Denver from 2017 to 2020 after minutes in the boom, who is batting .167 with 12 games in ODIs. I am a really proud entering the league as an undrafted dugout, Tatis strikeouts in 36 at-bats this spring. man right now, the team showed great free agent out of Massachusetts. He headed toward character and intensity.” made seven starts at right guard in the clubhouse BASEBALL A late onslaught by debutant 2018, and 19 at right tackle over the accompanied by Krunal Pandya (58 off 31 past two years. a trainer. balls) had earlier propelled India to ❑ ❑ ❑ Tatis signed Jon Lester allowed one run and three 317-5 after Shikhar Dhawan nar- the longest con- hits in 3 2/3 innings in his second start rowly missed out on his 18th ODI The Philadelphia Eagles have tract in baseball of the spring for Washington. Joe Ross, hundred. signed veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. history on Feb. expected to be the fi fth starter for the Dhawan, who made 98 off 106 Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, made the 22, a $340 mil- Nationals, went 4 2/3 innings, giving announcement on Twitter. The Eagles lion, 14-year up two runs and four hits. balls, and Kohli shared a 105-run Tatis second-wicket stand before India lost only had Jalen Hurts under contract deal. Red Sox 7, Braves 6 four wickets for 36 runs. before the move. It hasn’t been a smooth spring for Xander Bogaerts hit his fi rst home Dhawan batted for three hours, hit- Tatis. He missed time with fl u-like run for Boston, a three-run drive in a ting 11 fours and two sixes, but just FOOTBALL symptoms and then jarred himself after fi ve-run third inning. Enrique Hernán- when he looked set for a century he diving headfi rst into home on a fl yball dez had three hits and J.D. Martinez offered a tame catch while attempting to shallow left fi eld in a game on March had a two-run double. Garrett Richards a pull shot. Flacco, the 2012 Super Bowl MVP, 13. made his fourth start, allowing three started four games for the Jets last sea- Tatis had singled against the Reds, runs on four hits and two walks in 5 2/3 Kohli, who had earlier lost the toss, son and eight games for the Broncos scored a sedate 56 while Lokesh raising his spring average to .391. innings. in 2019. He spent his fi rst 11 seasons Ronald Acuña Jr. hit his fourth home Rahul returned to form with an Colorado Rockies left-hander Kyle with Baltimore, leading the Ravens to Freeland was taken out in the third in- run for Atlanta and Ehire Adrianza also unbeaten 62 as he put on 112 in 57 six playoff appearances and one Super ning against Oakland after straining his connected. Jake Lamb had an RBI dou- balls with Pandya. Bowl title. pitching shoulder. ble. England seemed to be in control ❑ ❑ ❑ After throwing a pitch, he walked Yankees 5, Tigers 5 (9) with India on 205-5 after 40 overs but to the side of the mound, bent down Corey Kluber made his third start for Pandya and Rahul cut loose with Leaving “the door open” for Kareem in discomfort, dropped his glove and New York, yielding an unearned run on some powerful drives and pull shots. Jackson’s possible return proved yet grabbed just underneath his shoulder. three hits and three walks in 3 2/3 in- Bairstow and Roy made a flying England’s Ben Stokes, bowls past India’s during the fi rst One another shrewd move by new Broncos The Rockies are waiting for further nings. Mike Tauchman led off the game start to England’s reply before the lat- Day International cricket match between India and England at Maharashtra general manager George Paton. tests to determine the severity of the with his third home run. Tyler Wade ter again fell in the 40s when he was Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, India, on March 23. (AP) The veteran safety agreed to return strain. had two hits and walked, scoring a run. caught at backward point. Number to Denver on a one-year deal worth up Greg Allen and Chris Gittens led off the to $5 million. “When you see that, it’s a sickening three Ben Stokes, who had earlier feeling for all of us. We’re keeping our eighth with back-to-back homers. taken 3-34, offered a tame catch in After failing to reach agreement on a restructured deal lowering Jackson’s fi ngers crossed and hopefully we get Tarik Skubal made his second start the covers when he was on one. No home court advantage, some good news out of this,” Rockies in his fourth appearance for Detroit, al- Captain Eoin Morgan (22), who salary cap hit earlier this month, the Broncos declined to exercise his $10 manager Bud Black said after a 4-1 ex- lowing two runs on fi ve hits and fi ve needed four stitches on the webbing hibition loss to the Athletics. “But I’m walks in four innings. Eric Haase hit of his right hand after fielding, could Venus loses early in Miami million option for 2021, freeing the 12th-year pro to check out the open concerned.” his second home run, a three-run drive have been out first ball but Kohli Brewers 9, Dodgers 6 in the eighth that tied the score. Willi dropped him in the slips and missed a MIAMI, March 24, (AP): It has been Williams’ most recent title in the market. 20 years since Venus Williams won her event came in 2001, when she beat Jen- ❑ ❑ ❑ Los Angeles starter Walker Buehler Castro had an RBI single in the fi rst run-out chance after throwing at the home tournament, and her stay at the nifer Capriati in the fi nal. She also won was hit hard, allowing three home runs and stole a base. stumps. 2021 Miami Open was brief. the 1998 and 1999 titles. The Cincinnati Bengals signed free in the fi rst inning. Buehler gave up 10 Giants 7, Indians 0 Bairstow smashed seven sixes and Williams was eliminated on the fi rst Crowds were small for the fi rst day of agent cornerback Eli Apple to a one- hits, nine runs and four homers overall San Francisco starter Logan Webb six fours in a swashbuckling 66-ball day of play by 89th-ranked Zarina Di- play, and will continue to be. Because year contract. in 4 2/3 innings. Justin Turner homered continued his stellar spring, striking 94 before falling when he holed out at yas of Kazakhstan, 6-2, 7-6 (10). of the pandemic, only 750 fans will be Apple, a former Ohio State star, was for the Dodgers. out seven and fi ve innings of one-hit deep mid-wicket. allowed on the grounds per session, and a fi rst-round pick by the New York Keston Hiura homered twice off ball. Through 11 scoreless innings, he “The two openers were outstanding the 5,000-seat grandstand will be used Giants in 2016 and went to the New Buehler. Hiura, Christian Yelich and has given up three hits, walked one and but we failed to build on that,” TENNIS for showcase matches. Orleans Saints via trade in 2018. Omar Narváez all connected in the fi rst struck out 17. Morgan said. “We need to execute Seeded players have fi rst-round He played for the Carolina Panthers inning. Corbin Burnes turned in 4 2/3 The Giants scored all of their runs better than we did today. India did The 40-year-old Williams, ranked byes, including No. 1 Ash Barty, who on a one-year contract last season but innings, striking out six while allowing on homers. Mike Yastrzemski doubled really well and deserved to win.” 79th, was making her 21st appearance can use the extra time to adjust her injuries limited him to two games. He two runs on three hits. and Donovan Solano homered in the The second game is at the same in the tournament, now held 75 minutes body clock. She arrived in Miami af- has played in 57 career NFL games, Mets 5, Marlins 3 fi rst inning. Austin Slater homered in venue on Friday followed by the third from her residence in Palm Beach Gar- ter a 45-hour trip from her native Aus- with 219 tackles and three intercep- Francisco Lindor homered for the the second. Tommy La Stella added a match on Sunday. dens, Florida. tralia. tions. third straight game, and for the fourth solo homer in the fi fth.