CRICKET
Shillingford strikes again
Off-spinner Shane Shillingford took five wickets to skittle Zimbabwe for 175 on the opening day of the second Test in Roseau, Dominica, on Wednesday, and West Indies reached 114-2 in reply at the close. Chris Gayle played some characteristically flamboyant shots after a cautious start to finish on 61 not out as the hosts finished just 61 runs behind with eight wickets in hand. The tall Shillingford delighted his home crowd with his third Test five-wicket haul as spin again proved the undoing of the inexperienced touring side. He took 5-59 as the Zimbabweans found it difficult to deal with the turn and bounce he extracted from a benign pitch. Shillingford, man of the match for his nine-wicket haul in the hosts’ first Test win in Barbados, was assisted by part-time bowler Marlon Samuels who claimed three wickets with his occasional off-spin. Samuels, who took four wickets in the first innings of the opening Test, returned figures of 3-15. It was another disappointing day for Zimbabwe, playing only their second Test in the last 14 months, as only three batsmen got past 30 Captain Brendan Taylor top-scored with 33, Vusi Sibanda made 32 and debutant Sean Williams 31. Sibanda helped Zimbabwe get off to a quick start after rain delayed the start of play by 30 minutes, but chipped a full toss to mid-on as fast bowler Shannon Gabriel dismissed both openers in his first 10 balls to put the brakes on an early flurry of runs. After that Zimbabwe surrendered meekly as Shillingford had the Windsor Park crowd in raptures. Zimbabwe pace man Kyle Jarvis took two wickets at the start of the West Indies innings, but a 79-run partnership between Gayle and Samuels (26 not out) put the home team in a dominant position.
CYCLING
Quintana claims stage
Colombia’s Nairo Quintana won the 180km third stage of the Tour of Catalonia from Vidreres to the Vallter 2000 ski resort on Wednesday. Quintana pipped Spaniards Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez in a tough uphill finish to claim the win. The Colombian’s Movistar teammate Valverde took over the leader’s jersey from Belgium’s Gianni Meersman and sits four seconds ahead of both Joaquim Rodriguez and Britain’s Bradley Wiggins. Last year’s Tour de France winner Wiggins had attempted to break clear and win the stage with 1km remaining, but was quickly pegged back by Quintana. The seven-stage race concludes on Sunday.
SOCCER
City to get Messi museum
A museum celebrating the exploits of legendary Argentine player Lionel Messi is to be built in the Barcelona star’s home city of Rosario in Argentina. City mayor Monica Fein said that Messi memorabilia are to be donated by the player’s family. “It will be a sports museum where Lionel Messi will be the central character,” Fein said, adding that other Rosario-born luminaries, like Real Madrid’s Angel di Maria, will also be honored. “I think the Messi museum will be up and running in two years time,” predicted Hermes Binner, the former governor of Sante Fe Province. He reported that the local authorities had purchased a 32 hectare parcel of land near Rosario in which the museum and other attractions are due to be sited. Before joining Barcelona, Messi played as a boy for the youth team of one of Rosario’s two main clubs, Newell’s Old Boys.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
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
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely