CRICKET
SA win Sheffield Shield
South Australia yesterday chased down a record 269 runs in an Australian first-class cricket final to win their first Sheffield Shield cricket title in 29 years. South Australia scored 270-6 in their second innings to beat Queensland by four wickets on the fourth day of the scheduled five-day final. Jason Sangha led South Australia with an unbeaten 126, while Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey scored 105. The two combined for a 202-run partnership. Several hundred fans ran on to the pitch at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide when the match ended. Queensland were bowled out for 95 in their first innings and South Australia posted 271 all out in reply. Queensland’s Jack Wildermuth (111) and Jack Clayton (100) led a comeback, with Queensland posting 445 in their second innings. The highest previous run chase to win a Shield final was Victoria’s 239-2 against New South Wales in 1990-1991.
Photo: AFP
CRICKET
Chapman ton leads NZ
Mark Chapman struck a sublime century and Nathan Smith claimed four wickets yesterday as New Zealand eased to a 73-run win over Pakistan in the first ODI in Napier. Chapman’s career-best 132 formed the foundation of an imposing 344-9 at McLean Park before Pakistan’s promising chase capitulated, to be all out for 271 in the 45th over.
Photo: EPA-EFE
CRICKET
Law named Nepal coach
Former Australia batter Stuart Law has been named coach of the Nepal men’s team on a two-year contract, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) said on Friday. The 56-year-old replaces Monty Desai, whose two-year stint with the South Asian side ended after CAN did not renew his contract. Law, a 1996 Cricket World Cup runner-up with Australia, last coached the US, guiding them to the Super 8 of the T20 World Cup last year on home soil. The US announced his departure from his role after just six months in charge.
SOCCER
Leon urge FIFA U-turn
Leon captain James Rodriguez on Friday urged FIFA to reconsider booting the Liga MX team from the FIFA Club World Cup. Leon were axed last week for failing to comply with regulations regarding multi-club ownership. Leon and fellow Mexican club Pachuca both qualified, but have the same owner, Grupo Pachuca. “It’s a big injustice,” Rodriguez said at a media conference. “If they leave us out, it is not going to be fair and it will be a stain on soccer. There are fans that have bought tickets and are in debt to pay for them. How do you tell them now that they are not going to go?”
SOCCER
Brazil fire Dorival Junior
Brazil coach Dorival Junior was fired on Friday after 14 months in charge amid poor results and disappointing performances from the national team. Junior’s sacking by Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues came three days after a 4-1 defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires, Brazil’s heaviest defeat in a FIFA World Cup qualifier. “The confederation announces that Dorival Junior’s cycle is over,” Rodrigues told media in Rio de Janeiro. “From now on, we will work in the search for a substitute.” Under the 62-year-old Junior, Brazil won seven matches, drew seven and lost two, scoring 25 goals and conceding 17.
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
Ryan Yarbrough picked up a dazzling World Series ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Then he went out and beat them. The New York Yankees starter on Sunday pitched one-run ball over six innings, struck out a season-high five and blanked the Dodgers’ top four hitters in a 7-3 win. “I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough said. “I’m having a lot of fun.” The 33-year-old left-hander made 44 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Blue Jays last season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on July
Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a
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