June 18, 2019

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sports

Shakib, Liton star as B’desh crush WI

Shakib Al Hasan celebrates his century with Liton Das during the ICC World Cup match between Bangladesh and West Indies.

Tau n t o n, J u n 1 7 (Agencies): All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan on Monday hit his ninth ODI hundred to lead Bangladesh to a 7-wicket win over West Indies in a thrilling game in Taunton and keep his team’s campaign alive in the World Cup 2019.

Bangladesh rode on Shakib Al Hasan’s unbeaten 124 off 83 balls to pull off their highest successful run chase in ODIs as they reached the target of 322 in 41.3 overs. They matched their own record of the second highest successful run chase in World Cup history.

This was Bangladesh’s second win of the tournament and also Shakib’s second successive century in this

edition.

During the course of his innings, Shakib also completed 6000 runs in ODI cricket. He is only the second Bangladeshi cricketer to achieve the feat after Tamim Iqbal and only the fourth player overall to score over 6000 runs and take 250 wickets in the format after Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Jacques Kallis (South Africa) and Shahid Afridi (Pakistan).

The No.1 all-rounder in the world though, is the fastest to achieve the double on this list.

The win also lifted Bangladesh to fifth on the points table with five points behind Australia, New Zealand, India and England.

Shakib was superbly assisted during the chase by Litton Das (94 not out) as the duo added 189 runs for the unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership to guide Bangladesh to victory. Tamim Iqbal also made a crucial contribution at the top, scoring 48 off 53 balls while fellow opener Soumya Sarkar made 29 off 23 balls.

The West Indies bowlers once again struggled to take wickets and keep the scoring rate under check on a good batting track in Taunton. Andre Russell and Oshane Thomas struck once each while the rest failed to fire which led to West Indies’ downfall.

This was West Indies’ third loss in five matches

and it saw them drop down to seventh on the points table.

Earlier, West Indies batsman Shai Hope hit a patient 96 while Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer also made half-centuries to help the former champions post a competitive 321-8 from 50 overs after being put into bat. Hope struck only one six and four boundaries in his 121-ball knock while Lewis scored 70 before Hetmeyer smashed a 26-ball 50 and skipper Jason Holder added a quick-fire 33 to boost the West Indies total on a good pitch for batting.

The dangerous Chris Gayle departed for a 13-ball duck after Bangladesh won the toss and asked the West Indies to bat first, but Hope and Lewis stitched together a 116-run partnership for the second wicket to lay the platform for a competitive total.

Pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers as he claimed three wickets, including those of Hope and Hetmeyer, while Mohammad Saifuddin also finished with three to restrict the Caribbean side.

Brief Scores West Indies: 321/8 (Shai Hope 96, Evin Lewis 70; Mustafizur Rahman 3/59, Mohammad Saifuddin 3/72) Bangladesh: 322/3 (Shakib Al Hasan 124 not out, Liton Das 94 not out)

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2019

Bhuvneshwar out for next 2-3 games Manchester, Jun 17 (IANS): Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who suffered a hamstring injury against Pakistan, will be sidelined for a maximum of three games in the ongoing World Cup, skipper Virat Kohli has confirmed.

Kumar injured his hamstring while bowling the fourth ball of his second over and had to walk off the field during Pakistan’s chase of 337 on Sunday. Upon leaving the field, he was examined by team physio Patrick Farhart and a decision was taken to keep him off the field, with Vijay Shankar and Hardik Pandya combining to fill for him.

“Bhuvi’s case looks like a niggle, a case of slipping on the footmarks. It doesn’t look too serious at the moment and looks like he could recover in a couple of games from now, maximum of three games,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony after India thrashed Pakistan by 89 runs (DLS method) at the Old Trafford.

The Indian skipper added that they will include Mohammad Shami who is raring to go.

“He is going to be an important factor for us so hopefully he can recover in time. But we have Shami with us and it shouldn’t be much of a worry for us.

Even Bhuvi doesn’t think his niggle is too bad and that time would heal it,” he added.

Real finalise transfer worth €315m

M a d ri d, J u n 1 7 (Agencies): Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane couldn’t wait for last season to end. Now he can’t wait for the new campaign to begin.

Just over two weeks after seeing Liverpool succeed them as European champions, los Blancos have already finalised transfers for five players, for a grand total of €315 million.

Eden Hazard’s arrival has obviously generated the most headlines.

Ten years after Zidane first recommended the former Lille winger to club president Florentino Perez in his role as an unofficial adviser, the Belgian has finally arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu, from Chelsea - and at a cost of €100m.

Despite Karim Benzema’s fine form in an otherwise dreadful season for Madrid, an additional €70m has been spent on a centre-forward, Serbian sensation Luka Jovic, who is coming off the back of a prolific campaign at Eintracht Frankfurt.

And let us not forget that Real reached an agreement with Santos last year for teenage sensation Rodrygo, who will complete his €45m move to the Spanish capital this summer.

The Brazilian is still only 18 and could easily be sent out on loan but it is also worth remembering that compatriot and fel-

Seyie Auto KFL-3: Forerunners FC edge past Kohima Eagles FC

low forward Vinicius was also expected to spend last season with Real Madrid Castilla.

I n s t e a d , Vi n i c i u s proved one of the revelations of Real’s dismal 201819 campaign before injury checked his progress, as well as denying him a chance to make his Selecao debut in the spring.

Madrid will, thus, be privately hoping that Rodrygo – along with €2m Castilla signing Takefusa Kubo – can make just as instantaneous an impact in Spain and reinvigorate an attack that looked tired and predictable last term.

The 13-time European champions have also addressed their issues at the back, though.

Real may have persuaded club captain Sergio Ramos to reject a lucrative move to China but that doesn’t mean that they

aren’t planning for the future, as the €50m acquisition of Porto’s versatile centre-back Eder Militao underlines.

In addition, Marcelo didn’t just lose his status as the world’s best left-back last season, he also regularly lost his starting berth to Sergio Reguilon.

As a result, Madrid splashed €48m on Lyon’s Ferland Mendy, the fantastically fast and offensivelyminded Frenchman who has been described as “The Kylian Mbappe of fullbacks”.

With all of this in mind, Zidane’s revamped Real look set to thrill fans of attacking football.

However, they represent a terrifying proposition for all of their rivals, many of whom have not moved nearly as quickly in the summer transfer market.

Man Utd expect Pogba to stay

Mero calls for development of football

Correspondent

K o h ima , J u n 1 7 (NPN): Khwetelhi Thopi brace in the last minute helped league leaders Forerunners FC Thizama earn a hard fought victory over Kohima Eagles FC 2-1 at the ongoing Seyie Auto Kohima Football League-3 here at IG Stadium, Kohima on Monday.

The win kept the team on top of the league table with 12 points in the four matches and two matches remaining. A match against second place Vanguard FC on June 21 could be the title decider of the season.

Kohima Eagles FC played a defensive game and dominated the possession. However both team failed to score in the first half. Thopi managed to drill the opponent’s defense with his pace but lacked the composure to score.

Kohima Eagles FC took the lead when Kekhrieletuo Tsira scored through a stunning long range kick leaving the Forerunners

Eden Hazard was signed for €100m from Chelsea.

Khwetelhi Thopi in action during their Seyie Auto Kohima Football League-3 match against Kohima Eagles at IG Stadium Kohima on Monday. (NP)

keeper Veseto Chuzho with no chance in the 77th minute.

But the game change suddenly as the league leaders Forerunners FC put on the pressure to find the equalizer. With a minute remaining in the match, Thopi headed home a crossing from K. Atun Konyak to equalise the scoreline.

Thopi with his solo effort

managed to dribble past the defender and slotted home the winning goal in the injury added time.

In the second match, Khriekesa FC continued their good form as they defeated A Yhome FC 3-1 to move to the fourth place on the league table.

Ruokuovile scored for Khriekesa FC in the first minute. Vilhoubeituo

Yhome did score the equaliser in the 22nd minute for Yhome FC but Khriekesa got their lead again with Khrieneituo scoring in the 39th minute to make it 2-1.

Yhome FC got their share to score but was unable to convert as Khriekesa took the advantage and Kevizakie doubled the lead in the 76th minute.

Phek District Football Association (PDFA) president Colo Mero on Monday called for development of football in the state, adding that Nagaland Football Association and district associations have a big role to play. He therefore, appealed to the associations to extend their support and contribute for the game to progress in the state.

Speaking at the Seyie Auto Kohima Football League-3 as match patron, Mero also lauded Kohima Town Club for organising the tournament.

Stating that serious clubs have come up in the state, he highlighted on the need for stakeholders to invest in football. “For overall development of football, the state needs stakeholders. The state government has to take interest and create such facilities for training and platform,” he added.

The president also opined that the state should have enough football grounds to facilitate the footballers. It may be mentioned here that IG Stadium at Kohima is the only professional football ground in Nagaland.

While challenging the footballers to give their best in the game, Mero reminded that football is not just about money and facilities but giving their best and growing up in the game. He also encouraged the footballers to be disciplined, to be loyal and true to their clubs.

Today’s match

Time: 1:30 pm United 16 FC vs Vanguard FC

Paul Pogba

Lo n d o n, J u n 1 7 (Agencies): Manchester United expect midfielder Paul Pogba to stay at the club this summer.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the United manager, sees the France midfielder as a key part of his plans for his first full season in charge at Old Trafford.

Pogba, 26, said on Sunday that, “it could be a good time to have a new challenge somewhere else”.

Real Madrid and Juventus are interested in signing the World Cup winner, who has two years remaining on his contract as well as an additional one-year option.

Sky Sports News reported in April that Real were confident of signing Pogba and Eden Hazard this

summer. Hazard completed a £130m move from Chelsea to the Bernabeu last week.

Meanwhile, Juventus’ sporting director Fabio Paratici is understood to have travelled to United’s London offices last week to hold talks over potentially bringing Pogba back to Turin, three years after he left for United.

It is understood that negotiations are at an early stage, with Juventus rightback Joao Cancelo thought to be part of discussions.

In March, Pogba said it would be “a dream for anyone” to play for Real Madrid under Zinedine Zidane.

Later that month, Zidane said, “if one day he wanted to leave United... why shouldn’t he come to Real Madrid?”

Women’s WC: US beat Chile to reach last 16 PSG consider Neymar sale PARIS, Jun 17 (Agencies): Veteran striker Carli Lloyd scored twice as the United States beat Chile 3-0 on Sunday, sending the current holders into the last 16 at the Women’s World Cup despite some remarkable resistance from the opposition goalkeeper Christiane Endler.

Lloyd, one of the biggest names in the women’s game, became the first player to score in six consecutive World Cup matches but missed out on a hat-trick when she put a late penalty wide.

Yet Chilean keeper Endler, on her home Parc des Princes ground, was the player of the match, earning all the plaudits after pulling off several stunning saves to keep the score down.

The United States will next play Sweden to decide top spot in group F after the Scandinavian side had earlier booked their place in the knockout stages, also with a maximum six points,

US players celebrate after scoring a goal during their Women’s WC match against Chile.

by beating Thailand 5-1.

The US, coming off a record 13-0 win over Thailand in their opener, still lead the group on goal difference, having quickly improved their tally when Lloyd smashed home the first of their three first-half goals with an 11th minute half-volley.

It followed an early onslaught that had already

seen the U.S. miss several clear-cut chances, including Lloyd hitting the post from close range with Paris St Germain’s Endler then reacting quickest to deny the US striker from the rebound.

US midfielder Julie Ertz doubled the score on 26 minutes, flicking in a header from a corner and Lloyd, captain for the day,

then powered home from another corner nine minutes later after easily losing her marker.

That took the 36-yearold Lloyd’s tally in the tournament to three, and 10 overall in World Cups.

A three-time Olympian and only the second player, man or woman, to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final when the U.S won in

2015, Lloyd came off the bench against Thailand to score their 13th goal and could now be challenging for a starting spot.

The US coach changed seven outfield players from the first game giving the squad a good rest ahead of the table-topping decider with Sweden on June 20.

The champions began the second-half in the same attacking vein but Endler made a string of saves, including acrobatically tipping over a Christen Press volley and then clawing away a point-blank header from the same player minutes later.

Lloyd almost had her hat-trick on 72 minutes, looping a header over Endler, but watched in despair as it bounced back off the bar.

She then had a golden chance to seal her hat-trick in the 81st minute after a pitchside VAR review saw a penalty awarded following a tug in the box, but she skewed it wide.

Paris, Jun 17 (Agencies): Paris St Germain are prepared to sell striker Neymar, French media reports said, as chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi warned that irresponsible behaviour from players won’t be tolerated anymore.

The Brazil international joined the Ligue 1 side from Barcelona for a world record 222 million euros ($248.91 million) in August 2017.

However, he missed large parts of the 2018-19 campaign through injury and suspension and made just 17 league appearances, scoring 15 goals.

PSG will consider selling the 27-year-old in the forthcoming transfer window if they receive a substantial offer, a report in L’Equipe said on Sunday.

Neymar is said to be unsettled at the club and to have told relatives that he was having difficulties in France even before he was accused of raping a woman

Neymar

in a Paris hotel in May. The player has denied any wrongdoing.

The report comes on the back of strong comments from chairman and CEO Al-Khelaifi about the attitude of squad members.

“Players will have to be more responsible than before,” he told France Football.

“It must be completely different. They will have to do more and work harder.

They are not there for their own amusement. If they do not agree, the doors are open — Ciao! I do not want star behaviour anymore.”

His words come after a disappointing season for Thomas Tuchel’s side who, despite clinching the league title, were knocked out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage by Manchester United. They also failed to win either of France’s major domestic cup competitions.

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