Early lead not enough for Al Rayyan in AFC Champions League PAGE 19

TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2019

Pant’s heroics guide Delhi to IPL the top of IPL table PAGE 19 CHENNAI VS HYDERABAD Sizzling Samba sets Asian record Two gold medals for Qatar on second day; three more meet marks tumble & Safronova emerges fastest woman

Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba (centre) clears a hurdle on the way to winning the final of the men’s 400m hurdles during the second ayd of the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships Kazakhstan’s Olga Safronova powers ahead to win the women’s at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Monday. (PHOTOGRAPHS: HANSON K JOSEPH) 100m final on Monday.

AYENI OLUSEGUN the seventh hurdle, I had to DOHA change my steps from 13 to 14. RESULTS Records continue to tumble I had to deal with a head wind The Doha meet saw three MONDAY’S RESULTS MEN’S SHOT PUT COOL, assured and like a in the first metres of the race Men’s 400m Hurdles 1. Tejinder Singh Pal Toor India (20.22 SB) new championship records predator, Abderrahman Sam- that’s why I wore my sunglass- 1. Abderrahman Samba Qatar (47.51 MR) 2. Wu Jiaxiang China (20.03 PB) set on Day 1 but it was just a ba exploded to his first Asian es,” Samba said. 2. Chen Chieh CHN Taipei (48.92 PB) 3. Ivan Ivanov Kazakhstan (19.09) start of more intriguing fin- Athletics Championship gold Despite 47.51 being good 3. Jabir Plliyalil Madari India (49.13 PB) ishes. On Monday, Samba set WOMEN’S HAMMER THROW medal setting the meet record enough for the championship WOMEN’S 400M HURDLES 1. Wang Zheng China (75.66 CR, SB) a new 400m hurdles record at the iconic Khalifa Interna- record, Samba who recorded 1. Lan Thi Quach Vietnam (56.10 SB) 2. Luo Na China (72.23) but the story of the day be- tional Stadium on Monday. his personal best time of 44.60 2. Aminat Jamal Yusuf Bahrain (56.39 SB) 3. Akane Watanbe Japan (63.54) longed to Kazakhstan’s Olga The 2018 world number one in 400m in Pretoria, South Af- 3. Laxmanbhai Gayakwad India (57.22) Safronova who ran to a new WOMEN’S LONG JUMP finished with 47.51 in 400m rica back in March, believes he MEN’S 800M 1. Lu Minjia China (6.38 SB) 100m women’s mark in the hurdles ahead of Chen Chieh can go faster in his speciality 1.Abubaker H Abdalla Qatar (1:44.33 PB, WL) 2. Ayaka Kora Japan (6.16) heats with 11.21s before blitz- of Chinese Taipei and India’s event. 2.Ebrahim Alzofairi Kuwait (1:6.88) 3. Yue Xin Ya Hong Kong (6.15) ing to another record in the Jabir Madari. “The 47.51 is a good time, 3.Jamal Hairane Qatar (1:7.27) final with 11.17. WOMEN’S 100M The second day of the four- but I can run faster. I worked MEN’S JAVELIN THROW 1. Olga Safronova Uzbekistan (11.17 CR, SB) “I pushed hard in the end, day continental meet was good hard in South Africa and I am 1. Cheng Chao-Tsun CHN Taipei (86.72m CR, WL) 2. Liang Xiaojing China (11.28) gave everything I had and I for hosts Qatar as they finished sure I can run faster. Maybe (I 2. Shivpal Singh India (86.23 PB) 3. Wei Yongli China (11.37) have the gold medal. That’s my with two more medals, includ- can) improve my time. I com- 3. Ryohei Arai Japan (81.93 second best race ever following MEN’S 100M ing a gold medal from 800m pete in every race with joy, MEN’S TRIPLE JUMP 1. Yoshihide Kiryu Japan (10.10) my race in Rio. The Khalifa Sta- runner Abdubakar Haydar I don’t have any pressure. I 1. Rulsan Kurbanov Uzbekistan (16.93m PB) 2. Muhammad Lalu Zohri Indonesia (10.13 PB, NR) dium is great and the facilities Abdalla. want to improve my time more Qatar’s gold medallist Abubaker Haydar Abdalla (right) and Jamal 2. Zhu Yaming China (16.87 PB) 3. Wu Zhiqiang China (10.18 PB) are great too,” Safronova said “I am happy to win here at than one second and I feel I Hairane (bronze medallist) celebrate on the podium. 3. Xu Xiaolong China (16.81) after her mid-blowing race. home. I have been training for can still go lower,” he added. In the men’s javelin final, this and it shows on the track. Qatari 800m duo of Ab- Abdalla’s victory means he hard and in the end I was Cheng Chao-Tsun set a new This win gives me a feeling I dalla and Jamal Hairane now holds both the indoor rewarded with a new per- final yet,” Abdalla said. medals. We didn’t manage to championship record and can win the World Champi- claimed a gold and a bronze and outdoor continental titles, sonal best and the world lead. On his part, Jamal who fin- do that but of course, we feel world lead with 86.72 throw in onship here,” said a smiling as Kuwaiti Ebrahim Alzofairi following his victory in Teh- Now my target is the World ished third said the team had happy with what we have. his first attempt to clinch gold Samba. pocketed the silver to cancel a ran at the 2018 Asian Indoor Championships here in Doha. their sights on a clean sweep. Now, a world championships while India’s Shivpal Singh “The plan was to push Qatar sweep, leaving Abdirah- Championships. Hopefully I can make it as I “We followed our coach’s plan final is my target this season,” took silver and Japan’s Ryohei hard in the first 300m. After man Saeed Hassan in fourth. “From gun to tape, I ran haven’t qualified for a major with the aim to sweep the he said. Arai finished third. Xavi, Bounedjah spark Sadd’s superb win over Pakhtakor

The winning goal for Al Close victory takes the former Sadd came three minutes be- fore the end of the 90 through champions to the top of Group D Bounedjah. The 2018 AFC Champions AFC.COM Krimets’ cross found him in League top scorer dispossessed DOHA space inside the Al Sadd box. Pakhtakor defender Azamov Khamdamov volleyed from and exchanged passes with GOALS from Xavi and Bagh- close range, but his ball passed Xavi before slotting home his dad Bounedjah earned Qa- just wide of the upright. second in this edition of the tar’s Al Sadd a hard-fought 2-1 Farrukh Sayfiev crossed for competition. home victory over Uzbekistan’s Marat Bikmaev whose header Pakhtakor on Matchday Four was tipped over the bar by Saad Al Sadd needed just 10 of the 2019 AFC Champions al Sheeb in the 29th minute. minutes to take the lead League Group D on Tuesday. Just a minute later, Pakhta- through Xavi who, just as The two teams had played kor got their equaliser. Kham- out a 2-2 draw a fortnight ago damov’s in-swinging cross was in the previous game, in Tashkent and a single point nodded on by Sherzod Azamov curled a free-kick into the separated them before kick-off, into the path of Krimets at the top corner. as Pakhtakor topped the group far post and the Pakhtakor cap- with five points. tain headed it into the back of Al Sadd top Group D with Al Sadd needed just 10 min- the net to draw his side level at this victory, which takes their utes to take the lead through the half-hour mark. Xavi of Al Sadd Club races ahead with the ball during a Group D tally to seven points. Mean- Xavi who, just as in the previ- Xavi nearly scored off his match against Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan in the AFC Champions League while, Pakhtakor freeze at five ous game, curled a free-kick third free-kick in two matches in Doha on Monday. points, slipping down to third into the top corner of Sanjar in the 75th minute. The Spanish place, with Al Ahli now mov- Kuvvatov net. midfielder rifled from 30 yards Uzbek goalkeeper was again pass inside the box and fired ing to second with six points Dostonbek Khamdamov out, but Kuvvatov stretched to well-positioned to deny Xavi. but Kuvvatov punched the ball and Persepolis rounding the Al Sadd players celebrate their 2-1 victory in the crucial group match had a golden chance to equal- make the save at the top corner. This time the Al Sadd captain away to safety, keeping his side group off with four points at in the AFC Champions League in Doha on Monday. ise for Pakhtakor when Egor Two minutes later, the received Hassan al Haydos’ in the game once again. the bottom. 18 Tuesday, April 23, 2019 Sports

News Mbappe dazzles in PSG’s in brief PSG must be patient in Champions successful Ligue title bid League quest, says Tuchel PARIS: Paris St Germain must remain patient in their quest for a Champions League title despite their recent failures, coach Thomas Tuchel said after they celebrated their sixth Ligue 1 title in the last seven seasons on Sunday. The Parisians need to breathe new life into Qatari project But despite this achievement, the last-16 Champions League elimination by Manchester United in March still looms AFP large with the club having spent over one billion euros on trans- PARIS fers since Qatar Sports Investment took over in 2011. “The Champions League is a big goal for the club but even AFTER being the star of Juventus have been waiting for it for so long,” warned Tuchel, France’s 2018 World Cup tri- referring to the Serie A champions who have not won since umph, Kylian Mbappe has 1996 despite reaching the final on five occasions since then. been the standout player for PSG have been stuttering lately, picking up only one point Paris Saint-Germain in a Ligue from their three previous outings before Sunday’s celebrations, 1 title-winning campaign that but the return of Neymar and Edinson Cavani from injury have has been slightly marred by boosted the team’s morale. the manner in which they limped over the line. PSG finally wrapped up Man U under heavy fire from all quarters the title on Sunday after sec- ond-placed Lille failed to beat MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s 4-0 loss at Everton on Toulouse, having not won any Sunday drew stinging criticism from pundits, including former of their previous three games captain Gary Neville, with many questioning the attitude of the when the opportunity to con- players. firm a sixth French crown in While there is no doubt the culture at the club needs seven seasons was there. deeper changes than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer putting a smile In the last match against on peoples’ faces and indeed the squad needs injecting with Monaco on Sunday, Mbappe fresh talent, the short-term problem is more basic. excelled he struck a brilliant When Solskjaer and his assistant Mick Phelan took over, hat-trick in his team’s 3-1 they asked the players to up their physical work rate and that victory. was immediately noticeable during the initial good run of form. The Qatari-owned club The problem is that without a high base level of fitness, can still make it a domestic that sort of sudden increase is almost impossible to maintain. double, with the French Cup If there was any doubt that a lack of top-level fitness is final to come against Rennes at the core of the current slump in form, one statistic from next weekend, yet this will Sunday’s shambles at Goodison Park stands out -- Everton ran not be remembered as a vin- over eight kilometres more than United. tage year. Marco Silva’s side looked sharper, quicker and more deter- While Neymar once again mined than a rather leggy United. went missing due to injury at The only way to sort out that problem is a full and intense the crucial point, Edinson Ca- Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar (right) empties a water pouch on teammate Kylian Mbappe as they celebrate the French L1 title pre-season, to build the levels of stamina and fitness that are vani has struggled with fitness after their 3-1 win against Monaco (ASM) at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on Sunday. (AFP) needed to compete at the highest level. too, and coach Thomas Tuchel The temptation after the humiliation at Everton must be has regularly lashed out at the 40 games this season, with gone, replaced with a stale- to bring in some of the club’s talented young players, such as lack of depth in his squad. 30 in the league. And, fright- ness. The days of Thiago Silva, midfielder James Garner, Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes. eningly, his team-mate Dan- Edinson Cavani and Marco The problem again is the short-term -- the next game is Mbappe, at least, has iel Alves told RMC recently Verratti are maybe ending. against Manchester City in Wednesday’s derby match which that “he doesn’t realise how Youri Djorkaeff, a World Solskjaer’s side must win to keep alive hopes of qualifying for been a constant, revelling good he is, he can go much Cup winner for France and a the Champions League. in his status as a World further”. PSG star in the 1990s, offers a A match against Pep Guardiola’s City is hardly the occasion Cup winner and hardly He is also not used to los- frank assessment, suggesting for blooding young players and the risk is high of damaging ever being rested. He only ing, and may have upset some real change is needed higher up. their confidence and self-belief. turned 20 in December, of his teammates with his as- “If you’re not great in So United must shuffle the existing pack and a wise move but has now won three sessment of last week’s defeat every compartment, from the would be to bring in a couple of the more experienced young Ligue 1 titles in a row. at Lille. “We played like begin- bus driver to the girls who players with Andreas Pereira and Scott McTominay able to offer ners,” he said. clean the shirts, you will go energy in midfield. nowhere,” he told Ligue 1 Pod- And it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a young forward, such The 5-1 capitulation at Hollow ring cast, ‘Le Beau Jeu’. as highly-rated 17-year-old Mason Greenwood, on the bench. Lille a week ago was the worst To be fair, they have usu- “Paris Saint-Germain, after league result for PSG since Qa- ally been exceptional domesti- many years without success, tar Sports Investments bought cally. However, the problem is have to rebuild everything, re- Zidane bemused as Spanish press round the club in 2011, and the first that as long as they keep fail- start from scratch, because the on Irish striker Bale time they had let in five in a ing in the Champions League, foundations are not good. You league game since 2000. domestic success for a club cannot expect to one day win MADRID: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is bemused by A record-breaking backed by a Gulf state will Paris Saint-Germain’s players come off the field after their match the Champions League with- his team’s fans’ attitude towards Gareth Bale after they booed 14-match winning run with continue to ring hollow. against Monaco in Paris on Sunday. (AFP) out these foundations.” the Welsh forward during Saturday’s 3-0 La Liga victory over which they started the season The title has effectively The Qatar project needs a Athletic Bilbao. now seems like a long time ago, been in the bag for some time, sports daily L’Equipe, Tuchel “We have a contract, we’re breath of fresh air, and all eyes When quizzed on why a player who has won four Cham- the latest Champions League but their season has been has agreed to extend his con- not even halfway through that will be on president Nasser al- pions Leagues in five seasons in Madrid - including scoring failure clouding Tuchel’s first winding down ever since their tract to 2021. Thoughts have contract,” Neymar’s father Khelaifi and sporting director decisive goals in two of the finals - is given such a hostile campaign in charge. exit against Manchester Unit- already turned to the future, pointed out to RMC Sport. Antero Henrique. reception by fans Zidane said; “I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t Mbappe, at least, has been ed in the last 16. with new signings needed at UEFA’s Financial Fair understand it.” a constant, revelling in his That, combined with being the Parc des Princes. Eyes on PSG boss Play rules remain a problem, Bale came on as a substitute after being left out from the status as a World Cup winner knocked out in the League Cup The costly Neymar experi- Mbappe is the one man though, with PSG said to have start for the second consecutive game by Zidane and irked the and hardly ever being rested. quarter-finals, means Tuchel ment cannot be said to have they really cannot afford to a hole of around 100 million Bernabeu faithful by missing a one-on-one chance. He only turned 20 in Decem- in his first season has actually succeeded until he stays fit for lose, but is it time for a clear- euros and the need to present The reaction was in stark contrast to the one that greeted ber, but has now won three done worse than Unai Emery, the games that matter, and out elsewhere? a balanced budget by the end Isco, who came on to the pitch at the same time as Bale to Ligue 1 titles in a row. his unloved predecessor. there will always be specula- Some of the excitement of of June. The next few months much delight from the stands. Mbappe has 36 goals in However, according to tion about his future. the early part of the decade has will be interesting. McCullagh, Cabalero overall Open class champions Alvaraze tastes win at last in The Pearl-Qatar round of Qatar National Triathlon Series TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK Quartier Beach, 20 kms of cy- DOHA cling through main Pearl-Qatar roads and 5 kms of running SPANIARD Aday Alvarez fi- around Qanat Quartier. The nally made it to the top in the race was very intense since it Open category for men in the was a decisive for the final Se- fifth leg of the Qatar National ries standings where best four Triathlon Series after series of out of five results counted. second and third places. In the Women’s Open cat- The second place was taken egory, Isora Sosa Cabalero by Irish Bernard McCullagh (Spain) won previous four races and Moroccan Rhaili Mouhcine and continued with clean streak was third at The Pearl-Qatar, even in the final round. Daniela the venue of the last round. Sposi (Great Britain) finished McCullagh, who won the second and Gerda Maria Dim- Doha Triathlon and the Lusail itru (Romania) was third. City Triathlon, came on top of Cabalero gathered maxi- the Series with 995.28 points mum possible 1,000 points out of 1,000. through five wins out of five in Winners of various categories pose for photograph after the prize disttribution of the fifth and final round A five races series started the Series. of the Qatar National Triathlon Series at The Pearl-Qatar. in November with the Katara The Veteran Men race was Triathlon, followed by the Al won by Enzo Fascinato (Ar- third. Stadler won the Series Saleh al Mohannadi was the Qatar Cycling and Triath- Ghariya Triathlon in Decem- gentina), second was Canadian standings (978 points), includ- fastest among Qatari Veteran lon Federation Board Member ber, the main event of the se- Jody Sanderson and Vicente ing the Doha Triathlon tri- Men followed by Khalid Saleh Prof. Dr. Nasser al Mohannadi ries was the Doha Triathlon at Luis Catalan (Spain) came umph. al Qahtani and Essa al Kuwari. said after the prize distribution: Participants during the swim and run at the Qatar National Triathlon the MIA Park in February. The third. Italian Manuel Micelli Qatari athletes are getting Nasser al Mohannadi won the “We would like to congratulate Series’ fianal round at The Pearl-Qatar on Friday. penultimate event took place in emerged the overall champion more competitive in each race. series with winning first four all the athletes, thank all the Lusail City in March. with 965.55 points. Mubarak Alajji won the Pearl- races and scooping maximum hosts and sponsors who were Water. The events would not race in professional way. We, Almost 300 athletes, in- Ecuadorian Andrea Stadler Qatar race ahead of Ebrahim al available 1,000 points. with us in the Series. Special be possible without Qatar Traf- at Qatar Cycling and Triath- cluding teams and kids, par- clinched the Veteran Women’s Romaihi and Abdulla Shaheen Caroline Van Aartrijk won thank you to Sheikh Joaan bin fic Police and our great volun- lon Federation, are extremely ticipated in the “Sprint” event race. Hilda Allin (South Af- al Kaabi. Alajji, with three vic- Qatari Veteran Women race Hamad al Thani, the Qatar teers from MAD Triathlon and proud to have organised the se- which featured 750 metres rica) was second and Anemarie tories, won the overall standing and the League competing and Olympic Committee President, UFMBQ who helped making ries and are looking forward to of swimming on the Qanat Killshaw (Great Britain) was with 985 points. winning all five events. Royal Air Maroc and Rayyan events safe and organise each new season.” Sports Tuesday, April 23, 2019 19 Early lead not enough for Rayyan

AFC.COM With three goals inside the ting inside into his left and ABU DHABI first eight minutes, the game drilled home his fifth strike of continued at a fast pace. Rim the competition, making it 3-2 LEONARDO was the star Chang-woo and Sebastian in the 56th minute. of the show, netting all four Tagliabue missed chances for Eight minutes from time, goals for Al Wahda as they Al Wahda over the following Leonardo completed his hat- came from behind to defeat Al 10 minutes before the fourth trick, tapping in from point- Rayyan 4-3 on Matchday Four goal of the first half arrived. blank after Tagliabue had of the 2019 AFC Champions Jumaa intercepted a poor fed the ball to Khalil Ibrahim League Group B on Monday. defensive clearance from Al down the right to cross low for Al Wahda had come from Wahda and supplied the ball the Brazilian who was left with behind to defeat Al Rayyan 2-1 the easiest of finishes to bring in Doha two weeks ago and Al Wahda level. top the group with six points. The former Qatari interna- The former Al Ahli winger So, the return fixture offered a tional striker evaded his still had more tricks up his chance for the Qataris to catch marker inside the box and sleeve, snatching the winner their opponents. headed home off a and his fourth of the night in The visitors came racing Rodrigo Tabata free-kick the last minute. off the blocks and were in front to hand Al Rayyan an Ismail Matar’s cross from within 120 seconds through a set-piece was headed across Sebastian Soria. early lead. the mouth of the goal by sub- The former Qatari interna- stitute Hussain Abbas for tional striker evaded his mark- to Koh Myong-jin whose cross Leonardo who was perfectly er inside the box and headed on the volley found Rivas at positioned to nod home the home off a Rodrigo Tabata the far post. The former Al winning goal for the Clarets to free-kick to hand Al Rayyan an Hilal and Al Ittihad striker ap- the joy of the home crowd. early lead. plied the finish to make it 3-1 With the result, Al Wahda Buoyed by the goal, Gilson to Al Rayyan midway through retain their place at the top de Souza’s men continued to the opening half. of the group with nine points. push forward and were re- Sebastian Soria (left) and Gelmin Rivas of Al Rayyan Club celebrate after scoring their goals during the AFC Champions League group B soccer There was more of the The Emiratis also equaled warded for their attacking in- match against Al Wahda (UAE) in Abu Dhabi on Monday. (EPA-EFE) same in the second half and their best AFC Champions tent with a second goal in the it was Al Wahda who scored League winning run with sixth minute. was blocked by Al Wahda de- corner for his third goal of the through Leonardo. fender before placing the ball the next goal in this attacking three victories on the trot. Al Left-back Mohammed Ju- fender Ahmed Rashid. The 2019 AFC Champions League. The Brazilian collected the composedly into the back of festival. Rayyan, meanwhile, slip to the maa crossed for Gelmin Rivas ball, however, fell to Rivas who Al Wahda’s response was ball from Mansor al Harbi’s the net from inside the box in Leonardo pounced on a bottom of Group B with three and the Venezuelan’s header hit it first-time into the bottom instant, pulling one back pass and dribbled past two de- the eighth minute. loose ball inside the box, cut- points. Al Rayyan down Taichung Bank; move to knockout The Qatari club to play Sri Results Results of the matches held on Monday Lankan team for a place in Asian Pool E Queensland Pirates (Australia) lost to Chennai Spartans (India) 15–25 19–25 men’s club volleyball semis 18–25 Taichung Bank (Taipei) lost to Al Rayyan TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK tually at will. Even the scores (Qatar) 16–25 17–25 25–22 15–25 DOHA also suggest that the hosts could not get going at all and Pool F TWICE runners-up and dou- lost them tamely. Sri Lanka Ports Authority (Sri Lanka) beat TP. ble Arab championship win- But they staged their return HCM (Vietnam) 25–21 18–25 25–20 27–25 Shahrdari Varamin (Iran) lost to Panasonic ners Al Rayyan Club over- in the third set. Left-handed Panthers (Japan) 19–25 25–19 12–25 whelmed former champions Wu Tsung-Hsuan produced 25–17 14–16 Taichung Bank 25-16, 25-17, power-packed cross-court 22-25, 25-15 in their last top- spikes to take Taichung Bank Pool G 8 playoff match at the 2019 24-21 clear. The Qatari team Singapore Club (Singapore) lost to Est Cola Asian Men’s Club Volleyball save a point but smashed the (Thailand) 14–25 13–25 14–25 Championship at the Univer- ball long next time to leave the sity of Taipei (Tianmu) Gym- trailing just by a set. Pool H Polri Samator (Indonesia) beat Dragon (Hong nasium on Monday. Al Rayyan, stung by the re- Kong) 25–19 26–24 25–17 Brazilian Marcus Costa verse, launched thundering at- topped the scoring chart for tacks from Costa and Youssef Next fixtures (April 24) the winners with 17 points, Oughlaf. With Andre Franca Chennai Spartans vs TP.HCM ...... including 14 spikes in 23 at- and Birama Faye producing Panasonic Panthers vs Queensland Pirates tempts. Kamil Rychlicki played some scintillating blocks, Al Sri Lanka Ports Authority vs Al Rayyan a second fiddle and his 13 Rayyan jumped to a 24-15 ad- Shahrdari Varamin vs Taichung Bank points contained nine kills and vantgae. Oughlaf wrapped up two blocks. Wu Tsung-Hsuan the match with a kill. special energy and is a young was the leading contributior With this victory, Al Rayy- team. My team had to play for Taichung Bank with 14 an Club took the second place their A game in order to crush points, including 10 kills and in Pool E behind Chennai Spar- the spirit of the opponents. So Al Rayyan Club’s Bairama Faye (No. 16) and Andre Franka (No. 14) block Taichung Bank’s Chiao Hsuan-Cheng during a match in the Asian three aces. tans and will clash against Sri we used our strong serves to Men’s Club Volleyball Championship in Taipei on Monday. In the first two sets, Tai- Lanka Ports Authority after a weaken their reception. chung Bank, who had beaten day’s rest in the quarter-finals. “Ahead of the match also, right from the first set. My added. powerhouse Varamin Munici- Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Qatar’s Al Arabi in the 2015 Al Rayyan’s head coach I was also expecting a hard game plan for the next match In other matches, terrific pality after rallying from 11-14 and Chennai Spartans tamed final in Taipei, failed to trou- Carlos Schwanke praised his match because Taichung is to do our best one at a time Michel Kubiak steered Pa- down in tie-breaker, Sri Lanka Australia’s Queensland Pirates ble as Al Rayyan’s Costa and team, “It was a difficult match Bank have a lot of talent. So and move forward with con- nasonic Panthers to a hard- Ports Authority eked out a 3-0 to advance to the last eight Rychlicki drilled smashes vir- because the home team had a we had to wrest the initiative fidence,” the Brazilian coach fought five-set win against hard-fought 3-1 victory against stage with high morale. Pant’s heroics take Delhi to top Arshad fires Fireox to huge IANS late for Rajasthan as the visitors victory with dazzling ton JAIPUR were just 28 runs away from vic- tory. RISHABH Pant’s quickfire cameo Dhawal Kulkarni then picked TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK his 30-ball 61. Talal cracked four sixes (78 unbeaten off 36) along with Sherfane Rutherford in the 18th DOHA and three fours to get 62 off 40 deliver- valuable contributions by open- over but an unstoppable Pant ies. ers Shikhar Dhawan (54) and kept the runs flowing and finally SAQLAIN Arshad’s savage batting on- Waqas Bhatti hammered seven Prithvi Shaw (42) helped Delhi smashed Jaydev Unadkat for slaught on Commercial Bank Qatar set boundaries to finish with 63 off 62 balls. Capitals overhaul Rajasthan a six to help his side register a up a huge 129-run victory for Fireox Zaheer was the biggest victim of the rival Royals’ 192-run target with four comfortable victory. Unit in a Premier Division team’s attack, giving away balls to spare in their Indian Pre- With this win, Delhi now match in the Qatar Air- 107 runs for three wickets. mier League (IPL) contest at the lead the points table with 14 ways Cricket Tournament. Abbas picked one for 47. Sawai Mansingh Stadium here points while Rajasthan lie at the Qatar Airways is proud CBQ took up the chal- on Monday. seventh spot. to be the official spon- lenge bravely and were led Pant, who smashed six For Rajasthan, Gopal scalped sor of the annual Qatar by Dharmang. He collect- boundaries and four sixes, two for 47 while Kulkarni and Cricket Tournament. As ed 81 runs in 70 balls. His forged a crucial 84-run partner- Parag bagged one wicket each. the country’s national car- knock contained six sixes ship with Shaw beside anchor- Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane’s rier, Qatar Airways con- and three boundaries. Ab- ing the Delhi innings after two brilliant century (106 not out) tinues to play a vital role bas also contributed 47 off successive blows. followed by skipper Steve in enhancing the already 41 balls. His innings had Chasing the target, Delhi Smith’s 50 propelled Rajasthan flourishing sports activi- two sixes and half a dozen were off to a flying start as the to a fighting 191/6. ties in Qatar and is a keen Saqlain Arshad of Fireox Unit fours before the team col- openers added 45 runs in just Rahane and Smith stitched a supporter for developing lapsed under the run pres- the first five overs. Shreyas Go- 130-run partnership for the sec- the next generation of cricket players in sure for 291 in 42 overs. pal finally applied brakes on the ond wicket. They took just 10.3 the country. Mohd Ashan picked three wickets for 72-run opening partnership as overs to help Rajasthan touch Arshad was in a punitive mood and 81, while Mohd Mirza and Waqas Bhatti he packed back a well-settled Delhi Capitals team mentor Sourav Ganguly (left) picks up Rishabh Pant as the three-digit mark. It was Axar right from the word go, he tore into the shared four scalps. Dhawan in the eighth over be- they celebrate their victory over Rajasthan Royals during the 2019 Indian Patel who made a much needed rival bowling after Fireox Unit won the Arshad was deservingly declared the fore Riyan Parag also jolted the Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match in Jaipur on Monday. (AFP) breakthrough for Delhi by send- toss and decided to bat first. He face man of the match for his superb individ- visitors. Parag sent back incom- ing a well-settled Smith out. just 91 balls, smacked five sixes and 16 ual knock. ing batsman and Delhi skipper in Delhi’s batting line-up as mum. boundaries to compile 142 out of team’s Shreyas Iyer (4) cheaply as Del- they sensible steered their side Gopal came with another BRIEF SCORES: gigantic 420 for seven in 50 overs. Brief scores hi could only manage to add five past the three-digit mark in 11.3 breakthrough in 17th over as Delhi Capitals 193/4 in 19.2 overs (Rishabh His ruthless batting also inspired Fireox Unit beat CBQ by 129 runs Fireox Unit: 420 for seven in 50 overs (Saqlain Arshad 142, Waqas Bhatti 63, runs after the fall of Dhawan. overs. Pant meanwhile, also Shaw wanted to dispatch his de- Pant 78 not out, Shikhar Dhawan 54; Shreyas other teammates and three of them went Talal 62, Mohd Amir 61; Zaheer 3/107, Abbas /47) Shaw was then joined by notched up his half-century as livery over the fence but ended Gopal 2/47) beat Rajasthan Royals 191/6 in on to post half-centuries. Mohd Amir CBQ: 291 all out in 42 overs (Dharmang 81, Abbas 47; Mohd Ahsan 3/81, Pant and the young duo denied he smashed Jofra Archer over up giving a catch to Parag at 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 105 not out, Steve was the most adventurous of them as he Mohd Mirza 2/37, Waqas Bhatti 2/36) Rajasthan any further inroads the deep square leg for a maxi- long-on. However, it was too Smith 50; Kasigo Rabada 2/37) by 6 wickets blasted three sixers and seven fours in Man of the match: Saqlain Arshad (Fireox Unit)