14 Monday, February 8, 2021 Sports GRAND SLAM SHOW: AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2021 is READY TO ROLL Markram, Van der Dussen give SA hope in Rawalpindi He began the day on 28 with Rizwan slams Pakistan 129/6. The hosts lost Hasan Ali early but then Ri- ton for Pakistan zwan paired with Yasir Shah for a 53-run eighth-wicket AGENCIES stand, keeping the scoreboard RAWALPINDI ticking by rotating strike. The batters survived a SOUTH Africa need 243 more few chances – Yasir was put runs to win on the final day down by Quinton de Kock off From left: Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Naomi Osaka during a pre-tournament player media conference at Melbourne Park in Melbourne. (AFP) with nine wickets in hand af- Maharaj and Rizwan survived ter Mohammad Rizwan’s ton a caught behind review off helped Pakistan post a size- George Linde, with Linde also able lead. putting down a tough catch off Aiden Markram and Ras- his own bowling giving Yasir sie van der Dussen defied the another lifeline. The half-cen- Osaka, Serena, Djokovic among Pakistan bowlers to post an tury stand was finally broken unbroken 94-run stand for the by Linde, although not before second wicket at the end of day Rizwan brought up his fifty four, giving South Africa hope with a pull off Wiaan Mulder. of a successful chase. Yasir’s wicket did little to The visitors started their distract Rizwan from his plan stars in action on opening day chase cautiously, but were un- as he partnered with Nauman done in the eighth over when Ali to continue milking runs. AGENCIES Garbine Muguruza 7-6(3) 6-4 playing Laura Siegemund of reira Silva of Portugal. Cup champions, illustrates Shaheen Shah Afridi provid- Nauman and Rizwan’s ninth- MELBOURNE on Sunday. Germany in the first round. However, the chasing pack they are finding from at the ed Pakistan the first break- wicket partnership lasted for The top seed, who opens Later, Simona Halep will have two parts of the ‘Big right time. through by dismissing the 97 runs, with Nauman making THE Melbourne Summer Se- her home major against world play wild card entrant Lizette Three’ contingent to oust. And US Open champion experienced Dean Elgar. The a smart 78-ball 45 that fea- ries, alongside the star-stud- No.77 Danka Kovinic on Tues- Cabrera of Australia. Rafael Nadal, who won his and AO 2020 finalist Dominic batsman looked to drive and tured six fours and two sixes. ded ATP Cup, provided the day, also launched her Aus- In the big men’s action on sole Australian Open crown in Thiem now has the big-time gave the simplest of catches to Meanwhile, Rizwan be- platform for The Happy Slam tralian summer with a trophy the first day under lights will 2009, has since been a four-time experience that means he is the wicket-keeper. came the seventh Pakistan to burst into life. last year. be Novak Djokovic (reigning finalist on Rod Laver Arena . sure to be in the mix too. With South Africa at 33/1, wicket-keeper to score a cen- Australian Open 2021 is The 24-year-old was hailed champion with an unprecedent- Rewind to October at Ro- Perhaps the most captivat- Pakistan had a good chance tury in Tests. now here, and there are an champion in Adelaide in the ed eight Australian Open titles land Garros and the ‘King of ing narrative of all see Serena of tightening the noose, but The hosts were eventually abundance of storylines to week prior to AO 2020, before to his name, and 17 majors) vs Clay’ levelled Roger Federer Williams continue to chase opener Markram and the new bowled for 298, setting South keep an eye on over the next a semifinal showing at Mel- Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. on 20 Grand Slams. Can the that elusive 24th major title. arrival at the crease Van der Africa a tough 370 to win. fortnight. bourne Park. Can the world Strong victories over Al- Spaniard break clear at the top Seven times an Australian Dussen had other plans. The World No.1 Ash Barty will No.1 conjure up another capti- exander Zverev and Denis of the all-time men’s major Open champion, last in 2017, latter showed his intent with a Scoreboard headline the home charge at vating deep run? Shapovalov at the ATP Cup roster? no one can count out the 10th four through square leg to get Melbourne Park. The Austral- In the thick of the big ac- indicate the Serbian is primed The young guns will hope seed. off the mark in the same over. Pakistan (1st Innings): 272 ian, despite an 11-month ab- tion on Monday at 11am Mel- for another impressive fort- to disrupt the order. Unfortunately for Serena The pair showed great ap- South Africa (1st Innings): 201 Pakistan (2nd Innings; Overnight 129-6) sence from competitive tennis, bourne time will be Japanese night on his favourite courts. Jannik Sinner, fresh from fans the task is only getting plication and went on the de- Mohammad Rizwan not out .............................. 115 seamlessly returned to elite Naomi Osaka first up against On the men’s side, the winning back-to-back titles at tougher with recent major fensive to deny Pakistan any Hasan Ali lbw b Maharaj ........................................5 action at the WTA Yarra Val- Russian Anastasia Pavly- green and gold contingent the Great Ocean Road Open winners such as Iga Swiatek, wickets. Markram, especially, Yasir Shah c de Kock b Linde ............................. 23 ley Classic. uchenkova. Chasing a Grand are led by the likes of Alex de at the weekend, together with Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep negotiated Afridi admirably af- Nauman Ali c Elgar b Rabada ............................. 45 Shaheen Shah Afridi b Linde .................................4 Barty lifted the trophy hav- Slam record along with Rafel Minaur and Nick Kyrgios, who Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and and defending champion Sofia ter struggling to score against Extras: (b9, nb2) ................................................ 11 ing toppled AO 2020 finalist Nadal, Serena Willians will be plays qualifier Frederico Fer- Andrey Rublev becoming ATP Kenin all in contention. him. He went scoreless for 22 Total: (All Out, 102 overs) ................................. 298 balls at one stage, but eventu- Fall of wkts: 7-143, 8-196, 9-293, 10-298. ally stabilised to start taking Bowling: Kagiso Rabada 14-3-34-2, Anrich Nortje 17-7-57-0, Keshav Maharaj 38-4-118-3, Wiaan runs again. He soon brought Mulder 7-1-16-0, George Linde 26-9-64-5. up his ninth fifty in Tests and South Africa (2nd Innings; Target: 370) his second in the series. Aiden Markram not out ....................................... 59 At the other end, birthday Dean Elgar c Mohd Rizwan b Shaheen ............... 17 Brilliant Mayers secures historic Rassie van der Dussen not out ........................... 48 boy Van der Dussen gave him Extras: (nb3): ........................................................3 excellent support, ending the Total: (For 1 wicket) .......................................... 127 day on 48* before umpires Yet to bat: Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma, Quinton called stumps a couple of overs de Kock (c)†, Wiaan Mulder, George Linde, Keshav WI win on debut with 210 not out Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje. early due to poor light. Fall of wkt: 1-33. Scoreboard Earlier in the day, Ri- Bowling: Shaheen Afridi 10-4-22-1 (nb2), Hasan Ali Visitors achieve zwan was brilliant, scoring 5-0-36-0, Nauman Ali 12-4-35-0, Yasir Shah 11-3- Bangladesh (1st Innings) 430 TotaL: (For 7 wkts, 127.3 overs) 395 21-0, Faheem Ashraf 3-1-13-0. fifth-highest his maiden Test hundred – a Toss: Pakistan. West Indies (1st Innings): 259 Did not bat: Shannon Gabriel, Jomel Warrican. sublime 115* that helped Paki- successful run-chase Bangladesh (2nd Innings): 223-8 decl Fall of wkts: 4-275, 5-292, 6-392, 7-394. stan push their lead past 350. W Indies (2nd Innings: Target: 395; Overnight 110-3) Bowling: Mustafizur Rahman 13-1-71-0, Taijul Islam in Test history, the Nkrumah Bonner lbw b Taijul Islam 86 45-18-91-2, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 35-3-113-4, Nayeem highest ever in Asia Kyle Mayers not out 210 Jermaine Blackwood b Nayeem Hasan 9 Hasan 34.3-4-105-1. Joshua Da Silva b Taijul Islam 20 Toss: Bangladesh. Kemar Roach c sub Saif Hassan b Miraz 0 Result: West Indies won by three wickets. AGENCIES Rakheem Cornwall not out 0 Man of the Match: Kyle Mayers. Kyle Mayers became the CHITTAGONG Extras: (b11, lb4) 15 Series: West Indies lead 2-match series 1-0. first player in 144 years of Test cricket history to HISTORY was secured by a score a double hundred depleted West Indies side as on debut and that too in blow – their search for a first 59/3. By the time the stand they chased down a record 395 the fourth innnings. win in the ICC World Test was broken, they had 292 on on the final day at the Zahur Championship continues, and board, just a shade over 100 Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium the likes of Mehidy Hasan runs away from the target. on Sunday to secure a 1-0 lead West Indies’ Kyle Mayers celebrates his century on the fifth day of Miraz, who scored a century During the course of the against Bangladesh. the first Test against Bangladesh at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury and took two four-fors, and innings both Bonner and The star of the day was Stadium in Chittagong on Sunday. (AFP) second-innings centurion cap- Mayers brought up personal Kyle Mayers.