CRICKET
South Africa add De Lange
South Africa have added paceman Marchant de Lange to their squad for five one-day internationals (ODI) against England, Cricket South Africa said. “Marchant gives us more options with our fast bowlers, because there is no [Dale] Steyn, no [Vernon] Philander, no Kyle Abbott,” coach Russell Domingo told reporters on Sunday. “We need to manage the workloads of [Morne] Morkel and [Kagiso] Rabada, who have played a lot. We need to broaden our fast bowling base for this series.” Steyn missed most of the Test series, which England won 2-1, with a shoulder injury, while Philander has not played since the early stages of the tour to India in November last year when he tore ankle ligaments. A hamstring strain meant Abbott was unable to bowl during the final Test against England in Pretoria.
CRICKET
Finch vows T20 readiness
Australia captain Aaron Finch yesterday predicted he would be fit for next month’s ICC World Twenty20 competition, after officials said a hamstring injury would not require surgery. The 29-year-old hurt his left leg running between wickets during a match against India on Friday last week, eventually limping off the field after being run out. Finch is set to miss the one-day series in New Zealand, which begins tomorrow, but Kountouris said it was not a recurrence of an old hamstring injury that needed surgery last year. “We are aiming to have Aaron fit for the ICC World T20 in India, but will have a better idea about his fitness for that tournament in the coming weeks once we see how he responds to treatment and a rehabilitation program,” he said. However, the top-order batsman had little doubt, saying on Twitter: “I’ll be in.”
GOLF
Song edges Jordan Spieth
Jordan Spieth yesterday finished runner-up at the Singapore Open after South Korea’s Song Young-han held his nerve to beat the fast-finishing world No. 1 by a single stroke. Among 13 players back at Sentosa Golf Club at the break of dawn after Sunday’s final round was suspended because of a thunderstorm, Spieth sank a five-foot birdie putt on the last hole, where he had marked his ball overnight, completing a final round of five-under 66 to finish at 11-under 273. Song, resuming on 12-under and playing two groups behind Spieth, drained a 12-foot par putt on the 16th, then made par at the last two holes to win the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour event. China’s Liang Wen-chong, who completed his round on Sunday, finished outright third at 10-under.
SOCCER
Guinea advance to semis
African Nations Championship debutants Guinea on Sunday overcame favorites Zambia 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out to reach the semi-finals in Rwanda. The game ended 0-0 in regulation and extra time before Guinea goalkeeper Abdul Aziz Keita scored the decisive penalty kick, sending his team to a semi-final tomorrow against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Former champions Tunisia squandered a first-half lead to lose 2-1 to Mali, who are to face Ivory Coast in the other semi-final. Tunisia went into the match buoyed by their 5-0 demolition of Niger in the group phase, and they looked to be cruising to another victory when Mohammed Ali Moncer headed them in front after 14 minutes. However, Mali struck back with two second-half goals through Aliou Dieng and Abdoulaye Diarra.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
Francesco Bagnaia yesterday profited from a mistake by rookie Pedro Acosta to win the Japan MotoGP sprint and close the gap on overall championship leader, Jorge Martin. Spaniard Acosta crashed with four laps to go while leading the field at Motegi, allowing defending world champion Bagnaia to take first ahead of Enea Bastianini and Marc Marquez. Spain’s Martin finished fourth and saw his overall lead over Italian Bagnaia in the championship standings cut to 15 points. “I am very happy because with these conditions, it’s not very easy to win and gain points,” Bagnaia said after a sprint race that took place under
More than 180 years of horse racing came to an end in Singapore on Saturday, as the Singapore Turf Club hosted its final race day before its track is handed back to the Singaporean government to provide land for new homes. Under an overcast sky, the air-conditioned VIP boxes were full of enthusiasts, socialites and expats, while the grounds and betting halls below hosted mostly older-generation punters. The sun broke through for the last race, the last-ever Grand Singapore Gold Cup. The winner, South African jockey Muzi Yeni, echoed a feeling of loss shared by many on the day. “I’d
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