AATHLETICSTHLETICS | Page 4 RUGBY | Page 6 Rome look to Sonny Bill javelin star magic, late Roehler to try give Lions rock Olimpico the Blues Thursday, June 8, 2017 TENNIS Ramadan 13, 1438 AH Thiem stuns champ GULF TIMES Djokovic as Nadal, Murray move on SPORT Page 3 CHAMPIONS TROPHY India must be ruthless in fi nishing games off : Kohli Kohli hopes the confidence boost from beating Pakistan will help India secure victory against Sri Lanka AFP London ‘Superb’ Pandya can be India great: Kohli London: Virat Kohli has backed irat Kohli has urged India to Hardik Pandya (right) to showcase produce a repeat of their Pa- his credentials as the future of Indian kistan demolition when they cricket with another swashbuckling face Sri Lanka in the Cham- display against Sri Lanka today. Vpions Trophy today. Kohli’s side made Pandya has emerged as one of a memorable start to the tournament as India’s most promising talents since the defending champions crushed arch making his debut last year and Kohli rivals Pakistan by 124 runs in Birming- sees signs his young prodigy is ready ham on Sunday. After India piled up 319 to take his development to the next for three in 48 overs, they turned the level. Having played a key role in screw on Pakistan, dismissing them for Mumbai Indians’ IPL triumph earlier 164 as they failed to chase down a rain- this year, the 23-year-old all-rounder reduced target of 289. It was the perfect underscored his rapid emergence by response to reports of a rift between In- making a bright start to his country’s dia captain Kohli and the team’s coach Champions Trophy campaign Anil Kumble. In an indication of the level of Kohli knows momentum can change respect he is already held in by Indian quickly in one-day competitions, es- captain Kohli, Pandya was prompted pecially against a desperate Sri Lanka up the batting order ahead of the team looking to bounce back from de- great MS Dhoni and responded by feat to South Africa in their opener. But smashing 20 not out of just six balls Kohli hopes the confi dence boost from in Sunday’s 124-run victory over Paki- beating Pakistan will help India secure stan in Birmingham. another victory in their second Group Pandya wasn’t finished there and B match. “Every game in this tourna- he chipped in with two key wickets ment is big, but we have a side with a as holders India launched their title few youngsters coming in and gradually defence in swaggering style. With getting towards strengthening their India due to play their second Group careers for India,” he said. “So I think B match against Sri Lanka at The Oval from that, from the team’s point of today, Kohli suggested Pandya is view, it’s a massive win for us. well on his way to become one of his “Just the way we played and the con- country’s finest players. fi dence we showed throughout the game “He’s a real asset to Indian cricket. was something that was very pleasing It’s very hard to find someone who to see as a captain. Even though we lost can almost touch 140 Ks and who “People should appreciate his skill the toss, guys were raring and ready to strikes the way he does,” Kohli told a and what he brings to the table,” he go, willing to take up the pressure. That press conference at The Oval yester- said. “A lot of people focus on a lot gave all of us the confi dence to start day. “He can bat through the innings of other things with Hardik, which I striking the ball well, but initially the as well. It’s really hard to find people don’t think should be anyone else’s openers gave us a good start as well. As I with that kind of ability. Once you problem. He has his own journey, and said, it’s a clinical performance from us, have a player like that, you need to he’s finding his own way. from the team’s point of view, yes, it is make sure he’s always committed to “If he gets the kind of support that indeed a very big win.” India captain Virat Kohli (left) and coach Anil Kumble at The Oval in London yesterday. (Reuters) give 100% for the team. That comes a player like him should get, I think he Kohli, with 81 not out off 68 balls, naturally to Hardik. So you don’t need could go down as one of the most ac- and Yuvraj Singh, named man-of-the- freely play. And Yuvraj came in and just later found guilty of a slow over-rate him and try to support him in the fi eld,” to motivate him any further in any complished Indian cricketers in times match for a rapid 53, both battered the took all the pressure off me,” he said. off ence by the ICC, with their stand-in Mathews said. other way.” to come. He’s superb in the field, Pakistan attack after Rohit Sharma and “The way he batted was the way only captain Upul Tharanga banned for their “The captain has to do so many other Pandya’s boisterous personality superb with the ball, brilliant with the Shikhar Dhawan laid the platform for a he can strike the ball. I think that really next two matches, and players fi ned. things and stuff to work on. We have and fun-living lifestyle has irked some bat. The kind of balance he brings to big total with an opening stand of 136. defl ated the opposition. His innings Angelo Mathews is set to resume addressed in the past as well, but it of the more conservative figures the team is priceless.” A repeat of that batting blitz against was a diff erence in the game.” captaincy duties after returning to fi t- cropped up again. It’s so unfortunate in Indian cricket. But Kohli believe With Pandya to the fore, Kohli’s Sri Lanka at The Oval would put India Beaten by 96 runs by South Africa, ness from the calf muscle injury that to see Upul going out as he is a crucial Pandya’s self-styled rockstar image team are expected to beat Sri Lanka on course for the semi-fi nals and Kohli there is no margin for error for Sri ruled him out of the South Africa player in our set up. He batted well isn’t a hindrance to fully utilising his en route to retaining the Champions expect Yuvraj to lead the charge again. Lanka as they try to avoid elimination. match. “The whole team is responsible. against South Africa and it’s so disap- vast gifts. Trophy. “After I got to 50, I wasn’t able to Adding insult to injury, Sri Lanka were Whoever the captain is, we have to back pointing. This cannot happen again.” SPOTLIGHT Bowlers shine as Pakistan fi ght back against South Africa AFP eight-wicket stands of 47 and 48 respectively. innings that also included three sixes. Birmingham, United Kingdom Such was Pakistan’s command in the fi eld, they infl icted the fi rst golden duck in the 221-match SCOREBOARD one-day international career of South Africa SOUTH AFRICA INNINGS asan Ali took three wickets as Pakistan captain AB de Villiers. Q. de Kock lbw b Mohammad Hafeez 33 completed a stunning turnaround in Mohammad Amir and Junaid Khan, in for H. Amla lbw b Imad Wasim 16 the fi eld to restrict South Africa to 219 the injured Wahab Riaz, formed an all left-arm F. du Plessis b Hasan Ali 26 for eight in their Champions Trophy new-ball attack. But it was the spin duo of Imad AB de Villiers c Mohammad Hafeez b Imad Wasim 0 HGroup B match at Edgbaston yesterday. Wasim and Mohammad Hafeez who did the ear- D. Miller not out 75 In reply, Pakistan were 119-3 after 27 overs ly damage. Left-armer Imad struck second ball JP Duminy c Babar Azam b Hasan Ali 8 before heavy rain halted the proceedings. In no when Hasim Amla (16), going across his stumps, W. Parnell b Hasan Ali 0 more play was possible, Pakistan were to be de- was lbw. Off -spinner Hafeez then had Quinton C. Morris c Hasan Ali b Junaid Khan 28 clared winners as they were 19 runs ahead as per de Kock (33) lbw on the sweep. The two spinners K. Rabada c Hasan Ali b Junaid Khan 2 6 the Duckworth-Lewis method. combined when de Villiers departed fi rst ball by M. Morkel not out 0 Just three days after conceding 319 for three slicing Imad to Hafeez at backward point. Has- Extras (lb1, w5, nb1) 7 against arch-rivals India in a crushing 124-run an, as Imad had done, struck second ball when Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 219 opening defeat by the title-holders at Edgbas- Faf du Plessis (26) played on. Left-hander Miller Did not bat: Imran Tahir ton, Pakistan were a transformed side on their twice drove Hafeez for sixes over long-on. Fall of wickets: 1-40 (Amla), 2-60 (De Kock), 3-61 return to the Birmingham ground. But Hasan took two wickets in two balls to re- (De Villiers), 4-90 (Du Plessis), 5-118 (Duminy), 6-118 Their spinners did the initial damage as South duce South Africa to 118 for six in the 29th over (Parnell), 7-165 (Morris), 8-213 (Rabada) Africa slumped to 61 for three before paceman with a couple of brilliant deliveries from around Bowling: Amir 10-0-50-0 (3w); Junaid 9-0-53-2 (1nb, Hasan, striking twice in two balls, followed the wicket.