BASEBALL
MLB cancels week of games
Major League Baseball on Friday canceled the first week of spring training games through March 4 amid a lockout by clubs. The announcement came with the work stoppage in its 79th day and a day after talks on economics between management and the Major League Baseball Players’ Association lasted just 15 minutes.
SOCCER
Lille held by Metz
Lille were held to a goalless draw by Metz in Ligue 1 on Friday. The game ended on a sour note with Lille substitute Edon Zhegrova sent off last in the match with his second yellow card, while Metz manager was Frederic Antonetti shown red for his part in an altercation with the Lille coaching staff.
SOCCER
Belotti stars for Torino
Andrea Belotti was the star for Torino with the leveler in Friday’s 1-1 draw against Juventus in Serie A. Belotti swept home Torino’s equalizer in the 62nd minute after Matthijs de Ligt thumped home a powerful header to open the scoring.
SOCCER
Leverkusen upset by Mainz
Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Friday were upset by FSV Mainz 05, who scored two late goals to snatch a 3-2 win in their Bundesliga encounter. Mainz equalized twice through Aaron Martin and Jean-Paul Boetius, while Marcus Ingvartsen hit the shock winner with two minutes left.
SOCCER
Elche score late to win
Elche on Friday scored two late goals secure a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. The loss kept Rayo winless in six games as they tumbled down the standings following a fantastic first three months of the season.
MOTORSPORTS
Andretti seeks new F1 team
US motor racing entrepreneur Michael Andretti has applied to launch a new Formula One team starting from 2024, his father, Mario Andretti, said on Friday. “Michael has applied to the FIA [governing body] to field a new F1 team starting in 2024,” Mario Andretti wrote on Twitter. “His entry, Andretti Global, has the resources and checks every box. He is awaiting the FIA’s determination.”
CRICKET
Indian hits 341 on debut
Indian Sakibul Gani became the first batsman in world cricket to hit a triple century on his first-class debut when he made 341 in the Ranji Trophy. The 22-year-old walked out to the crease for Bihar against Mizoram in Kolkata on Thursday, the first day of their four-day match. By the time he was out 405 balls later on day 2, he had plundered 56 fours and two sixes. The right-hand batsman surpassed fellow Indian Ajay Rohera’s record of 267 not out for Madhya Pradesh in the 2018-2019 season. Another Indian Amol Mazumdar stands third with his 260 for Bombay, now Mumbai, in 1994. Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim — who is from Bihar himself — lauded Gani’s effort. “Scoring a triple ton is always special. It becomes an extraordinary innings when someone gets it on debut,” Karim wrote on Twitter. Bihar declared on 686-5. In reply, Mizoram were 298-7 at stumps on day 3 yesterday.
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
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
France head coach Fabien Galthie on Thursday lauded his team’s attacking performance after their dazzling 36-14 victory over Ireland in their Six Nations opener. A brace of tries from Louis Bielley-Biarrey and one from mercurial flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert helped France storm into a 29-0 lead before taking their foot off the gas and allowing Ireland back into the match, before winger Theo Attissogbe put some gloss on the victory late on. “In an attacking sense, with the ball, the team played with great accuracy,” Galthie said. “It was one of the most accurate attacking performances in a long time, despite the weather
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