Brathwaite fires Windies to title

Brathwaite fires Windies to title

M-IT   4:11:00 AM

Carlos Brathwaite hit four sixes in the first four balls of the last over as West Indies beat England by four wickets in a thrilling World T20 final at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.

The winners needed 19 off the last over with Brathwaite, who is in the team mainly as a bowler, on strike and Marlon Samuels, who was unbeaten on 85, on the non-striking end, as most of the cricket world thought England had all but won their second World T20 title.

But Brathwaite had other ideas as he hit Ben Stokes for maximum in each of the first four balls to once again prove his side's 'unpredictable' tag. It was indeed Brathwaite's day as he was also the most successful bowler, picking up three wickets for only 23 to help his side restrict England to 155.

However, it was Marlon Samuels who single-handedly kept the Caribbean hopes alive, keeping on fighting at a time when his fellow batsmen played suicidal shots one after another.

The Caribbean batsmen were flirting with danger from the very beginning of their innings, as part-time bowler Joe Root, sent on by Eoin Morgan in the second over, picked up Johnson Charles and danger-man Chris Gayle in his first three balls, leaving the West Indians on five for two.

The facts that last match's heroes Lendl Simmons and Andre Russell scored zero and one respectively while skipper Darren Sammy managed only two only shows how terrific Samuels was standing against the tide. He was supported by DJ Bravo for a while in the middle, who hit a valuable 25 in 27 balls, and the rest was done by Brathwaite's 10-ball 34.

Earlier, Joe Root hit a beautiful fifty while Jos Buttler and David Willey played quick-fire cameos as England posted 155 for 9 after West Indies skipper Darren Sammy, winning the toss for the 10th straight game, sent England to bat first.

Samuel Badree baffled in-form Jason Roy in the very first ball of the innings, but his appeal for LBW was turned down. Roy was bowled in the very next delivery though, as Sammy's team took early control.

Andre Russell picked up Roy's opening partner Alex Hales in the next over and Badree struck again three overs later to leave England on 23 for 3. Root and Buttler then repaired the damage by adding 61 in the fourth wicket as the Englishmen very much returned to the game.

Brathwaite then put an end to both these batsmen's innings while Bravo also struck twice in three balls to strengthen their hold on the game.

Wiley fired 21 off 14 and Chris Jordan added 12 in the end to take England past 150.

Like Brathwaite, Bravo also bagged three wickets while Badree bragged a brace.
It could not get any better for the West Indians who also saw their female colleagues lift the women's trophy earlier on the day. And with Under-19 title also grabbed by the youth side a few months back, the Caribbean islands have every right to dream of having their glory days back.
For the time being, there is no end to their dancing to the Calypso tune.

Samuels takes a dig at Warne

Samuels takes a dig at Warne

M-IT   4:10:00 AM

Marlon Samuels taunted Australia spin legend Shane Warne after his unbeaten 85 set the West Indies up for a sensational World Twenty20 title triumph on Sunday.

The right-handed batsman's 66-ball knock kept the Windies in with a chance of successfully beating England's 155-9 total after openers Johnson Charles and Chris Gayle fell early for a combined five runs.

Samuels' scintillating 85 included nine boundaries and two sixes and laid the foundations for Carlos Brathwaite to dramatically hit four consecutive sixes as the Windies won with two balls to spare in Kolkata.

The 35-year-old cheekily dedicated the Windies' historic second World T20 title to Warne, who has clashed with Samuels on a number of occasions in the past.

The pair had an infamous run-in during Australia's Big Bash League in 2013 and Warne rekindled the feud when he criticised Samuels following his dismissal against India in Thursday's WT20 semi-final.

"I woke up this morning with one thing on my mind, said Samuels.

"Shane Warne has been talking continuously and all I want to say is this is for Shane Warne."

Samuels made just eight in the Windies' seven-wicket victory over India in the last-four, but his monumental innings on Sunday was reminiscent of his contribution in the final four years ago.

The West Indies won their first World T20 title in 2012 with Samuels scoring 78 against Sri Lanka in the final.

"I don't worry about semi-finals because when it comes to finals I always turn up for the team," he boasted.

Captain Morgan sends Leicester seven point clear

Captain Morgan sends Leicester seven point clear

M-IT   4:08:00 AM

Leicester City captain Wes Morgan scored his first goal in almost a year as the Premier League title-chasers edged Southampton 1-0 on Sunday to establish a potentially decisive seven-point lead.

Tottenham Hotspur's 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Saturday had given Claudio Ranieri's men an opportunity to strengthen their grip on first place and they duly took it courtesy of Morgan's 38th-minute header.

It was Leicester's fifth 1-0 victory in six matches and left the east Midlands club needing 12 points from their final six games to claim the first top-flight title in their 132-year history.

"Everyone is expecting something more for us and we are in the cloud, but we have to keep concentrating," said Leicester manager Ranieri.

"I don't want to think about champions. I want to focus on the match. There is a chance for us to be champions this season, but we have to be professional."

Leicester were bottom of the table a year ago, but are now within sight of one of the most sensational underdog triumphs in world football history.

Meanwhile, Southampton manager Ronald Koeman, whose side remain seventh, was left to rue two penalty appeals for handball in each half that were turned away by referee Michael Oliver.

"This is a big match," Koeman said. "It is about the Premier League title and our ambitions to play in Europe.

"I don't say they don't deserve the victory, that they don't fight and have amazing spirit, but if it is a penalty and a red card, they don't win."

With chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha laying on free doughnuts and bottles of beer for home fans to mark his birthday and 'Leicester City Champions 2016' scarves for sale on the walk to the ground, the atmosphere could barely have been more festive at a sun-soaked King Power Stadium.

In a bid to counter Leicester's two-pronged strike-force of Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki, Southampton deployed a back three and while the home side made the early running, the clearest opportunities of the first half fell to the visitors.

- Southampton appeal -

Their best chance saw Graziano Pelle free Sadio Mane, who rounded Kasper Schmeichel and shot, only for the ball to strike Danny Simpson's right forearm as he came across to cover the vacant goal.

Southampton appealed for a penalty, but the right-back's arm had remained close to his body so referee Oliver waved play on.

Pelle also headed over from a Cedric Soares cross, while Jose Fonte fully extended Schmeichel with a rising drive from 25 yards and Jordie Clasie shot narrowly over after outmuscling Riyad Mahrez.

But with Southampton poised to poop the party, Leicester struck, Christian Fuchs guiding a cross into the box from the left flank and Morgan outjumping Clasie to plant a captain's header inside the left-hand post.

Dusan Tadic replaced Matt Targett at half-time for Southampton, who changed to a 4-2-3-1 system, but they were almost undone within seconds of the restart, with Victor Wanyama booked for putting an arm in Vardy's face as the England striker looked to burst clear.

Just past the hour, it took a superb one-handed stop from Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster to prevent Fonte steering Danny Drinkwater's cross into his own net.

Ten minutes later Forster was at it again, parrying from right on the goal-line after Simpson took aim at a gaping goal from Vardy's low cross.

Koeman had seen his side come from 2-0 down to beat Liverpool 3-2 in their previous game and he threw caution to the wind by sending on Charlie Austin and James Ward-Prowse for Clasie and Steven Davis.

Seconds after coming on Austin had a strong penalty appeal when his shot struck Robert Huth's outstretched left hand, but to the frustration of Southampton -- and Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City -- Oliver was again unmoved.

Vardy might have settled the home nerves late on, only for Forster to repel his prodded effort, but it mattered not.

Defeat will not derail Barca: Enrique

Defeat will not derail Barca: Enrique

M-IT   4:07:00 AM

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said his team would not allow Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by bitter rivals Real Madrid to affect their confidence.

La Liga leaders Barca were the better side for most of the ‘Clasico’ but a late goal by Cristiano Ronaldo helped third-placed Real close the gap on the Catalans to seven points with seven games to go.

Atletico Madrid are in second spot, six points off the pace.
Luis Enrique does not believe the defeat will damage Barca’s title challenge or their bid to retain the Champions League and King’s Cup.
“This game doesn’t exist anymore, there’s no pain,” he told a news conference at the Nou Camp.

“The team were really up for the game, so were the fans, and there’s nothing else we can do but lift ourselves up. Defeats teach you things, they teach you that every trophy is difficult and the players know that.”

Luis Enrique said his side struggled to cope with the shock of losing their lead so soon after Gerard Pique had put them in front in the 56th minute, Karim Benzema levelling for Real six minutes later.

“The equaliser caused us a lot of damage and unfortunately we lost our first game at home (since February 2015),” added the Barca coach.
“You can’t choose when you’re going to lose. We have to recover, rest and remember that we are the league leaders and that the most consistent team win the title.”

Real coach Zinedine Zidane was cautious when asked if the win could spark a late title bid.
“We have to overtake Atletico first,” he said. “We have to think about our next game in the Champions League (quarter-final against VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday) and then think about getting three points in our next league game.”

Zidane did not hide his joy at winning his first ‘Clasico’ as a coach.
“I’m very happy with everything about the game especially the result,” said the former Real playmaker.

“We struggled at first but that’s normal because it’s a difficult ground to play at. I’m very proud of my players and how they played.
“Winning here is a huge prize for all our players because they put in an enormous performance,” said the former France great. “It’s not easy to win here, few teams win here.”

Footballers prescribed banned drugs

Footballers prescribed banned drugs

M-IT   4:06:00 AM

footballers were among 150 sports stars prescribed banned performance-enhancing drugs, a London doctor claimed in an expose by The Sunday Times.

The newspaper, which has been at the heart of several doping exposes involving international athletics over the last 12 months, conducted an undercover operation on London-based anti-ageing doctor Mark Bonar.

The 38-year-old medic claims to have had a network of “secret clients” which included footballers from Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester City.

The broadsheet said Bonar named athletes from several different sports. Those contacted by the paper either denied being treated by him or declined to comment.
The newspaper was quick to add they have no independent evidence that he treated the unnamed players.

There is also no evidence the clubs were aware of Bonar’s relationship with any players or drug use by them.
Bonar, who was filmed covertly, is heard telling reporters he had also worked with an England cricketer, British Tour de France cyclists, a British boxing champion, tennis players and martial arts competitors.

“In the past six years he has treated more than 150 sports people from the UK and abroad variously with banned substances such as erythropoietin (EPO), steroids and human growth hormone, and the sports performance improvements were phenomenal,” the report said.
UKAD aware of doctor

In the newspaper’s footage, Bonar is filmed saying: “Some of these treatments I use are banned on the professional circuit.
“It’s how you do it,” he said, adding: “You want to do it off cycle or between races.
“The truth of the matter is drugs are in sport.

“What I do is I prescribe responsibly and I try to keep my patients the optimum level of normal.”
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), the agency responsible for protecting British sport from drug abuse, confirmed they were aware of Bonar, but said they had no power to investigate him.

UKAD said it interviewed a sportsman in April and May 2014 who, in hoping to reduce his sanction, provided them with more than 100 names, 69 of which related to sport.

Bonar was among the names and this was the only time he had been brought to their attention, it said.
The sportsman told UKAD that Bonar prescribed him with EPO and testosterone and alleged he was providing performance-enhancing drugs to an unnamed boxer.

UKAD said they went back to the sportsman, but he did not provide further evidence that could substantiate such claims.
UKAD said it could only investigate athletes and their entourage (including medics) who fall under a sporting governing body.
“UKAD commenced an investigation into Dr Bonar”, but found he was not governed by a sport”, it said.

It said the General Medical Council (GMC), which controls the register of doctors, could investigate possible medical malpractice but after assessing the information it had, UKAD said it did not believe there were grounds to refer the case.

The GMC said the allegations were serious and it would investigate them “as a matter of urgency”.
Probe launched
Bonar told the reporters that athletes knew about his services through word of mouth.

“I don’t really advertise... I don’t want that media scrutiny, that kind of (thing), you know, coming down on you,” he said.
In response to the expose, Bonar said it was irrelevant that some of his clients were professional athletes.

“If they have proven deficiencies on blood work and are symptomatic, I will treat them,” he said.
“I do not ‘dope’ or treat patients for the sole purpose of performance enhancement even though these treatments may enhance performance as a secondary effect.”

Britain’s sports minister John Whittingdale said he was “shocked” by the allegations and has demanded an urgent independent investigation.
“Sports fans are entitled to be sure that what they are watching is true and fair with all athletes competing on a level playing field,” the culture, media and sport secretary said in a statement.

“The government is already looking at whether existing legislation in this area goes far enough... If it becomes clear that stronger criminal sanctions are needed then we will not hesitate to act.”

UKAD chair David Kenworthy said an independent review would be conducted into issues raised by the newspaper allegations, including the way the sportsman’s information was handled.

UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead said the body was “deeply concerned” by the allegations in The Sunday Times.
“UKAD will vehemently pursue any avenue that indicates that an athlete is doping or support personnel are assisting them,” she said.S

ICC World Twenty20 final: England v West Indies preview

ICC World Twenty20 final: England v West Indies preview

M-IT   7:07:00 AM

England and the West Indies will battle to become the first two-time winners of the World Twenty20 in Sunday's mouth-watering final at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

For England, reaching the final has been a remarkable achievement, given some woeful white-ball performances in the last few years.

They were dumped out of the 50-over World Cup in the pool phase last year, the lowlight a meek surrender to Bangladesh, and there was great embarrassment in the 2014 World T20, when they lost to the Netherlands.

This tournament has been a rollercoaster ride. Destroyed by the Windies - and Chris Gayle in particular - in the opening game, they then had to pull off a world record run chase of 230 in their second match to beat South Africa and stay in the tournament.

From the sublime, they slumped to the ridiculous against Afghanistan, collapsing to 57-6 against the tournament minnows, before England's bowlers bailed the batsmen out.

But their victories against Sri Lanka and, in the semi-final, against New Zealand, were masterclasses in T20 international cricket, with brutal power-hitting from Jason Roy, Joe Root and Jos Buttler and nerveless death bowling from Ben Stokes and Chris Jordan.

No team has hit more sixes than England's 34 in the tournament - a marked contrast to last year's 50-over World Cup when they rarely cleared the ropes. Stokes and Jordan go full and fast, often well wide of off stump, and have enjoyed considerable success so far.

But David Willey might be a key man in the final. The ball should swing in the humid conditions and he will be looking to get the ball moving against Gayle - who rarely moves his feet - in particular.

Roy, one of the stars of the new-look England, promised they would come at their opponents "with all guns blazing" and continue in the same aggressive vein that has confounded their old conservative reputation.

"It's going to be an incredible experience but we are going to play our natural way and the brand of cricket we have been playing for the last year or so," said the Surrey star.

The Windies spoiled India's party by knocking the hosts out in the semi-finals, but their journey to the final has proven that they are not reliant on Gayle - or 'Universe Boss' as he called himself after carting England all over Mumbai.

Since Gayle's thunderous 100no - off just 48 balls - against England, he has chipped in with just nine runs, and it has been unsung heroes - Jonathan Charles, Lendl Simmons and Andre Russell - who have powered them into Sunday's showpiece.

"England will certainly be aware that it is certainly not a one-man show in this team," Simmons said after his match-winning innings against India.

The West Indies love playing England - they have won nine of the 13 T20 international clashes between the two teams, and all four meetings at the World Twenty20.

There will be 66,000 in Eden Gardens, one of the world's great cricketing cathedrals, so experience will count and the Windies have a serious edge there too. Eight of the team which won the 2012 tournament are likely to play in the final, while only Eoin Morgan survives from the England team which won in 2010.

But, as Sky Sports expert Nasser Hussain says, this young England "are a side who don't fear anyone."

Will England win the World T20? Find out by watching their match with West Indies from 1.30pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 2. Before then see if West Indies Women can overcome Australia Women in the Women's World Twenty20 Final, live on Sky Sports 2 on Sunday from 9.30am.

Victoria Azarenka to face Svetlana Kuznetsova in Miami Open final

Victoria Azarenka to face Svetlana Kuznetsova in Miami Open final

M-IT   7:04:00 AM

Victoria Azarenka and Svetlana Kuznetsova will contest the Miami Open final after winning their semi-finals in straight sets.

No 15 seed Kuzentsova showed her mettle to dig in and play a powerful baseline game against Timea Bacsinszky, winning a hard-fought opening set after ending a brilliant rally between the two with an overhead smash.

The Russian, who saw off Serena Williams in the fourth round in Florida, failed to hold serve in the first game of the second set.