Category: SPORTS

Afghanistan’s cricket team Monday recorded its maiden Test win as it beat Ireland by seven wickets in a one-off game here, nine months after making its debut in the traditional format.Chasing 147 for victory, Afghanistan rode on a 139-run second-wicket partnership between Rahmat Shah and Ihsanullah Janat to secure a historic win months after their Test debut against India.Both Shah and Ihsanullah struck half centuries, helping their team march to the victory target on the fourth morning of the match in a place that has been its ‘home’ for a…

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Steve Smith and David Warner have reunited with the Australian cricket team as their year-long ball-tampering bans end later this month. Smith and Warner have been welcomed back into the Australian fold with “hugs and cuddles” at a team meet-up in Dubai, and said it was like they’d never left. The disgraced pair were invited by coach Justin Langer as part of their re-integration process. Australia are in Dubai as they prepare for an upcoming series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates following their upset One-day International (ODI) series…

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The Indian players will have to smartly manage their workload during the upcoming IPL since it will be their responsibility to stay fit and fresh for the ICC World Cup, says skipper Virat Kohli.The upcoming edition of the popular Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin on March 23 and culminate days before the World Cup, starting on May 30. Many cricket boards have been cautious in releasing their players for their respective IPL franchisees, putting national duty above league commitments.Kohli said it’s not that he is asking the Indian players…

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India’s Dipa Karmakar will look to secure an Olympic berth with “some good performances” at back-to-back Artistic Gymnastics World Cups in Baku and Doha, beginning Thursday.Dipa had claimed a bronze at the vault event of the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Cottbus, Germany in November 2018, to make a strong bid for her Olympic qualification.It was Dipa’s first appearance after recovering from a knee strain, which had spoilt her chances at the Jakarta Asian Games, where she missed the vault final and also had to pull out of the team…

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World number one and defending champion Naomi Osaka powered past American Danielle Collins 6-4, 6-2 on Monday to book a fourth-round meeting with resurgent Swiss Belinda Bencic at Indian Wells.Japan’s Osaka, whose second straight Grand Slam title at the Australian Open propelled her to the top of the rankings, traded breaks with Collins early in the first set.But she got the decisive break in the ninth game, giving herself a break point with a backhand winner before pouncing on a short ball and belting a forehand winner to give herself…

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Shikhar Dhawan has the knack of bouncing back just when his detractors write him off and the Indian batsman says he manages to stay afloat in the toughest of times by shutting out the criticism that comes with lean patches.Without an international hundred for the past six months, Dhawan announced his comeback with a career-best 143 against Australia, albeit in a losing cause, in the fourth one-dayer here on Sunday.Asked how he reacts to criticism, the happy-go-lucky cricketer said living in his own bubble helps him keep it calm in…

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Shikhar Dhawan ended his prolonged bad patch with a career-best 143 off 115 balls and in Rohit Sharma’s company guided India to a commanding 358/9 in the fourth ODI against Australia here Sunday.India looked a completely different side with opening duo putting on 193 runs on arguably the flattest track on offer during the ongoing series. While Dhawan got his 16th hundred in ODIs, vice-captain Rohit (95 off 92 balls) missed out on what could have been a very well-deserved 23rd hundred with Australian bowlers looking like lambs for slaughter.Pat…

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India’s batswomen failed to score three runs from the final over in an embarrassing capitulation, gifting England a one-run win in the third T20 International and a 3-0 series whitewash here Saturday.Chasing England’s modest 119 for six, the Indians had only themselves to blame as they were on course to register a consolation win after having lost the first two matches.India needed just three runs from the final over with veteran Mithali Raj well-set at 30 off 32 balls, but the ODI skipper was left stranded at the other end…

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Anirban Lahiri was placed precariously at two-over 74 and in Tied-72nd position at the end of the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Lahiri, who has been struggling with consistency in his four starts in 2019, has missed the cut twice. In the first round, Lahiri hit nine of 18 greens in regulation as he shot 74, on Thursday.Rafa Cabrera Bello making his Bay Hill debut shot seven-under 65 for a two-shot lead while playing with Arnold Palmer’s grandson, Sam Saunders (73).Keegan Bradley played bogey-free for a 67 in the…

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World Wrestling body UWW has said it did not do anything “exceptional” by stopping national federations from dealing with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).United World Wrestling (UWW) President Nenad Lalovic said there is a standard protocol with regards to all its events and demanding visa approvals from India for all nations was part of it.Lalovic did not mention Pakistan in his statement but asserted that India will have to assure that all participating nations will be given entry if it has to host junior Asian championship in July.India had…

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