GOLF
Kjeldsen, Fitzpatrick lead
Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen joined England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick at the top of the British Masters leaderboard on Friday after both reached a nine-under total of 133 at the halfway stage. Kjeldsen, who won the Irish Open earlier this year, made a three-under 68 in his second round, while Fitzpatrick, the sole leader on day one, shot a two-under 69. England’s Richard Bland was a shot further back, alongside Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat. Bridgestone Invitational winner Shane Lowry, of Ireland, was also in contention going into the weekend. He was two shots off the lead with 135. Tournament host Ian Poulter was five shots behind on a four-under total of 138.
CRICKET
Zimbabwe edge Ireland
Sikander Raza and Craig Ervine both hit half-centuries as Zimbabwe edged Ireland by two wickets with six deliveries to spare in the first one-day international on Friday. Set a target of 220 runs to win the first of the three-game series, Raza hit an unbeaten 60 off 72 deliveries, including four boundaries. Ervine also made 60, with his runs coming off 78 deliveries and featuring five fours. Earlier, Ireland reached 219-8 in 50 overs after being put into bat, with Gary Wilson top scoring with an undefeated 70 from 88 deliveries. Ed Joyce also reached a half-century, finishing on 53 in an innings which featured one of the game’s two sixes.
MOTORCYCLING
Lorenzo takes pole
Jorge Lorenzo is to start from pole in today’s Japan Grand Prix, having held off his Yamaha teammate and championship leader Valentino Rossi, who is to start in second. The Spaniard led all four practice sessions before clocking 1 minute, 43.79 seconds in the qualifying round yesterday, only 0.081 seconds faster than the veteran Italian rider. Injured defending champion Marc Marquez shares the front row with the Yamaha duo, coming in 0.426 seconds after Lorenzo. Rossi, who leads Lorenzo only by a slender 14-point advantage, has said that the season remains wide open with four more races in the play, including the Japanese race. Thick cloud cover brought the temperature down at Motegi, where rainfall is expected today. Alex de Angelis crashed hard during the fourth free practice earlier yesterday, prompting a red flag to temporarily suspend the session. The ART rider was reportedly conscious and breathing, but was taken by helicopter to Dokkyo Hospital in the region for checks and treatment. He left the circuit speaking and moving his limbs, MotoGP.com said. He reported chest and back pain and will be checked in hospital by CT scan, it said.
SURFING
Shark bites man in Hawaii
A 25-year-old Oahu man has been bitten by a shark while surfing on Oahu’s North Shore. Honolulu Department of Emergency Management spokesperson Shayne Enright said the attack happened near a popular surfing spot known as Leftovers, about 5km from the famed Banzai Pipeline. Enright said an emergency call was received at 10:25am and the man was already on the beach when rescue crews arrived. The man had an injury to his left leg and cuts on his hands. The man was hospitalized for treatment in critical condition. Enright said another surfer was with the man and helped him back to shore after the attack. There, people put the man on a surf or paddle board and used a leash as a tourniquet.
American rugby sevens star Ilona Maher is to join 15-a-side club Bristol next month in a bid to play in next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, the English club announced on Monday. Maher, 28, helped the US to a bronze medal at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris and is the seven-a-side sport’s most popular player on social media. “This is a huge coup to be able to bring Ilona Maher to Bristol Bears on a short-term deal,” Bristol head coach Dave Ward said. “She is one of the biggest names in women’s sport, let alone rugby, and we believe she will
US skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she sustained an abrasion on her left hip and that something “stabbed” her when she crashed during her second run of an Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom race on Saturday, doing a flip and sliding into the protective fencing. Shiffrin stayed down on the edge of the course for quite some time as the ski patrol attended to her. She was taken off the hill on a sled and waved to the cheering crowd before going to a clinic for evaluation. “Not really too much cause for concern at this point, I just
CLASH OF MANAGERS: Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler and Russell Martin of Southampton accused each other of disrespect, while both were booked Southampton on Friday were denied a priceless victory by a controversial decision as they drew with hosts Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 in the Premier League. Kaoru Mitoma spectacularly headed Brighton into a first-half lead and Flynn Downes hammered home an equalizer an hour in. Minutes later teammate Cameron Archer converted a cross from Saints substitute Ryan Fraser. A video assistant referee check of more than four minutes eventually decided that Archer was onside, but then penalized Adam Armstrong, who was offside, but did not touch the ball, for interfering with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. “I find it hard to accept,” Southampton manager Russell Martin
HISTORIC VICTORY: Botafogo are the last of the four big Rio clubs to win the Copa Libertadores and they earned a spot in next year’s FIFA Club World Cup Botafogo on Saturday overcame playing with 10 men to win their first Copa Libertadores title after beating fellow Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro 3-1 in the final at Estadio Monumental. After just 30 seconds, midfielder Gregore, one of Botafogo’s best players, hit the head of Fausto Vera with his foot and was given a straight red card. “It was so hard to have one less so early in a final. It was an unfortunate move,” Botafogo defender Alexander Barboza said. “But Gregore deserves this title as much as we do. We made history and that won’t ever be erased.” Winger Luiz
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