ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 16 Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus scores his team fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Wolves at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on March 2. City won 4-1. (AP) — See Page 14 Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Agar takes career-best 6-30 Australia beat New Zealand to keep series alive WELLINGTON, New Zealand, March Williamson (9) in his second to put respectively. His 69 in partnerships of shots both orthodox and unorthodox. 3, (AP): Glenn Maxwell dashed 70 New Zealand under pressure early. 83 with Josh Philippe (43) and 64 with He used ramp shots to take advantage from 31 balls, Aaron Finch returned to Agar fi rst dismissed Devon Conway Maxwell set a strong foundation for of vacant third man or simply muscled form with 69 and Ashton Agar took a (38), then took the wickets of Glenn Australia’s innings. the ball over the large boundaries at career-best 6-30 as Australia beat New Phillips (13), Neesham (0) and Tim Finch survived two confi dent lbw Wellington’s regional stadium where Zealand by 64 runs in the third Twen- Southee (5) in the space of fi ve de- appeals in the fi rst over, then hit his the match was played without specta- ty20 international on Wednesday to liveries, suppressing New Zealand’s stride, striking the ball powerfully tors. keep the fi ve-match series alive. dangerous lower middle order. He re- down the ground and over the leg side Maxwell said he struggled at fi rst to Maxwell reached a half century from moved Mark Chapman (18) and Kyle to reach his half century from 34 balls get the pace of the pitch and took only 25 balls during an over in which he hit Jamieson (11) to snuff out any chance with a six from a free hit off Ish Sodhi. three runs - all singles - from the fi rst 28 runs - two sixes and four fours - of a late rally and achieve his second seven balls he faced before hitting his from the bowling of Jimmy Neesham. fi ve-wicket bag in T20 internationals. fi rst boundary. From then on, bounda- At its end, his innings included eight “It’s always good to get wickets, CRICKET ries came as a torrent, notably in the fours and fi ve sixes and set Australia particularly when you go wicketless 17th over when he took the long handle on course to their commanding total of in the fi rst two (matches),” Agar said. His partnership with Philippe gave to Neesham and went from 30 to 58. 208-4. “But when you have 200 on the board Australia a strong tempo which saw His innings was full of improvisa- Tall Tasmania fast bowler Riley it makes my job a lot easier. them reach 38 after fi ve over and 89 at tion and he even changed hands at one Meredith took 2-24 in his international “The boys bowled beautifully up the mid-point of their innings. point. debut, then Agar claimed six wickets in front and I was lucky to have a great Philippe, who made 2 on debut in “I wasn’t doing much good right- succession to stifl e New Zealand’s re- team around me.” Christchurch, followed his 45 in Dun- handed so I thought I’d try left-hand- ply. The home team were bowled out Finch rediscovered his form after a edin with another impressive innings of ed,” he said. for 144 in 17.1 overs. lean Big Bash season and after making 43 from 27 balls. Maxwell was out to the last ball of Meredith dismissed Tim Seifert (4) only 12 and 1 in the fi rst two matches the 18th over with Australia 194-4 and Australia’s Matthew Wade attempts to stump New Zealand’s Devon Con- Maxwell took the tempo from new way, (right), during their third T20 cricket international at Wellington Re- in his fi rst over and claimed the prized of the current series which New Zea- heights, using an impressive array of it didn’t fully capitalize, adding only 14 wicket of New Zealand captain Kane land won by 53 runs and four runs, runs from the last two overs. gional Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand, March 3. (AP) Having fewer fans will be costly Suns hold off Lakers Fans from abroad unlikely for ‘postponed’ Tokyo Oly TOKYO, March 3, (AP): The new have to set one or another priority.” president of the Tokyo Olympic or- The exclusion of foreign fans has ganizing committee stopped short been almost a foregone conclusion of saying there would be no foreign with the games being held during a fans at this year’s games, but she pandemic. The Japanese public has certainly hinted at it Wednesday been openly opposed to the games, after online talks with IOC Presi- and one sticking point has been the dent Thomas Bach and others. risk presented by visitors entering The Japanese newspaper Main- the country. The other has been the ichi reported Wednesday that the soaring costs. decision had already been made to The games will involve 11,000 exclude foreign fans. It cited only Olympic athletes, and later 4,400 unnamed sources “involved in the Paralympians, and tens of thou- discussions.” sands of coaches, judges, spon- “If the situation is tough and it sors, media and VIPs. Bach said he would make the (Japanese) con- was encouraged at the number of sumers concerned, that is a situ- national Olympic committees that ation we need to avoid from hap- were getting athletes vaccinated. pening,” organizing committee The IOC said it encourages vacci- president Seiko Hashimoto said. nations but will not require them. The news- Bach said his hope was “to have paper report as many participants as possible ar- came just be- riving vaccinated to Tokyo.” fore Hashimo- “There I can inform you that a to’s meeting considerable number of national with Bach. She said a decision on OLYMPICS foreign fans will come by the end of the Olympic committees has already month, and secured this pre-Tokyo vaccina- she wants one Hashimoto tion,” Bach said. by March 25, The general plan is to isolate ath- when the torch relay begins from letes in the Olympic Village along- northeastern Japan. side Tokyo Bay; put them in a bub- The Olympics are scheduled to ble when they arrive, and until they open on July 23. leave Japan. Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks (24) goes to the basket past Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura (8) during the fi rst half of an NBA bas- “In the current situation it is im- Hashimoto said a decision on ketball game, March 2, in Washington. (AP) possible to bring in foreign specta- venue capacity will be made by the tors,” the Mainichi newspaper said, end of April. She said the “zero- citing an unnamed government of- fans option” was not discussed. fi cial. “We need to look at the overall sit- Nuggets rout Bucks, Hawks win McMillan’s debut as interim coach Hashimoto was asked after the uation before we decide on any per- meeting how Japan could even centage rates,” she said. “We believe consider letting in thousands of we will not be accepted unless the LOS ANGELES, March 3, his ninth triple-double of the season Tony Snell added 11 for the Hawks. fore the game, but never took the fl oor overseas fans, given how unpopu- citizens feel confi dent that suffi cient (AP): Dario Šarić scored 10 and 50th of his career, and the Denver Celtics 117, Clippers 112 during warmups. The team announced lar the idea is at home where up to countermeasures are taken.” Nuggets trounced Milwaukee 128-97 late in the fi rst quarter that he had been 80% want the Olympics canceled Having fewer fans will be cost- of his 21 points in the fourth to snap the Bucks’ fi ve-game winning In Boston, Kemba Walker had 25 ruled out. He has missed seven previ- points and six assists, and the Boston or postponed again. Japan has at- ly. The organizing committee has quarter, Mikal Bridges add- streak. ous games this season, including two tributed about 8,000 deaths to budgeted income of $800 million Jamal Murray added 24 points as the Celtics took advantage of a late scratch for a mouth laceration, two while in the ed 19 and the Phoenix Suns of All-Star Kawhi Leonard and held off COVID-19, but has controlled it from ticket sales. That shortfall Nuggets earned their third straight vic- health and safety protocols and three for much better than most countries. will have to be made up by Japa- overcame Devin Booker’s tory and showed no signs of wear one the Los Angeles Clippers 117-112 . a bruised leg. Jaylen Brown fi nished with 18 points. Hashimoto confi rmed that the nese government entities. ejection for a 114-104 victory night after winning 118-112 at Chicago. Spurs 119, Knicks 83 subject of fans was a key part of the These are the most expensive Denver handed Milwaukee its most lop- Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard each over the Los Angeles Lakers added 14 as the Celtics posted three In San Antonio, Trey Lyles scored a “fi ve-party” talks with Bach, Inter- Olympics on record. The offi cial sided loss of the year and shot 55.8%, national Paralympic Committee cost is $15.4 billion, though two on Tuesday night.