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US Open: Osaka, Kvitova reach last 16
Naomi Osaka
N e w Yo r k , S e p 5 (Agencies): For mer champion Naomi Osaka survived a third-round scare before grinding out a 6-3 6-7(4) 6-2 victory over fearless Ukrainian teenager Marta Kostyuk to reach the last 16 of the U.S. Open on Friday. The Japanese fourth seed initially looked like she would enjoy a routine day on the court but was forced to dig deep to secure victory after two hours and 33 minutes against an 18-year-old making her U.S. Open main draw debut. After Osaka had breezed through the first set, a match filled with shifts in momentum suddenly turned in Kostyuk’s favour as she broke her opponent for the first time to pull ahead 4-3. Kostyuk consolidated the break but dropped the
next three games and had to hold serve to force the tiebreak. She dropped the first two points but won seven of the next nine to close out the set, leaving Osaka to fling her racquet down in frustration. After Kostyuk went ahead 2-1 in the final set, the Ukrainian had her right ankle taped for the second time in the match. Osaka then leaned on her experience, digging deep to save five break points in a 14-point game to draw level and from there won 16 of the next 19 points to close out the victory. Also, former champion Angelique Kerber cruised into the fourth round with a convincing 6-3, 6-4 victory over 20-year-old American Ann Li. Germany’s Kerber, a three-time Grand Slam
Petra Kvitova
champion who won the title at Flushing Meadows in 2016, converted four break points and is yet to drop a set at the tournament while Li, ranked 128 in the world, was let down by 28 unforced errors. The only real moment of concern for Kerber came late in the second set when she appeared to hurt her ankle chasing a wide shot, after which the 32-year-old walked gingerly between points. But she held serve for a 5-4 lead and broke the American in the final game to move into the fourth round for the first time since her title win. Kerber will next face another American, 28th seed Jennifer Brady, who beat France’s Caroline Garcia, conqueror of top seed Karolina Pliskova in the
previous round, 6-3 6-3. Meanwhile, Czech Petra Kvitova struggled with unforced errors but still had enough weapons to defeat American Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-3. The two-time Wimbledon champion had 28 unforced errors and five double faults but moved up a gear when it mattered to win her first career meeting with baseline battler Pegula. Sixth seed Kvitova broke the world No. 63 twice in each set and completed the win when Pegula sent a return wide. The US Open is the only Grand Slam event where Kvitova has failed to reach the semifinals and next up for her will be another American in Shelby Rogers, who earlier advanced with a 6-2 6-4 win against compatriot Madison Brengle.
Mustafizur denied NOC to play in IPL 13 Dhaka, Sep 5 (IANS): Left-arm Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been denied a no-objection certificate (NOC) by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) slated to be held from September 19 to November 10. According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, Akram Khan, the cricket operations chairman at BCB, said that Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka in October and November was the reason for the denial. It is said that Kolkata Knight Riders were interested to bring in Mustafizur at one point to replace Harry Gurney. “There was an offer from the IPL but since we have a tour coming up, we didn’t give him the NOC. He is an important cricketer for us and this upcoming series is also important,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Khan as telling to Dhaka-based bdnews24.com. Bangladesh are set to tour Sri Lanka for a threeTest series, scheduled to begin on October 24 at a time when IPL will be on in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Mustafizur last played in the IPL in 2018 for the Mumbai Indians. In seven matches that season, he took seven wickets.
Nagaland Post, Dimapur SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2020
Messi to stay at Barcaelona
Madrid, Sep 5 (IANS): Lionel Messi has confirmed that he would stay at FC Barcelona this season to see out his four-year contract signed in 2017. The 33-year-old on Friday confirmed his Uturn in an interview after 11 days after he rocked the footballing world by informing Barcelona that he wanted to leave the club. Although Messi will remain at the Camp Nou until he can leave as a free agent, fans are worried at the interview in which he explained how he felt in recent months. “I didn’t feel happy this last year at the club,” explained Messi. “I have been (wanting to leave) all year. I thought the team needed younger players and I thought my epoch at Barcelona had ended. It was a complicated year. I suffered a lot in training, in games and in the dressing room. Everything was very difficult and there came a moment when I decided to look for new objectives.” “I wanted to go, and I was in my right to do so, because my contract said I was free. I wanted to go because I was thinking about being happy in my last years in football,” he commented. The striker argued that a clause in his contract, which is due to expire in June 2021, allowed him
Lionel Messi
to leave on a free transfer at the end of the 2019/20 season and that he wanted to take up the option. Barcelona took a different viewpoint, insisting that if he wanted to join a different club, he would have to pay the 700 million euro release clause in his contract. Under that clause, Messi could leave the club for free if he requested to do so by June 10, the nominal end of the season. But the 2019/20 La Liga season extended beyond that date due to the COVID-19 pandemic, complicating matters. Barca is not willing to give up on Messi, especially not for free. “It really hurt me
that people could think I would be able to go to court against Barcelona for my own benefit. I would never do something like that,” commented the striker. However, he was very critical of Bartomeu, accusing him of “not keeping his word” and also criticising the direction of the club in recent years. “The truth is that for a while there has not been a project and there hasn’t been anything. They have tried a juggling act and to paper over the cracks as things have happened,” said Messi, who repeated his love for the club and insisted on his commitment in his final year at the Camp Nou.
Everton signs Nations League: Bosnia halt Italy’s winning streak Chelsea sign Kai Havertz on a 5 yr deal Allan from Napoli
Kai Havertz with Chelsea manager Frank Lampard after completing signing for the club.
London, Sep 5 (Agencies): Chelsea have signed Germany’s highly-rated attacking midfielder Kai Havertz from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen on a fiveyear contract, the Premier League club announced on Friday. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed but British media reported the fee for the 21-year-old was in the region of 71 million pounds ($94 million). “I’m very happy and
proud to be here. For me it’s a dream come true to play in a big club like Chelsea and I can’t wait to meet all the players and the trainers,” Havertz said in a statement. Havertz left the German national team camp on Friday to complete his medical before signing for the London club. Havertz, who had two years left on his Leverkusen contract, scored 46 goals with 31 assists in 150 games for the club.
“He has proven pedigree in one of the best leagues in Europe, he plays for the German national side, and he is an exciting, dynamic talent,” Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said. “We are delighted to be able to add his versatility and quality to the squad before the season begins.” Having been barred from signing players last year due to a FIFA transfer ban, Chelsea has gone on a spending spree this year as manager Frank Lampard rebuilds his squad ahead of the new season. Havertz’s signing follows the arrivals of full back Ben Chilwell, striker Timo Werner and winger Hakim Ziyech, with the overall outlay totalling more than 200 million pounds. The club has also signed defenders Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr as free agents. Chelsea, which finished fourth last term to qualify for the Champions League in Lampard’s first campaign in charge, begins the new season at Brighton Hove and Albion on September 14.
London, Sep 5 (Agencies): Everton has signed Brazil midfielder Allan from Italian side Napoli on a three-year deal, the Premier League club said on Saturday. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but British media reported Everton had paid a fee of around GBP 25 million pounds (USD 33 million) to Napoli for the 29-yearold. Allan scored 11 goals and grabbed 16 assists in more than 200 appearances for Napoli across all competitions, helping it claim the Coppa Italia last season. “It is a real pleasure to sign for Everton. I am immensely happy to be here,” Allan said in a club statement. “I hope, like I have done in my entire career, I contribute with my performances together with my team-mates and that I put in some great games, great performances and win important things.”
Rome, Sep5 (Agencies): Stefano Sensi’s second international goal rescued Italy a Nations League draw as their 11game winning streak came to an end in a 1-1 stalemate with Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Azzurri arrived in Florence looking to extend their record-breaking run of consecutive victories to 12 but found themselves up against a resolute defence and undone by the visitors’ veteran Serie A striker Edin Dzeko, who scored from close range after 57 minutes. Italy boss Rober to Mancini opted to leave last season’s European Golden Boot winner Ciro Immobile out of his starting line-up and watched as his forwards squandered the few chances that came their way. But Sensi applied a cool finish to Lorenzo Insigne’s cross after the talented attacker teed him up in the 67th minute to avoid a shock defeat. Federico Chiesa hit the side-netting from six yards as Italy probed for an opener and Insigne whipped
Players of Italy and Bosnia vie for the ball during their Nations League match.
a 20-yard free-kick just over the crossbar after 17 minutes. Bosnia-Herzegovina wingers Armin Hodzic and Edin Visca made their presence felt, linking up in a fast break before the latter lashed a fierce shot high and wide from 12 yards shortly before the half-hour mark. The Azzurri survived a scare when Hodzic rounded
Gianluigi Donnarumma seven minutes into the second half before hitting the outside of the post from an extremely tight angle. After Insigne had a close-range header saved by Ibrahim Sehic, Dzeko broke the deadlock with a simple left-footed finish into the bottom-right corner of the net having been found by Toni Sunjic’s knockdown six yards out.
Ten minutes later, Insigne’s cross found Sensi unmarked just inside the penalty area and he sidefooted a low shot that took a deflection on its way past Sehic into the bottom corner of the net. Alessandro Florenzi should have won it when he burst into the box with 19 minutes left but his low drive from 12 yards was well saved by the diving Sehic.
England beat Australia by 2 runs in 1st T20I Sumi online open chess tourney held Southampton, Sep 5 (IANS): A late fightback from the bowlers helped England beat Australia by two runs in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Ageas Bowl. Chasing 163, Australia at one stage needed just 39 runs from the last six overs with nine wickets in hand to take a 1-0 lead in the series on Friday. However, they ended up on 160/6 and lost the game which was in their grasp for the majority of duration. Earlier, Australia restricted England to 162/7, despite Jos Buttler’s early fireworks and Dawid Malan’s well-composed 66. For the visitors, it was Kane Richardson and Glenn Maxwell who provided control as they returned with figures of 2/13 and 2/14 respectively from three overs apiece. Left-arm spinner Aston Agar, who was taken for 16 by Buttler in his first over, also bounced back and returned with figures of 2/32 in his four overs.
England’s players celebrate after taking a wicket during the first T20 match against Australia at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
Other than Buttler and Malan, only Chris Jordan got to double figures, hitting 14* from 8 balls in a late cameo.
Australia had a great start to their chase and looked on track to register a comprehensive victory, thanks to Aaron Finch
and David Warner’s early dominance, with the pair adding 98 runs in 11 overs before the Australia captain lost his wicket after scoring
46 runs. Steve Smith, who came in next, looked fluent as he scored 18 from 11 balls, but Adil Rashid had him caught sweeping and he then dismissed Maxwell four balls later as England fought back. Warner (58) and Alex Carey also went back to the pavilion in quick succession as Australia lost four wickets for nine runs, with the visitors still needing 30 from 21 balls. Australia needed 15 from the final over but Tom Curran kept his cool and didn’t allow Marcus Stoinis to take his team across the line. The two teams will now lock horns in the second T20I at the same venue on Sunday. Brief scores: England: 162/7 (Dawid Malan 66, Jos Buttler 44; Glenn Maxwell 2/14) Australia: 160/6 (David Warner 58, Aaron Finch 46; Adil Rashid 2/29) by two runs.
Dimapur, Sep 5 (Agencies): The 1st Sumi All Nagaland Online Open Chess Tournament was conducted on September 4. Altogether 41 players participated in different categories. In the open category, Mughaho Awomi emerged as the champion while Kunvuto Awomi of Coraggio School Kohima
won the U-16 category. The best two female player were Shabnam Singh and Muzivolu Veswu. The 3 best Sumi players were bagged by Hekugha Yeptho, Itokhu Sumi and Bovito Yeptho. The top 15 players of open category and top 7 players of U-16 category received cash prizes. All the best players also received cash prizes.
‘Next ICC chief shouldn’t be from Big 3’ Ka r a c h i , S e p 5 (IANS): Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ehsan Mani feels that the next chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) should not come from any of the “Big Three” boards. On July 1 this year, Shashank Manohar stepped down from the post of ICC chairman after twin two-year tenures at the helm. Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja has assumed the responsibilities of the chairperson until a successor is elected. According to Mani, it would be “healthier” if someone from other board now leads the ICC because
Ehsan Mani
of the “politics introduced” by Cricket Australia, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) earlier. “It’s unfortunate it has taken so long,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Mani as telling the Forbes about the delay. “The politics introduced by Australia,
England and India in 2014 to protect their positions now they are struggling to unwind it because it doesn’t suit them anymore. “It would be healthier to have someone (the chairperson) not from the ‘big three’,” he added. The PCB chairman, who served as ICC chairman from 2003 to 2006, however ruled himself out as a candidate. “There is a huge problem of conflict of interest on the board,” Mani said. “I’ve never seen that before, not in 17 years. This sort of conflict of interest is not transparent. The ICC is crying out for more independent directors.”
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