■CRICKET
Shane Bond calls it a day
Injury-prone New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond has retired from all forms of cricket less than five months after quitting Tests to prolong his career in limited-over formats. Bond, viewed as one of New Zealand’s best fast bowlers despite a career perennially hampered by injury, retired from Test cricket in December last year with 87 wickets at an average of 22. The decision came after he sustained an abdominal injury during his first Test back in two years against Pakistan in November last year that ruled him out for two months. The 34-year-old also leaves the game with an enviable limited overs record, having snared 147 wickets at an average of 20.88 in one-day internationals and 25 at 21.72 in Twenty20.
■CRICKET
Blackwell leads from front
Australia captain Alex Blackwell led from the front as her side advanced into the women’s World Twenty20 final with a seven-wicket win over India on Thursday. Blackwell’s 61 — her maiden half-century at this level — was the centerpiece of Australia’s successful pursuit of their target of 120. Her innings was all the more impressive as Blackwell, only leading the side because wicketkeeper-batsman Jodie Fields withdrew before the tournament with a hamstring injury, came in with the score 1-1. However, together with left-handed opener Shelley Nitschke (22), she shared a second-wicket stand of 74 that ended India’s hopes. By the time Blackwell was stumped by India wicketkeeper Sulakshana Naik off leg-spinner Priyanka Roy, Australia were 101 for three and in sight of victory and tomorrow’s final.
■SKIING
Vonn makes TV debut
For US skiing champion Lyndsey Vonn hurtling 137kph down an icy slope is nowhere near as nerve-racking as making her acting debut in her favorite television show Law and Order. Vonn, 25, who won a gold medal in the downhill and a bronze in the Super-G at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver earlier this year, was delighted to be invited to make a guest appearance on the NBC crime drama that she has watched since she was a child. Vonn has suffered a list of skiing injuries, but she said it was scarier to take on the role of an office assistant called Alicia who has a vital clue in a case involving a terrorist. Vonn appears in the show’s 20th season finale that is scheduled to air in the US on May 24.
■SOCCER
Terry’s dad pleads guilty
Chelsea captain and England defender John Terry’s father pleaded guilty on Thursday to supplying cocaine and is embarrassed by the upset caused to his son, a court heard. Edward Terry, 56, admitted at Basildon Magistrates’ Court, east of London, to supplying a class A drug. The court was told he supplied drugs to an undercover reporter from the News of the World, Britain’s biggest-selling newspaper, in a wine bar in nearby Chafford Hundred in November last year. Prosecutor Ricky Khagram said Terry was paid £160 (US$235) for the drugs. His lawyer Neil Saunders said Terry had been “targeted” by reporters because he was John Terry’s father and was “embarrassed” because of the upset caused to his son, who as Chelsea captain lifted the English Premier League trophy on Sunday. He was released on bail and will be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on June 1.
GUNNING FOR A WIN: The victory sending Arsenal to the final for the first time in six years was cathartic for a team who had lost their previous four semi-finals Arsenal on Tuesday reached the League Cup final for the first time in eight years as Kai Havertz sealed a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the semi-final second leg. Mikel Arteta’s side had put themselves in pole position in the first leg and Havertz came off the bench to finish the 4-2 aggregate victory in the closing moments at the Emirates Stadium. It was a cathartic triumph for the Gunners, who had lost their previous four semi-finals in last year’s UEFA Champions League and League Cup, the 2022 League Cup and the 2021 UEFA Europa League. In their first final for six years,
SUPERSTAR DELIVERS: Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to propel the Spurs to a 135-123 victory over the Dallas Mavericks The Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday shook off the early exit of injured star Luka Doncic, rallying without him in the second half for a 119-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Austin Reaves, again coming off the bench in his second game back from a 19-game injury absence, scored 13 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, drilling a pair of back-to-back three-pointers to give the Lakers their first lead of the game early in the final frame. “Losing Luka, you know nothing’s going to be easy after that because he does so much for us, but we bonded together,” said
Ademola Lookman on Thursday scored on his Atletico Madrid debut in a 5-0 rout of Real Betis Balompie that sent Diego Simeone’s team to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. David Hancko, Giuliano Simeone, Antoine Griezmann and Thiago Almada also scored for Atletico as they advanced to the last four for the third straight season. Atletico are trying to reach their first Copa final since winning the competition in 2012-2013. Hancko opened the scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute and Giuliano Simeone added to the lead in the 30th, before Lookman got his first goal for Atletico on a fast
DEADLINE DAY: Rennes’ Jacquet had been linked with a transfer to Chelsea earlier this month, but was reportedly put off the move due to the Blues’ bloated squad Liverpool on Monday won the race to sign Stade Rennais defender Jeremy Jacquet on the quiet final day of the English Premier League transfer window, while Crystal Palace swooped for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen despite the collapse of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s move to AC Milan. The Reds agreed a reported fee of up to ￡60 million (US$82 million) for the highly rated Jacquet. However, the 20-year-old will not join the Premier League champions until the summer despite Liverpool’s need for defensive reinforcements. Jacquet had been linked with a transfer to Chelsea earlier this month, but was reportedly put off
RSS