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.
Nottingham Forest FC are to go into the Europa League play-off round after a 4-0 win over Ferencvaros TC on Thursday, while Celtic FC secured their place in the knockout phase with a victory over FC Utrecht. Aston Villa FC finished second in the league phase after recovering from two goals down to beat FC Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 with their spot in the last 16 already assured. Forest stood an outside chance of climbing into the top eight going into the final round of matches, but needed to beat Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros and rely on other results going their way. Sean Dyche’s
HEATED RIVALRY: The pair had met 14 times previously, with Sabalenka winning eight of the encounters and entering the final as the favorite to take the title Elena Rybakina took revenge over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win a nail-biting Australian Open final yesterday and clinch her second Grand Slam title. The big-serving Kazakh fifth seed held her nerve to pull through 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne in 2 hours, 18 minutes. It was payback after the Belarusian Sabalenka won the 2023 final between two of the hardest hitters in women’s tennis. The ice-cool Rybakina, 26, who was born in Moscow, adds her Melbourne triumph to her Wimbledon win in 2022. It was more disappointment in a major final for Sabalenka, who won the US Open
Denver superstar Nikola Jokic returned from a 16-game injury absence to post a 31-point, 12-rebound double-double on Friday and propel the Nuggets to a 122-109 NBA victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic had not played since suffering a bone bruise in the left knee he hyperextended in a game against Miami on Dec. 29 last year. The Serbian big man did not miss a beat. He led all scorers, connecting on eight of 11 shots from the field, and also handed out five assists with three steals while playing just 24 minutes, 32 seconds as the
BATTERED AND BRUISED: Alcaraz suffered a cramp in the third set, but was allowed treatment despite Zverev’s protests, and continued on to win in five-and-a-half hours An ailing Carlos Alcaraz battled past Alexander Zverev yesterday in five epic sets to reach his first Australian Open final and move within a match of becoming the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam. The world No. 1 outlasted the German third seed 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-7 (4/7), 7-5 over a titanic 5 hours, 27 minutes in hot conditions to head to tomorrow’s title match. He only narrowly avoided crashing out after a huge fright at 4-4 in the third set when he pulled up in pain with what appeared to be cramp. He was allowed to have treatment
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