Established 1961 13 Sports Thursday, February 22, 2018 Australia down N Zealand in T20 final, take number one ranking Agar double strike sent Black Caps’ innings spinning out of control AUCKLAND: Australia cruised to a 19-run victory in a SCOREBOARD rain-affected T20 tri-series final with New Zealand yes- terday to claim the world number one ranking in the AUCKLAND: Completed scoreboard in the rain- shortest form of the game for the first time. New Zealand affected final of the T20 tri-series between New struggled to 150 for nine after electing to bat first at Zealand and Australia in Auckland yesterday: Auckland’s Eden Park but failing to repeat the pyrotech- nics that saw them score 243 against Australia at the New Zealand: same ground last Friday. M. Guptill c Warner b Stanlake 21 Australia’s bowlers avenged that pasting as they tore through New Zealand’s middle order, led by spinner C. Munro c Agar b Richardson 29 Ashton Agar’s career-best T20 figures for three for 27. K. Williamson b Agar 9 Ross Taylor’s 43 of 38 balls was the highlight of a poor M. Chapman lbw Agar 8 New Zealand batting display that included just five sixes, R. Taylor not out 43 despite Eden Park’s notoriously short boundaries. C. de Grandhomme c Maxwell b Agar 10 Australia never looked in danger of missing the 151- M. Santner c Carey b Tye 0 run target but the manner in which the victory came was T. Siefert b Stoinis 3 T. Southee c Maxwell b Richardson 5 I. Sodhi b Tye 13 T. Boult not out 1 Taylor’s 43 of Extras (lb3, w5) 8 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 150 38 balls was Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Guptill), 2-59 (Munro), 3-72 (Williamson), 4-73 (Chapman), 5-91 (de the highlight Grandhomme), 6-93 (Santner), 7-101 (Seifert), 8-110 (Southee), 9-148 (Sodhi) Bowling: Stanlake 4-0-37-1 (3w), Richardson 4-0- 30-2, Tye 4-0-30-2, Agar 4-0-27-3, Stoinis 4-0-23-1. anti-climatic.The players were off the pitch when officials Australia: decided to abandon the match due to persistent rain, D. Warner b Sodhi 25 awarding Australia a 19-run win under the Duckworth- D. Short c Chapman b Munro 50 Lewis system. The result means David Warner’s men A. Agar stumped Siefert b Santner 2 complete the tri-series undefeated, notching convincing AUCKLAND: Australia’s cricket players celebrate after winning the final Twenty20 Tri Series international cricket match between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park in G. Maxwell not out20 wins in all their five matches against New Zealand and Auckland yesterday. — AFP A. Finch not out 18 England. It also means Australia leapfrog Pakistan to Extras (b4, lb1, nb1) 6 become the top-rated T20 team, the first time they have Total (4 wickets; 14.4 overs) 121 held the number one spot since rankings were introduced held his nerve and backed his attack to take early wick- Taylor and Ish Sodhi combined for a 38-run partner- ets, constantly switching bowlers so the batters could not ship but it was too late to revive the innings. The only Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Short), 2-78 (Warner), 3-84 in 2011. “I’m over the moon, right from the get-go we settle. Lanky paceman Billy Stanlake made the break- negative for Australia was when Chris Lynn left the field (Agar) played superb cricket,” Warner said, crediting the series through in the fourth over when Guptill departed for 21 after dislocating his troublesome shoulder. Australia Bowling: Boult 3-0-27-0, Sodhi 4-0-21-1, Southee 2- win to the skills his players learned in Australia’s domestic Big Bash League. “It just shows the great depth we have after sending his shot straight to Warner. Munro fol- made a solid start, with D’Arcy Short beginning to lift the 0-21-0, Santner 3.4-0-29-1, Munro 2-0-18-1 in Australian cricket. The clarity and roles that these indi- lowed for 29 in the next over leaving the New Zealanders run rate before a 20-minute rain delay. Did not bat: C. Lynn, M. Stoinis, A. Carey, A. Tye, K. viduals have at Big Bash level can (also) be executed on at 59 for two. It slowed Short’s momentum and he was dismissed Richardson, B. Stanlake the international stage.” An Agar double strike in the seventh over then sent shortly after bringing up his 28-ball half century. Warner the Black Caps’ innings spinning out of control, as skip- soon followed on 25 and Agar’s stumping had the tourists Result: Australia won by 19 runs under Duckworth- ACCURATE AGAR per Kane Williamson and Mark Chapman both failed to looking vulnerable on 83 for three. Lewis system New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro reach double figures.Agar was not done, tempting a rash But Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell had Australia made their intentions clear with a flurry of boundaries in shot from Colin de Grandhomme to send the big-hitting cruising and the win was not in doubt before the final rain the early overs. They raced to 48 without loss but Warner dangerman back to the pavilion for 10. shower ended the match. —AFP tainly have played him, but because he was sick he will cent 79 from 48 balls by Manish Pandey, while MS Ozil, Ramsey to have to work hard tomorrow and will not be involved. Klaasen takes attack Dhoni pitched in with a brilliant 52 from 28 balls. “Ramsey’s not in the squad tomorrow, he had a good The pair put on an unbeaten 98 in 56 balls to see training session. We will see how his evolution goes their side post an above par score. Yet wicketkeeper- miss Arsenal’s between now and (the League Cup final on) Sunday. I to India as S Africa batsman Klaasen tore into the tourists’ attack, in partic- don’t rule him out.” Wenger confirmed Henrikh ular leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (0-64 in four overs), Europa tie against Mkhitaryan will be given the responsibility of produc- level T20 series as he smashed seven sixes in his best score in the inter- ing chances going forward in the absence of Ozil, and national 20-over format in just his second match. Danny Welbeck will start up front. Goalkeeper David PRETORIA: Heinrich Klaasen smashed 69 from 30 balls Captain JP Duminy (64 not out from 40 balls) saw Ostersunds Ospina, who has been picked for the majority of to steer South Africa to a six-wicket victory over India the side home with an innings that did not produce the LONDON: Arsenal midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Arsenal’s matches in cup competitions this season, will in the second Twenty20 International at Pretoria yes- same explosive power, but was clever in its execution, Mesut Ozil will miss the Europa League last 32 clash keep his place ahead of first-choice Petr Cech. terday and level the three-match series at 1-1. as South Africa reached 189 for four with eight balls against Ostersunds today, but manager Arsene Wenger Arsenal are sixth in the Premier League, eight points After being put into bat, India reached 188 for four remaining. The third and series-deciding match will be is hopeful they will feature in this weekend’s League adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, and need to finish the in their 20 overs, their innings anchored by a magnifi- played in Cape Town on Saturday. — Reuters Cup final versus Manchester City. season in top-four or win the Europa League to qualify Wenger took close to a full-strength squad to for next season’s Champions League. Sweden for the first leg which his side won 3-0 last When Wenger was asked whether he would priori- week and will look to give his younger players some tise the Europa League as Manchester United boss game time today. Ozil and Ramsey were involved in first Jose Mourinho did last term, the Frenchman replied: team training yesterday but Wenger said the Germany “He did that much later, once they were in the semi- playmaker had struggled with illness this week while finals. “We have to focus on the Premier League. It the Wales international needs more time prove his fit- (Europa League) is one of the priorities we have. We ness after returning from a groin injury. are focused to do well. But ideally we want to come “He (Ozil) was in bed Monday, Tuesday for sick- back to the Champions League through the Premier ness,” Wenger told a news conference. “I would cer- League.” — Reuters through. Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic compared Willian confident Chelsea’s tactics to a handball team, huddled around the edge of their area. of Champions League WILLIAN OUTSHINES HAZARD But Messi had the final word as Barcelona capi- progress despite talised on a rare Chelsea defensive error, scoring his first goal against the west Londoners to equalise Willian’s second-half goal with 15 minutes to go. Messi magic Hazard had spoken on the eve of the game about having to do more in Europe’s premier club competition LONDON: Chelsea’s Willian is confident Antonio to justify comparisons with the five-time World Player Conte’s side can pull off a shock win in Barcelona after of the Year and his eternal Real Madrid rival Cristiano he came close to upstaging Argentine superstar Lionel Ronaldo.