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Dom Bess earns plaudits for stellar holding job

Published in Cricket
Saturday, 04 January 2020 09:54

Dominic Bess has won praise from the players of both sides after providing a crucial contribution on the second day in Cape Town.

While the figures - 1-62 from 27 overs - may not look outstanding, Bess's control allowed England's seamers to rotate throughout the day. With one end is offering bowlers significant amount of assistance from a crack just outside the right-hander's off-stump, Bess was required to bowl from the end offering the bowlers little.

That he was able to do so allowed his captain, Joe Root, to keep his seamers relatively fresh and ensured the South Africa batsmen were never able to score freely. For a man who had not played a match since September and was only called into the squad as sickness cover it was, in the words of Sam Curran, an "outstanding" effort.

"Bessy did an amazing job for us the whole day," Curran said. "He was the biggest one in our line-up. He held it all together and helped us big lads come in from the top end where there's a bit more movement.

"He was outstanding. It's pretty obvious that none of the seamers have managed to get as much movement from the end where he was bowling and he did the same job Keshav Maharaj managed for South Africa."

The wicket he claimed was significant too. Dean Elgar had batted for more than four hours and looked as comfortable as anyone in the game. But, he holed out to mid-off in trying to disrupt England's plans by hitting Bess out of the attack. It triggered a collapse of sorts; South Africa losing five wickets for 58 runs.

"I played with him at Somerset a couple of years ago," Elgar said. "And he was a good bowler then. Playing domestic cricket at home has given him more confidence. He bowled well. He changed his pace nicely. He's playing for England; he can't be that bad!"

Bess's control was, in Curran's view, a key difference between England's performance here and in Centurion. While in the first Test, Quinton de Kock was able to speed the game away from England, here they maintained pressure for much of the day and claimed five wickets in the final session to take the initiative. On a surface that will probably deteriorate, any first innings lead could prove crucial.

"In Centurion we let de Kock get away and his innings probably changed the game," Curran said. "But here none of the bowlers went for more than three-an-over [Ben Stokes actually went for 3.77] so it was a great day as a group.

"There are great signs for us. Hopefully the sun gets on the wicket again tomorrow (Sunday) and the cracks starts to open. Then maybe it will go up and down a little bit. But we don't want to look too far ahead. We have to get those last couple of wickets and then try and bat really well."

Suns' Kaminsky out indefinitely with knee injury

Published in Basketball
Saturday, 04 January 2020 09:53

Phoenix Suns forward Frank Kaminsky III has been sidelined indefinitely with a right patella stress fracture, the team announced Saturday.

The team said the 7-foot Kaminsky will be re-evaluated in four weeks. He has not played for the Suns since Dec. 28, missing three games.

The 26-year-old is averaging 11.0 points and 4.9 rebounds this season, his first with Phoenix after signing a two-year, $10 million contract during the offseason. He has started 13 of the 32 games in which he's appeared, playing a big role during starting center Deandre Ayton's 25-game suspension earlier in the season.

Phoenix (14-21) hosts Memphis on Sunday night.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Clips' Williams names son after Sixth Man awards

Published in Basketball
Saturday, 04 January 2020 12:55

LA Clippers guard Lou Williams acknowledged naming his son Syx in reference to his three NBA Sixth Man of the Year awards.

"I just wanted to do something different," Williams said Thursday of his son, who was born Tuesday.

Williams was in Sacramento with the team when he got word that girlfriend Rece Mitchell was going into labor. The baby wasn't due until next week.

He caught a flight back to Los Angeles and arrived in plenty of time for the Tuesday afternoon birth of his first son. Williams also has two daughters.

"Lucky for us, we both have family in town," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Clips rule out George vs. Grizzlies; may play Sun.

Published in Basketball
Saturday, 04 January 2020 11:23

LOS ANGELES -- The Clippers ruled All-Star guard Paul George out prior to their game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

George has tightness in his left hamstring, an injury that occurred during the Clippers' 126-112 win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. George left that game with 3:45 remaining in the second quarter and did not return with the Clippers up big in the second half.

Coach Doc Rivers said George could possibly play Sunday in the second game of a home back-to-back against the New York Knicks. The Clippers then don't play again until Golden State visits Friday.

The Clippers also played the Grizzlies on Saturday without point guard Patrick Beverley, who missed his third straight game with a sprained right wrist.

Rivers said Beverley is nearing a return as well.

The Clippers have had their entire roster healthy and available for only one game this season, with several players shuffling in and out due to injuries.

"It's been tough," Rivers said Saturday about the team developing chemistry and an identity. "I won't deny that. It's been tougher than I thought it would be so far because of that. ... You think you are going to have a healthy roster at some point this late in the season, but we just haven't.

"I tell you why I think it hurts the most: The continuity that we need to be a champion, to me, is hard to work on or even have because you don't have time [together]. I'm not worried about it yet, but it is actually on my mind for sure."

Sources: Reliever Stammen returning to Padres

Published in Baseball
Saturday, 04 January 2020 11:55

Free-agent reliever Craig Stammen has elected to return to the San Diego Padres, agreeing to a two-year deal for $9 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Saturday.

The source said the deal includes a club option for 2022 that would raise the total value to $12 million.

Stammen has spent the past three seasons in San Diego and posted a 3.29 ERA in 82 innings spanning 76 appearances in 2019. The lowlight of his season came in June, when his former team, the Washington Nationals (2009-15), hit four straight home runs off him.

Baseball reporter Robert Murray first reported that the Padres and Stammen had reached an agreement.

The two champions commenced play in very different situations; Fan Zhendong was in a rich vein of form; Zhu Yuling was trying to find form.

Zhu Yuling, 24 years old, ended the old year departing proceedings in the first round of the women’s singles event at the Agricultural Bank of China 2019 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Zhengzhou, beaten by colleague Wang Manyu in straight games. She started the New Year on a much brighter note!

1.00pm   Zhu Yuling bt Chen Meng 11-9, 11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 8-11, 11-9
7.00pm   Zhu Yuling bt Sun Yingsha 9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5

Conversely in Zhengzhou, Fan Zhendong had won the men’s singles title, in Shenzhen he continued his winning ways.

2.00pm   Zhou Qihao bt Xu Xin 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9
8.00pm   Fan Zhendong bt Zhou Qihao 11-9, 11-9, 11-8, 3-11, 11-8
10.00pm Fan Zhendong bt Xu Xin 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 18-16, 11-7, 11-5

Under the competition’s regulations, if a player won the first two matches on the schedule proceedings stopped. Thus as Zhu Yuling won the opening two encounters, there was no doubt as to the winner. However, in the men’s singles event,  it was different as Zhou Qihao won his first match but not his second; thus the third match was required.

Zhu Yuling

Victory for Zhu Yuling brought to an end an almost 18 month drought; her most recent women’s singles title on the ITTF World Tour being in July 2018 in Daejeon at the Shinan Korea Open.

“I think I played normal today, not that excellent but I won. Maybe Sun Yingsha was not in her best form.” Zhu Yuling

Notably against Sun Yingsha, Zhu Yuling trailed by two games to one before winning three in a row to secure the top prize.

“I knew playing against Sun Yingsha would be very difficult. I kept encouraging myself on court. I told myself that I did a good job to win one of the first two games; it would be better if I could win the next and the next. In the fourth game I just focused on the match.” Sun Yingsha

Notably, the coach sitting courtside advising Zhu Yuling was Qiu Yike, the player who at the Liebherr 2003 World Championships in Paris beat Germany’s Timo Boll in the third round, before experiencing a quarter-final defeat at the hands of colleague Kong Linghui. In the sixth game against Sun Yingsha, Qiu Yike called “time out”.

“I think it was the perfect timing for a “time out”, it allowed me to calm down. He actually did not mention about any technical stuff but told me to be determined.” Sun Yingsha

Considering that in 2019, the best for Zhu Yuling on the ITTF World Tour was a runner up women’s singles finish, added to the fact she was not selected in November for the Zen-Noh Team World Cup, the win in Shenzhen is a major confidence booster.

“Winning the champion is good but I still think I have much to improve. There’s still a long way to go; this is just a domestic tournament, more difficulties are ahead. The World Tour is just around the corner. I still have much to improve. I am in no rush to retire!” Zhu Yuling

Fan Zhendong

Success for Fan Zhendong, the incredible run of success continuing, he justified the fact he merits top spot on the newly issued world rankings justified.

“First I want to thank Tecent and the Chinese Table Tennis Association for providing the opportunity to compete in such a tournament. Even though it’s an internal competition, the atmosphere where the event is televised, there are umpires and spectators, makes it a very different challenge. I am happy I survived. It has given me confidence; a really good start for 2020.” Fan Zhendong

Success for Fan Zhendong against Xu Xin and a repeat of the success gained at the end of last year. After losing to Xu Xin in June on the ITTF World Tour in Japan, one month later he prevailed at the T2 Diamond in Johor Bahru prior to again succeeding in Germany.

“Xu Xin performed very well when serving. I did not have very good tactics against him so I had to do well when I served. In game four at 16-all I won a super rally; that was important in the context of the whole match. There were not many matches per day in the whole tournament but each of them was intense.” Fan Zhendong

Maintaining such a level of form; unbeaten since winning in mid-October at the 2019 ITTF World Tour German Open pays great credit to the ability and fortitude of Fan Zhendong.

“The final day was a big challenge both physically and mentally. After training in Haikou and this tournament, I think I have improved a lot. No-one can say there’s nothing to improve; especially for those who have enjoyed enormous achievements. To me, now I just try to do well in every tournament and develop good habits which will help me to play my best in big events.” Fan Zhendong

In the men’s singles, Zhou Qihao finished in second place, Xu Xin had to settle for third spot.

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Pro14: Two late tries sees Dragons beat Ospreys 25-18

Published in Rugby
Saturday, 04 January 2020 08:58

Dragons inflicted more misery on Ospreys in the final Welsh derby of the festive period.

Late tries from man of the match Rio Dyer and replacement Adam Warren snatched victory after an earlier try from Wales prop Leon Brown.

Former Ospreys outside-half Sam Davies added 10 points.

Ospreys scored through the returning George North and centre Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, although North was later forced off with injury.

It will be a concern for Wales coach Wayne Pivac ahead of the Six Nations, along with Ospreys captain Justin Tipuric who also limped off.

Ospreys had led 18-13 going into the final exchanges of a low-quality affair, but it was typical of a disastrous season for the region with this defeat representing an 11th successive loss and 13 in 14 matches.

North was playing for the first time since the world cup semi-final against South Africa during which he ruptured a hamstring. Hooker Sam Parry also returned from injury, while Scott Williams recovered from the facial injury he suffered against Scarlets.

Fly-half Marty McKenzie dropped to the replacements' bench to make way for Luke Price.

Dragons made five changes to the team that lost to Cardiff Blues, with Wales pair Leon Brown and Elliot Dee handed starting spots. Ross Moriarty also returned after recovering from a dead leg.

There were two late alterations with wing Ashton Hewitt (calf) and Wales lock Cory Hill (illness) ruled out and replaced by Dyer and Matthew Screech.

Dragons outside-half Davies, playing for the first time against his former region, saw his opening penalty attempt hit the post, before North marked his return with a try thanks to a clever kick from Williams.

Davies and Price exchanged penalties before Brown hit a great inside line and sprinted over from 30 metres. The try was awarded by referee Andrew Brace after Dee's pass looked forward. Davies converted to give the hosts a 10-8 interval lead.

Both 10s added another penalty apiece at the start of the second-half before replacement hooker Scott Otten rose briefly above the mediocrity with a charging run.

This helped lay the eventual platform for Thomas-Wheeler to cross under the posts for a converted try. Ospreys were inspired and number 8 Morgan Morris was held up over the Dragons line after a couple of rampaging breaks.

North later moved into the centre with Williams replaced by Hanno Dirksen.

Wales backs coach Stephen Jones would have been an interested observer in the Rodney Parade crowd ahead of the Six Nations as he considers the midfield injury problems.

Price missed a chance to extend Ospreys lead to two scores with a missed penalty as the Dragons launched a dramatic late revival.

Dyer claimed Davies' clever cross kick to level the scores and while the conversion was missed, it mattered little as Warren scored a runaway try to seal the win after Price's kick had been charged down.

Dragons wing Rio Dyer told BBC Sport Wales: "It's a team game and I wouldn't have got man of the match if it wasn't for the team effort so I'm happy for everyone.

"They came down here trying to prove something with a losing streak at the moment and they weren't going to give in, so we had to fight for the 80 minutes.

"It was an amazing feeling to get my first senior try, I was waiting for that (chance) for the whole game so I was just really happy.

"It was a bit of football skill from Adam Warren (for the winning try), he's been watching Lionel Messi I think, and it was a well-taken try."

Dragons: Talbot-Davies; Rosser, T Morgan, T Griffiths, Dyer; S Davies, R Williams (capt); Harris, Dee, L Brown, J Davies, Screech, Wainwright, Basham, Moriarty.

Replacements: Hibbard, Jarvis, Fairbrother, M Williams, Keddie, Knoyle, Botica, Warren.

Ospreys: C Evans; North, Thomas-Wheeler, S Williams, L Morgan; Price, A Davies; N Smith, Parry, Fia, Beard, B Davies, Cracknell, Tipuric (capt), M Morris.

Replacements: Otten, Marfo, Gardiner, Lydiate, Cross, Venter, McKenzie, Dirksen.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland).

Assistants: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) & Paul Haycock (Ireland)

TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland).

Saracens scored 10 tries as they bounced back from last weekend's defeat at Exeter to thrash sorry Worcester.

Mako Vunipola secured a bonus point for the Premiership's bottom side just 30 minutes in and late call-up Rotimi Segun got two tries in the first half.

Despite leading 31-0 at the interval Saracens went on to add another five scores - England lock Maro Itoje among those to cross over at Allianz Park.

Ed Fidow's try from an Ollie Lawrence chip provided Worcester's only points.

Victory leaves Mark McCall's reigning champions on minus-seven points, still 18 points from safety following second-bottom Leicester's win over Bristol earlier on Saturday.

More to follow.

Saracens: Daly; Segun, Lozowski, Barritt (capt), Lewington; Farrell, Wigglesworth; M Vunipola, George, Lamositele, Itoje, Skelton, Isiekwe, Earl, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Singleton, Barrington, Koch, Kpoku, Wray, Spencer, M Vunipola, Taylor.

Worcester: Shillcock; Fidow, Beck, Mills, Howe; Lance, Heaney; Black, Moulds (capt), Palframan, Bresler, Kitchener, Hill, Lewis, Van Velze.

Replacements: Taufete'e, Bower, Carey, Fatialofa, Mama, Hougaard, Van Breda, Lawrence.

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys.

Dirt Modified Hall Of Famer Mike Colsten, 70

Published in Racing
Saturday, 04 January 2020 07:56

WEEDSPORT, N.Y. – Mike Colsten, a member of the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame and a standout racer, died Friday after a long battle with mesothelioma. He was 70 years old.

Colsten, from Binghamton, N.Y., was inducted into the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame in 2014.

Starting in 1969, Colsten won everything there was to win in the late model division, including weekly titles at Rolling Wheels, Weedsport, Herb Harvey Speedway and Twin Valley, as well as five at his home track, Five Mile Point. Driving a Ford-powered, Ford-bodied stock car in a world crammed with Chevrolets, Mike was christened “Mr. Ford Power,” a nickname that followed him throughout his career.

Colsten moved up into the modified ranks in 1976, and was standing in Weedsport’s victory lane a year later.

It was at Five Mile Point that Colsten made his mark in the Mods. He stands second on the Binghamton track’s all-time winner’s list, with 62 victories tallied during five decades. Colsten won the Heath Memorial four times, was a two-time winner of the Southern Tier Open, and was the FMP Mod champion in 1988, ’90, ’91, ’13 and ’14 – and those last two titles were commandeered while undergoing surgeries and treatments for his illness.

A testament to his grit and tenacity, Colsten’s final victory was recorded at Five Mile Point on April 9, 2017, almost five years after his initial cancer diagnosis.

LIVE: Wolves look to upset Man United again

Published in Soccer
Saturday, 04 January 2020 08:46

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