TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2019 SPORT 07 Special thanks to Sri Lanka On December 26: Crystal Palace vs West Ham United from the bottom of our hearts. Pakistan’s Azhar Ali thanks Sri Lanka while Tottenham vs Brighton & Hove Albion Everton vs Burnley They have given us immense Aston Villa vs Norwich City Sheffield United vs Watford celebrating his first happinesshappiness by playingplaying in AFC Bournemouth vs Arsenal Manchester United vs Newcastle Test win as captain. fixtures LEAGUE Pakistan.Pakistan. This week’s Chelsea vs Southampton United PREMIER Ferrari secure Leclerc for five years REUTERSRREUREU champion whose contract expires at the back-to-back wins in Belgium and Italy, MARANELLOMAARARANRANR N end of 2020, in the drivers’ standings. provided optimism even if his speed also “I am very happy to be staying on triggered incidents with Vettel, who FerrariFeFerrrrraararii putppuut theirththetheih ir long- with Scuderia Ferrari. This past season, started the year as Ferrari’s main man termtererm faithffafaiaiitthhhi inin CharlesCChh driving for the most illustrious team in I cannot wait to enjoy an but felt uncomfortable in the car and LeclercLecLeclLeclc erercc (pictured)((p(picpicctutururureredd)) yes- Formula One has been a dream year for even deeper relationship made plenty of mistakes. terdaytteerdererdrdaayyyb byby eexextendingxttetenenennddin the me,” Leclerc said in a statement. with the team after what has The pair collided in Brazil, a low 22-year-old’s22-y22-222 y eear-earr--oololdldld’d’s contractcocon “I cannot wait to enjoy an even been an intense and exciting point for Ferrari. forfoor fivef e moremmooorre yearsyey arars until deeper relationship with the team after “Charles has a lot of talent. I think thehhe endenndnd ofoff2 2024.2020024024.4. what has been an intense and exciting 2019. I’m keen to see what he has surprised even ourselves as to TheThhee Monaco-bornMMonaMonaco-coo-o 2019. I’m keen to see what the future the future holds and I can’t what he was capable of doing,” Ferrari FormulaFFoorormrmmuululalala OneOOn driverdrivriver won holds and I can’t wait to get going again wait to get going again next chief executive Louis Camilleri told twotwwowo ofof thethehe2 2121 grandsgrananda prix next season.” season: Charles Leclerc reporters this month. inin 2019,201001911999,, makingmmakmaaakinginng himhihiim the The decision ensures Leclerc will “And the most encouraging thing is ItalianItalItI iiaianann team’steateeaeaamm’’ssys youngest younoouun be with Ferrari when the sport enters a as the season unfolded, he became winner,winwiwinnwinnnnnerrr, whilewwhhhilhi e hishih s sevens new era in 2021, with Vettel’s future far replacing Kimi Raikkonen at Maranello, stronger not only as a driver, but as an polepolele positionspospoossiititiotionss werewererere more from certain. had been easy. integral part of the team.” thanhanann anyoneaanynyyooneonnee else It also means the youngster could “With each passing race this year, Binotto said at the same lunch in managed.manamananaannaaggeeded.ed.d. be an eventual team mate to six-times our wish to extend our contract with Maranello that Leclerc had learnt a lot HeHe alsoallsso endedenndndedee the world champion Lewis Hamilton, the Charles became ever more self- from Vettel. campaigncacaammmppaigaignaignn fourthffo subject of plenty of speculation about evident,” he said. “I think we need to see our strategy overallooveere alallll and his plans after Mercedes. “It demonstrates that Charles and developing next year. I think we need aboabovebovove his The Briton’s contract expires at the the Scuderia have a firm future to see as well the performance and how 32-year-old332-y32-322-yeaa end of next year and Ferrari have con- together...I’m sure that together, we will he does fit with the car and his moti- teamteateamamm mate firmed meetings with chairman John write many new pages in the history of vation for the future,” he said of the Ger- SebastianSebSebab Elkann. the Prancing Horse.” man’s future. Vettel,Vetet a Team principal Mattia Binotto indi- Ferrari finished runners-up to Mer- “It’s not about his mistakes or not. ffofour cated the decision to commit to Leclerc, cedes this year, despite starting as It’s really a matter of how does he see titimes who made his F1 debut with Sauber favourites. himself as far as his future and how we wworld (now Alfa Romeo) in 2018 before Leclerc’s performance, with do see our lineup.” Eagles beat Cowboys to seize edge in play-off chase AFP WASHINGTON Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz threw for 319 yards and a touchdown on Sunday as the Eagles won a gritty 17-9 home victory over Dallas, seizing command of their NFL play-off-berth battle. The injury-hit Eagles Qatari spikers gear up improved to 8-7 but still need a victory next week Dallas Mavericks’ guard Jalen Brunson dribbles the ball as Toronto Raptors’ guard Kyle Lowry for Olympic qualifiers over the New York Giants (right) defends during their NBA game on Sunday. (4-11) to secure the NFC East division title and a play-off berth. The Cowboys fell to 7-8 and need to beat arch-rival Raptors stun Mavs with Washington (3-12) next week plus have the Eagles lose in order to reach the 30-point comeback play-offs. Wentz completed AGENCIES finished with 18 points. Steven straight. Malik Beasley chipped 31-of-40 passes without an TORONTO Adams had 20 points and a in 16 points off the bench. interception and ran six season-high 17 rebounds as the Anthony Davis led the times for 22 yards to spark Kyle Lowry scored 20 of his 32 Thunder won a season-high Lakers with 32 points, 11 the Eagles to their biggest points in the fourth quarter and fourth straight to move rebounds and four blocks, but win of the year despite an added 10 assists and eight over.500 for the first time (15- he sustained a knee injury. Kyle early rib injury that sidelined rebounds as the Toronto 14). The Clippers rested Leonard Kuzma, who returned after Eagles tight end Zach Ertz. Raptors overcame a 30-point after he played 27 minutes on missing the previous five games “It was a huge one for third-quarter deficit to post a Saturday night in a 134-109 win with an ankle sprain, had 16 us,” Wentz said. “Guys made 110-107 victory over the visiting at the San Antonio Spurs. points off the bench for the plays. Defense down the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Leonard has not played in back- Lakers, who dropped their third Qatar national volleyball team players taking part in training stretch made great plays. The 30-point deficit was the to-back games this season in a row. No other Laker scored sessions ahead of their participation in the Asian qualifiers for Man this one feels good. largest the Raptors have because of lingering knee issues. in double figures. next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games. Eight teams will strut their Philadelphia seized the overcome to win a game in stuff in the AVC Men’s Tokyo Volleyball Qualification at Jiangmen lead on Jake Elliott’s 36-yard franchise history. The previous Celtics 119, Hornets 93 Bucks 117, Pacers 89 Sports Center Gymnasium, China from January 7 to 12, 2020 field goal, and Wentz later high was 27. Jayson Tatum scored a Wesley Matthews scored 19 to vie for the top honour and the lone ticket for the Olympics. flipped a 6-yard touchdown Toronto extended its career-high 39 points and points in his return from a one- Qatar will compete in Pool B which also include world No.15 pass to Dallas Goedert for a winning streak to five games Kemba Walker added 23 against game absence due to a right Australia, world No.24 Korea and world No.131 India. Hosts and 10-0 lead. and handed Dallas its first road his former team as Boston ham- thigh contusion as host Mil- current world No. 20 China are in Pool A with Iran, the only Kai Forbath answered loss since a 106-103 setback to mered visiting Charlotte. waukee recorded a victory over team from Asia to contest the 2016 Rio Games in Brazil, world for Dallas with second- New York on November 14. Jaylen Brown had 16 points, Indiana. No.34 Chinese Taipei and world No.39 Kazakhstan. quarter field goals of 32 and Chris Boucher added a Grant Williams chipped in 12 Giannis Antetokounmpo 49 yards to lift the Cowboys career-best 21 points for the and Enes Kanter contributed 13 collected 18 points, 19 rebounds within 10-6 at half-time. injury-depleted Raptors, rebounds as the Celtics won and nine assists for the Bucks, Wentz drove the Eagles Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 18 their third straight. Tatum, who who outscored the Pacers 80 yards in 10 plays late in points and Fred VanVleet had also had 12 rebounds, scored 22 58-34 in the second half to the third quarter, and Miles 10. points in the fourth quarter improve to 21-1 in their last 22 Sanders capped the march alone to eclipse his previous games. George Hill and Brook with a 1-yard touchdown Thunder 118, Clippers 112 career best of 34 set in January. Lopez each made three run as Philadelphia took a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 3-pointers en route to 17-point 17-6 edge. matched his career high of 32 Nuggets 128, Lakers 104 performances as the Bucks Forbath kicked another points set in his previous game Paul Millsap scored 21 points improved to 9-0 against 49-yard field goal, and to lift host Oklahoma City past and Gary Harris added 19 as Central Division rivals.