TENNIS
Kei Nishikori advances
Japan’s Kei Nishikori yesterday cruised into the third round of the Paris Masters with a 6-2, 7-5 win against Serbian Viktor Troicki. The fifth seed, one of six players to have already qualified for the ATP World Tour finals, breezed through the first set and quickly broke in the second. Nishikori broke again to end the contest in straight sets. David Goffin also advanced, beating Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (7/5), 6-3. Novak Djokovic, Stanislas Wawrinka and Andy Murray were to play after press time last night. On Tuesday, Tomas Berdych kept alive his hopes of reaching the Tour finals with a gritty 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Portugal’s Joao Sousa.
TENNIS
Konta defeats Stosur
Johanna Konta of Britain yesterday defeated Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-4, 6-2 in Group A of the Elite Trophy women’s singles in Zhuhai, China, . In Group B, Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland beat Timea Babos of Hungary 6-4, 6-2, while Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic defeated Italy’s Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-2 in Group C.
CRICKET
Windies eye tight win
West Indies skipper Jason Holder yesterday took a maiden five-wicket haul to set up a likely win in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah, but his batsmen made heavy going of a small chase in the United Arab Emirates. The right-arm fast bowler finished with 5-30, while leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo took 3-46 to bundle Pakistan out for 208 in their second innings on a wearing pitch. However, the visitors stumbled to 114-5, though opener Kraigg Brathwaite was still at the crease as the day ended early due to bad light with the target of 153 in sight. Brathwaite was defiantly standing on 44 with Shane Dowrich on 36 leaving West Indies needing 39 runs to break a 14-match losing streak stretching back to May last year. Pakistan began the day on 87-4 before a battling 91 by opener Azhar Ali and 42 for Safraz Ahmed looked to have steadied the ship. However, they lost their last five wickets for 33 to end on 208 with Holder claiming his first five-wicket Test haul. Roston Chase claimed the pick of the wickets in laughable circumstances. Having leaped to catch a Mohammad Amir drive over long-on, he realized he would step over the rope and released the ball back into play. Chase recovered so quickly that Amir, who had stood still admiring his shot, was unable to scramble home as Chase’s accurate throw from the boundary ran him out.
CRICKET
Zimbabwe battle for draw
Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara yesterday grabbed two wickets apiece, but a stubborn partnership gave Zimbabwe a chance of preventing a Sri Lanka victory in the first Test in Harare. After declaring on their overnight total of 247-6 to set Zimbabwe 412 for victory on the final day, Sri Lanka were well on their way to a win when Peter Moor was adjudged LBW to Kumara nine overs after lunch. However, Sean Williams and Graeme Cremer dug in to bat out the remainder of the session, seeing Zimbabwe to tea on 136-6. With clouds gathering Zimbabwe’s hopes of securing a draw in their 100th Test grew. At press time last night, the hosts were 183-9 and about 10 overs from stumps.
ADVANTAGE ATLETICO: Well off the pace in La Liga, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico Madrid’s best chance of silverware this season Atletico Madrid on Thursday hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final. After an Eric Garcia own-goal sent Diego Simeone’s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by halftime. Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they take into the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 3. Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca’s Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off
Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the cohosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the World Cup yesterday in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, for their second win in Group B. The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclassed Oman to 120-9. The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to become the oldest player to score a 50 in T20 World Cups. Having promoted himself up the order and under pressure to deliver, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century. It has been
Kawhi Leonard on Sunday scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in a lopsided 115-96 victory at Minnesota. The 34-year-old forward, a two-time NBA champion, matched the second-best road scoring effort of his career as the Clippers improved to 25-27. “Just being aggressive. My teammates trust me,” Leonard said. “Every moment when I touch the ball — assist, shooting the basketball or getting a rebound — I’m just trying to help the team win.” Leonard made three steals in a row at the start of the contest. “Just wanted to come out early in the
FLOP TO CONQUEROR: It was sweet vindication for Sam Darnold, who played for four NFL teams before his debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate win The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday coasted to Super Bowl glory, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize. Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy. “It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Darnold said. The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display and kicker Jason Myers’
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