F1 | Page 4 FFOCUSOCUS | Page 6 Rosberg wins Qatar To Advertise here but Hamilton security Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 fi ghts back guard in the for third spot race of his life

Monday, August 29, 2016 FOOTBALL Dhul Qa’da 26, 1437 AH Sterling double GULF TIMES maintains Pep’s perfect City record SPORT Page 2 RALLYING Lightning Spear to the fore Al-Attiyah wins historic FIA world title Partnered by French navigator Matthieu Baumel, al-Attiyah adds the 2016 FIA World Cup title to the pair he earned in 2008 and 2015 and gives Overdrive Racing and Toyota a first ever FIA World Cup Drivers’ Championship title

Qatar Racing’s Lightning Spear raced to his first win this season by Oisin Murphy in the Celebration Mile (Gr 2) at Goodwood on Saturday. Trained by David Simock, the five year-old was third in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot this year. It was far easier for him this time and he ran out an easy winner, registering his first Black Type success. Cheveley Park Stud’s Zonderland came second ahead of Qatar Racing’s Arod. “That’s a massively relief, honestly,” said Simcock. “We’ve always thought the world of him and he was brilliantly nurtured by Olly Stevens. We’ve just picked up the pieces. We were so pleased with his first start in the Queen Anne and watching his last two races, you wouldn’t believe it and you feel sorry for the horse as he’s very, very good. I’m not one to hype horses and I think he’s really talented. He’s got a really good turn of foot. Everything is aimed towards Ascot now and we’ll have a really good go at the QEII.”

FOOTBALL/LA LIGA CRICKET Rakitic winner Rain edges Barca past washes Athletic Bilbao out India

AFP Results run chase Madrid Las Palmas 5 (El Zhar 22, 68, Boateng 51, Momo 72, Araujo 85) van Rakitic’s fi rst-half header Granada 1 (Boga 45) maintained Barcelona’s 100% Alaves 0 Sporting Gijon 0 start to the La Liga season as the Athletic Bilbao 0 Barcelona 1 champions withstood a wave of (Rakitic 20) Ilate pressure to win 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao yesterday. able deputy for Neymar alongside Rakitic fi nished off an excellent Messi and Suarez. team move after 20 minutes, but The return of Marc-Andre ter with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez Stegen in goal in place of the depart- uncharacteristically wayward in ed Claudio Bravo to Manchester City front of goal, Athletic nearly grabbed was Barca coach Luis Enrique’s only Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah speaks to the media at the start of yesterday’s action in Szczecin, Poland. a point when Benat Etxebarria’s change from the opening day 6-2 free-kick fl ew just wide late on. thrashing of Real Betis. By A Correspondent Overdrive Racing also supplied edged into a lead of 12 seconds over local Barca join Real Madrid and top Ter Stegen was featuring in La West Indies skipper Carlos Szczecin, Poland a car for the Polish duo of Marcin hero Holowczyc. Dabrowski, Chabot, of the table Las Palmas as the only Liga for just the eighth time in his Brathwaite with the winning Paytm Maluszy ski and Julita Maluszy ska. Maluszy ski, Khalifa al-Attiyah and sides with two wins from their fi rst third season with the Catalan giants trophy after the 2nd and final T20i They reached the fi nish in Szcecin in Muck were fourth, 14th, 17th, 19th and two games. Champions League fi - as Bravo had been fi rst choice in the between West Indies and India verdrive Racing’s Nasser ninth place. 23rd. nalists Atletico Madrid are already league for the past two seasons. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida was Saleh al-Attiyah continues Frenchman Ronan Chabot and his Saturday’s action comprises two four points off the pace after disap- And the German’s notorious de- washed out after the first innings. to rewrite the history books navigator Gilles Pillot were placed just selective sections of 176.33km apiece pointing draws against newly-pro- sire to play out from the back nearly West Indies claimed the two-match Oafter confi rming a third FIA outside the top 10 until Chabot put his in the militarised area around Drawsko moted Alaves and Leganes. cost Barca the opener on 12 minutes series after winning the first game World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies Toyota Hilux on its side in the fi fth stage Pomorskie. Al-Attiyah was not to be Still without Neymar due his ex- when he gifted the ball to Benat, but on Saturday by just one run. drivers’ title by winning this weekend’s and were forced to retire. denied through the fi rst pass here ei- ertions in winning Olympic gold and made amends by repelling the mid- Columna Medica Baja Poland, round “This is a very nice feeling to have ther and the Qatari beat Dabrowski by the injured Andres Iniesta, Barca fi elder’s fi erce eff ort with his face. AFP seven of the nine-event series, at Szc- two cars on the podium and to take our 28 seconds to extend his overall advan- demonstrated their greater strength Barca went ahead in fi ne style Fort Lauderdale, USA zecin in northwestern Poland. fi rst major FIA title here,” said a de- tage to 48 seconds and give Overdrive in depth this season as new recruits eight minutes later when Suarez fed Driving a Toyota Hilux, al-Attiyah lighted Overdrive Racing’s CEO Jean- Racing a 1-2 placing at the midday Denis Suarez and Samuel Umtiti Turan down the left and the Turk’s edged into a useful lead early on and Marc Fortin. “This month is the 10th break. shone, whilst Arda Turan proved an cross was met with a bullet header at eavy rain forced the sec- then came under fi erce pressure from anniversary since we started Overdrive the back post by Rakitic. ond Twenty20 inter- the experienced local driver Krzysz- Racing with our fi rst event being the Positions The champions failed to take ad- national between West tof Holowczyc when he slowed slightly Dakar in 2007. Some of the mechanics 1. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu vantage of a series of chances to Indies and India at the over the closing stages to eventually have been here since the start, since the extend their lead either side of the CentralH Broward Regional Park Baumel (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive record a fi fth successive victory with his creation of the company, and this is a 4hr 59min 17sec break as Gorka Iraizoz turned Mes- yesterday to be abandoned as a Overdrive Racing team by the margin of superb result for all of us. 2. Krzysztof Holowczyc (POL)/Lukasz si’s header to safety before Turan no-result. 1min 21sec. “We knew it would not be easy here. Kurzeja (POL) Mini All4 Racing 5hr shot into the side-netting with a After dismissing the world Partnered by French navigator Mat- The Polish drivers know the stages well 00min 38sec furious Suarez waiting for a cross in champions for 143, India were thieu Baumel, al-Attiyah adds the 2016 and they know where to cut and where 3. Marek Dabrowski (POL)/Jacek Czachor the middle. 15-0 in two overs when the rain FIA World Cup title to the pair he earned to put the wheels. It is always like this. (POL) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 5hr 07min Messi and Suarez both fi red inch- came. in 2008 and 2015 and gives Overdrive But Nasser was superb as usual and 36sec es wide when presented with the Ninety minutes later, and with Racing and Toyota a fi rst ever FIA World Marek claimed third place. That is a 4. Jakub Przygoński (POL)/Tom Colsoul type of chances they normally con- the outfi eld soaked, play was Cup Drivers’ Championship title. great result for him to be the best of the (BEL) Mini All4 Racing 5hr 10min 42sec vert early in the second period. abandoned, much to the irritation The Polish duo of Marek Dabrowski ‘unbeatable’ drivers. 5. Martin Prokop (CZE)/Ilka Minor (AUT) Athletic’s attacking threat in- of the thousands of expatriates and Jacek Czachor delivered a measured “Then we have Jes and Khalifa in Ford F150 Raptor 5hr 14min 35sec creased after the introduction of who turned out to watch India’s performance on their return to action in seventh and 10th and Michal in ninth, 6. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Bartosz Mo- Raul Garcia as the former Atletico fi rst ever weekend playing in the the Team Orlen Toyota Hilux and shad- so fi ve Overdrive cars inside the top 10. mot (POL) H3 Evo VII 5hr 19min 48sec Madrid midfi elder fi red inches wide US.West Indies claimed the two- owed al-Attiyah and Holowczyc to the Disappointing obviously that we with- 7. Jes Munk (DEN)/Rafal Marton (POL) before Inaki Williams’s eff ort mo- match series after winning the fi nish in third position. drew Ronan Chabot’s car after he put Toyota Hilux Overdrive 5hr 26min 55sec ments later was placed too close to fi rst game on Saturday by just one Dane Jes Munk and Polish co-driver it on its side this morning, but this has 8. Boris Garafulic (CHL)/Filipe Palmeiro Ter Stegen. run. Rafal Marton reached the fi nish in sev- been a superb weekend nonetheless and (PRT) Mini All4 Racing 5hr 30min 53sec Suarez skewed another huge Earlier, West Indies struggled enth position in a third car and al-At- we can certainly enjoy this result and 9. Michal Maluszyński (POL)/Julita Barcelona’s Croatian midfielder Ivan chance wide on the break and Barca to 143 all out with slow bowler tiyah’s brother Khalifa teamed up with celebrate this evening.” Maluszyńska (POL) Toyota Hilux Over- Rakitic (R) is congratulated by teammates were nearly made to pay for their Amit Mishra claiming a career Belgian navigator Stéphane Prevot with Al-Attiyah laid down the gaunt- drive 5hr 35min 27sec defender Jordi Alba (L) and Argentinian rare profl igacy when Benat’s fi ne best 3-24. backing from the Qatar Motor and Mo- let with the quickest time through the 10. Khalifa al-Attiyah (QAT)/Stéphane forward Lionel Messi after scoring during free-kick curled inches wide into The Caribbean side had piled torcycle Federation (QMMF) to fi nish opening 7.08km super special stage in Prevot (BEL) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 5hr against Athletic Club Bilbao in Bilbao the side-netting fi ve minutes from up 245 on Saturday in what was 10th. the militarised area, near Szececin, and 50min 14sec yesterday. time. the third highest total of all time. Gulf Times 2 Monday, August 29, 2016 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT ELATION Mourinho delighted Sterling double with hero Rashford maintains Pep’s perfect City record Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring. Sterling strikes twice and Fernandinho adds another goal as Man City make it five AFP but felt that they took too long to Kingston upon Hull get going. wins in as many matches under Guardiola with a 3-1 victory at home to West Ham “I was telling them at half- time that they were more inten- AFP anchester United sive and aggressive in training on Manchester manager Jose Mour- Wednesday than they were in the inho believes that fi rst half,” he said. Marcus Rashford is “The boys were very strong aheem Sterling struck twice and Mproving his value to the side after and the second half was like go- Fernandinho added another goal the young striker scored the late ing to fi ght against a wall. We had as Manchester City made it fi ve goal that defeated Hull City on an amazing mentality. We were wins in as many matches under Saturday. very strong and tried to create theR management of Pep Guardiola with a Rashford hit eight goals in 18 problems for the opposition. We 3-1 victory at home to West Ham in the matches for United last season, tried and tried and got it. Premier League yesterday. having broken into the fi rst team “We deserved it and in a more Guardiola’s men made hard work of in February, and went on to win comfortable way. It is a great seeing off the Hammers at Eastlands be- a place in England’s Euro 2016 feeling when you win the points fore securing a win that left City top of squad. in the last minute. the Premier League, on goal diff erence However, the 18-year-old “I tell the boys every day we from Chelsea and Manchester United, has been named as a substitute have to go into every match to who’ve also won their opening three for all three of his club’s Pre- win. We must not be happy with matches in English football’s top-fl ight. mier League matches so far this less than a win. We know we will Having raced into an early, two-goal lead, season and had not come on at draw or lose matches but the a second-half header from West Ham’s all until Saturday’s game, with mentality has to be go to win. To- Michail Antonio ensured City endured an Mourinho preferring new sign- day they showed that.” anxious fi nal half hour, a fact refl ected in ing Zlatan Ibrahimovic in attack. One setback for United was a manager Guardiola’s growing frustration Rashford has also dropped back injury to midfi elder Mar- in his technical area, before Sterling scored down to the England Under-21 ouane Fellaini, which makes him his second goal in injury-time. squad, for whom he has been se- a doubt for Belgium’s World Cup City scored twice in the opening 18 lected for a Euro 2017 qualifi er qualifi er in Cyprus in September 6. minutes although twice as many goals against Norway on September 6. Hull caretaker-manager would not have fl attered the home team, In his pre-match news confer- Mike Phelan praised the efforts such was their complete domination at ence on Friday, Mourinho was of his players, and called for a that stage of West Ham. quick to state that the teenager quick conclusion to the club’s Indeed, Sterling’s opening goal in the will get chances to play across all takeover saga. seventh minute came from the fi fth note- competitions this season. Ehab Allam, one of Hull’s worthy attack of the game, a sign of what The manager was full of praise owners, indicated in the match was to come in that period for Slaven of Rashford once more after he programme that a deal has been Bilic’s hapless Hammers. converted Wayne Rooney’s cross agreed to sell the club, without The goal was magnifi cently worked, two minutes into stoppage time to confi rming the buyers, believed David Silva showing great agility in mid- give United a 1-0 victory in torren- to be a Chinese consortium led fi eld, slipping the ball through for winger tial rain at the KCOM Stadium. by commercial property inves- Nolito who picked out Sterling with a mag- “Marcus Rashford has a lot of tors Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li. nifi cent drag back, allowing the England chances waiting for him,” Mour- Phelan’s future remains un- man to fi nish confi dently from 12 yards. inho said after the youngster certain, as the new owners may That was the culmination of a frantic came on for Juan Mata in the 71st well want to appoint someone attacking opening from City and, while minute to make the diff erence. else as a permanent replacement the goal perhaps took some of the inten- “When the team was chasing for Steve Bruce, who resigned as sity out of the home side’s play, it only Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their third goal against West Ham yesterday. the ball against Leicester in the manager in July. seemed a matter of when — not if — they Community Shield and again to- “It’s important now that some would score again Bruyne to Nolito to Silva to De Bruyne — Results and, with Caballero unable to gather the night, he made a diff erence for us. decisions are made,” Phelan said. Fernandinho had the answer in the and should have brought a third goal as ball, Antonio out-jumped Nicolas Ota- “He gives new problems to the “There seems to be not just one 18th minute, rising unmarked to meet a the Belgian’s shot was defl ected behind Manchester City 3 (Sterling 7, 90+2, mendi and Gael Clichy to head in. opposition so I am really happy group, but two groups interested. Kevin De Bruyne free-kick and head past for a corner. Fernandinho 18) West Ham 1 (Antonio Aguero was becoming more of a factor with him and the team. Even “My future will be decided af- Adrian from seven yards. 58) in the second half, hitting the side netting defensively, we controlled their ter the transfer deadline. There’s De Bruyne also just cleared the bar by AGUERO CLASH West Brom 0 Middlesbrough 0 with an eff ort before poking a shot which counter-attack.” a lot of eff ort to get this takeover inches with another free-kick from the After the restart, Nolito had the ball in defl ected off Sam Byram and needed to be over the line. corner of the visitors’ area. the net only for the ‘goal’ to be ruled out Played Saturday saved by Adrian. ‘AMAZING MENTALITY’ “Credit to my players tonight, The injury toll that has plagued West for off side and the same player came Chelsea 3 Burnley 0 Substitute Samir Nasri also saw a shot Mourinho believed his side were they performed heroically. I feel Ham in the early season, particularly the close with a shot into the side netting Crystal Palace 1 Bournemouth 1 cleared off the line by Byram. excellent value for their victory, for them.” absence of playmaker Dimitri Payet, was after yet another dangerous De Bruyne Everton 1 Stoke 0 However, Aguero also appeared to obviously keenly felt with Willy Cabal- free-kick was only half-cleared. Hull 0 Manchester United 1 throw an elbow at defender Winston Reid lero — once more replacing Joe Hart who Sergio Aguero looked like he would Leicester 2 Swansea 1 and, if judged to have been deliberate, COMPLAINT was on City’s bench — a virtual spectator. claim a third goal, racing clear to round Southampton 1 Sunderland 1 may face retrospective punishment. West Ham’s fi rst meaningful sight of Adrian and seeing the linesman fl ag him Tottenham 1 Liverpool 1 Sterling fi nally allowed City supporters, goal, after half an hour, found Gokhan off side, his frustration presumably grow- Watford 1 Arsenal 3 and his manager, to relax in injury-time Tore picking out young forward Ashley ing moments later when Antonio handed when he collected Silva’s through ball, Dortmund’s Castro Fletcher, whose header fl ew harmlessly West Ham an unexpected lifeline. rounded the goalkeeper and rolled the ball wide. A 57th minute left-wing cross from ing with a red card after an early yellow, over the line from a tight angle. Now to see City’s next attack was stunning — De Arthur Masuaka, who had been fl irt- picked out his team-mate at the far post if Sterling maintains this scoring form. slams DFL amid

BUNDESLIGA sweltering heat

AFP bemoaned the conditions. Berlin “The weather was extreme and brutal,” said Schuerrle, who was later ruled out of Wednes- onzalo Castro has day’s international against Fin- Super sub Schieber helps Hertha slammed the German land and next Sunday’s opening Football League (DFL) 2018 World Cup qualifi er away to for not delaying the Norway with a back problem. Gkick-off time for Borussia Dort- “(In between runs) I was fi ght- mund’s Bundesliga match on ing for breath and I wanted to go grab a dramatic victory Saturday, which led to players and lay down in ice bath.” struggling in sweltering tem- Aubameyang, who scored AFP better chances. Results peratures. both of Dortmund’s goals, said Berlin They hit the crossbar when Blue skies over Germany saw the heat was a factor before his Haraguchi had his second-half Hertha Berlin 2 Freiburg 1 the mercury rise on the opening 89th-minute penalty eff ective- shot saved, but the ball hit the Hoff enheim 2 RB Leipzig 2 weekend of the league season, ly settled the match, although ulian Schieber’s injury- woodwork when Hoefl er headed with Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Japan striker Yoshinori Muto time winner sealed Her- away after 57 minutes. Played Saturday Park one of the worst aff ected scored a late consolation goal for tha Berlin’s 2-1 victory at Berlin went ahead fi ve minutes Eintracht Frankfurt 1 Schalke 0 during Saturday’s 2-1 win at Mainz. home to newly-promoted later when Haraguchi played the Augsburg 0 Wolfsburg 2 home to Mainz. “The heat was a reason why JFreiburg yesterday for a dra- ball into Ibisevic, whose pass Temperatures out on the pitch we only decided the game so late Hamburg 1 Ingolstadt 1 matic start to the hosts’ 2016/17 found Darida unmarked and his Cologne 2 Darmstadt 0 reportedly went as high as 45 de- on,” said Gabon international German league season. shot beat Freiburg goalkeeper Borussia Dortmund 2 Mainz 1 grees Celsius and referee Robert Aubameyang. Hertha were cruising to a 1-0 Alexander Schwolow. Borussia Moenchengladbach Hartmann stopped the match Borussia Moenchengladbach’s win at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium Ivory Coast striker Salomon 2 Bayer Leverkusen 1 twice for short drinks breaks. 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen, on the opening weekend of the Kalou, who suff ered a double be- But Dortmund’s Castro said which kicked off at 1830 local Bundesliga, thanks to Vladimir reavement in the last two weeks Played Friday the game should have been time (1630 GMT), was also af- Darida’s second-half goal before following the death of his mother Bayern Munich 6 Werder moved from 1530 local time (1330 fected by the heat. the game burst into life in the fi - and father, was left on Hertha’s Bremen 0 GMT) to an evening kick-off due “Normally at home (in Swe- nal ten minutes. bench for the fi nal ten minutes. to the extreme heat. den), it’s more often 35 below Ex-Dortmund striker Schie- In the second match yester- “The temperatures were bor- (freezing) than 35 above, so it ber came off the bench for Vedad day, RB Leipzig, who were only Borussia Dortmund players derline. I don’t understand why would have been best if we’d had Ibisevic with 85 minutes gone and Berlin’s Hungarian head coach Pal Dardai reacts during his team’s founded in 2009 when Austri- admitted suff ering in Satur- the DFL didn’t move the game a few drinks breaks,” said Glad- played a key role after Freiburg German first division Bundesliga match against Freiburg in Berlin, an energy drinks fi rm Red Bull day’s 2-1 win over Mainz, which to the evening,” said the ex- bach winger Oscar Wendt, after drew level with a stunning header bought their licence, scored a kicked off at 1530 local time Germany international, who was there were no water breaks called from their captain Nicolas Hoefl er 95th minute. Blue skies over Germany saw last-gasp equaliser against Hof- (1330 GMT) when Pierre-Em- substituted off after 59 minutes. by the referee. in the 93rd minute. “It’s a dream for any football- the mercury hit 35 degrees Cel- fenheim to end up with a 2-2 erick Aubameyang netted twice. “You’d put in a sprint and you There were, however, water With visiting Freiburg fans er to score the winning goal in cius in the shade in the capital score line in their Bundesliga Borussia Moenchengla- were absolutely exhausted.” breaks during yesterday’s Bun- still cheering, Hertha roared front of home fans shortly before and the players were often re- debut match. dbach’s 2-1 win over Bayer Germany winger Andre desliga match between Her- back as Schieber latched onto a the end, even if it was a scuff ed duced to walking pace in Berlin. The match in Berlin was not Leverkusen on Saturday night Schuerrle, who created the fi rst tha Berlin and Freiburg, which blocked shot from Japan winger shot,” said Scheiber after netting The hosts dominated posses- the only one aff ected by high was also aff ected as the tem- goal and won the penalty which kicked off at 1530, with tempera- Genki Haraguchi and his crude his fi rst goal since knee surgery sion and were rewarded with the temperatures over Germany at perature hit the high 30s across Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tures in the mid 30s in Germa- shot rolled into the goal in the in March 2015. three points after creating the the weekend. Germany. converted to seal the victory, also ny’s capital. Gulf Times Monday, August 29, 2016 3 FOOTBALL

SERIE A REVEAL Infantino says FIFA Khedira winner for salary less than $2mn Juve as Napoli beat

nine-man Milan AFP face a fait accompli by Mr. Scala Geneva without a discussion.” A FIFA inquiry last month ‘Lazio are a well organised side... We were never going to dominate this game. But we cleared Infantino after investi- IFA president Gianni In- gating him over his use of private had a much better second half: let’s say we’ve started better than we did last year’ fantino said in an interview jets, personal expenses, hiring published yesterday that methods and the salary dispute. he will make less than two In the interview, Infantino Fmillion Swiss francs a year, well restated his claims that those below the salary of his disgraced opposed to cleaning up FIFA’s predecessor, Sepp Blatter. corrupt ways have sought to un- Infantino has not yet agreed to dermine his reforms bids. terms with FIFA but speaking to Infantino took over world Switzerland’s Blick newspaper, football’s governing body fol- he said his salary “will be less lowing months of unprecedent- than the two million francs ($2 ed crisis, with major corporate million, 1.8 million euros) people backers like Visa and Coca Cola have speculated about.” demanding a thorough crack- Blatter, who was mired in scan- down on graft. dal before being banned from FIFA, made $3.6 million in 2015. OLYMPIC ISSUE Infantino described past deal- Infantino also said he wanted ings with FIFA’s compensation to work with the International committee as “insulting” and Olympic Committee (IOC) to “completely arbitrary.” address the “sensitive issue” of During the fi rst two months of football at the Summer Games. Infantino’s tenure, which began Men’s football at the Olym- in February, the compensation pics is largely for players under committee included former FIFA 23, with three overaged players audit and compliance chief Do- allowed in each squad, while the menico Scala, who has emerged women’s tournament is a com- as a fi erce critic of world foot- petition of the best in the sport. ball’s new president. The men’s format “is not a Scala dramatically quit FIFA in good solution,” Infantino told May, accusing Infantino of trying Blick. He added that the football to compromise the organisation’s calendar is already “too tight.” independent committees and act- Women’s football has thrived ing with an authoritarian streak. at the Olympics, giving enor- Infantino said his pay could be mous exposure to a sport that fi nalised when the compensation FIFA has committed to develop- committee meets again, with ing worldwide. Scala no longer in the picture. Infantino said “serious” dis- Refl ecting on earlier negotia- cussions on the future of football tions when Scala was involved, at the Games were needed. Juventus’ Sami Khedira celebrates after scoring against Lazio during their Italian Serie A match at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy. the FIFA chief said: “I expected Brazil won the 2016 men’s to talk to these people about my tournament at the just-conclud- AFP never going to dominate this game, al- Higuain celebrated like he had scored a needless challenge on Mertens, his sec- salary based on guidelines and ed Rio Games, with Germany Milan though we were the better side by the end himself, but with later attempts that ond bookable off ence, and when Mertens defi ned processes and not to taking the women’s gold medal. of the opening period,” said Allegri. came to nothing the 28-year-old showed saw Donnarumma save his angled drive “But we had a much better second half: he is still lacking the zip that helped him with 16 minutes to play Callejon ran in to second-half winner from Sami let’s say we’ve started better than we did to a record 36 goals in Serie A for Napoli convert the rebound. SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Khedira made it two wins from last year.” last season. It went from bad to worse for Vincenzo two for Juventus as Napoli Juventus had a disastrous start to last Montella’s men as Niang saw red for a edged nine-man AC Milan in a season before fi ghting back into conten- NAPOLI WIN THRILLER second bookable off ence when he barged dramaticA 4-2 win on Saturday. tion around the new year. Napoli made amends for Higuain’s into Reina with two minutes on the clock. Rodgers hails ‘near Juventus, who started their title de- But having signed Napoli’s most im- shock departure by signing Arkadiusz Despite proclaiming his “satisfaction” fence with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina last portant asset in Higuain last month, Milik, and the Poland striker made sure with the result, Montella admitted no week, were kept on a tight rein by Lazio the champions now have no excuses fans got to know his name by hitting a new reinforcements are likely to join Mi- perfect’ Celtic start throughout a fi rst half of few chances at as they go in search of a record sixth first-half brace in a thrilling 4-2 win at lan, the subject of a takeover by a Chinese the Stadio Olimpico. straight title. the San Paolo. consortium, after club CEO Adriano Gal- But less than a minute after record With Higuain still lacking fi tness, the Napoli had amends to make after a liani told Gazzetta dello Sport the market summer signing Gonzalo Higuain came Argentine striker started on the bench 2-2 draw at promoted Pescara last week was “over”. off the bench to replace Mario Mandzu- for the second consecutive week, just as but Milik gave them a 2-0 lead by the “When I saw the papers this morning kic midway through the second period, Allegri had indicated on Friday, replacing 33rd minute after he tapped home Dries I thought for a minute the Chinese had Germany midfi elder Khedira was set up Mandzukic with 25 minutes to play. Mertens’ shot when it came off the post forgot to make a payment,” he told Sky by Paulo Dybala and beat Federico Mar- The eff ect was immediate, but unlike then rose to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma Sport. chetti at the ‘keeper’s far post. last week — when Higuain came off the with a glancing header. “But our spending power was pretty It was enough to see Juve go provision- bench to hit the winner with his maiden Milan looked to have fought their way limited and I knew that at the start. I’m al top ahead of the remaining fi xtures on goal for his new club — the spotlight fell back when M’Baye Niang, with a fi ne happy to coach the players I have.” Sunday, but after a busy summer transfer on Khedira. individual eff ort from a tight angle, and In added-on time, Callejon should period Massimiliano Allegri was quick to The German held off his marker to col- Spanish striker Suso, with a spectacular have scored his second but saw his goal- calm fans’ expectations. lect Dybala’s smart chip, turned inside curling shot, pulled the Rossoneri level bound shot pulled out of the net by the “Given the heat in Rome and the fact and beat Marchetti at his far post with a on 55 minutes. hand of defender Alessio Romagnoli, Lazio are a well organised side we were crisp, angled shot. But Juraj Kucka saw red soon after for who was attributed the own goal.

LIGUE 1 File picture of Celtic’s Leigh Griff iths celebrating after scoring a goal.

AFP before that and now Aberdeen Glasgow at home, so it was a tough start and to come out of those games having scored the goals we have eltic manager Brendan is fantastic.” Lacazette injured as Lyon Rodgers hailed his play- “We’re disappointed in one or ers for making what he two of the goals that we’ve con- described as a near per- ceded but that will improve and fectC start to the season after a 4-1 get better.” win over Aberdeen on Saturday “I think that the start the play- humbled by promoted Dijon took them top of the Scottish ers have made has been fantastic.” Premiership. Celtic, who have been drawn AFP Results But he came off in the second It capped off a great week for with Barcelona, Manchester City Paris half and Lyon president Jean- the Scottish champions who and Borussia Moenchenglad- Yesterday Michel Aulas later revealed he clinched a place in the lucrative bach in their Champions League Bordeaux 1-0 Nantes may undergo minor knee surgery group stage of the Champions group, are now top of the Pre- n-form Alexandre Lacazette Saint-Etienne 0-0 Toulouse on Monday. League following a 5-4 aggre- miership table, a point clear of scored before coming off in- “We fl outed the fundamental gate win over Israeli side Hapoel Rangers with a game in hand. jured in the fi rst half as Lyon Sunday principles of football and were Beer-Sheva on Tuesday. collapsed to a 4-2 defeat Dijon 4-2 Lyon deservedly beaten. Losing Laca- Rodgers, who replaced Ronny ‘RELENTLESS’ Iaway at promoted Dijon in Ligue zette hurt us and we did not play Deila in May, has also helped Leigh Griffi ths fi red Celtic into Nancy 0-2 Guingamp 1 on Saturday. Montpellier 1-1 Rennes as well in the second half,” said guide his side to the last eight of a 13th-minute lead against the Lacazette put the visitors 2-1 Nice 1-1 Lille Genesio of the defeat. the League Cup while winning Dons with a unstoppable strike up on 37 minutes at the Stade Caen 2-0 SC Bastia Guingamp are the provisional three out of three in the Premier- but Aberdeen equalised against Gaston-Gerard with his sixth Metz 2-0 Angers leaders of the fl edgling table af- ship to top the table. the run of play through Adam goal already this season after ter a 2-0 win at promoted Nancy, And the former Liverpool man- Rooney in the 32nd minute. Corentin Tolisso’s opener for although they are level on points ager admitted his delight with the A fantastic fi nish from James Lyon had been cancelled out by the player would undergo tests with Nice, who drew 1-1 at home way his players have bounced back Forrest restored Celtic’s advan- a Frederic Sammaritano penalty. today to determine the extent of to Lille. from the humiliation of a 1-0 de- tage before Mark Reynolds saw But the 25-year-old, who on the problem. Vincent Koziello put Nice feat to minnows Lincoln Red Imps red for bundling Scott Sinclair Thursday was recalled to the Lyon do not play again un- ahead at the Allianz Riviera only of Gibraltar in his fi rst competitive off the ball in the box late on. France squad for the start of til hosting Bordeaux in a fort- for Lille captain Franck Beria game in charge. The former Manchester City their World Cup qualifying cam- night but Lacazette must now to equalise with his fi rst goal in “I think it’s been near-on winger fi red home from the pen- paign, then hobbled off just be- be a major doubt for France’s Ligue 1 since November 2010. perfect when you think that alty spot and Australian interna- fore the break and was later seen upcoming matches in Italy and Caen beat Bastia 2-0, Metz we’re into the quarter-fi nal of tional Tom Rogic curled home a with strapping and an ice pack Belarus. defeated Angers by the same the League Cup, we’ve qualifi ed stoppage time free-kick to seal around his left knee. Lyon’s French forward Alexandre Lacazette lies on the field during The situation is similar for score and Rennes came from be- for the Champions League and the win. Things got worse for Lyon as the Ligue 1 match against Dijon FCO. Nabil Fekir, who was recalled to hind to draw 1-1 at Montpellier. we’ve won three out of three in On Friday, Rangers were held to Dijon came roaring back with the national set-up for the fi rst Marseille recorded their first the League, and they were three a 1-1 draw by 10-man Kilmarnock goals by Julio Tavares, Dylan since returning to the top fl ight. always worrying,” Lyon coach time since suff ering a serious win of the season on Friday, tough games,” the Celtic man- at Rugby Park and next up is the Bahamboula and Pierre Lees- “I am worried. When a player Bruno Genesio told Canal Plus knee injury in France’s friendly beating Lorient 2-0 at the Sta- ager said. fi rst Old Firm clash of the season Melou to claim their fi rst points comes off before half-time it is at half-time before adding that win in Portugal alost a year ago. de Velodrome. “St Johnstone away, Hearts at Celic Park on September 10. Gulf Times 4 Monday, August 29, 2016 SPORT

FORMULA 1 RUGBY Hourcade hails Rosberg wins but ‘huge-hearted’ Hamilton fi ghts Argentina back for third Hamilton, who started 21st, remains nine points ahead of Rosberg in title race

AFP Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium

ico Rosberg rekindled his world championship ambitions with victory in yesterday’s chaotic crash-hit Belgian Grand Prix Nas Lewis Hamilton staged an astonishing fi ghtback to fi nish third. Argentina’s players (in white and blue) celebrate after defeating South Rosberg’s delight was reduced by his Africa by 26-24 in their Rugby Championship match at Padre Ernesto Mercedes teammate Hamilton’s dam- Martearena stadium in Salta, Argentina, on Saturday. (AFP) age-limiting and thrilling drive to fi nish behind Daniel Ricciardo, second in a Red AFP stretchered off . Bull, after starting from the back row of Salta, Argentina With fi rst and second choice the grid. goal-kickers Sanchez and Hern- “I would defi nitely have taken that be- andez sidelined, Iglesias became fore the race,” said Hamilton. rgentina coach Daniel the toast of Argentina by slotting “I am so happy and proud of everyone. Hourcade hailed his the late, match-winning penalty I was not expecting it and I had no idea “huge-hearted” team from 40 metres. what we were capable of, but I had a posi- yesterday after a 26-24 It was the fi rst victory for the tive mental attitude today and it worked.” RugbyA Championship triumph Pumas in 12 home Tests against Rosberg, 31, who started from his third over South Africa — their fi rst at the Springboks after a draw and 10 successive pole position, led from start to home against the twice former defeats since they fi rst met in 1993. fi nish in a 44-laps race fractured by ac- world champions. Last year, Argentina overcame cidents and incidents to secure his fi rst “Several key players had to South Africa for the fi rst time, victory in Belgium and his sixth of the retire injured during the sec- winning in Durban with the help season. ond half and we showed huge of three tries from Juan Imhoff , Hamilton, who started 21st after be- hearts in the face of adversity,” and last weekend they were un- ing handed 60 grid position penalties for the 58-year-old told reporters in lucky 30-23 losers in Nelspruit. taking three new power-units through north-western city Salta. France-based Imhoff is no the weekend, remains ahead of Rosberg “The team played fantastic longer considered for selection in the title race with 232 points to 223, a rugby during the opening half as Hourcade relies almost ex- lead of nine. and the 10-point lead at half- clusively on players from Buenos “It’s been great to get the win today, time was not an accurate refl ec- Aires-based Super Rugby outfi t but Lewis starting at the back made it tion of our superiority. the Jaguares. easier for me,” said Rosberg. “He’ll be “Injuries upset our rhythm in The only ‘outsider’ in the Salta back at Monza, as usual, and it will be a the second half, but we deserved matchday 23 was reserve scrum- great battle and another good weekend.” to win. We were better than half Tomas Cubelli from Canber- German Nico Hulkenberg fi nished South Africa,” he said. ra-based Super Rugby team ACT fourth ahead of his Force India teammate Star fl y-half Nicolas Sanchez, Brumbies. Sergio Perez, as the Silverstone-based the leading points scorer at the Cubelli came on for vice-cap- team overhauled rivals Williams in the 2015 Rugby World Cup in Eng- tain Martin Landajo, who said constructors’ championship. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg (left) celebrates winning the Belgian Grand Prix next to third-placed Mercedes teammate Lewis land, was forced to leave the fi eld a midweek video session with Four-time world champion Sebastian Hamilton at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit yesterday. (AFP) just minutes into the second half. Hourcade and his assistants was Vettel of Ferrari recovered from a fi rst- His face was covered in blood, pivotal to success in Salta. corner collision with his own teammate rear tyre explosion, which triggered a pass on Alonso which he completed on again in his chase after the leader. preventing him from return- “The coaches showed us the Kimi Raikkonen to take sixth ahead of Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period. lap 12, sweeping by for fourth. ing, and hero-to-be Santiago fi nal 10 minutes, when 17 points Fernando Alonso, who had started 22nd Another, more alarming, accident Further back, a bruising battle between BELGIAN GP RESULTS (TOP 10) Gonzalez Iglesias took over the were conceded, and we saw all on the grid. brought out the Safety Car itself on lap Raikkonen and Verstappen saw them 1. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1:44:51.058 playmaker role. our errors,” he said. Valtteri Bottas was eighth for Williams nine — Magnussen losing control of bang wheels in a series of scraps, the 2. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) +14.113 Thirteen minutes from time “We threw away that game ahead of Raikkonen and Brazilian Felipe his Renault as he exited Eau Rouge and young Dutchman’s aggression upsetting 3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +27.634 the Pumas suff ered another after being 10 points ahead and Massa. smashed into the barriers at around 300 the Finn whose radio comments required 4. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) +35.907 crippling low when veteran cen- were determined not to repeat Hamilton’s podium fi nish from 21st on kph on the high-speed rise to Raidillon. constant bleeps to remove profanities di- 5. Sergio Perez (Force India) +40.660 tre Juan Martin Hernandez was those mistakes in Salta.” the grid was a record for the circuit on a As the debris settled, the severity of rected at a rival half his age. 6. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) +45.394 day of serial incidents, accidents and col- the damage to the barriers required repair By lap 18, Rosberg remained in control, 7. Fernando Alonso (McLaren) +59.445 lisions. and the red fl ag came out to halt the rac- but was aware that Hamilton had risen 8. Valtteri Bottas (Williams) +1:00.151 FOCUS The race was red-fl agged after nine ing with, remarkably, back row starters from 21st to third, the Englishman pass- 9. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) +1:01.109 laps in the worst incident when Dane Hamilton and Alonso — with a combined ing Hulkenberg on the outside on Kem- 10. Felipe Massa (Williams) +1:05.873 Kevin Magnussen crashed heavily but total of 120 grid-place penalties — in fi fth mel Straight. limped away from his wrecked Renault and fourth respectively. Rosberg’s lead was 5.5 seconds at half- DRIVERS’ STANDINGS (TOP 3) All Blacks looking car with only a damaged ankle. The pause allowed the teams to pit distance, when Hamilton pitted for a new 1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 232 pts Trouble started right from the outset, their cars for a rolling re-start behind the set of softs. He rejoined ninth, his stop 2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 223 however, with Vettel and Ferrari team- Safety Car, Rosberg taking medium tyres slowed slightly by a rear jack problem. 3. Daniel Riccardo (Red Bull) 151 comfortable aft er mate Raikkonen colliding on the fi rst cor- and most others, including Alonso and Rosberg remained in serene control, 12 CONSTRUCTORS’ STANDINGS (TOP 3) ner. Hamilton, taking softs. seconds ahead of Ricciardo, with eight 1. Mercedes 455 pts On lap two Spaniard Carlos Sainz’s By the end of lap 11, Rosberg led by 1.4 laps to go after Hamilton had made a third 2. Red Bull 274 second Wallabies rout Toro Rosso suff ered a spectacular right seconds and Hamilton was sizing up a stop, rejoined and passed Hulkenberg 3. Ferrari 252 Reuters Argentina eventually fi nished Wellington fourth in the tournament as all FIA WORLD CUP FOR CROSS-COUNTRY RALLIES four southern hemisphere sides made the semi-fi nals. he All Blacks head into The Pumas have eff ectively the gap week in the Rug- spent the entire year together by Championship fi rmly since, with the majority of their Qatar’s Abdulla stays in T2 title hunt in control of the south- players turning out for the Jag- Tern hemisphere competition and uares in the expanded Super eager to face a resurgent Argenti- Rugby competition this year. Agencies Martin Sobiech, as Saeidan slipped from na in Hamilton on September 10. Hansen now has the luxury to Szczecin, Poland second to seventh position after his own Steve Hansen’s side avoided take a deep breath for the next technical issues. getting too sucked into the nig- few days before his side reassem- Two runs through two further shorter gly tactics by the Wallabies in ble next Sunday for their clash issan’s Adel Hussein Abdulla stages were planned for Sunday to com- their 29-9 victory at Welling- with the Pumas. bounced back from Saturday’s plete the action before the ceremonial ton Regional Stadium on Satur- He said there were no injury disappointment to set some fi nish in the Szczecin Rally Park. day, scoring four tries to none to concerns from their clash with solid stage times over the re- Saiedan was fastest through the record their second bonus-point the Wallabies, with hooker Codie Nmaining four special stages of Columna 30.78km of the Dobra stage, as Kufel victory. Taylor and inside centre Ryan Medica Baja Poland, round seven of the maintained the outright lead and Ab- The world champions have Crotty expected to be available FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Ral- dulla returned to action to record the the maximum 10 competition after they suff ered head knocks lies, yesterday. sixth quickest time. Saeidan was the man points, with the Pumas and in the 42-8 win in Sydney. The Qatari and French navigator Jean- to beat in the subsequent 17.65km of the Springboks on fi ve points after Both could have played the Michel Polato suff ered a broken suspen- Lubieszyn stage as well, although Abdulla they shared the honours in their Wellington game, he said, but sion bracket on Saturday that prevented was back in a competitive pace and third two clashes, with Daniel Hour- team management chose to err them from tackling the third stage, but quickest on a stage where the T2-leading cade’s team claiming a 26-24 win on the side of caution. TOK Sport team technicians repaired the Kufel had his own fair share of problems. in Salta on Saturday. Midfi elder George Moala is damage without any problems on Sat- Abdulla fi nished strongly with top “It’s going to make our Ham- also expected back in time for the urday evening and Abdulla was able to three times on the last two stages and ilton game a goodie isn’t it?,” Sept. 17 clash against the Spring- rejoin the competitive action in the FIA remains fi rmly in title contention head- Hansen told reporters on Sun- boks in Christchurch, while T2 Championship yesterday and reach ing to the penultimate round of the FIA day. “They were pretty unlucky winger Waisake Naholo should the rally fi nish in Szczecin in an unoffi cial World Cup in Morocco at the start of Oc- last time,” he added reference to be fi t for their fi nal two games eighth place. tober. the Pumas’ last-gasp loss to the in Buenos Aires on Oct. 1 and in The Qatari is chasing the FIA T2 title Springboks in Nelspruit last week. Durban on Oct. 8. this season – open for drivers of cars en- event in the T2 category, but he hit trou- meant he was not able to take full advan- T2 results (top 5) “They were right in the hunt Despite the return of mid- tered as Series Production Cross-Coun- ble on Sunday morning and this opened tage of our issues and pull clear in the 1. Martin Sobiech (POL)/Inez Kieliba (POL) until the last few minutes.” fi elders Crotty and Moala, the try vehicles – and his Nissan Patrol has the door for Martin Sobiech to snatch the championship.” Mitsubishi Pajero 6hr 27min 00sec Hansen’s team have never performance of debutant An- support from Nissan Qatar, Nissan Mid- win in T2. Abdulla was unable to return to action 2. Robert Kufel (POL)/Daniel Dymurski lost to the Pumas, but have been ton Lienert-Brown on Saturday dle East and the Qatar Motor and Motor- Kufel recovered well over the clos- for the second of Saturday’s 176.33km (POL) Nissan Navara 6hr 29min 21sec pushed extremely close in their earned plaudits from Hansen and cycle Federation (QMMF). ing stages to move back ahead of Klau- selective sections in the military area 3. Klaudia Podkalicka (POL)/Blazejj last few encounters, particularly his fellow players. Abdulla trailed series leader Yasir Saei- dia Podkalicka and snatch second place. around Drawsko Pomorskie and was Czekan (POL) Mitsubishi Pajero 6hr in their opening game at last The 21-year-old impressed dan by nine points at the start of the week- Saeidan reached the fi nish in an unoffi cial handed further time penalties. But the 29min 54sec year’s Rugby World Cup. with his calmness against the end, but the Saudi endured several punc- seventh place, with Qatar’s Mohammed situation could have been a whole lot 4. Grzegorz Szwagrzyk (POL)/Jakub Such was the closeness of that Wallabies and his deft handling tured tyres as well on Saturday afternoon al-Harqan in fi fth. worse for the Qatari until his arch rival for Moliter (POL) Mitsubishi Pajero 6hr 51min result, the All Blacks only won set up Israel Dagg’s fi rst try. and neither driver was able to benefi t from “Obviously it was disappointing to the FIA T2 Championship, Yasir Saiedan, 15sec 26-16, that many pundits in Brit- “Talent wise, skill wise, I a useful points’ haul in Poland. have the problem on Saturday, but it was also delayed and lost time. 5. Mohammed al-Harqan (QAT)/Nasser ain started to write off Hansen’s thought he stood up,” Hansen said. Poland’s Robert Kufel, driving a Nissan could have been a lot worse,” said Ab- Kufel reached the overnight halt with al-Kuwari (QAT) Toyota Land Cruiser 6hr side without giving the Pumas “He’ll grow from the experience Navara, dominated the early stages of the dulla. “Yasir also had problems and that a seven-minute lead in the category over 56min 28sec the credit they deserved. and he’s got a pretty bright future.” Gulf Times Monday, August 29, 2016 5 SPORT

OPINION Misbah cements his legend by just saying nuthin The dignified veteran, with the deadpan wit, has become cricket’s accidental hero by staying true to himself in a world where independent thought is endangered

By Rob Smyth in London some stumble upon it at the age of 42 charisma, is a superb man-manager national treasure. He was scapegoated The Guardian after doing 10 press-ups. He is not and has a wit so deadpan that half the for his batting in defeats to India in the quite a great batsman, but he now sits time you genuinely don’t know if he is World T20 fi nal of 2007 and the World at the top table of Test captains with joking or not. His team would crawl the Cup semi-fi nal of 2011, and for a long he Internet has shattered the people like Richie Benaud, Mike Brear- ends of the earth for him—and stop to time was the subject of vicious criti- comforting notion of individ- ley, Sir Frank Worrell and Imran Khan. give him 10 press-ups along the way. cism over his cautious captaincy. He uality. That cult fi lm you’ve Pakistan’s 2-2 draw in England, in His response to drawing the series had complete courage of his convic- Tbeen telling your best mates the best series in this country since and becoming World No. 1 could barely tions, a particularly admirable quality to watch? It’s got 14,000 followers on the 2005 Ashes, was an outrageous re- have been more Misbah: he went to in a world where independent thought Twitter. That organic, gluten-free, sult for a relatively limited team who Norway for a ‘Play for Peace’ charity is increasingly endangered. Fairtrade, vegan pale ale you love? Fa- had not played a Test outside Asia match and biff ed a century in 34 balls. Others can shout their opinions. ther John Misty’s just posted a selfi e of since 2013. They have also played no Where do you start with that? Misbah doesn’t need to. Misbah knows. him supping it. We are, as Dan Ashcroft home Tests under Misbah, a far greater But then Misbah has always done He has won over almost everybody put it in Nathan Barley, oblivious to the handicap than most realise. things diff erently. In a country where now. After sorting out Pakistan cricket, paradox of our uniform individuality. Even more notable is the manner in players are blooded young—20 years Misbah should turn his attention else- In the manic, try-hard modern which they have gone to become No. ago in October Hasan Raza made his where: the Brexit fallout, perhaps, or world, it is the man who stands still 1—playing controlled, atypically Paki- Test debut at the offi cial age of 14— the X-Factor’s plummeting ratings. who fi nds himself in space. stan cricket, and after a Test series in Misbah took the long road. Who wouldn’t stay home on a Satur- Misbah-ul-Haq never wanted to England so harmonious that it verged His family prioritised his education, day night to match Misbah mentor a stand out, yet by staying true to him- on schmaltzy. and it was not until after his Masters de- 37-year-old teacher from Grimsby with self he has become the accidental hero England’s meetings with Pakistan the more interesting fi gures in modern you have to play it,” he said afterwards. gree that he made his fi rst-class debut at a dream and a half-decent falsetto? of Pakistan and world cricket. The usually come with a cast-iron guaran- sport. It is apt that it took Pakistan six “This is how you score a hundred and 24. He did not become a Pakistan regular With his antiquated values of dig- word ‘unique’ feels inadequate to de- tee of controversy, yet Pakistan were so years to reach the top, because Misbah this is how you sometimes score zero.” until he was 33 and his international ca- nity, modesty and patience, Misbah scribe him. And his mystique is such charming that only the most miserably is the king of deferred gratifi cation. He He would make a great poker player; reer was apparently over when, in 2010, has shown that sometimes it’s good to that, even if you wanted to copy him, one-eyed patriot begrudged them their believes in patience, discipline and log- Misbah has a level of inscrutability that at the age of 36 he was recalled to the be behind the times and given hope to you couldn’t. draw. The dignity of Misbah, his de- ic, always logic. He plays international hints tantalisingly at an all-knowing team as captain. Misbah was the last, those who believe there is an alterna- By leading Pakistan to the top of the termination to right previous wrongs cricket with a resting heartbeat, no wisdom. That makes it hard to get a last, last resort for a country in disarray. tive way of doing things—not just in Test rankings for the fi rst time, after and to give hope and pride to a country matter how extreme the highs and lows. handle on him, even now. In the previous 18 months there had Test cricket, but in life. taking over with their cricket at rock devastated by terrorism, almost brings At Lord’s, he made a wonderful What exactly does he do that makes been the terrorist attack on the Sri Kipling’s ‘If’ could have been writ- bottom, he has cemented the legend a lump to the throat. fi rst-innings hundred; in the second him such a good captain? He has a Lanka team bus in Pakistan, the spot- ten about him. So could parts of old of Ol’ Man Misbah. Some are born This is not just a story of a good man innings, he was out second ball for voice a bit like the boring priest in Fa- fi xing scandal in England and other al- Paul Robeson song: Ol’ Man Misbah: great, some achieve greatness, some doing good things. Misbah has an in- nought trying to hit Moeen Ali into the ther Ted and does not believe in osten- legations of match-fi xing. he must know sumpin’ but he don’t say have greatness thrust upon them—and defi nable cool that makes him one of crowd. “If you have a favourite shot, tatious rhetoric, yet he has an obtuse Misbah has only recently become a nuthin’, he just keeps on rolling along. BASEBALL ‘Brilliant’ England Missing several delight resilient Root key players, Giants lose 3-1 to Braves ‘Sure, you’re going to miss those guys. But that unfortunately happens once in a while, AFP continue and we can keep gain- and it happened to us. But it’s a pretty good lineup, you look at the first six, they’re regulars’ London ing momentum with the wins we’re getting this summer.” England started the series By Matt Kawahara in California oe Root showed plenty of fifth in the International Cricket The Sacramento Bee (TNS) Yorkshire grit in making 89 Council one-day international Jas England beat Pakistan rankings and Root said: “I still by four wickets in Saturday’s think there’s a lot of work to do ith three games remaining in second one-day international if we want to be the best team August, the Giants are still at Lord’s after a collision with in the world, but we’re going looking for their fi rst three- teammate Adil Rashid. about it the right way.” game winning streak of the The county colleagues both By contrast Pakistan, although Wsecond half. went for the same catch in the top of the ICC’s Test standings, The Giants are limping towards Sep- deep before Root somehow are just ninth in the ODI table tember in any sense of the word. Their 3-1 clung on to dismiss Hasan Ali, and in danger of missing out on loss to the National League-worst Atlanta despite the impact of Rashid automatic qualification for the Braves on Saturday evening was their 10th running into him. 2019 World Cup in England. in their last 15 games and dropped them Root then had to undergo Prior to Saturday’s match, two games back of the Dodgers, who beat treatment on his right ankle. Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur the Cubs 3-2. Their lineup for Saturday’s England’s star batsman had said the side’s one-day cricket game had to be cobbled together to ac- little time to rest, with the was “behind the times”. The count for numerous absences. number three out in the middle South African, who took over Albert Suarez started in place of Jake again after opener Jason Roy’s in May, warned that “nobody is Peavy, who was placed on the disabled list second-ball duck. 100% safe in the ODI side” and earlier in the day with a back strain. He was A few more visits from the that “everybody knows they’re throwing to Trevor Brown, with catcher physio followed as Root’s well- on notice”. Buster Posey getting a night off . Hunter paced innings paved the way Pakistan one-day captain Pence missed a second consecutive game for England to go 2-0 up in the Azhar Ali, out for a duck on with hamstring tightness. And shortly be- five-match series. Saturday after deciding to bat fore fi rst pitch, Brandon Belt was scratched “Rash hit me pretty hard actu- first, said: “I think it’s clear we with a stiff neck. ally, it’s surprising that such a are a little bit behind but we’re The resulting lineup collected fi ve hits, little guy would make such a working on it. We need to keep their lone run coming on a second-inning strong tackle ... but no dramas, focusing and trying hard. This homer by Brandon Crawford off of Braves it’s nothing serious. It was a bit team has ability, in both games starter Mike Foltynewicz. The only two of a dramatic football sort of we have played some good position players with hits were Crawford, dive in the end. I’ve never seen cricket and and if we can apply who also doubled in the seventh, and De- him tackle me like that before, ourselves more we can defi- nard Span, who singled in the sixth and not even in the (five-a-side) nitely change it around.” doubled in the eighth and was stranded warm-ups!” Root joked. Pakistan’s Mohamed Hafeez both times. “I could see him in the corner has been ruled out of the rest of “Sure, you’re going to miss those guys,” of my eye, I’m pretty sure I the tour with the left calf injury manager Bruce Bochy said of the absent put my arms out and shouted that prevented him playing at regulars. “But that unfortunately happens to say it was my catch but he Lord’s and has been replaced once in a while, and it happened tonight to New York Yankees players celebrate mustn’t have heard. He nearly by Mohamed Irfan. Towering us. But it’s a pretty good lineup, you look at after defeating the Baltimore Orioles headbutted my knee actually, fast bowler Irfan is expected to the fi rst six, they’re regulars. 13-5. (Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports) so we got pretty lucky in that join up with the squad ahead “You’ve got to go with these guys some- respect,” Root added. of tomorrow’s third ODI at Not- times, and they just happened to run into England’s 50-over cricket tingham’s Trent Bridge in the a well-pitched game. (Foltynewicz) was has undergone something of English Midlands. tough on us in Atlanta, too. He’s got great a revival since their dire first- The 35-year-old Hafeez had a stuff . When he’s on, he’s tough.” 4 2/3 innings without allowing a run. struck out against Foltynewicz. Span fol- to catch Madison Bumgarner. The Giants round exit at last year’s World diff icult tour, managing just 102 Suarez said he’d found out Friday night The Giants next need a fi fth starter this lowed with a double, and Pagan worked a will be trying for just their second series Cup. Saturday’s win was set up runs in six innings before being he would be starting on Saturday for the Friday in Chicago. Bochy said the Giants walk, fi nally forcing the Braves to use their win of the second half. They have lost nine by pace bowlers Mark Wood dropped during Pakistan’s 2-2 Giants and drove to San Francisco from hope Matt Cain will be ready to return bullpen. Mauricio Cabrera entered and in- series and split two since the All-Star Break. and Chris Woakes who between draw in the preceding four- Fresno, where the Triple-A River Cats from the disabled list to make that start. duced a harmless groundout from Joe Panik. them reduced Pakistan to two match Test series. were playing. He did not allow a hit for Cain made his fi rst rehab start at Triple-A Belt said he tweaked his neck on Thurs- Results (Home team in CAPS) for three inside four overs. He is currently suspended three innings but was burned by a fi ve- on Saturday — and allowed six runs (four day night when he rolled over in his sleep, NY YANKEES 13 ...... Baltimore 5 Sarfraz Ahmed made 105 — from bowling his off -breaks too pitch sequence in the fourth. earned) on 10 hits in fi ve innings. and “it locked up on me”. He played Colorado 9 ...... WASHINGTON 4 the first ODI hundred at Lord’s because of an illegal action. Adonis Garcia bounced a single through Suarez accounted for the Giants’ other through it on Friday but said when he TORONTO 8...... Minnesota 7 by a Pakistan batsman — and Hafeez, however, will remain the left side. Freddie Freeman doubled off hit with a one-out double in the third, went to take batting practice in the cage LA DODGERS 3 ...... Chicago Cubs 2 Imad Wasim 63 not out, al- in England for treatment. the right-fi eld wall. And Suarez left a 0-1 his fi rst career extra-base hit. He then on Saturday afternoon he “couldn’t take a LA Angels 3 ...... DETROIT 2 though a final total of 251 looked Irfan has taken 81 wickets in 59 fastball over the plate to Matt Kemp, who scampered to third on a wild pitch but was full swing”. BOSTON 8 ...... Kansas City 3 well below a competitive score. ODIs at an average of 31.14, with a drove his 26th home run of the season stranded there as Span and Angel Pagan “I usually have to deal with this pretty NY METS 12 ...... Philadelphia 1 “Fair play to Sarfraz, he played best of four for 30 against Zimba- over the wall in straightaway center. “One both grounded out to second base. It en- much every year, and it’s almost always Pittsburgh 9 ...... MILWAUKEE 6 brilliantly but throughout we bwe at Brisbane during the 2015 pitch, left it up, and he put a good swing on capsulated an 0-for-8 night for the Giants in spring training,” Belt said. “It just hap- San Diego 1 ...... MIAMI 0 stuck at it with the ball,” said World Cup. His last appearance at it and hit it far,” Suarez said. “Other than with runners in scoring position. pened to be right now this year. Usually a CHICAGO WHITE SOX 9 . Seattle 3 Root. “The way we’re playing at this level was against New Zealand that I felt good.” “We just couldn’t get a key hit,” Bochy couple of days… For the most part I can HOUSTON 6 ...... Tampa Bay 2 the minute is brilliant — taking at Auckland in January when Irfan That ended a streak of 25 consecutive said. “That’s how you win ballgames, and play with it unless it gets too bad like today. Oakland 3 ...... ST. LOUIS 2 wickets regularly throughout took one for 60 in eight overs dur- scoreless innings by Giants pitchers. Suarez that was missing tonight.” I would assume I can get back out there.” TEXAS 7...... Cleveland 0 the innings, scoring quite freely ing a three-wicket defeat on the exited two batters into the fi fth at 76 pitch- That, and several key bats. Belt came off It would put the Giants closer to full Cincinnati 13...... ARIZONA 0 with the bat. Hopefully that can Duckworth/Lewis method. es. Five relievers combined to cover the fi nal the bench to pinch-hit in the eighth and strength, as Posey will also be in the lineup Atlanta 3 ...... SAN FRANCISCO 1 Gulf Times 6 Monday, August 29, 2016 SPORT

FOCUS CYCLING De la Cruz takes Qatar security guard stage 9 and shock in race of his life Vuelta lead ‘He is talented and could achieve his dream as a 1,500metre/5,000m runner’

AFP Doha

enyan security guard Michael Douglas Ongeri has a dream — and won’t be daunted by poverty, a 13-hour workday or Ktraining in Qatar’s searing heat, far from his family. Nor will he let the 11 kilometres (seven miles) he has to walk from work to the track then back home slow him down. “You get used to it,” Ongeri tells AFP matter-of-factly. “I have to do it, it is something which is me, I like running, I have to run.” While many dream of becoming an international track star, the 22-year-old Kenyan may actually have a chance. Six days a week, he leaves work around 5 pm and heads to Doha’s biggest park, AFP man breakaway was never reeled Aspire Park, in the shadow of the city’s Oviedo, Spain in by the peloton after building Khalifa Stadium that will host the World up a fi ve minute lead. Athletics Championship in 2019. That sparked a series of at- In temperatures of over 40 degrees C panish rider David de la tacks from the strong breakaway (104 F) and stifl ing humidity, the Kenyan Cruz won stage nine and group, but it eventually came puts on his training gear and, sweat pour- claimed the overall lead down to a clash between De la ing, runs up to 12 kilometres (seven miles) of the Vuelta a Espana Cruz and Devenyns for the stage through Aspire’s green expanses. yesterdayS with a decisive attack win. If it is close to his pay day — 1,400 Qa- 500m from the line after an early But when De la Cruz kicked tari Riyals a month ($385, 340 euros) — it breakaway was never caught. for the line in the fi nal kilometre, is possible Ongeri will go without food as De la Cruz beat out Belgian Devenyns couldn’t live with him. he has no cash left, sleep for fi ve hours in Dries Devenyns and Italy’s “I wasn’t thinking about the a room he shares with fi ve others and then Moreno Moser in a time of 3hrs lead at the end. I was so close to start all over again. 47min 56sec on the 164.5km winning the stage, that was my “He is talented and I think stage from Cistierna to Oviedo. main objective,” said De la Cruz. he could achieve his dream as a The general classifi cation fa- “It was very hard to ride with 1,500metre/5,000m runner,” says former vourites including overnight Devenyns because he was hard to athlete Liz McColgan who with her hus- leader Nairo Quintana and Tour beat, but I am the leader as well, I band, John Nuttall, founded and runs the de France winner Chris Froome can’t believe it.” Doha Athletics Club (DAC). fi nished 2min 56sec back. The 27-year-old was in tears The couple help Ongeri train twice a That gap allowed De la Cruz and kissed the red jersey as he week. to jump to the top of the stand- stood atop the podium. ings, 22 seconds clear of Quin- And with another gruelling TOUGH BEGINNINGS tana with his Movistar teammate summit fi nish up the special And as a former 10,000m world cham- Alejandro Valverde 19 seconds category Mirador de la Reina to pion, silver medallist at the 1988 Seoul further back. come today before the fi rst rest Olympics and winner of the New York Froome slips to fourth, eight day of the race tomorrow, De la and London Marathons, whose husband seconds further adrift, in his Cruz is intent on savouring his competed in the 1996 Olympics and quest to become the fi rst man to moment in red. whose daughter just ran in the 5,000m win both the Tour de France and “Tomorrow is a very hard stage fi nal in Rio, McColgan’s opinion carries Vuelta a Espana for 38 years. to Covadonga, but for the mo- weight. Despite another punishing ment, we have got the stage and “He has a really good running style so category two climb to the fi nish the leadership, so let’s see what I could see him being a better track run- over the Alto de Naranco, a 12- happens and enjoy ourselves.” ner,” says McColgan who has has been based in Qatar for the past two-and-a- half years. LPGA “I met Michael when he sent me an email to the DAC website but I had seen him training alone at the park where we train, as it was unusual to see someone Kenya’s Michael Douglas Ongeri, who works as a security guard, poses for a photograph after a training session at Doha’s Aspire Park. British Open running so fast on his own,” says McCol- (Below) John Nuttall, who founded and runs Doha Athletics Club along with his wife, former athlete Liz McColgan, helps Ongeri train gan. twice a week. (AFP) On the night AFP watches him train, Ongeri is surrounded by younger mem- Province and always loved running. But the loan and with the cash he sends to his champ Ariya leads bers of the club as Nuttall barks out in- as the oldest son of fi ve siblings, his duty family Ongeri survives in Doha on around structions. was to his family, not his passion. $100 each month. “Come on Michael! Stop being so “Of course, now everybody (back Canadian Open lazy!” he jokes as the security guard ‘I WILL MAKE IT’ home) is looking at me — ‘Please, I need speeds at a pace that marks him out from “My background wasn’t good, I faced this. Please I need that.’ It’s diffi cult, Doha the other runners. hardship. I had to feed my family,” he says. is a very expensive place.” AFP “Madame Liz”, as Ongeri calls Mc- He ended up working on the same farm As the temperature fi nally dips below Los Angeles Colgan, worries that any hopes he has of as his father and mother but word of a job 40 degrees C, Ongeri has an hour’s run- competing professionally could be scup- in Qatar off ered a chance to earn more ning behind him and a three kilometre pered by his lack of time to train. money and to run as well. walk home ahead. eigning British Open “Unfortunately he works ridiculous To secure his passage to the Gulf he It may be a short distance from Aspire champion Ariya Jut- hours so can only run once a day,” she paid an agent around $1,000 — cash he Park to Khalifa Stadium but would rep- anugarn continued her says. “If he wanted to race internationally did not have but borrowed from an Italian resent a lifetime’s ambition if Ongeri one breakout year form Sat- you need twice a day.” boss at a shop where he worked in Kenya. day ends up running there. “This is my urdayR by fi ring a fi ve-under 67 to Ongeri grew up poor in Kenya’s Nyanza Three years on and he has just repaid dream, I will make it,” he says. take a two-shot lead into the fi nal round of the Canadian Women’s Open. GOLF The 20-year-old from Thai- land is making a bid for her fi fth victory of 2016 after fi nishing 54 holes on the Priddis Greens Country Club course at 17-under Fowler leads Barclays as Ryder Cup race intensifi es 199. Ariya said following her third Reuters move ahead. round on Saturday that she New York “It was nice to see some putts go in. doesn’t watch the leaderboard. Short game has defi nitely been nice this “I keep an eye on me,” said week to save me at times,” he added. Ariya of Bangkok. “I don’t really merican Olympic team mates “Sometimes hitting good putts but also care who the leader is. I want to Rickie Fowler and Patrick Reed hitting good pitch shots. Good combina- play my game.” will have one eye on victory and tion but nice to have the putter fi nally Ariya posted seven birdies another on the Ryder Cup in the working a bit.” from the fourth through the 14 behind in a tie for third with fiA nal round of The Barclays on New York’s Reed, meanwhile, battled a wayward holes. She made bogey on Nos. Stephanie Meadow, of England, Long Island on Sunday. driver on the front nine, but did enough 16 and 18 but it was just a small who shot a second straight 69. Fowler has a one-stroke lead over his to stay well in contention. stumble on another brilliant Crowd favourite Alena Sharp, compatriot after Saturday’s third round “My tee shots were off , hanging right,” round by the LPGA Tour’s big- of Canada, posted a 67 with in the fi rst of four events making up the he said. “Felt like I got absolutely nothing gest rising star. four birdies coming home and PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoff series. out of my round. “Tomorrow, I really want to was six strokes down in a tie for Extending his bogey-free streak to 45 “Any time I tried to hit my draw, have fun, and I really want to be fi fth with Anna Nordvist (66), of holes, Fowler sank a four-foot birdie at seemed like it went right. That’s really the happy on the course,” said Ar- Sweden, and three more South the last to edge ahead with a three-under only thing I feel like I need to fi x. iya, who has a two-shot lead on Koreans — Jang Ha-Na (67), Amy 68 on the tough Bethpage Black course in “You can’t play out of the rough here South Korea’s Chun In-Gee at Yang (68) and Chella Choi (69). Farmingdale. and I felt like I was playing out of the the tournament in Calgary, Al- Top-ranked Lydia Ko, of New He posted a nine-under 204 total while rough all day. Shooting even par isn’t that berta. Zealand, fi nished at 70 and is overnight leader Reed carded a 71 to sit bad of a score.” Ariya has three titles this year seven shots back in a tie for 10th alone in second place. Australian Adam Reed fi nished in a tie for 11th behind on the USLPGA Tour, compris- with Lee Min-Jee (67) of Aus- Scott (65) was a further shot adrift on Briton Justin Rose as golf marked its re- ing the Yokohama Tire Classic, tralia, Gabby Lopez (68), of Mex- seven-under after fi nding his putting Rickie Fowler hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the third round of The Barclays turn to the Olympics after a 112-year ab- Kingsmill Championship and ico, Suzann Pettersen (69), of touch to post the lowest round of the Championship at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, on Saturday. (AFP) sence in Rio earlier this month. Fowler Vilvik Championship. She also Norway, Budsabakorn Sukapan tournament. was back in a tie for 37th. won the British Open last month (69), of Thailand, and Kim Hyo- Scott was also helped on his way when Reed is currently eighth with Fowler got to go take care of business tomorrow,” Third-placed Scott decided late in the and the 2013 Lalla Meryem Cup Joo (70), of South Korea. he holed out for an eagle from 95 yards at four places below. Fowler told reporters. second round to putt more aggressively on the Ladies European Tour. Another crowd favourite is the fi rst hole. Fowler probably needs a top-three fi n- “It’s been a while since I’ve been in this and it paid off on Saturday as he sank a Chun, the 2015 US Women’s Brooke Henderson, the budding As well as the victory here, Fowler and ish on Sunday to lock down a spot and position... I’m looking forward to it. It’s couple of long ones. Open champion, stormed into 18-year-old Canadian star who Reed are vying for Ryder Cup selection. avoid having to sweat out banking on been a long time coming.” “I just thought, ‘what diff erence does contention with a bogey-free 66, is No. 3 in the World Golf Rank- The top eight on the points list on Sunday being called up as one of captain Davis Fowler’s long game has been far it make if I hit this past the hole, because posting three birdies on each nine. ings. Henderson is tied for 21st night automatically make the American Love’s four wild card picks. from perfect this week but he acknowl- I’ve left every putt short?’. And if it goes South Korea’s Kim Sei-Young after a second consecutive 68 team to face holders Europe in fi ve weeks. “I think it’s pretty simple. We’ve just edged his short game had allowed him to past, it might go in.” recorded a 68 and is fi ve shots following an opening 72. Gulf Times Monday, August 29, 2016 7 CRICKET

SECOND TEST/ SOUTH AFRICA vs NEW ZEALAND Du Plessis ton, Duminy’s 88 put SA fi rmly in charge New Zealand reduced to 38-3 at close on Day 2 after South Africa declare their first innings closed at 481-8

Reuters Pretoria

tand-in captain Faf du Plessis scored a fi fth Test century before his bowlers ripped through the New Zealand top or- der to leave South Africa fi rmly in charge afterS the second day of the second Test at Cen- turion yesterday. Du Plessis was unbeaten on 112 when South Africa declared on 481 for eight before reduc- ing New Zealand to 38 for three at the close with superb fast bowling on a wicket that has both sideways movement and variable bounce. Skipper Kane Williamson was batting on 15 and will carry the hopes of the touring side into the third day, along with Henry Nicholls who is unbeaten on four. South Africa’s opening bowlers, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander, both returning to the side for this series after injury layoff s, used the conditions superbly and were unlucky not to fi nd more success. Philander had Martin Gup- till (eight) caught at slip by Stiaan van Zyl before Steyn induced an edge from Tom Latham that was caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. With plenty of deliveries beating the bat and the scoring rate slow, Ross Taylor (one) showed signs of panic. He took on the arm of the nippy Temba Bavuma at midwicket and was run out to compound the misery for New Zealand. Du Plessis had earlier shown the way with a Faf du Plessis plays a shot patient innings that took 234 balls and was his during his patient unbeaten fi rst Test ton in 17 visits to the crease, a timely knock of 112. (Reuters) return to form as he stands in for regular cap- tain AB de Villiers. JP Duminy, restored to the team in the absence of De Villiers, missed out on his century, though, falling for 88 caught behind off a wild hook. “There is a lot happening in the wicket and we just needed one guy to anchor the innings and keep them out there as long as possible,” Du Plessis said. “The plan right from the beginning was to try to get to 400, which is a good score on HAPPY HOMECOMING FOR KIWI WAGNER this wicket, and then have a little dip at them at the end of the day.” AFP lot of backyard cricket together,” he said. He said he stayed in touch with his old The stand-in skipper said he and Duminy Wagner, 30, started his first-class career for school and his friends from his younger days had found batting in the last hour on the fi rst Centurion day to be particularly diffi cult. the Northerns amateur side before moving and looked forward to a day off after the Test His declaration was therefore geared to hav- to New Zealand at the age of 21. “I have loved to spend some time with them. ing New Zealand bat when it was most likely to or the first time in his 23-Test career every bit of it. I live in Dunedin today and that His home language was Afrikaans and he be tough for them in South African winter con- for New Zealand, Neil Wagner had his has played a big part of who I am and how I still speaks the language when he is with his ditions, with the close coming near sunset. Fwhole family and many of his childhood have developed as a cricketer,” he added. family. He took questions in Afrikaans at a “The grass stands up a little more towards the friends watching him during the first day But it was at Centurion that he developed press conference but answered in English. end of the day and because of the light you can of the second Test against South Africa at his passion for cricket, which made playing “It’s just respect for the place where I live see the little indentations on the pitch which SuperSport Park on Saturday. there such a special moment. now. It’s an English-speaking country. I’m a you don’t see when the sun is shining brightly “It was a special moment for me,” said the “I had a lot of goosebumps when I walked fully converted Kiwi now,” he stated. in the middle of the day. It plays on your mind a fast bowler, who grew up in nearby Pretoria. out,” he said. “It’s the first time in my life that When he lived in South Africa his surname bit,” Du Plessis added. Wagner is part of what is becoming an I had my whole family and a lot of the friends was pronounced in the guttural Afrikaans In an era of rapid scoring in Test cricket, much increasingly common phenomenon, a born- I grew up with sitting next to the field and way ‘Vargnuh’ but since he started playing of South Africa’s innings was a return to a more and-bred South African who has moved to watching a Test match. for New Zealand it has been pronounced attritional age, with run rate hovering at around another country and represented it in sport. three an over. Du Plessis was particularly cautious “I remember sitting on that bank and phonetically, with the ‘Wag’ as in a dog with as he tiptoed to a fi fth Test century off 225 balls. He was born in Pretoria and went to Afri- watching Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock and its tail. Now he prefers that. Pretoria-born Neil Wagner, who attended kaans Boys’ High, the same school as South those guys, growing up and falling in love with “I’m in New Zealand now, everyone calls primary and high school with Du Plessis in Pre- African stars AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis. this game. Walking out there today to repre- me that. It’s my adopted country and I’m very toria, was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers “I was two years behind them. I went to the sent the Black Caps in a Test match was an happy with that. My nickname is Wags. I’m with fi gures of 5-89 in 39 overs. same primary school as Faf and we played a amazing feeling. I loved every moment of it.” not too fussed about it.” “Neil’s been outstanding for a long period of time,” said fellow fast bowler Tim Southee. “He’s just reaping the rewards for the eff orts Scoreboard T Bavuma c Bracewell b Wagner ...... 8 6-426, 7-442, 8-463 K Williamson (batting) ...... 15 and the tough overs he’s bowled throughout S van Zyl c Taylor b Wagner ...... 35 Bowling: T Southee 35-5-114-1; T Boult 35.4-7- R Taylor (run out) ...... 1 his career. He keeps running in and will make South Africa (1st innings; overnight 283-3) V Philander b Wagner ...... 8 107-0; D Bracewell 30.2-9-98-1; M Santner 14-1- H Nicholls (batting) ...... 4 something happen from nothing.” S Cook c Williamson b Bracewell ...... 56 K Rabada c Nicholls b Santner ...... 7 62-1; N Wagner 39-8-86-5 Extras (lb-1, w-5) ...... 6 Southee collected a solitary wicket and con- Q de Kock c Boult b Wagner ...... 82 D Steyn (not out) ...... 13 Total (3 wickets, 16 overs) ...... 38 ceded 114 runs. “It was frustrating,” he admitted. H Amla c Watling b Wagner ...... 58 Extras (b-10, lb-4) ...... 14 New Zealand (1st innings) Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-13, 3-26 “When the ball did something it did too much, but J Duminy c Watling b Southee ...... 88 Total (8 wickets, 154 overs) ...... 481 M Guptill c van Zyl b Philander...... 8 Bowling: D Steyn 8-2-18-1; V Philander 4-1-10-1; K credit to the way they batted, particularly Faf.” F du Plessis (not out) ...... 112 Fall of wickets: 1-133, 2-151, 3-246, 4-317, 5-342, T. Latham c de Kock b Steyn...... 4 Rabada 4-0-9-0 (w-1)

THIRD ODI/ SRI LANKA vs AUSTRALIA Chandimal ton in vain as Bailey anchors Aussie chase in 2-wicket win AFP duo scored runs at a decent pace. D Chandimal c Zampa b Faulkner...... 102 Dambulla, Sri Lanka Off -spinner Dilruwan Perera bowled Head A Mathews lbw Zampa ...... 2 for 36 as batting suddenly seemed diffi cult D de Silva c S Marsh b Faulkner ...... 12 under lights at the Rajgiri Dambulla Interna- K Perera b Starc ...... 11 alf-centurion George Bailey starred tional Stadium. T Perera c S Marsh b Hastings ...... 9 in Australia’s tense run chase as the Bailey, whose 142-ball stay was laced with S Prasanna c Bailey b Zampa ...... 3 visitors edged past Sri Lanka by fi ve boundaries, held fort as he got Matthew D Perera c Warner b Hastings ...... 17 two wickets in the third one-day Wade for company and the batsmen put on A Aponso (not out) ...... 1 internationalH to take a 2-1 lead in Dambulla 81 for the fourth wicket to keep the visitors Extras (lb-10, w-8) ...... 18 yesterday. in sight of their target. Total (all out, 49.2 overs) ...... 226 Australia chased down 227 in 46 overs Bailey posted his 20th ODI fi fty as he Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-23, 3-96, 4-103, 5-133, to deny Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne mixed the right dose of caution and aggres- 6-154, 7-165, 8-178, 9-217, 10-226 Dilshan a winning farewell in his fi nal ODI. sion, forcing the Sri Lankan think-tank to Bowling: M Starc 10-0-42-2 (w3); J Hazle- Bowlers set up the win for the visitors af- rotate their bowling options. Dilruwan Per- wood 10-0-51-1 (w1); J Hastings 10-1-41-2 ter restricting Sri Lanka to 226 all out in 49.2 era fi nally got Wade stumped for 42 to break (w2); J Faulkner 9.2-0-44-2 (w2); A Zampa overs with Dinesh Chandimal top-scoring the dangerous stand and bring alive the 10-0-38-3 with 102. packed home crowd. Australia The Sri Lankan bowlers also made their Soon leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna got D Warner c Dilshan b Mathews ...... 10 presence felt with skipper Angelo Mathews Bailey bowled in the 42nd over with Austral- A Finch lbw Aponso ...... 30 providing the hosts with two early wickets ia needing another 23 runs for victory. S Marsh c Chandimal b Mathews ...... 1 including that of his opposite number Dav- A wobbling Australia lost another two G Bailey b Prasanna ...... 70 id Warner. Mathews got Warner caught at wickets before Adam Zampa got the winning T Head b D Perera ...... 36 point for 10 as Dilshan took a splendid catch. runs as he got the ball sailing over extra cover M Wade st K Perera b D Perera ...... 42 Aaron Finch, who scored a 29-ball 30 with where Dilruwan Perera dropped the catch to J Faulkner c D Perera b Aponso ...... 4 three fours and a six, was next to go after the delight of the visiting players. J Hastings (not out)...... 5 left-arm spinner Amila Aponso trapped the Mathews, Aponso and Dilruwan Perera M Starc c Prasanna b de Silva ...... 12 opening batsman lbw. took two wickets each. A Zampa (not out)...... 5 Mathews struck again with his medium The fourth ODI of the fi ve-match series is Extras (lb-6, w-6) ...... 12 pace to get Shaun Marsh, who was included scheduled for August 31 at the same venue. Total (8 wickets, 46 overs) ...... 227 in the XI in place of resting Steve Smith, out Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-42, 3-44, 4-106, 5-187, for one and put the visitors in trouble at 44 Scoreboard 6-204, 7-206, 8-222 for three. Sri Lanka Bowling: A Mathews 7-0-30-2; T Perera 2-0- Travis Head and Bailey, who scored a grit- D Gunathilaka b Starc ...... 5 18-0 (w2); A Aponso 10-0-44-2 (w1); D Perera Sri Lankan cricketer Tillakaratne Dilshan receives a farewell from the crowd after declaring his ODI retire- ty 70, put on 62 runs for the fourth wicket to T Dilshan c Bailey b Zampa ...... 42 10-0-45-2 (w1); T Dilshan 4-0-24-0; S Prasanna ment after yesterday’s third one-dayer in Dambulla. The visiting Australiam side chased down 227 in 46 put the tourists’ chase back on track as the K Mendis c Warner b Hazlewood ...... 4 9-0-39-1 (w2); D de Silva 4-0-21-1 overs to deny Dilshan a winning farewell in his final ODI, and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. (AFP)

Monday, August 29, 2016 GULF TIMES TENNIS

IN BRIEF PREVIEW/US OPEN Radwanska tunes up for US Open with title win Nadal aims to carry Rio in Connecticut boost into US Open Injuries are aff ecting several top players heading into the last grand slam of the year

Reuters gold in doubles with his friend Marc New York Lopez. “Winning a gold medal is always New Haven: Top seed Ag- something unique, and I think I en- nieszka Radwanska declared afa Nadal was exhausted yet joyed it as much as I can during the it mission accomplished after exhilarated following his whole event,” he said. clinching a 6-1 7-6(1) victory over emotional return to action “I finished the tournament com- Elina Svitolina in the final of the at this month’s Rio Olympics pletely exhausted... no more energy Connecticut Open in New Haven afterR an injury-absence and is looking inside of my body.” on Saturday. forward to gearing back up for the US Nadal carried on straight from Rio Radwanska accepted a wild Open starting today. to Cincinnati where he won his open- card into the event because she “If you’re not excited about the ing match before losing to teenager wanted to tune up for the US US Open, you’re not a tennis player,” Borna Coric of Crotia. Open that starts on Monday and Nadal told reporters. “I am better, I am a little bit better,” the 27-year-old Pole will head Injuries are affecting several top said Nadal. “It’s true that the wrist to Flushing Meadows brimming players heading into the last grand bothers me a little bit less every day. with confidence after collecting slam of the year in a season made I need to understand again to hit my her 19th career WTA title. even more hectic with the Olympics normal forehand. During the wrist “Thank you so much... for giving squeezed into the schedule. injury, always you try to find move- me that wild card,” Radwanska Men’s top seed Novak Djokovic, like ments to avoid the pain. laughed during her winner’s Nadal, is also dealing with a wrist in- “Today I can start the forehand, I speech. “I definitely appreciate jury and women’s number one Serena think my normal forehand, but still it and I’ll be back next year for Williams is coping with a sore right needs time to feel that I am more con- sure.” shoulder. fident on my wrist. But I am practic- Radwanska rattled through the Lefthander Nadal, sidelined after ing well and I am competing well.” first set in less than 30 minutes being unable to play his third-round Nadal hopes his Rio elation carries as the 21-year-old Svitolina strug- match at the French Open because of over to the Open, which he won in gled on serve. an injured left wrist, decided to test 2010 and 2013. The Ukrainian 10th seed raised himself in Rio. “I have been playing at a very high her game in the second with “I was two months and a half out- level. So that helped me to play well some powerful, precise ground- side of the competition, and not only in the Olympics, and I hope it’s go- strokes and had three set points outside of the competition, outside ing to help me to play well here,” the to level the match but was the practice courts. I couldn’t prac- 14-times grand slam winner said. unable to convert, before being tise,” the Spanish fourth seed said at “When you go to the Olympics and overrun in the tiebreak. Flushing Meadows on Friday. finally you win a medal, it’s just the Radwanska, the fourth seed at Nadal, 30, said he was determined most important thing that you can the US Open, faces American to give it a try in Rio and ended up do. So I’m just very happy for that, Jessica Pegula in the first round feeling good enough to compete in one medal for my country.” at Flushing Meadows, with a Rafael Nadal of Spain practices during Arthur singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Nadal will play his first-round potential semi-final encounter Ashe Kids’ Day prior to the start of the 2016 “The motivation, the passion, Open match against Uzbekistan’s against top seed Serena Wil- US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National sharing moments with the team Denis Istomin, who reached the liams. Tennis Center in New York City. helped a lot,” said Nadal, who reached fourth round in New York in 2012 but Svitolina is the 22nd seed at the the Rio singles semi-finals and won is 7-20 this season. US Open. McEnroe calls INDISCIPLINE SPOTLIGHT halt to coaching French Raonic New York: US tennis legend John McEnroe on Saturday ban top NY more of a distraction than called a halt to his coaching work with Milos Raonic, claiming “it will make life easier” despite women helping the Canadian to the Wimbledon final last month. top ranking for Muguruza McEnroe made his announce- players ment just two days out from Reuters plicated, just because it’s more a big the start of the US Open, the New York city, huge city, huge everything. I’m not season’s final Grand Slam event AFP that city girl.” where world number six Raonic Paris Muguruza has never gone beyond is ranked as a potential title or most women at the US Open, the second round in three visits to New winner. overcoming Serena Williams is York but as a grand slam champion, she Raonic, defeated by Andy Mur- he French Tennis Feder- the biggest challenge. knows she has the ability to go far. ray in the Wimbledon final, only ation yesterday slapped But for Garbine Muguruza, Reaching the fi nal could see her over- started working with McEnroe a ban on the country’s Fcoping with the unique demands of New take Williams but Muguruza said the for the grass court season but top women players fol- York City outstrips any worries over the prospect of becoming number one did the two men then decided to Tlowing ‘unacceptable’ conduct 22-times grand slam champion. not add pressure. extend their agreement. at the Rio Olympics. The Spaniard beat Williams to win “For sure it will be an incredible The 25-year-old will continue to If the temporary ban is up- the French Open for her fi rst grand slam achievement,” she said. “I don’t even work with full-time coaches Car- held Caroline Garcia, the French title this season and could take over the know what I have to do, I’m not really los Moya and Riccardo Piatti. number one, and Kristina Mlad- world number one spot from the Amer- thinking about that. “Milos has two coaches. I came enovic, the number two, will ican this fortnight. The 22-year-old “I’m just thinking what I have to do in an advisory role before Wim- miss the fi nal of the Fed Cup Muguruza, born in Venezuela, raised in to winning my rounds and my matches bledon. He’s got a great team against the Czech Republic in Spain and now a resident of Geneva, is and hopefully get to the last match and around him,” McEnroe said in an November. a fan of the country life and knows New win it. But I think it will be incredible.” ESPN conference call. The conduct of the women as York presents a very real challenge. Muguruza, who plays Belgian qualifi - “I think it’s best and easiest at well as male teammate Benoit “I feel this tournament is the most er Elise Mertens in the fi rst round of the this point, this week I was with Paire was “unacceptable and tricky tournament because there is ob- year’s last grand slam starting on Mon- “There are a couple of players that at Wimbledon after her Paris triumph him, but having thought about it, merits an appropriate response,” viously a lot of things,” Muguruza told day, said the buzz about the top ranking can reach number one. So that creates a but said she has been working hard on and for Milos’ sake, for ESPN and the federation said, announcing reporters at Flushing Meadows. has picked up as Williams’ hold on the little bit of juicy comments. all areas of her game. my sake, I think it’s best that we that a fi nal decision will be re- “There is always traffi c. There is al- number one spot has weakened. “I feel it a little bit, but I guess it’s “I think I’m playing well,” she said. “I stop right now. leased on September 24. ways noise, people. I don’t know. Eve- “I feel the discussion is much louder normal.” think I’m improving a lot of my fi tness, “So when the US Open starts on rything takes a lot of energy. because there is more movement (in the Muguruza experienced a quick let- getting stronger, getting more experi- Monday, he’s got his people. I’m Mladenovic is accused of “For whatever reason, it is more com- rankings),” the Spaniard said. down when she lost in the second round ence.” pulling for him and want him to publicly criticising the fed- do well. But it’s best to sort of eration following her defeat separate at this stage. It will just in the Olympic doubles BOTTOMLINE make life easier for everyone.” tournament in which she Raonic starts his US Open teamed up with Garcia campaign on Tuesday against Germany’s Dustin Brown. In the interim the two women, the reigning French Open dou- bles champions, as well as Paire, Spain’s Busta will forfeit fi nancial aid and se- Heir-apparent Kerber certain triumphs in lection to represent their coun- try. Mladenovic is accused of Winston-Salem publicly criticising the federa- tion following her defeat in the Los Angeles: Spain’s Pablo Olympic doubles tournament in she can handle pressure Carreno Busta claimed his first which she teamed up with Gar- ATP Tour title with a 6-7 (8/10), cia. Reuters ows on the eve of the event. Las Vegas in early 2015 that re- maybe a little bit higher, but if 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 win over Roberto She said in a tweet the fed- New York “If the day will come I will ally did the trick. I’m not putting the pressure on Bautista Agut at the Winston- eration failed to tell the players reach number one, it would be Graf, who shares the Open- myself, everything is fi ne,” the Salem Open on Saturday. about tournament rules whereby amazing but I will not think too era grand-slam record of 22 world number two said. The 25-year-old Carreno Busta they had to wear the same col- ngelique Kerber much (about it). wins with Williams, told Kerber Kerber, who picked up a sil- surprised the 17th-ranked Agut ours on court, forcing Garcia says she is ready to “I will try to enjoy every mo- she was on the right track and ver medal at the Olympics, after losing the first set at the into a last-minute change of kit deal with the increas- ment right now because it’s one to go easier on herself. losing to Puerto Rico’s Monica Wake Forest Tennis Center in borrowed from her teammate. ing pressure as she of the best seasons of my career Her win over Williams in the Puig in the fi nal, begins her US North Carolina. Paire was kicked out of the targetsA US Open glory and the so far.” Australian Open fi nal was an challenge against Polona Her- Carreno Busta needed a little French Olympic team by na- world number one ranking. The 28-year-old German, enormous boost to her confi - cog, of Slovenia. more than 2 1/2 hours to become tional coach Arnaud Di Pasquale Victory for the Australian who won her fi rst grand-slam dence and after an early French But although she is tipped the sixth first-time winner on the over allegations of poor conduct Open champion and Wimble- title in Melbourne at the start Open exit, she bounced back for the title she knows that ATP Tour this season. in Rio including lengthy absenc- don runner-up would see Ker- of the year, lacked belief in the superbly to reach the fi nal at Williams, despite a shoulder Agut was trying to become the es from the Olympic village. ber knock Serena Williams off Cincinnati Open but says she is early part of her career. Wimbledon. concern, is still the one to beat. fifth player in Tour history to win The federation statement said the top spot she has held since trying to focus simply on doing Her run to the semi-fi nals in Now, with a major title un- “(It’s) Serena and the rest of three times in one season. He the three players had “issued a early 2013. her job. New York in 2011 was the cata- der her belt, Kerber feels better the fi eld,” she said, laughing. won earlier this year at Auck- slap in the face to the federation Kerber missed the chance “I will not put too much pres- lyst for her rise up the rankings, equipped to handle the expec- “No, we will see. There are a lot land, New Zealand, and Sofia, and damaged the image of ten- to usurp Williams last week sure on this,” the 28-year-old but it was a trip to see former tations. of good players right now and Bulgaria, and has four career nis.” when she lost in the fi nal of the told reporters at Flushing Mead- world number one Steffi Graf in “The pressure, for sure, is we’ll see how Serena plays. titles.