LHR 28-07-2012_Layout 1 7/28/2012 5:28 AM Page 18
Sports 18
Gayle, Powell in double-century stand ANTIGUA
scOrEbOarD
cricinFO
C
HRIS Gayle and Kieran Powell continued to pile on the misery for new Zealand on the third morning, swelling their partnership past the 200 mark. Gayle crowned his Test comeback with a century, while Powell was within sight of his maiden Test ton. Like yesterday, both batsmen offered chances off successive balls but new Zealand couldn't grab the opportunities, literally. It was as if Gayle's century was scripted. Given his stupendous limitedovers form, a Test century was there for the taking against a bowling attack low on confidence and form. Gayle started the day with a flat six over long-off off Daniel Vettori to take him to the nineties. Keen to reach his landmark with a flourish he pulled a short delivery by Chris Martin and just about cleared the rope to get from 97 to 103. Gayle punched the air and acknowledged his 14th Test century, one that will be talked about for long, given that it came after an exile of one-and-a-half years. new Zealand relied on neil wagner's reverse swing to possibly sneak in a wicket or two with the old ball. with the ball swinging in sharply towards the pads, a silly mid-on and short midwicket was placed for the checked drive. It didn't change new Zealand's luck as Powell managed to chip it over midwicket and keep out the fuller deliveries. One one occasion, Gayle miscued an on drive and
PCB welcomes former PM’s statement on cricket ties LAHORE: The Pakistan cricket Board has on Friday welcome d the statements of former Prime Minister Mian nawaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ch. Pervez elahi, who hailed the steps towards the revival of cricket between Pakistan and India. The cricket boards of both the countries are working on the revival of the sports and in the first step forward they have announced to play three ODIs and two T20 matches in December at neutral venue or India. A spokesman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, nadeem Sarwar welcomed the statements of Mian nawaz Sharif and Ch. Pervez elahi on resumption of Pak- India bilateral cricketing ties. Mian nawaz, himself an ardent cricket follower, had said in media that the resumption of cricketing ties between Pakistan and India is a positive sign will help improve the relation between both the countries. while Deputy PM Ch. Pervez elahi also has similar views and welcomed the development and lauded the efforts of Pakistan Cricket Board in this regard. Sarwar, in a statement said: "The improvement of relations between PCB and all other boards have been on top priority of Chairman PCB Ch. Zaka Ashraf since he assumed the office last year. It is due to his consistence efforts that this series could be materialized." sTaFF rEPOrT
yet managed to beat mid-on comfortably. It was that sort of morning for new Zealand. A brief shower halted play for close to 20 minutes, but the rain failed to spice up the pitch. The patient Powell couldn't resist a slash over gully that brought up the double-century stand, the ninth in west Indies history. It was also the highest partnership for any wicket by west Indies since December 2010, when Gayle last played a Test. It
only underlined Gayle's impact in the side and why they missed him so much. Powell entered the 90s with a swept four off Vettori shortly before lunch. Gayle offered his second chance of the innings when the ball turned, kissed the glove and lobbed to first slip where Ross Taylor fluffed a straightforward take. Kane williamson nearly had Powell the following ball when the batsman tamely chipped him past
nEW zEalanD 1sT innings 45 D Flynn c Powell b narine 97 M guptill c Deonarine b narine b Mccullum c Deonarine b roach 25 l Taylor b narine 45 n Wagner c sammy b narine 4 19 k Williamson b roach 23 D brownlie c ramdin b rampaul 11 c van Wyk c Fudadin b narine 17 D Vettori c Deonarine b sammy 39 D bracewell c chanderpaul b rampaul 4 c Martin not out Extras (b14, lb1, w1, nb6) 22 Total (all out; 129.1 overs) 351 Fall of wickets: 1-97 (Flynn, 38.3 ov), 2-133 (Mccullum, 49.6 ov), 3-223 (Taylor, 84.1 ov), 4-228 (guptill, 86.3 ov), 5-233 Wagner, 92.1 ov), 6-273 (Williamson, 109.1 ov), 7-281 (brownlie, 114.2 ov), 8-308 (Vettori, 121.5 ov), 9-309 (van Wyk, 122.6 ov), 10-351 (bracewell, 129.1 ov) bowling: rampaul 23.1-9-44-2; roach 23-8-55-2; sammy 267-76-1; narine 43-9-132-5, samuels 6-2-14-0; Fudadin 5-1-11-0; Deonarine 3-1-4-0 WEsT inDiEs 1st innings 150 cH gayle c Mccullum b Williamson kOa Powell not out 110 6 ab Fudadin not out 3 Extras(lb 2, nb 1) Total (1 wicket; 82 overs)269 To bat Mn samuels, s chanderpaul, D ramdin†, DJg sammy*, sP narine, n Deonarine, r rampaul, kaJ roach Fall of wickets 1-254 (gayle, 75.2 ov) bowling cs Martin13-3-75-0 DaJ bracewell14-246-0 n Wagner16-4-58-0 Dl Vettori26-8-55-0 ks Williamson13-2-33-1 Toss: new zealand umpires: richard kettleborough and Paul reiffel TV umpire: Marais Erasmus Match referee: ranjan Madugalle
Brendon McCullum at midwicket. The pair need only 54 runs to beat the west Indian opening partnership record set by the legendary pair of Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge in 1990.
LeBron edges Federer as richest Olympian LONDON aFP
US nBA superstar LeBron James edges Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer for the title of biggest moneymaker at the London Olympics with an annual income of $53 million, according to Forbes magazine. The 2012 Forbes list of the world's 100 richest athletes was revealed last month with US dollar figures for salary and prize money as well as endorsement sponsorship deals. In all, there were 12 London Olympians from the list, including half of the 12-man US Olympic "Dream Team" of nBA stars, four tennis players, Spanish nBA star Pau Gasol and Usain Bolt, the Jamaican Olympic gold-medal sprinter. James adopts a humble attitude when asked about being one of the stars of the Olympics. "we're all stars in our own right," James said. "every athlete has to be a star in their country just to be here. These are the stars of the stars. "we understand the atmosphere. we don't take it for granted. It keeps you very humble. There will be a time when it's not like this so you try to take it all in." American boxer Floyd Mayweather,
jailed in Las Vegas for a domestic assault, led the list at $85 million with Filipino fighter Manny Pacquiao second on $62 million and 14-time major golf champion Tiger woods third on $59.4 million. none of them are competing in the London Olympics, although woods -who had topped the lit since 2001 until the aftermath of his infamous sex scandal -- might be able to compete in the 2016 Rio Games when golf returns. nBA Most Valuable Player James, who led the Miami Heat to the nBA crown last month for his first career title,
was fourth on the list, just ahead of Federer in fifth at $52.7 million and US teammate Kobe Bryant, sixth at $52.3 million. Federer was the winner in the all-important endorsement category, his $45 million for pitchman sales skills eclipsing second-best James by $5 million, but his $7.7 million in prize money failed to match James' $13 million salary. But asked if he was the biggest star of the Olympics, Federer deferred. "not me," he said. "There are great Olympians who have many medals around their necks already -- other athletes, some who maybe are not so famous but have done so much for their sport as well, that we don't always talk about. "That's the beauty of the Olympics -- we will see so many great stories written and talked about in the next few weeks. I will follow it very closely. "But obviously I think Usain Bolt and (US swim star) Michael Phelps and maybe the nBA players are very well known." Bryant was third in endorsement income at $32 million and topped the salary and prize money list at $20.3 million. Had england's David Beckham been selected for the British football squad, he would have been the only footballer from the list at the Games.
Nasri handed three-match ban from france team
PARIS aFP
Manchester City midfielder Samir nasri was handed a three-match ban from the French national team on Friday following a French Football Federation investigation into his behaviour during euro 2012. nasri was punished for shouting "Shut your mouth" to television cameras following his goal in the 1-1 group-stage draw with england in a tirade he later said was aimed at a journalist who wrote a critical article. He then directed a string of foul-mouthed insults at an AFP journalist after the quarter-final defeat to Spain in Donetsk. Jeremy Menez, of Paris Saint-Germain, was given a onematch international ban following a spat with captain Hugo Lloris in the game against Spain and for insulting the referee after the same match. In addition, newcastle United's Hatem Ben Arfa and yann M'Vila, of Rennes, were both issued with warnings. nasri, Mvila and Ben Arfa appeared personally before the FFF disciplinary commission, but refused to comment after their hearing. Lawyer Carlo Alberto Brusa, representing Menez, who is currently on tour in the United States with PSG, described the outcome as "fair" and said he would be advising his client not to appeal.
Japan rejoices at 'Miracle in Glasgow' TOkYO aFP
Japan was euphoric Friday after their Blue Samurai scored a stunning 1-0 victory over champions Spain in one of the greatest upsets in Olympic football history. newspapers hailed Thursday's win as the "Miracle in Glasgow", reviving memories of their famous "Miracle in Miami" victory over Brazil at the 1996 Atlanta Games. The first-half goal from yuki Otsu gives his side a great chance of reaching the knockout rounds. "we won! we actually won!" the nikkan Sports daily roared on its front page, with nearly all of Japan's newspapers and broadcasters splashing dramatic headlines and photos of the jubilant squad.
Malik to root for wife Sania in Olympics LAHORE sTaFF rEPOrT
Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik on Friday said that he will be rooting for his wife and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, who will be starting her Olympic campaign on Saturday with women's doubles partner Rushmi Chakravarthi. "I don't know whether cricket will ever be part of the Olympic Games. But I know that every cricket fan, follower and player wants to be involved and competing in the Olympics. But for now I am praying for Sania's success and hope she wins a gold medal," he said. Malik along with other Pakistani cricketers, meanwhile, pitched for the inclusion of T20 cricket in the Olympics. "I don't understand why we can't have T20 cricket in the Olympics. I
would love to play in the Olympics and be part of it," said wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq hoped that since the ICC was now officially recognised as a federation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), cricket could make a return to the Olympic Games by 2020. Cricket made a sole appearance in the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, with a two-day match played between Great Britain and France that the former won. But after that cricket has never been part of the Olympics. "It can happen very soon. But I think for that the ICC, its member boards, players and the media, we all need to develop a momentum for the inclusion of T20 cricket in the Olympics," he said. Misbah admitted that while he would be following the Olympics closely he missed the opportunity to be
in London. But with the inception of T20 competitions internationally, there has been a strong voice for the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics and the ICC has also pointed out that it is working towards it. Former ICC CeO, Haroon Lorgat earlier this year, in an interview, had said that the Twenty20 format was suitable for the Olympics. "we have never had a format that would lend itself to playing in the Olympics until Twenty20 came to the fore. But we will have to look at finding a suitable time slot for it," Lorgat said. Pakistan's flamboyant all-rounder, Shahid Afridi said that it had always been a dream for him to represent his country in the Olympics and win a medal. "Unfortunately they don't have cricket in the Olympics, but I think it can be done. with the T20 format it is
possible. It would be a great boost for the sport if we can have it in the Games," Afridi said. He said every athlete dreams of competing in the Olympics and it was no different with the cricketers. "If they had T20 cricket in the Olympics it would also boost Pakistan's chances of winning a medal," he said. The Pakistani cricketers, meanwhile, said they will be supporting their hockey team in the Olympics. "we will be supporting them and watching every game. It is hard to escape the Olympic spirit and fever," Malik added. Although hockey is the national sport and has brought home three Olympic gold medals, cricket is the most popular game in Pakistan. Cricket has been played in the Commonwealth Games and was also included in the last Asian Games.
Saturday, 28 July, 2012