CRICKET
India beat Sri Lanka by 20
India fast bowler Irfan Pathan’s second five-wicket haul helped his team beat Sri Lanka by 20 runs in the fifth and final one-day international (ODI) at Pallekele, Sri Lanka, on Saturday. Pathan took two crucial wickets in the 43rd over as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 274 just three overs later in reply to India’s total of 294 for seven. Pathan finished with figures of five for 61 to take the man of the match award. The win gave India a 4-1 triumph in the five-match series and lifted them to second place in the International Cricket Council ODI rankings behind Australia. India’s total after they won the toss and batted first was based largely on two fine partnerships that prevented the home team from breaking through. Gautam Gambir (88 off 99 balls) and Manoj Tiwary (65 off 68 balls) put on 110 off 121 balls for the fourth wicket after India had lost their first three wickets for 87. Following that stand, Sri Lanka once again broke through, capturing three wickets in two overs to reduce India to 213-6, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni, joined by Pathan, grabbed back the initiative with a partnership of 77 off 59 balls. Dhoni slammed eight fours and a six in his 38-ball half century before providing Lasith Malinga with his 200th ODI wicket. Pathan’s contribution was an unbeaten 29.
GOLF
Jim Furyk maintains lead
Jim Furyk, who is chasing his 17th USPGA Tour title, fired an even-par 70 in the third round to maintain his lead at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, on Saturday. Furyk reached 11-under 199 and has a one-shot lead over former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who shot a two-under 68 at the Firestone Country Club course. Keegan Bradley shot a 67 and was four shots behind. He was to be in the final group yesterday, as tee times were moved ahead because weather forecasters were predicting thunderstorms yesterday morning. Tiger Woods broke par for the first time this week, shooting a two-under 68. Woods, a seven-time winner of this event, however, has a lot of ground to make up, as he is 11 shots back. Rory McIlroy shot a 67 and shares fourth place at minus-six with Steve Stricker, who carded his third-straight 68. Justin Rose and Bo Van Pelt both shot four-under 66. They were joined in sixth place at five-under-par 205 by John Senden, who had a 69. Last year’s winner Adam Scott managed a one-over 71 to finish three rounds at two-over par-212.
GOLF
Henry leads Reno-Tahoe
American J.J. Henry opened up a three-point lead over Brazilian Alexandre Rocha after the third round of the Reno-Tahoe Open, being played under Modified Stableford scoring, in Nevada. Henry, looking for his second career win on the USPGA Tour, shot himself into contention for yesterday’s showdown with five birdies and an eagle on the par-four 14th. The only blemish on his scorecard was a bogey at the par three 16th at the Montreux Golf and Country Club. Under the scoring system, at the only tournament using the method, an eagle brings five points, while a birdie brings two, a bogey minus one and a double bogey or worse is minus three points. Rocha, the overnight leader, was solid with five birdies and a bogey leaving him just a point ahead of American John Mallinger. Argentine Andres Romero continued his good week with 10 points from his six birdies and two bogeys and at just five points behind Henry he was in with a shout for yesterday’s final round.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was