WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014 SPORTS Dolphins ground Jets EAST RUTHERFORD: The Miami Dolphins kept their playoff hopes intact by rallying for a 16-13 victory over the New York Jets on Monday when Caleb Sturgis made a 26-yard field goal with 1:57 remaining New York (2-10) rushed for 277 yards on 49 carries, but made enough key errors in the second half to lose. The Dolphins remained a factor in the wild-card race thanks to rookie Jarvis Landry’s eight receptions, Lamar Miller’s 4- yard TD run early in the fourth quarter, and plen- ty of defense when the Jets needed to pass. New York threw only 13 times, fewest in the NFL this season, and gained 49 yards. The usual- ly reliable Nick Folk missed two field goals. All of that offset a season high on the ground as Chris Johnson had his best performance for the Jets with 105 yards. Sturgis also made field goals of 43 and 44 yards. After trailing most of the way, Miami tied it on Miller’s run with 10:24 remaining. That brought the loudest cheers of the night; thousands of Dolphins fans at MetLife Stadium braved the wet, windy conditions. Jets problems with penalties on special teams hurt them all night, and a holding call against Saalim Hakim set up the Dolphins at New York’s 39 on the tying drive. On the winning possession, backup tight end Dion Sims had catches of 18 and 17 yards. The MUMBAI: Indian cricket player Virender Sehwag holds the ICC World Cup trophy after Jets kept pounding the ball effectively. They its arrival in the country as part of its visit to competing countries. The ICC Cricket even got into field goal position after Miami World Cup 2015 will start on Feb. 14 in Melbourne. — AP made it 13-13. But Koa Misi’s sack pushed New York back to the Miami 27 and Folk missed wide left for the second time. Folk had made 18 of 20 Sehwag: Don’t ban bouncers entering the game. That’s the way the Jets’ sea- son has gone, of course. MUMBAI: Banning bouncers following the met by quite a few bouncers. But it’s a weapon Early on, Greg Salas, with his fourth team in death of Australia’s Phillip Hughes would be for the bowlers so they should not be robbed four pro seasons, scored his first career touch- unfair on bowlers because batsmen always off it.” The flamboyant right-hander, who last down. But the receiver didn’t get it through the have the option of ducking under short- played for India in March 2013, was an integral air, instead scoring on a well-conceived reverse pitched deliveries, former India opener part of the country’s World Cup-winning team on which the Dolphins had no one close to him Virender Sehwag said yesterday. in 2011 on home soil. until he reached the 2. He dived into the end Hughes, who would have been 26 at the He has not given up hope of playing in zone to cap an 85-yard drive, but that ended his weekend, died last Thursday from an injury next year’s tournament in Australia and New night; Salas hurt a hamstring. EAST RUTHERFORD: Miami Dolphins tight end Dion Sims (80) is tripped up by New York Jets caused by a ball striking him on the back of Zealand and believes India have the strength Sturgis missed a 43-yard field goal on the inside linebacker David Harris (52) during the second quarter of an NFL football game. — AP the head during a domestic match, triggering to defend the trophy. Leading up to the World next possession for Miami, further boosting New a huge outpouring of grief in Australia and Cup, India will play a triangular one-day series York’s confidence. The Jets took the ball into will perform from week to week. And yes, that the one thing they always have done under Rex around the world. in Australia along with England but a four- Dolphins territory for the third successive series, has been true for some of the better clubs in the Ryan is play hard and physical football. This year, Restricting Sehwag in full flow has been a test series starting this month will be their and got more points on Folk’s 40-yard field goal. league. Defining what the Cowboys, Seahawks, they’ve barely showed up on a trip to San Diego very difficult task for bowlers over the years priority. Very strong at home, India’s problems As New York kept grinding away on the 49ers, Chiefs, Chargers and each team in the AFC and in two losses to Buffalo - the most recent but the 36-year-old, who has scored two triple on their travels have been well documented ground - it had 210 yards rushing in the opening North is has become an unsolvable puzzle. after the Bills were displaced by massive snow- centuries in tests, feels there should be no with the team losing 13 of their last 17 test half - it also ate up the clock. But Folk missed As for the tail enders, the two New York teams storms and forced to play a home game in clampdown on bouncers. “It was very sad that matches on foreign soil. They were thrashed from 48 yards and Miami took advantage on offer a case in point, which is surprising for the Detroit. Hughes died in such a way. But it’s part of 4-0 on their last trip Down Under. “I think we Sturgis’ 43-yard field goal to end the half. Giants, not so much for the Jets. Once reliable on defense, now they are fun- cricket and injuries are part of any sport,” have a very good chance of doing well in Sturgis added his 44-yarder to start the sec- Under Tom Coughlin, the Giants have had lots damentally weak. Their offense hasn’t been any Sehwag told reporters at a promotional event Australia because the conditions will not be ond half, and Folk followed with a 45-yarder that of ups and downs. But they’ve generally blocked good since Ryan’s first two seasons in New organised by MoneyGram to mark next year’s like in England where the ball swings and bounced off the crossbar and through, making it well for Eli Manning, had a substantial running Jersey (2009-10). Thus, ridiculously long negative 50-over World Cup. seams,” Sehwag said, referring to India’s series 13-6. Meanwhile, NFL coaches harp on the need game and a staunch pass rush filled with sack streaks fill the Jersey Meadowlands. Still, Ryan “You have an option to duck bouncers as a loss in England this year. “The only thing will for consistency. Regimen is everything. Yet the masters. The reasons they are in the midst of the and Coughlin would be less agitated if they had batsman. If you cut out the bouncers, then be the extra bounce and I am hoping our streakiness of some teams, and the unpre- NFL’s longest current slide is that all of those ele- any clue which team would suit up and take the there is no fun left in the game and it’s already team will be able to adjust to that and do dictability for others, has marked this football ments have failed. Yes, Coughlin always looks field. Shockingly, that’s also true for some of the a batsman’s game. “I have been hit on the hel- well.” — Reuters season. Now streakiness can be a good thing, as exasperated on the sideline, and he’s never had positive streaky teams. Such as Dallas. When the the Patriots (seven consecutive wins), Cardinals more reason to be so than this year. The only Cowboys were winning their six in a row, from (six) and Cowboys (six) proved. Of course, each consistent things about the Giants are their Sept. 14-Oct. 19, they ran the ball down oppo- of them lost in Week 13. inconsistency - and the steady losing. “It’s a loss nents’ throats - even against the likes of defend- And streakiness also can shatter a season, as that we feel we should’ve won,” Coughlin said ing Super Bowl champion Seattle. That allowed the losses piled up for the Raiders (10), Jets after the Giants blew a 21-0 lead and fell in them to be choosy in their passing game, and it (eight), Giants (seven), Jaguars (six), Titans (six) Jacksonville. “We’ve done this too many times. kept the defense off the field. Now that the and Panthers (six). What is most maddening for We just helped somebody beat us. Instead of Cowboys have dropped three of their past five, it coaches, general managers and players, though, forcing them to beat us, we helped them.” would be easy to presume their approach has is when they don’t have a clue how their team The Jets are even more befuddling because changed. It hasn’t really done so. —AP Gul’s return boosts Pakistan in New Zealand Twenty20s DUBAI: Paceman Umar Gul’s return boosts former world champions Pakistan against an under-strength New Zealand in the two Twenty20 internationals starting in Dubai tomorrow. The 30-year-old returns from a knee problem which kept him away from international cricket since AUSTRALIA: A tribute reading: ‘Rest In Peace Phil’ written on a cricket bat hangs with the fifth edition of the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh green and gold ribbons by a sports field in the hometown of Australian cricket player in April this year.