CRICKET
Samson, Varma smash SA
Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma on Friday smashed scintillating centuries as India thumped South Africa by 135 runs in Johannesburg to claim the four-match T20 series 3-1 and inflict the heaviest-ever defeat in the format on their hosts. India posted 283-1 before bowling out the hosts for 148 as they dominated all facets of the game. Samson crashed a third T20 ton in five innings as he blasted an unbeaten 109 from 56 deliveries, while Varma made it centuries in consecutive innings with 120 not out from 47 balls, including 10 sixes. The pair put on a T20 record second wicket partnership of 210 from 85 balls. “It is difficult for me to choose which is the best between the knocks, both of them were brilliant,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said. At the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday, Australia beat Pakistan by 13 runs in the second T20 to win the series with a match to go.
Photo: AFP
SOCCER
Mexico coach struck
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre on Friday sustained a head injury after being hit by an object at the end of their CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final first leg against Honduras. At the end of the game that Mexico lost 2-0 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Aguirre walked up to greet Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda when he was struck by an object, apparently a beer can, that cut him and caused his head to bleed. “Nothing, it is just soccer, the game was hard fought, and they played better,” Aguirre said at a news conference later. “Regarding the other [the incident], there’s no need to mention it, I’m not one who complains, it is just soccer, nothing happened.” Rueda was more forceful. “I’m sad for what happened at the end of the match, because he is a human being,” he said. “I want to apologize to the Mexican people and to Aguirre. This cannot happen.” In the other quarter-final first-leg on Friday, Canada beat Suriname 1-0.
Photo: AFP
SOCCER
Lyon hit over finances
Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais cannot make any signings in the January transfer window and will be relegated at the end of the season if they are unable to address financial mismanagement, the French National Directorate of Management Control (DNGC) said on Friday. The financial police of the league issued the punishment to John Textor-owned Lyon, who are fifth in the Ligue 1 standings. Textor, who has stakes in other clubs in Brazil, Belgium and England, is the majority stakeholder of Lyon. “You shouldn’t just look at Olympique Lyonnais, but the fact that we are a group that owns several clubs,” Textor told French media.
Photo: Reuters
BASEBALL
Al Ferrara dies at 84
Al Ferrara, an outfielder who won World Series championships in 1963 and 1965 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, died on Friday. He was 84. The team announced his death, but provided no other details. Ferrara made his major-league debut for the Dodgers on July 30, 1963, and remained in the organization through 1968. He batted .256 with 23 home runs in 249 games over five seasons with Los Angeles. He also played for the San Diego Padres and the Cincinnati Reds before retiring after the 1971 season. He is survived by his son, Al III, and two grandchildren.
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) is considering reducing its pitch clock by two seconds to help players better adjust to the rules applied at the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The proposal aims to shorten the pitch timer from 25 seconds to 23 seconds with the bases empty, and from 20 seconds to 18 seconds with runners on base. Currently, the WBC mandates that pitchers deliver a pitch every 18 seconds with the bases empty and 15 seconds with runners on base. The issue was raised during a pre-season CPBL managers’ meeting on Tuesday by Rakuten Monkeys bench and batting
‘SETTING THE TONE’: Donovan Mitchell said that their determination to dominate had nothing to do with past results, but was about a potential post-season clash The Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday boosted their NBA-best record with a 142-105 romp past the New York Knicks, tightening their grip on the Eastern Conference lead with an all-around dominant display. Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points to lead six Cavs players to score in double figures, connecting on five of seven three-pointers as Cleveland drilled 19 from beyond the arc. “I think the biggest thing was just try to set the tone early,” Mitchell said, adding that the determination to dominate had nothing to do with the Knicks’ first-round playoff win over the Cavs two seasons ago and everything to do with
BELGIANS ADVANCE: Club Brugge gave Atalanta a lesson in efficiency, as Gian Piero Gasperini’s team had 29 efforts at goal, compared with seven from the visitors Seldom has a player’s sending off had such an influence on a game. AC Milan was to left rue Theo Hernandez’s second yellow card — for diving — as Feyenoord advanced to the UEFA Champions League last 16 at the former European champion’s expense with a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their playoff on Tuesday, giving the Dutch team a 2-1 win on aggregate. Bayern Munich, Club Brugge and Benfica also won their playoffs, eliminating Celtic, UEFA Europa League winner Atalanta BC and French team AS Monaco respectively. “In soccer everything changes in a second,” said Milan forward
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