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GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 21, 2015
Barca sweep to another title in one-sided contest By Brian Homewood
YOKOHAMA, (Reuters)-Barcelona swept to the Club World Cup title by outclassing South American champions River Plate 3-0 yesterday, with Luis Suarez scoring twice after Lionel Messi had broken the deadlock in a one-sided contest. There was a hint of handball about Messi’s goal, although it did not appear to be intentional, as the Argentine brought down Neymar’s pass and cleverly flicked the ball past Marcelo Barovero. Uruguay forward Suarez took his tally in the tournament to five goals after his hat-trick in the semi-final win over Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande, and 24 goals in
as many games this season. The European champions, fielding six South American players, were especially dominant in the second half when they repeatedly sliced through the River defence looking as if they could score with almost every attack. Messi, Neymar and Suarez seemed to take it in turns to run at the bewildered River defence and the Brazilian, in particular, over-elaborated in his attempt to get on the scoresheet. › A victory created the unique Barca way, says Luis Enrique The match emphasised the gap between club football on the two continents with nearly all the top South American players
now based in Europe. River’s team, made up mainly of journeymen with only a smattering of international caps between them, cost around 5 million euros (3.65 million pounds) in transfer fees, compared to an estimated 80 million euros that Barcelona paid for Suarez alone. Backed by 15,000 fanatical supporters who had made the trip from Argen-
tina, they made a promising start as Rodrigo Mora and Lucas Alario both got into good shooting positions, only to produce weak efforts which were easily saved by Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo. “We had a game plan that we executed for 36 minutes until Messi’s first goal, from then on we started to lose our shape,” River coach Marcelo Gallardo told
reporters. “ We ’ r e u p s e t w e couldn’t give the supporters this satisfaction (of winning). “When you play a phenomenal team like Barcelona, you have to recognise their supremacy.” Messi had already been denied by Marcelo Baravero before scoring the opener, although replays suggested the ball may have touched his arm as he brought it un-
der control. River enjoyed some possession after halftime, but only until Sergio Busquets sent Suarez clear of the River defence to score the second four minutes into the second half. The third goal in the 68th minute was a gem as Neymar planted a cross on Suarez’s head and he placed the ball past Barovero.
Finn strengthens England Test credentials with four for 34 PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa (Reuters)-Steven Finn bowled himself into contention for a return to England’s lineup after taking four wickets yesterday on the opening day of the last warmup game before they begin the Test series against South Africa on Boxing Day. Finn was only drafted into the squad last week, but underlined his credentials against South Africa A by taking four wickets for 34 runs at the City Oval. England bowled out their opponents for 136 runs and scored 64 without reply before bad light curtailed the game and stumps were drawn. Finn, who was forced out of the Test series against Pakistan in October after injuring his left foot, was flown over to South Africa after impressing for England Lions in two comeback appearances against Pakistan A in Dubai. His showing on Sunday will have increased his chances of joining James Anderson and Stuart Broad in a three-pronged seam attack for the first test in Durban. Ben Stokes, who is also making his way back from injury, took three wickets. England will resume today with Alastair Cook unbeaten on 36 and Alex Hales on 28.
Albion Community Centre Cricket Club AGM set for today THE Albion Community Centre Cricket Club will be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday, December 21st, 2015, commencing at 16:15 hrs at the Albion Community Centre Main Hall. High on the agenda will be the President, Secretary and Financial Reports for the year 2015 along with the election of Office Bearers for the year 2016. Most of the current Executives inclusive of President Pastor Lloyd Kanden are expected to return to office. The Albion Community Centre Cricket Club is one of the top Club Clubs in Guyana, having copped the Guyana Cricket Board’s “Club of the Year Award” for a third straight year, last Friday.
Barcelona celebrate winning the FIFA Club World Cup Final with the trophy. (Reuters / Thomas PeterLivepic)
Khawaja scores ton in Thunder’s one-run win HAS Usman Khawaja really just missed a month of cricket? The apparent ease with which he compiled a match-winning BBL century for the Sydney Thunder suggested a man who was in rare form, which Khawaja had been in early November when he scored hundreds in back-to-back Tests against New Zealand. Australia’s selectors will be thrilled that his time on the sidelines with a hamstring injury has not affected his touch. (Scores: Sydney Thunder 6 for 178 (Khawaja 109*) beat Melbourne Stars 5 for 177 (Pietersen 76, Faulkner 45*) by 1 run) Khawaja is expected to walk back into Australia’s team for the Boxing Day Test against West Indies after his unbeaten 109 from 70 deliveries for the Thunder, an innings in which he showed no fitness concerns after a month out of the game. He batted through the Thunder innings for his first Twenty20 century as they posted 6 for 178, and in the end it proved enough for the team’s second consecutive win at the start of the BBL - though only just. Kevin Pietersen nearly led the Melbourne Stars to a remarkable heist at the MCG, where he struck a highly entertaining 76 from 42 deliveries that pushed the Stars close to their target. They needed 51 from the final four overs but Pietersen drastically reduced the required rate by plundering three sixes off a Gurinder Sandhu over that brought 27 in total, and left
the Stars needing just 27 off the final three overs. However, in the penultimate over Pietersen skied a pull off Clint McKay and was well caught at fine leg by Fawad Ahmed, which gave the Thunder a sniff once again after Pietersen seemed to
Usman Khawaja scored the first century of his Twenty20 career. take the match out of their hands. But the renowned finisher James Faulkner remained at the crease and with 10 needed off the last over, Thunder captain Michael Hussey entrusted the responsibility to his most experienced bowler, Jacques Kallis. Kallis dug the ball in rather than giving Faulkner length, and two runs came from each of the first three deliveries of the over. But a pair of dot balls followed, including one that Faulkner missed as he tried to scoop Kallis over the wicktekeeper’s head, and he could
manage only two runs from the last ball as the Stars finished one run short of the Thunder, on 5 for 177, with Faulkner on 45. Andre Russell had given the Thunder a good start to their bowling innings by removing both openers, Luke Wright and Marcus Stoinis, in the sixth over, and he finished with 2 for 28 from his four overs. But the key to the Thunder’s win was unquestionably Khawaja, who was playing his first match in any format since the second Test against New Zealand at the WACA in mid-November, when he suffered his hamstring injury. He scored runs all around the wicket and his placement was exquisite. He struck 12 fours and three sixes, mostly from regulation cricket shots but also with the occasional touch of T20 flair, such as when he scooped John Hastings for a boundary over the head of the wicketkeeper. Khawaja brought up his hundred - the first of this BBL summer - from his 62nd delivery, and he was pleased with how his hamstring fared. “I’m really happy with the way it felt,” Khawaja said. “The test was how it would feel when I went back into the field, backing up, and it felt really good. T he longer I was out there the more I started trusting my body. I was a little bit anxious at the start but the further on I got through the more happy I felt. I’ll keep trying to tick all the boxes and … fingers crossed I’ll be right for the rest of the summer.” (ESPN Cricinfo)