SPORT FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2016 21 Rain washes out first Kohli, Pujara tons give India day's play in Christchurch honours on opening day Christchurch Reuters Visakhapatnam Rajkot, dominated play dur- ersistent rain AFP ing his 204-ball knock, laced forced the aban- with 12 fours and two sixes, Pdonment of the kipper Virat Kohli and before being caught behind off first day's play of the first Cheteshwar Pujara Anderson in the final cricket test between New hit majestic centuries session. Zealand and Pakistan at to help India take Kohli carried on the good Hagley Oval in Christch- opening day honours work with consummate ease urch yesterday. Sas they reached 317 for four in the company of Ajinkya Steph Curry of the Golden Play had been at stumps against England in Rahane (23) who lost his cool expected to begin at 1100 the second Test in Visakhap- in the penultimate over of the State Warriors dribbles the (2200 GMT), but heavy atnam yesterday. day as Anderson struck with ball during Wednesday's rain overnight ensured it Kohli put on a marathon the second new ball. NBA game in Toronto, did not begin as 226-run stand for the third The batting duo stitched Canada scheduled. wicket with Pujara (119) after together a 68-run partnership While groundstaff, the hosts lost their openers as skipper Alastair Cook jug- who had said earlier they early to the England gled with his bowling options. Curry, Durant would need two hours to seamers. England spinners, who prepare the venue once Fit-again paceman James gave India a run for their lead Warriors rain stopped, worked to Anderson enjoyed his return money in the drawn Test in prepare the ground dur- with three wickets only to see Rajkot, returned wicketless in Los Angeles ing brief interludes of the rest of the English attack three sessions with Moeen Ali AFP fine weather throughout face a tough time after the and Zafar Ansari taking a bit the day, umpires decided hosts opted to bat first. of a stick. tephen Curry and Kevin at their second pitch Kohli on 151 and Ravi- Ali though did give Kohli Durant combined for 65 inspection at 1600 there chandran Ashwin on one were a scare after going for an lbw Spoints to give the Golden was no chance of any at the crease when stumps referral, but the third umpire State Warriors their fifth con- play. were called. upheld the on-field call even secutive victory on Both teams had Kohli made full use of his though the ball would have Wednesday as the Cleveland turned up before the reprieve on 56 when Adil clipped the leg stump accord- Cavaliers slumped to defeat scheduled lunch break at Rashid dropped him at long ing to the ball tracker. in the absence of LeBron 1300 and even begun leg off Ben Stokes to record Cricket apart, there was James. warming up but they his 14th Test century. drama when a stray dog Reigning NBA MVP Curry were forced off due to The star batsman mixed forced the umpires to call tea scored 35 points while Durant consistent showers the right dose of caution and four balls early due to it weighed in with 30 as the sweeping across the aggression to thwart the Eng- appearing from behind the Warriors launched a four- ground. lish bowling attack at India's sightscreen and evading game road trip with a 127-121 The weather is newest Test venue. attempts to chase it from the win over the Toronto expected to clear on Fri- Bringing up his 10th Test field. Raptors. day and remain fine for ton with a six off leg-spinner There are thousands of Durant added nine the remainder of the Rashid, the in-form Pujara stray dogs on India's streets, rebounds and six assists while match. Play will start half tackled the English bowlers and this was not the first time Klay Thompson finished with an hour earlier than with aplomb. one has interrupted a sport- 14 points. scheduled on the second Pujara, who scored 124 in ing event. day, when the toss will In 2011, India was forced NBA RESULTS be made. SCOREBOARD to halt its first ever Formula Philadelphia 109 Washington 102 A massive earth- One practice session when a England (I inning): 537 India's Virat Kohli plays a Orlando 89 New Orleans 82 quake that jolted central India (I innings): stray dog ran onto the Buddh shot during the Second Indiana 103 Cleveland 93 New Zealand on Monday M Vijay c Hameed b Rashid 126 International Circuit. Test cricket match against Boston 90 Dallas 83 has taken some of the G Gambhir lbw Broad 29 Earlier in the day, Stuart England, played at the Dr. NY Knicks 105 Detroit 102 focus off the beginning C Pujara c Cook b Stokes 124 Broad got Lokesh Rahul for V Kohli (batting) 26 Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Atlanta 107 Milwaukee 100 of the host country's test nought in the second over, Oklahoma City 105 Houston 103 cricket season. A Mishra c Hameed b Ansari 0 while Anderson accounted for ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium Extras (B-12, LB-1, W-1) 14 in Visakhapatnam, India. Golden State 127 Toronto 121 New Zealand's Kane Total (for 4 wkts) 319 Murali Vijay (20). Denver 120 Phoenix 104 Williamson is making his Fall of wickets: 1-68, 2-277, 3-318, 4-319. India handed off-spinner San Antonio 110 Sacramento 105 home bow as captain Bowling: Broad 20-7-54-1; Woakes 23-5- Jayant Yadav his Test debut having succeeded Bren- 39-0 (1w); Ali 22-6-70-0; Ansari 17.3-1-57-1; with the Visakhapatnam pitch don McCullum. Rashid 16-1-47-1; Stokes 10-1-39-1. expected to turn as the match progresses. McGregor challenges Australia call on Hohns, Chappell to fix crisis Mayweather again Sydney "It is vital that Australian AFP cricket finds the best candidate Australian cricket New Yourk for this role," said Peever. selector Trevor Hohns Reuters revor Hohns was yester- "Trevor is highly experienced (left) speaks with day appointed Australia's as a selector, and will ensure we team captain Steve resh off his latest tri- interim chairman of selec- place our best players on the umph, UFC champion T Smith (centre) and tors after Rod Marsh quit, with field this summer while we seek Conor McGregor contin- chief coach Darren F Greg Chappell drafted in to help a permanent replacement for ues to call out boxing rescue the national team in Rod." Lehmann during a champion Floyd Mayweather crisis. Former Test fast bowler training session in and attempt to lure him into The experienced Hohns, who Jason Gillespie and ex-captains Sydney in this file a bout. previously served as chief selec- Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh photo. Trevor Hohns McGregor called May- tor during a hugely successful have all been touted as possible was appointed weather "afraid" and period for Australia, currently successors to Marsh. Australia's interim demanded $100m for a sits on the four-man selection The retired wicketkeeper chairman of selectors showdown between the two panel with Mark Waugh, coach resigned on Wednesday with after Rod Marsh quit, during an appearance in a Darren Lehmann, and now immediate effect after a run of with Greg Chappell New York nightclub on Chappell. Cricket Australia chair- five heavy Test defeats left the drafted in to the Tuesday. man David Peever said Hohns team humiliated and facing team in crisis. "As far as real fighting -- had agreed to step up to ensure demands for heads to roll. true, pure unarmed combat continuity while the search for They crashed to a third- -- Floyd don't want none of a full-time replacement was car- straight home series defeat to this," McGregor said, in a ried out. South Africa on Tuesday and video published by TMZ. "I now face being whitewashed in want the $100m cash to fight Trevor Hohns a home series for the first time him in boxing rules because in their history if they lose to the he's afraid of a real fight." Hohns sits on the Proteas in Adelaide next week. The 39-year-old May- four-man selection panel The last time Australia lost weather retired in September with Mark Waugh, coach six straight Tests -- against India of 2015 after accumulating a Darren Lehmann and and England in 2013 -- the coach matches and claimed the 1999 only four players -- captain youth pathway programme and 49-0 record during a 19-year Chappell. at the time, Mickey Arthur, was and 2003 World Cups in a golden Steve Smith, David Warner, had his finger on the pulse of career that produced world sacked. era. He rejoined the selection Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazle- young talent. titles in five weight divisions Under his guidance, While spinner Hohns played panel in 2014. He will be aided wood -- were sure to keep their "His in-depth knowledge of and earnings in excess of Australia won a only seven Tests for Australia, he in trying to turn around the places after Australia's second up-and-coming talent in the $800m. record 16 successive had a highly successful previous team's fortunes by former Test demoralising collapse in the Australian system will be inval- McGregor is flying high Test matches and stint as a national selector from captain Chappell, who has been Hobart Test this week. uable," he said. after last week's knockout claimed the 1999 and 1993 to 2006, including a dec- drafted in on a temporary basis Peever said Chappell, who has "Naturally the board and our win over Eddie Alvarez.