UPDATED: WI beat South Africa, advance to WT20 semi-finals
NAGPUR, India (AP) — Former champions West Indies remained unbeaten and advanced to the World Twenty20 semi-finals earlier today after edging out South Africa by three wickets for their third straight win in Group 1. Marlon Samuels hit 43 off 44 balls and led West Indies to 123-7 in 19.4 overs after South Africa’s batsmen struggled on a slow wicket and limped to 122-8 with Quinton de Kock scoring a fighting 47 off 46 balls. The third successive chase after winning the toss earned West Indies six points and the 2012 champions can sweep the group by defeating Afghanistan on Sunday. South Africa will be eliminated if England, who already have four points, beat defending champions Sri Lanka tomorrow. South Africa have two points from their solitary win against Afghanistan, with a match against Sri Lanka to come. NOTE: Earlier this story had said the West Indies made 126 for 7 in 19.4 overs. That was incorrect. It was actually 123 for 7 in 19.4 overs since the batsmen completed the winning run before the ball hit the boundary. As dictated by the cricket rules, the boundary would not have been counted since the winning run was completed before the ball reached the ropes.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka,CMC – All-rounder Carlos Brathwaite says he will continue to back himself with his new aggressive approach, as he gears up for Sunday’s start of the three-match One-Day International series against Sri Lanka.The 27-year-old blasted an astonishing 113 off 58 deliveries as West Indies beat Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI by 43 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method, in a warm-up one-day game at the R Premadasa Stadium yesterday.He added an up tempo 193 for the eighth wicket with Andre Russell who smashed 89 from 54 balls, as they pulled West Indies out of trouble at 109 for seven in the 30th over.Scores: West Indies 318 off 48.4 overs; Sri Lanka President’s XI 103 for three after 21 overs. Thunderstorms ended the game abruptly, with West Indies ahead under Duckworth/Lewis method.”It obviously gives me a lot of confidence. I got a fifty in the preparation match for the Test game. I was a bit annoyed that I didn’t make a bigger score but thankfully today it came off,” Brathwaite said afterward.”It’s just about me taking my same process and same method into the ODIs if selected. One thing myself and Russell spoke a lot about is that the way we play won’t always come off, sometimes you will get out and it will seem like a stupid shot, but we will have days when we can take attacks apart and do what we did today.”The right-hander stroked ten fours and seven sixes – mostly clean shots back overhead – to reiterate the form he displayed in the three-day game at the start of the tour when he belted a top score of 54 from just 46 balls.Russell chimed in with six fours and Brathwaite said that when he came to the crease, his initial plan was just to sit back and allow his Jamaican partner to dominate the bowling.”I decided to give him as much of the strike as possible and basically sit back and watch the ‘Andre Russell show’. But I started to hit a few in the middle of the bat and decided to take it from there,” he explained.”Fortunately, as I got into my groove, everything just flowed and everything just came together as I would have wanted it. I couldn’t have imagined playing that knock when I went out to bat but it just happened and I give thanks to God for giving me the health and strength.”I wasn’t feeling as well as I wanted to this morning and to be able to do that for the team and put them in a good position – in a match winning position – thanks must go to the Father and to Russell for the partnership that we had.”Brathwaite had said earlier in the series that he intended to bring a new dimension to his batting, which included imposing himself on bowlers from the start of his innings, and batting aggressively throughout.And he reiterated that once selected for the upcoming series, he planned to carry the same mind-set into those games.”[Coach Roddy Estwick] always told me that tall guys are supposed to hit the ball straight and it is something that I didn’t really understand until I actually got it done successfully for a while,” he said in reference to his explosive straight hitting.Brathwaite is yet to play a Test and has played only four ODIs and two T20Is for the Windies.
Wray and Nephew Middleweight Contender 2015 champion, Kemahl Russell, ended a three-month overseas training stint in fine style last Saturday night, when he knocked out his Mexican opponent Hector Nava at one minute and 35 seconds of the first round. The fight, which was scheduled for six rounds, took place in Mexico. Russell has been training in Brooklyn, New York, for the past three months at the world famous Gleason’s Gym, under the guidance of renowned trainer Hector Roca, who has several world champions in his camp. Among them is Jamaica’s Alicia Ashley, who recently regained her World Boxing Council super bantamweight title, with a points victory over Christina McMahon. Russell, who now has an 8-0 record, told The Gleaner that he went into the fight very confident and set about putting into action some of what he had learnt from Roca. He said: “I started throwing punches to the body the way that Hector taught me and I was pleasantly surprised how effective I was. I really learnt a lot from him.” Nava, who had three fights going into Saturday’s contest, tried to be aggressive at the start, but was quickly put on the defensive and as the round neared the end, two hooks to the body, a right then a left, put him down. He managed to get up, but was hurt and grimacing in pain. He took the full count bent over. Russell said he would have liked the fight to have gone on a bit longer, so that he could try out some of the other things he had learnt, but was happy to get the victory. “Next year is going to be a very important one for me and this is just the start of what I hope will be great things,” he added. He returns to Jamaica next week.
LONDON (AP):Oscar scored a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea cruised to a 5-1 victory at second-tier MK Dons to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup yesterday.Oscar tapped into an empty net in the 15th minute after a defensive blunder, but the Dons soon levelled when Darren Potter beat Thibaut Courtois with a heavily deflected shot from the edge of the area.Costa and Eden Hazard squandered easy chances before Oscar drilled home Chelsea’s second in the 32nd minute and then smashed in a superb third just before the break after a 25-yard (meter) run that started over on the left touchline.Hazard converted a penalty after the break and Bertrand Traore added the fifth as Guus Hiddink’s side made sure there was no risk of a cup upset.”If you play the big, big games like Arsenal, Man U, Man City, etc, the concentration is always high, automatically,” Hiddink said. “But these games, you have to be well prepared mentally, and I think we did well in the first half – although we were not finishing it off in the first 20 minutes.”Hiddink, who has engineered a solid recovery by the Premier League champions since replacing JosÈ Mourinho in December, paid tribute to match-winner Oscar.HAPPY PLAYERS”He’s playing with a smile on his face, and that’s what I like very much with the players – when they know their obligation – and also defensively, these guys know their job to do, and they do it … . It’s good to see.”Chelsea’s next opponent in the competition will not be such a pushover as the Dons, after Hiddink’s side was drawn against Premier League title favourites Manchester City in the last 16.Everton also advanced yesterday, beating fourth-tier Carlisle 3-0 in a match where fans were given a warning that racism would not be tolerated at the stadium, following a report of abusive language.The alleged incident happened after Everton opened the scoring in the second minute through Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone, who is black.A public-address system message warned fans that racist abuse would not be tolerated, and local police issued the same message on Twitter, asking anyone with information to report it.”I thought it was dealt with in a very good manner,” Everton manager Roberto Martinez told broadcaster BT Sport.Aaron Lennon, who lined up Kone’s tap-in at the far post, made it 2-0 in the 14th with another close-range strike.Ross Barkley put the result beyond doubt in the 65th with an impressive curling shot from the edge of the area that took a slight deflection.Everton are away to Bourne-mouth in the fifth round.
St George’s College won their second lacrosse title of the season as they topped arch-rivals Holy Trinity 9-8 in a pulsating high school final for the North Street Cup at St George’s College recently. Kingston College turned the tables on Wolmer’s Boys in the North Street Cup third-place game, taking home the bronze medal. The game of lacrosse comes with a frenetic pace and the youngsters have accepted the sport as their own. Defending champions Edgewater FC won their third game of the season in the St Catherine FA Under-13 football league last Sunday when they easily defeated Westchester 4-0. They now have 10 points from four games, the same as Portmore United, who outshot East Portmore Portals 3-2. The latter have a superior goal difference. In other games, Royal Lakes were held 0-0 by Daytona; Central Linx flexed their muscles as they hammered minnows Tredegar Park 6-0; Windsor Lion defeated Angels United 3-1; and De La Vega City beat Rivoli United 2-0. Action in the league continues today. The Gleaner clip Carib Cement in BH domino St George’s top Holy Trinity in exciting lacrosse final Edgewater win third game The Wulin Domino Kings one-day pairs tournament is on today at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium, Jamaica College, starting at 9 a.m. The high-tech tourney offers a first prize of $350,000 and championship ring; $150,000 to the pair finishing second; and $75,000 for third. Entry fee is $4,000. It will run until 9 p.m. and many of the top players in town and the country are expected to participate. Big one-day domino tournament on today at JC The curtains will come down on the 2016 season of the Power of Faith Ministries Twenty20 church cricket league with its final showdown between Power of Faith Development and Portmore Gospel Assembly (PGA) at the Bridgeport Sports ground in Portmore, St Catherine, today at 2 p.m. The teams are vying for the Dr Delford Davis Trophy. Meanwhile, today’s activities should pull a fair-sized crowd as there will also be an over-50 cricket match for veteran players. Meanwhile, PFM Development won the eliminator match two against Faith Temple New Testament at Bridgeport. PFM Development, which won the toss and batted first, made 207-5, with a top score of 105 from Demar Johnson, while Aaron Daley hit 28. The leading wicket-taker, Simon Clarke, took 2-14 from four overs. In reply, Faith Temple were blown away for 47 in 12.3 overs, with the top score being nine from Burford Sangster. Jerome Heroin ripped through the Faith Temple batting, claiming 5 -13 in four overs and Aaron Daley 3-8 in 3.3 overs, thus giving PFM Development victory by 160 runs.
Business House football rally today Last year’s knockout champions, The Gleaner, made a winning start in Division One of the 2016 Wray & Nephew Business House domino league, clipping Carib Cement 94-92 in a closely contested match at The Gleaner Sports Club, 7 North Street, on Friday, April 29. It was a ding-dong affair between both teams in the first half, but The Gleaner pulled away towards the end to lead 51-45 at half-time. After the interval, The Gleaner maintained their lead for a while, but Cement Company fought back strongly to lead 76-75. Thereafter, it was anybody’s game, but The Gleaner players were more determined and squeezed home by two points in the closing stages. The top pair for the winners was Earl ‘Maro’ Morrison and Omar McCurdy. The Gleaner will next play defending league champions Kingston Wharves at The Gleaner Sports Club. Church cricket final showdown today The Business House five-a-side one-day football rally takes place today at the National Water Commission playing field, Mona, starting at 8 a.m. There are 25 participating teams, including defending champions Carib Cement. The teams will vie for the Butterkist Trophy in the Seprod-sponsored rally. Spit Fyah regain lead Favourites Spit Fyah regained their slim lead over Spring Village as they beat Felluchie Strikers 300-288 in the Jamaica Domino Federation Portmore/St Catherine City of Kingston Cooperative Credit Union League last Sunday. Spit Fyah amassed 53 points from 14 games, one point ahead of Spring Village (52 points), who were idle last week. In other games, seventh-place Eradication (33 points) went down 300-289 to Passagefort United; fifth-place Right Stuff defeated Fort International (46 points) 300-297 in a countdown; and Correctional Services beat Highlight Strikers 300-203. Games on tomorrow (home teams named first): Masterpiece vs Waterhouse United, Naggo Head vs Highlight Strikers, Correctional Services vs Felluchie Strikers, Soursop Tree vs Garveymeade, Eradication vs Chedwin Strikers, Spit Fyah vs Ken’s Wildflower, Spring Village vs Right Stuff, Fort International vs Passagefort United, and Unity Strikers vs Memory Lane.
Stalwart One of the best defenders of his generation, Carlos Alberto was innovative in playing box-to-box soccer. That style of play allowed him to score his famous goal at the 1970 World Cup, blasting in a pass from PelÈ in the 4-1 win against Italy in the final. That goal, scored after a touch by almost every Brazilian on the pitch, is seen as the pinnacle of a team that was so dominant that it made their yellow shirts into a global brand. PelÈ, one of Carlos Alberto’s closest friends, said they had a “winning partnership” as teammates and remained close even after they retired. “I am deeply saddened by the death of my friend and brother,” the three-time World Cup winner said in a statement. At the end of that 1970 final, the 25-year-old Carlos Alberto became the last captain to lift the Jules Rimet trophy the first three-time World Cup winners earned the right to keep it. The trophy that he famously kissed before lifting as a champion was later destroyed by thieves. After those glorious days in Mexico, Brazil won two more World Cups in much less impressive fashion. This made Carlos Alberto one of the biggest advocates among his countrymen of a return to an attacking style of football. For many Brazilians, he was just ‘The Captain’ even to his friends and family. He made 53 appearances for Brazil. “He was more than a leader, he was an innovative player. That is why he is our eternal captain,” said Carlos Alberto Parreira, a physical therapist on that 1970 team and later the coach when Brazil won the 1994 World Cup. Former Germany captain Franz Beckenbauer, writing on social media, said Carlos Alberto “was like a brother” to him. Beckenbauer played alongside the Brazilian in the United States at the New York Cosmos. Former Argentina captain, Diego Maradona, among many others, also expressed his condolences. Carlos Alberto’s club career in Brazil was primarily with Santos, but he later played for the Cosmos and briefly for the California Surf. His friendship with PelÈ was built around their years at Santos. He also played for Rio de Janeiro clubs Fluminense, Botafogo and Flamengo. He retired in 1982. All of those clubs expressed condolences to his family and fans. His coaching career was not as impressive, but Carlos Alberto still won a Brazilian championship with Flamengo in 1983. The former footballer also had a brief appearance as a city councillor in Rio from 1989 to 1993. Carlos Alberto was working as a soccer commentator for sports channel SporTV and was on the air on Sunday covering a match. RIO DE JANEIRO (AP): Carlos Alberto Torres, the captain of Brazil’s World Cup-winning team in 1970 and scorer of one of the sport’s most memorable goals, died yesterday. He was 72 and died after a heart attack at his home in Rio de Janeiro. A statement on Carlos Alberto’s Facebook page confirmed the death. “It is in deep sorrow that we inform that this Tuesday morning our eternal captain, Carlos Alberto Torres, passed away in Rio de Janeiro,” the statement said. Brazil’s football confederation CBF said that his coffin was to be placed at its headquarters in Rio yesterday evening, enabling the public to visit and pay their respects, and that a funeral service may be held there. He will be buried today. In a statement, the CBF said: “Carlos Alberto Torres leaves an enormous legacy of achievements and lots of hard work to support our football.” Last month, his twin brother Carlos Roberto died.
Topline trainer Anthony ‘Baba’ Nunes holds a strong hand with ROYAL ASSAULT and BERRA- CA in today’s Ahwhofah Sprint over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park, the overnight allowance feature attracting 14 starters.Despite the large field, which also includes the fleet-footed TALENTED TONY K, ROYAL ASSAULT and BERRANCA – the mounts of top apprentices Linton Steadman and Dane Dawkins, respectively – are standouts and could form the quinella.The 4-y-o filly BERRANCA has been a model of consistency, and with a mere 48.5kg, will have lots of supporters. She finished a good second to CRUCIAL APPEAL over the round-five course on October 8, and three weeks earlier, chased home the progressive 3-y-o colt CHACE THE GREAT in a fast-run sprint.Although tempting at the weights, BERRANCA lacks the proven class of stable-companion ROYAL ASSAULT, who, despite having his first race since winning over 1100 metres on June 10, will report razor sharp, having turned in bullet work after bullet work in his preparation.The 4-y-o colt by Blue Pepsi Lodge out of Maken Joy has won twice from five starts this season, and even in defeat, has turned in quality performances against the likes of former champion sprinter POTCHEEN, CAMPESINO, and BUZZ NIGHTMARE.Back in action from the convenient mark of 54.0kg, ROYAL ASSAULT, who has good speed, can definitely return on a winning note. I expect him to stave off the consistent BERRANCA.Elsewhere on the 12-race programme, which commences at 11:30 a.m., PONTIUS PILATE, who was purchased for the record price of $5 million in last year’s TOBA yearling sale, should make a winning debut for Nunes and champion jockey Shane Ellis in the third race over 1200 metres for maiden two-year-olds.A bay colt by Forest Danger out of Sea Treaty, PONTIUS PILATE has moved impressively at exercise, and this half-brother to three derby winners should get off the mark immediately in a field of seven.Other firm fancies on the card are BROOKLYN in the second race, DASH BOARD in the fourth, JUNIOR DON in the fifth, and DEMOLITION BOY in the sixth.
NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC):Four Caribbean sides will be part of the inaugural beach volleyball competition at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) to take place in the Bahamas.Jamaica, St Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and hosts Bahamas will provide teams for both the boys’ and girls’ competitions at the Games which is scheduled for July 19-23.”Some of the Commonwealth’s finest beach-side settings will be the sporting stage for beach volleyball when our exciting and engaging sport is presented for the first time ever at the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, and then on the Commonwealth Games programme in Gold Coast, Australia a year later,” said Ary Graca, president of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).EXCITING TIME”It’s such an exciting time globally for this fast-paced and fast-growing sport, and I’ve every confidence that fans will welcome its addition to the programme.”A total of 24 teams are set to be fielded in the beach volleyball competition during the CYG which will be the largest international sporting event ever to be staged in the Bahamas and the largest-ever edition of the Games with up to 1,300 athletes, aged 14 to 18, set to participate.The boys’ tournament will also feature Australia, Cyprus, England, Ghana, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea and South Africa.The others contesting the women’s competition will be Australia, Cameroon, England, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland and Vanuatu.
Last Saturday’s Central Hurdles and Relays had an international flavour as German Julian Howard opened his 2017 season with a win in the long jump. Howard is here visiting his grandparents, but has kept in shape by training at the University of the West Indies in a group that includes 2015 World Championships triple jump finalist Shanieka Ricketts.”I’m actually more here for holidays,” he explained. “I’m trying to stay in shape.”Howard says he has really enjoyed training under the supervision of Coach Kerry Lee Ricketts.”The group is really nice. They welcomed me. (It’s a) very cheerful and good atmosphere.”For me, it was the perfect time and the perfect group to fit in,” Howard said.He has been enjoying the weather in Jamaica.”I really enjoy it, but it’s a tough situation for me, especially on a meet like today, waiting all the day in the sun,” said Howard. “I’m not used to it, but it was fun and I’m enjoying it and I wouldn’t trade or share with the coldness in Germany.”FIRST STEPWhen he goes home at the end of the month, his target will be to qualify for the German team to the European Indoor Championships. The first step will be to win in his hometown meet in Karlsruhe.Ricketts believes his visitor from Germany will reach his target.”He’s hit a PB, couple of PBs, here with us, with 11 strides,” the coach recounted. “Based on that, he should be really going into that championships in good form, in good nick.”Howard won last time with a distance of 8.03m – 1cm off his indoor personal best. That’s not far off his outdoor best of 8.07m. His winning distance at the Central Hurdles and Relays meet was 7.57m.
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LATEST STORIES Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netCreamline stakes its spotless record against a sputtering Power Smashers Wednesday in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.The Cool Smashers will have to do that, though, without heart and soul Alyssa Valdez, who is with the national team training camp in Okayama, Japan.ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Duterte’s ‘soft heart’ could save ABS-CBN, says election lawyer View comments 787 earthquakes recorded in 24 hours due to restive Taal Volcano Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite IT happens: Facebook sorry for Xi Jinping’s name mistranslation