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Egypt start AFCON on the right foot, even as Salah misfires
Published in
Soccer
Friday, 21 June 2019 17:45

CAIRO -- When Egypt's winner came, it was little surprise to see one of their wingers tricking past two opponents before cutting inside and belting an unstoppable finish into the far corner, bringing the house down on the Africa Cup of Nations' opening night. It was just not the player we have all come to expect. Trezeguet, the mercurial left-sided player, was the man who ensured the hosts passed their first test and, on the opposite flank, Mohamed Salah was able to get away with a rare off night.
Salah broke through late on only to be thwarted by a low save from Zimbabwe's substitute goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, and it was the second presentable chance Egypt's talisman had squandered. Nothing really came off for him on this late, humid Cairo evening -- certainly nothing to justify the swell of anticipation around the International Stadium whenever he set off on another sortie towards the Warriors' goal.
But a little imprecision is generally forgiven on a competition's opening day. Egypt's collective scraped through on the pitch and early signs are that the country is rising to the occasion off it; they had handled the pressure of kick-starting a tournament that was only granted them in January and, for now, that was enough.
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Egypt needed a stress-free night on an occasion that, given its tragic recent football history, was always going to stir some emotions. In the 20th minute a chant of "To the heavens, martyrs" rang around in memory of the 20 Zamalek fans who died after a confrontation with police outside Cairo's Air Defence Stadium in 2015. In the 74th minute, the same refrain could be heard, accompanied by a display of cell phone lights around the ground, honouring the 74 Al Ahly fans who lost their lives in the Port Said disaster three years before that. The sport has been played under a cloud here ever since; a successful Cup of Nations will entail remembering, while showing Egypt can move on.
Nothing was left to chance security-wise on a week when the country's former president, Mohamed Morsi, died while in custody as he was being tried for espionage charges. The lockdown when the present-day incumbent, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, arrived to take his seat in the stands -- addressing the crowd to open the tournament before doing so -- was grimly effective, although by then most of the red-shirted home supporters, who began filing into the 70,000-capacity venue eight hours before kickoff, were inside making a din that rarely let up.
They were warmed up by an opening ceremony, featuring laser and firework displays around three model pyramids, that exceeded most expectations as a tone setter. Egypt burned brightly themselves early on and would have led without a series of fine saves from Edmore Sibanda, who was later stricken by injury. Trezeguet's blast meant the half-time scoreline was fair but Javier Aguirre's side could not maintain their tempo and, had Evans Rusike not nodded a fine opportunity off target at the death, those misfires from the visibly frustrated Salah might have come at a high price.
"The second half was strange," Aguirre admitted. "They had most of the ball, we had a couple of counterattacks -- Salah had his chances. But hey, it's three points and we'll take it."
There is a nagging suspicion that Egypt, while a more cohesive attacking unit under Aguirre, still look to involve Salah too much. Perhaps the issue lies both ways: at times he seemed overly keen to involve himself in deep areas and there was a sense, throughout, that Egypt had not quite clicked consistently.
They were given flickers of trouble by a Zimbabwe side, lively and smart on the break, that only found an incisive final ball in those dying moments. "We didn't play well and didn't create enough chances to win the game," said coach Sunday Chidzambwa, a touch harshly on the first count. Zimbabwe's participation had been in doubt until earlier in the day, their players threatening to boycott amid a row over payments. Out on the grass they did not appear despondent and, on this evidence, can harbour realistic hopes of a last-16 place. Had they not appeared, the optics for a tournament that has endured a rocky buildup would have been horrendous.
But, like everything else, it proved to be all right on the night. Egypt will need to play better than this if they are to justify their billing as favourites; Salah will certainly be required to come to the party once the knockout stage begins. The scandal-hit Confederation of African Football will need to learn lessons of its own, like making water more readily available inside the stadia amid sweltering temperatures. But the tournament is up and running and so, for all the difficulties and the demons, are its hosts.
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'On slower wickets, we can beat any team' - Dhananjaya de Silva
Published in
Cricket
Friday, 21 June 2019 15:01

Sri Lanka had several heroes at Headingley, with captain Dimuth Karunaratne in particular praising the contributions of his two senior stars, Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews, for helping orchestrate a famous World Cup win over the hosts and pre-tournament favourites.
Having decided to bat, Sri Lanka got off to a poor start at 3 for 2 in the third over. However, after an exhilarating counterattack from Avishka Fernando, which twice saw him hook 90mph Jofra Archer deliveries for six, the middle order contributed significantly for the first time in the tournament, Kusal Mendis making 46 and Mathews anchoring the innings to the finish with an unbeaten 85.
Mathews had gone into this game having made scores of 1, 0, 0 and 9 since his ODI comeback last month, but dredged deep to produce a performance of substance. Perhaps the identity of the opposition helped - Mathews averages more than 50 against England and has made four fifties in his last six ODI innings against them - as well as the venue: in 2014, he played one of his finest Test knocks at Headingley to set up a series win for his team.
While Sri Lanka's score of 232 for 9 did not look the most imposing at halfway, Mathews had discerned that the surface was unlikely to get easier to bat on.
"It looked like a good flat wicket that played nicely but when we played on it, you could see it got slower and slower," Karunaratne said. "Angelo told us it was getting slower and slower, we couldn't get to 280-300 but we could get to 240 and that would be a good total.
"He is a good finisher and he did a really good job. And he read the game very well on this track. The middle order was important once the openers got out and he did a good job.
"The wicket gave us an advantage, we thought we had a chance. But we needed to take a couple of wickets and we were in the game."
Watch on Hotstar (India only): Mathew's vital half-century sets up Sri Lanka victory
Malinga ensured they would do just that, removing England's openers and then coming back to dismiss Joe Root and Jos Buttler on the way to figures of 4 for 43 - adding another match-winning performance to his storied World Cup record. He could have finished the game with a five-for, too, had Mendis managed to hold on to a tough chance off Ben Stokes in Malinga's final over.
Armed with Mathews' intel on the pitch and Malinga's belief that they could pull off an upset, Sri Lanka had belied their status as the ninth-ranked team out of ten at the tournament.
"Mali is a legend," Mendis said. "He has a lot of variation, an experienced player, he's played a lot of T20. I think he is a match-winning bowler. He's telling the fast bowlers, spinners to use variation. He told the players, 'We can do it today'.
"I missed a catch and was scared. When we got the [final] wicket, I gave thanks."
After Malinga had shaken England in their chase of 233, Dhananjaya de Silva then turned the heat up further with three wickets in nine deliveries. His dismissal of the dangerous Moeen Ali, caught at long-off a ball after he had hit Dhananjaya for six, was particularly damaging for England's chances.
Asked if he thought England were still the world's best players of spin, as Karunaratne had suggested on the eve of the match, Dhananjaya replied with a smile: "They are, they played very well in Sri Lanka last time they came there. This wicket was hard to bat on, it wasn't coming on to the bat. We bowled tight areas and very good lines. I got three wickets in two overs and turned the game around.
"[Moeen] can hit a long ball, so his wicket was the main thing for us. He hit me for six the previous ball, so I just slowed it up and bowled a bit wide."
Dhananjaya described the contributions of Malinga and Mathews as "key" and added that Sri Lanka had renewed confidence of gate-crashing the last four, despite complaints from the team's management earlier in the tournament that pitches were being prepared to their disadvantage.
"These are slower wickets, not the greentops - on these wickets we can beat any team," Dhananjaya said.
Sri Lanka now sit fifth on the table, one point behind India (albeit having played two games more) and with a chance to capitalise against a demoralised South Africa in their next game, at Chester-le-Street next Friday. Karunaratne was however keen that his players do not get too far ahead of themselves.
"We want to go one by one, we are not thinking about it. The next game is South Africa so we want to play and win that match so that is our main focus," he added. "We will keep focusing on that match, if we can win that we will plan for the next game."
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Danielle Wyatt half-century sets up 42-run win for England over West Indies
Published in
Cricket
Friday, 21 June 2019 15:22

England 180 for 6 (Wyatt 81) beat West Indies 138 for 9 (King 43) by 42 runs
An excellent knock by Danielle Wyatt propelled England to a convincing 42-run victory in the second T20I against West Indies at Northampton.
The victory gives the hosts a 1-0 lead in the series after the opening match, also in Northampton, was washed out on Tuesday and marks their 14th win in a row across all formats.
England, who were scarcely challenged in sweeping their three-match ODI series against West Indies, didn't have things all their own way in this match, however. A defiant 43 off 34 balls by Stacy-Ann King, combined with a glittering cameo from Chedean Nation, who scored 32 off 20, put the England bowlers under some pressure for a while. But they responded well to claim key wickets at the right time, assisted by some sharp fielding and, in particular, typically excellent glove work by wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor.
The same could not be said for West Indies' fielding. Described after the first ODI by captain Stafanie Taylor as "atrocious", the fielding which had improved somewhat in the two matches that followed, reverted in this match with a rash of errors resulting in missed opportunities.
But it was Wyatt's brilliant 81 off 55 balls that set England on their way to 180 for 6, their highest T20I score against West Indies. Opening alongside Amy Jones while Tammy Beuamont dropped to No. 3, Wyatt's 10 fours were beautifully struck. She dug in as Jones fell for 37 - which included four fours and a big six - when Chinelle Henry made up for dropping Wyatt at extra cover by enticing Jones to drag on.
Beaumont was out for just two when Afy Fletcher came into the attack with immediate effect, her fuller ball tempting Beaumont to try pushing it down the ground only to send it back to the bowler, who took a sharp catch low to her left on her follow-through.
Nat Sciver contributed 31 off 18 deliveries before she was bowled by Hayley Matthews, who also accounted for Wyatt eventually. Wyatt, who had just lofted Shamilia Connell through long-on for four, edged the next ball from Connell to Matthews at backward point.
"Rob [England coach Mark Robinson] said, 'go out and express yourself,' and I did," Wyatt told Sky Sports. "That's my job to go out and try and get the team off to a good total. Amy Jones has done really well, Tammy Beaumont, so there's competition for places at the minute, so everyone's got to perform."
Katherine Brunt came in up the order but didn't last long and Heather Knight reached 22 off 11 before she was run out by some tidy work from Karishma Ramharack. The England captain felt some pain in her hamstring following her innings which prevented her from fielding and meant Anya Shrubsole took on the skipper's duties. The move was later described as precautionary while the extent of the problem was being assessed.
West Indies began their chase poorly, stumbling to 19 for 2. They were 58 for 3 when Stafanie Taylor, who had survived an earlier run out chance, tried to run on an overthrow and was caught out of her ground as Brunt threw in to Sarah Taylor.
King stood firm, however, assisted by Nation, who hit Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone for sixes, the former travelling some 75 metres down the ground. King was dropped on 41 by Jones but only added two more runs before she skied Linsey Smith to deep square leg, where Wyatt was loitering just inside the boundary to swallow the catch.
When Nation was run out by Fran Wilson gathering well at mid-wicket and sending the ball back to Smith at the bowler's end, West Indies looked in trouble again and a sharp stumping by Sarah Taylor to remove Henry all but put the result beyond doubt. Smith and Brunt claimed two wickets each.
The final match will be played in Derby on Tuesday.
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Casey: 'It was exciting' to see Raptors win title
Published in
Basketball
Friday, 21 June 2019 17:27

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Dwane Casey had nothing but positive things to say about the fact that his former team just won the NBA title.
Casey coached the Toronto Raptors for seven seasons but was fired last offseason -- even though he'd just guided the Raptors to a team-record 59 wins and would eventually win Coach of the Year honors. Nick Nurse took over, and Toronto won its first championship this month.
"It was exciting. It was good to see," said Casey, now the coach of the Detroit Pistons. "To see a guy like Kyle Lowry, kid like Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and those guys -- Serge Ibaka, guys I coached -- win. It was really thrilling, because I know that was a goal going in with that group, and to see them win it was great."
Casey was at the Pistons' practice facility Friday when they introduced first-round draft pick Sekou Doumbouya. When asked about the Raptors, he also said he was happy for the fans.
"For that city to win a championship, it had to be thrilling for them," Casey said.
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ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols is back in St. Louis, nearly eight years after celebrating a World Series crown in the city that made him famous.
The Hall of Fame-bound slugger has accomplished a lot during his time with the Los Angeles Angels, with whom he signed after 11 stellar seasons with the Cardinals. He has had three 30-homer seasons. He has driven in 100 or more runs four times. He has reached historic career milestones -- 3,000 hits, 500 and 600 homers, 2,000 RBIs. But he had never been back to Busch Stadium.
That is, until Friday, when Pujols' Angels were slated to begin their first interleague series in St. Louis since he left. Pujols said that not only had he never returned to the scene of his old glories as a player -- he hadn't been back to the park at all since he and the Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 to clinch the 2011 World Series title.
"I drove by it once," Pujols said. "Because I had an event [nearby].
Players change teams and revisit old stomping grounds every season, but this one is special, both because of Pujols' status as one of the greatest Cardinals ever and because of the special connection to the city he has maintained to this day. Pujols' foundation still operates in St. Louis and he still owns a house in the city's suburbs.
"It hasn't hit me yet," Pujols said. "I'm pretty sure when I take the field, if we get a chance to play tonight, it will be [special]. I'm not really an emotional guy. But it's probably going to get to me. It's getting to me now."
Thunderstorms passed through St. Louis on Friday, canceling batting practice before the scheduled 8:15 p.m. ET start. Yet, as the Busch Stadium grounds crew rolled up the tarp and began preparing the rain-soaked field, early-arriving fans crowded along the rail next to the Angels' side of the field, hoping to catch a glimpse of Pujols.
Meanwhile, inside the ballpark, Pujols exchanged hugs and handshakes with numerous familiar faces from the old days. If anyone was still raw about the fact that Pujols left the club for a 10-year, $240 million contract, you'd never guess it by the scene inside the ballpark. In fact, Pujols said that in all of the years since he changed teams, he has never encountered anyone who has expressed resentment over his decision.
"The reality is here," Pujols said of the long-awaiting return. "It's just amazing. Started my career here, 11 years, the success that I had here, nine playoffs, two World Series, the best fans in baseball. I use the [saying] that I came here as little boy and I left as a really strong and grown man."
It's no wonder Pujols is expected to receive a thunderingly positive response when he steps to the plate for the first time. He's the all-time leader in batting average, homers and extra-base hits at the current Busch Stadium, the third venue in St. Louis to bear that name. Though it has been eight years since he toiled for the Redbirds, Pujols ranks second all time in the franchise's history in homers (445), RBIs (1,329) and extra-base hits (915).
Yet despite the Cooperstown-worthy numbers, the nine trips to the postseason and the two World Series crowns, Pujols says it still comes back to the friendships he has built over the years. That's especially true of the two remaining Cardinals players from his St. Louis days, pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina, whom Pujols has many times referred to as his little brother.
"I think the best things you build in this game is the relationships," Pujols said. "Nobody can take that away from you. And you play this game for 20 years or whatever -- hopefully you live longer than what you play.
"That's why you build these great relationships. That is why it's more important to me than what I have accomplished."
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Sharapova? Flipkens? Billie Jean King!? - who should Murray play mixed doubles with at Wimbledon?
Published in
Tennis
Friday, 21 June 2019 11:21

Andy Murray spoke about searching for a Wimbledon mixed doubles partner in his BBC Sport column and tennis stars from around the globe have answered his call.
Like everyone's favourite part of Love Island, the former world number one now seemingly has no shortage of players to couple up with.
Murray, who made a winning return from surgery with Feliciano Lopez in the men's doubles at Queen's, said his offer to team up with French Open champion Ashleigh Barty was turned down.
Barty said no because she was already playing singles and women's doubles at Wimbledon but when asked whether she would play with Murray in the future, she said "we'll wait and see".
"It was probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make to say no," Barty explained. "When a champion like Andy asks you to play... I tried to justify it in my mind in so many ways but it just couldn't happen this time.
"I'm sure he's got a million girls lined up and he can take his pick."
Barty is not wrong - plenty of players have offered to step in. The question is, who will he choose? Here are the contenders so far...
The fellow Brit
In a move resembling Wes' shocking switch from Laura to Meg in last season's Love Island, Britain's Naomi Broady has offered to abandon her own brother Liam to team up with Murray.
Cold Naomi, cold.
The former champion
None other than five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova also offered her services to Murray.
She retweeted a video of her in mixed doubles action posted by the US Open, saying: "I heard Andy Murray was looking for a mixed dubs partner. Thanks US Open for sending in my resume today."
The old flame
Murray played doubles with Belgian Kirsten Flipkens at the All England Club in 2006 and now she is offering her racquet to the two-time Wimbledon champion again.
The 33-year-old tweeted: "Wimbledon 2006, Wimbledon 2019, Andy Murray?"
The legend
Tennis legend Billie-Jean King may be 75 years old, but why let that stop you when the chance to play with Andy Murray is up for grabs?
King has 39 Grand Slam singles titles - including 27 in doubles - to her name, with the last of these coming in 1980, and told Murray on Twitter she was "available and lacing up".
The all-rounder
Australian Barty said she could not play with Murray because she was already competing in the singles and women's doubles at SW19, but one of her old doubles partners has stepped up.
American Coco Vandeweghe, who has enjoyed success in both singles and doubles and won the US Open with Barty last year, has been struggling with a foot injury but said: "I'll come out of injury reserve for this. Sorry Ashleigh Barty."
Decisions, decisions. Of course, he might go with someone else altogether.
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Roger Federer survived a mid-match scare to beat Roberto Bautista Agut in the Halle Open quarter-finals but world number five Alexander Zverev was knocked out by Belgium's David Goffin.
Federer, chasing a 10th Halle title, beat the Spaniard 6-3 4-6 6-4 to reach the semi-finals for a 15th time.
He faces Pierre-Hugues Herbert next after 2018 champion Borna Coric had to retire because of a back injury.
German Zverev served nine double faults as he lost 3-6 6-1 7-6 (7-3) to Goffin.
Eight-time Wimbledon champion Federer also dropped a set against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round.
"My body is reacting well to the grass, so I would prefer the matches to be shorter," he said. "But if not, it's no problem. I have enough time to recover before Wimbledon."
Home favourite Zverev, 22, has struggled with a swollen knee after slipping and hurting himself in the first round and will hope to rediscover his form and fitness in time for the beginning of Wimbledon on 1 July.
Goffin will face Matteo Berrettini in the semi-finals after the Italian overcame Russian third seed Karen Khachanov 6-2 7-6 (7-4).
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Murray doubles quarter-final halted because of bad light
Published in
Tennis
Friday, 21 June 2019 13:13

Andy Murray will return on Saturday to complete his doubles quarter-final at Queen's Club after his second comeback match was halted because of bad light.
Murray and Spanish partner Feliciano Lopez led British duo Dan Evans and Ken Skupski 6-4 4-5 when they were called off at 20:50 BST.
The two-time Wimbledon champion, 32, is making his return in London five months after career-threatening hip surgery.
The match will resume after the singles semi-finals, which start at 13:00 BST.
Should Murray go on to win, the semi-final will be played straight after but he will not face his elder brother after Jamie Murray and fellow Briton Neal Skupski lost their last-eight match 7-5 7-6 (8-6) to Henri Kontinen and John Peers.
Lopez, 37, faces the possibility of playing three matches in a row - he takes on Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second singles semi-final at the Fever-Tree Championships.
But there is only a maximum of three games and a potential champions tie-break still to play in the doubles quarter-final.
Murray continues to impress
Murray and his playing partner Lopez had to wait until 19:40 BST to get on to a still-packed centre court on the longest day of the year.
They were quickly into their stride, with the Scot showing no ill-effects from his first comeback match on Thursday.
The three-time Grand Slam winner, who is due to play in the doubles at Eastbourne next week and then Wimbledon the following week, moved well throughout as he looks to build his match fitness before a possible return to singles later in the year.
The duo secured the first break of serve in the seventh game and former world number one Murray followed it up with a straightforward service hold.
With Lopez's swinging left-handed serve causing problems to their opponents, the Spaniard quickly wrapped up the first set after 29 minutes.
Evans and Skupski - who like Murray and Lopez are another fledging partnership - warmed to the challenge in the second set.
After Murray was warned for a time violation, Evans broke his fellow Briton's serve with a superb forehand pass down the line to open a 3-1 lead.
But with Murray producing some brilliant returns and one outstanding lob, the British-Spanish team took their chance to break Evans' serve.
However, after a discussion between the players there was to be no more play and they left the court.
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PONTOON BEACH, Ill. — Saturated grounds at Tri-City Speedway — and more rain coming down — has forced DIRTcar officials to postpone Friday’s Summer Nationals event to June 25.
More information will be announced soon regarding the reschedule date.
The Hell Tour will get back in action on Saturday, June 22 at Fairbury Speedway for another $10,000-to-win show before leaving the Prairie State for Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., on Sunday, June 23 and Clarksville Speedway on Monday, June 24.
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