Sports

JOHANNESBURG: Opening batsman Mohammad Rizwan steered Pakistan to their highest winning run chase as they beat South Africa by four wickets in the first Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday (Apr 10). Rizwan made an unbeaten 74 as Pakistan chased down a target of 189 with one ball to spare. Their previous highest T20 chase was 188 against Australia in Harare in 2018. The match swung in the last four overs of the two innings. South Africa could score only 29 in their last four overs, while Pakistan thrashed 52 off the last 3.5 overs Brief scores: South Africa 188-6 in 20 overs (A. Markram 51, H. Klaasen 50; Mohammad Nawaz 2-21, Hasan Ali 2-28) Pakistan 189-6 in 19.5 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 74 not out, Faheem Ashraf 30; B. Hendricks 3-32, T. Shamsi 2-29) Result: Pakistan won by 4 wickets Series: Pakistan lead the four-match series 1-0 Toss: South Africa ... » Learn More about Cricket: Rizwan steers Pakistan to their highest-winning T20 run chase

REUTERS: Primoz Roglic won his first stage race of the season when he overcame a 23-second deficit on the final day of the Tour of the Basque country on Saturday (Apr 10). The Slovenian, who had lost the overall lead in the Paris-Nice race on the final ride last month after a crash, was on the attack far from the line on a descent during the 111.9-km mountain trek from Ondarroa to Arrate. Overnight leader Brandon McNulty did not follow Roglic and never managed to get back into contention despite the help of his UAE Emirates team mate and Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar, who in the process relinquished his own title chances. Roglic was in front with Briton Hugh Carthy and Frenchman David Gaudu on the last climb and benefited from the duo's work to increase his advantage. Carthy dropped out in the middle of the ascent when Gaudu attacked, closely followed by Roglic. The Jumbo-Visma rider was happy to stay on Gaudu's wheel and both exchanged a quick fist bump, meaning ... » Learn More about Cycling: Roglic overturns deficit to win Tour of Basque country

LONDON: Rachael Blackmore made Grand National history by becoming the first female jockey to win the race as she steered Minella Times across the finishing line at Aintee on Saturday. The Irishwoman, who became the first leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival last month, timed her finish to perfection as Minella Times surged ahead after the 30th and final fence. Minella Times, priced at 11-1, never looked threatened in the charge to the finish 100-1 shot Balko Des Flos coming second and Any Second Now in third place. The closest a female jockey had previously come to winning the most famous steeplechase in the world was Katiee Walsh on Seabass in 2012 when she finished third. "I cannot believe it," Blackmore said. "He was a sensational spin. I'm so lucky to be riding. It is unbelievable. "He was just incredible and jumped beautifully. I tried to wait as long as I could. When I jumped the last and asked him for a bit, he was there. "I don't feel male or female ... » Learn More about Horse racing-Blackmore makes history with Grand National win on Minella Times

AUGUSTA, Ga.: Japan's Hideki Matsuyama stormed home in style to put himself in position to become the first Asian golfer to win the Masters as he held a four-shot lead after the rain-interrupted third round at Augusta National on Saturday. Matsuyama, who began the day three shots behind overnight leader Justin Rose, played eight holes after a 78-minute weather delay and went a sizzling six under over that stretch for a seven-under-par 65 that brought him to 11 under. "Before the horn blew I didn't hit a very good drive, but after the horn blew for the restart I hit practically every shot exactly how I wanted to," Matsuyama, whose last PGA Tour win came in 2017, said through an interpreter. "This will be a new experience for me being a leader going into the final round in a major. I guess all I can do is just relax tonight, prepare well and just do my best tomorrow." Rose (72), seeking his first Green Jacket after a pair of close calls, was in a four-way share of second ... » Learn More about Japan’s Matsuyama in control of Masters, leads by four shots

JOHANNESBURG: Opener Mohammad Rizwan smashed an unbeaten half-century to lead Pakistan to a nail-biting four-wicket victory over inexperienced South Africa in the first Twenty20 International at The Wanderers on Saturday. South Africa, who were without seven of their leading players, either injured or released to compete in the Indian Premier League, won the toss and elected to bat, posting 188 for six in their 20 overs on an excellent wicket. Rizwan scored 74 from 50 balls in Pakistan’s reply as the visitors profited from the depleted home bowling attack and reached their target with one ball remaining. It is their highest successful run chase in T20 cricket, beating the 187 they managed in a win over Australia in 2018. The industrious Rizwan was helped over the line by Faheem Ashraf (30 from 14 balls) as the pair added 48 in 24 balls for the sixth wicket, turning the match firmly in the visitors’ favour. South Africa’s total was boosted by half-centuries for opener ... » Learn More about Red-hot Rizwan leads Pakistan to T20 victory over South Africa

REUTERS: Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo said his side need to show the same attitude and spirit against all teams and not just perform in the big matches ahead of the champions' Serie A clash with Genoa on Sunday. Juventus have fallen 12 points behind leaders Inter Milan having dropped points against lowly Torino and Benevento in recent matches and it looks increasingly unlikely they can make it 10 successive league titles this season. Juve overcame in-form Napoli in a tough midweek clash, and Pirlo wants his side to put on the same kind of showing on Sunday against another team they are expected to beat, 13th-placed Genoa. "It is much easier to find energy for the big matches," Pirlo told a news conference. "Instead we must have the same attitude and spirit against the other teams like tomorrow against Genoa. "The attitude and the will from the other night (against Napoli) must be equally done tomorrow." Argentine striker Paulo Dybala was on target for the first time since ... » Learn More about Football: Pirlo calls on Juve to find top form against smaller teams

LONDON: Chelsea roared back into fourth spot in the Premier League as Christian Pulisic scored twice in an impressive 4-1 victory at London rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday. After boss Thomas Tuchel's long unbeaten run since taking charge ended abruptly against West Bromwich Albion last week, Chelsea responded in emphatic fashion. Kai Havertz punished some sloppy defending to give Chelsea an eighth-minute lead and Pulisic doubled their advantage two minutes later with a powerful finish. Chelsea totally dominated the first half and went 3-0 up on the half hour with a Kurt Zouma header. Palace did improve after the break and Christian Benteke's header gave them a lifeline but Pulisic made the points safe with a close-range finish after 78 minutes. Chelsea started the game in sixth place after Liverpool's last-gasp win against Aston Villa. Yet Chelsea's biggest win since Tuchel took charge in January moved them back above Liverpool and West Ham United into fourth ... » Learn More about Soccer-Chelsea demolish Palace with Pulisic double

AUGUSTA : Justin Rose had been looking for a wire-to-wire victory at the Masters. Now his chances to win are hanging by a thread. The 40-year-old Englishman sank a long par putt at the 18th hole on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to fire a level par 72 for the second straight day at Augusta National and watch Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama seize a four-stroke lead on 11-under 205 with a stunning 65. Rose shares second on seven-under 209 after 54 holes with Australian Marc Leishman and Americans Will Zalatoris and Xander Schauffele entering Sunday’s final round. “All the guys chasing at 7-under par are all capable of that little run that Hideki has had, so it’s all up for grabs tomorrow,” Rose said. Reigning Olympic champion Rose, whose only major win came at the 2013 US Open, began with back-to-back birdies but had bogeys at the fourth and fifth holes and only played level par the rest of the way. “You start birdie-birdie, it doesn’t really mean much,” Rose said. “This golf course, ... » Learn More about Rose’s Masters hopes hang by thread

THE first thing to disclaim is that the title is a question, and it is not rhetorical. I would even have to justify the question, but if we have the arguments that the Warriors ruined the NBA, the Lakers cheated (by trading for AD and trying to sign Kawhi Leonard), then this seems like a fair question. There is a basis for it since James Harden did sabotage the Houston Rockets. What would you call playing badly, blatantly violating Covid-19 protocols (at a strip club, no less), showing up overweight and having your stats dip every game? That could just be dismissed as a dip in performance, but when he suddenly averages a triple double once he changes his jersey, then it doesn’t take much to add one and one together. Harden forced his way out of the Houston Rockets, and he did it his own way. It worked, and this is a player who knows what he wants and finds a way to get it. Harden will flop, bait defenders into flimsy fouls, or travel a lot to get his points. It obviously worked, ... » Learn More about Did the Brooklyn Nets sabotage the NBA?

REUTERS: Billy Root claimed a chunk of family bragging rights family bragging rights over older brother and England test captain Joe Root on Sunday when the pair came face to face in the County Championship. Glamorgan's left-handed batsman Billy, aged 28 and almost two years Joe's junior, followed up his first innings 43 with an unbeaten 110 in the Group 3 match against Yorkshire at Headingley. Starting with an overnight score of 77, Billy completed his sixth first-class hundred with a double worked off Joe's off-spin. He earned a well-deserved fist bump and a pat on the back from his big brother as Glamorgan set Yorkshire 379 to win an hour into day four. In response, Yorkshire were rocked by three early wickets, with Joe falling for 13 shortly after lunch. But Adam Lyth and Harry Brook added 131 in a solid fourth-wicket partnership to halt Glamorgan's charge and earn Yorkshire a hard-fought draw. (Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian ... » Learn More about England skipper Joe Root overshadowed by brother Billy in County clash