CRICKET
Khan stars for Pakistan
Shadab Khan produced an outstanding debut performance on Sunday as Pakistan completed a comfortable six-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first Twenty20 international at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Put in on a bright, breezy afternoon, the world champions were restricted to 111-8, with the tourists knocking off the runs with almost three overs to spare to extend their Twenty20 winning streak over their rivals to four. Brought on as the fifth bowler when the West Indies batted in what looked like ideal conditions, 18-year-old Khan’s mesmerizing mixture of leg-breaks and googlies earned him figures of 3-7, the most economical ever in the history of Twenty20 internationals by a debutant in a complete four-over spell.
CRICKET
Williamson hands NZ lead
A masterful Kane Williamson century propelled New Zealand ahead of South Africa by stumps on the third day of the series-deciding final Test in Hamilton, New Zealand, yesterday. It was the 17th century by Williamson, equaling Martin Crowe’s New Zealand record, and it featured in a commanding 190-run stand with Jeet Raval for the second wicket. Raval’s dismissal late in the day for 88 triggered a revival for South Africa as New Zealand slipped from 273-1 to 321-4 at stumps in reply to South Africa’s 314. Williamson was unbeaten on 148 with Mitchell Santner on 13.
SOCCER
Netherlands sack Blind
Danny Blind was sacked as Netherlands coach on Sunday after a 2-0 defeat to Bulgaria left the team’s chances of reaching the FIFA World Cup finals hanging by the slenderest of threads. Blind, 55, had been in charge since July 2015, succeeding Guus Hiddink, but Saturday’s loss in Sofia left the Netherlands in fourth place in Group A, six points behind leaders France. Blind said he was saddened by the decision. “We were on the right track in Bulgaria, but it’s a pity that it ends like this,” he said. Blind’s assistant, Fred Grim, is to take charge of the team for today’s friendly against Italy in Amsterdam.
GOLF
Johnson wins in Texas
Dustin Johnson of the US became the first player to win all four World Golf Championships events when he claimed the Dell Match Play in Texas on Sunday. World No. 1 and top seed Johnson beat Spanish 21st seed Jon Rahm 1-up in the 18-hole final at Austin Country Club. “Today was a really tough day. I’m proud of the way I played, the way I stayed in there, even though he [Rahm] made some birdies on the back nine,” Johnson told NBC television.
GOLF
Lee equals Carlsbad record
South Korea’s Lee Mi-rim fired seven birdies in a seven-under 65 on Sunday to post a record-equaling triumph at the LPGA Kia Classic in Carlsbad, California. Lee’s 20-under 278 matched the tournament record set by Cristie Kerr in 2015 — when the American powered past Lee for a two-shot victory. Lee finished six strokes ahead of compatriot Ryu So-yeon, who carded a 66, and Austin Ernst of the US, who posted a 67. Taiwan’s Chien Pei-yun (68) finished tied for 11th place on nine-under, while Kaohsiung-born Candie Kung (70) was tied for 59th place on even-par.
MOTHER KNOWS BEST: Warriors’ coach Kerr said his 91-year-old mother criticized him for his attitude toward officials that led to his ejection from Monday’s game Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Wednesday rescued the Oklahoma City Thunder with a game-tying buzzer-beater before finishing with 46 points in a 129-125 overtime victory against the Utah Jazz. The reigning NBA champions looked to be heading for a third straight loss after the Jazz inched into a 114-112 lead following Lauri Markkanen’s layup with just three seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. However, NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander drained a superb 13-foot jump shot to tie it up at 114-114 as the buzzer sounded to send the game into overtime. Gilgeous-Alexander then took over in the extra period with nine points as the Western
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt knocked reigning champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals on Saturday, while Victor Osimhen starred as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up a clash with hosts Morocco. In Agadir, Morocco, a thrilling last-eight tie saw Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia net in the first half for the Pharaohs before an own goal by Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh brought the Ivorians back into it. Salah then got Egypt’s third early in the second half and they held on after Guela Doue again reduced the deficit. Egypt is to face Senegal
AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE: Sabalenka aims to follow up with a third Australian Open win, while Taiwanese Joanna Garland claimed a WTA 125 title in Canberra Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her third Brisbane International final in a row yesterday, a week ahead of the Australian Open. Sabalenka looked in great touch against the tricky Czech, who had won their last three meetings and went into the match as one of the few players with a winning record over the world No. 1. However, Sabalenka showed her class and power as she broke Muchova once in each set to take the semi-final 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes to face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final. “I struggled against her a couple of times [in
Brandon Miller scored 18 points, LaMelo Ball had 17 and the Charlotte Hornets built a 47-point lead in the first half of a 150-95 rout against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. It was the second-biggest win in franchise history for the Hornets and their largest on the road. The Hornets bounced back from a pair of frustrating losses in a big way, having fallen to Toronto by one point and Indiana by two in their last two games. Charlotte pounded the NBA champion Thunder by 27 in Oklahoma City before those defeats, previously the Hornets’ most lopsided victory of the season. Tre
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