Proteas edge out Pakistan by 1 run
Sharjah: South Africa staged a remarkable comeback to turn what seemed certain defeat into a one-run win over Pakistan in the first day-night international here. Pakistan, chasing a modest 184 to win, were cruising along nicely at 165-4 but lost their last six wickets for just 17 runs off 39 balls to be bowled out for 182 in 46.3 overs on Thursday. It looked all over with Umar Amin (20) and Umar Akmal (18) at the crease but leg-spinner Imran Tahir (3-45) dismissed Umar, Shahid Afridi (nine) and Wahab Riaz (zero) in succsessive overs. Brief Scores: SA: 183 (Wayne Parnell 56; Ajmal 4/30, Afridi 3/37) beat Pak: 182 (Ahmed Shehzad 58; Parnell 3/41, Imran Tahir 3/45) by 1 run.
Bale makes real Madrid mark
Madrid: Gareth Bale finally made his mark at Real Madrid on Wednesday, only for Cristiano Ronaldo to upstage his two-goal performance with a hat-trick in a 7-3 victory over Sevilla. The Welshman celebrated his first league start at the Santiago Bernabeu by scoring twice and setting up two more. But it was Ronaldo who responded to FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s mocking of the Portugal forward with a celebration slight of his own as he passed Ferenc Puskas with his 157th league goal for Madrid, the fifth-best in the club’s history. Karim Benzema capped the 10-goal thriller with his second goal, while Ivan Rakitic scored twice for Sevilla but sent a penalty — the third of the match — into the stands with a hat-trick beckoning.
West Indies top-order’s good show
Kolkata: Ever-reliable Shivnarine Chanderpaul struck an unbeaten 91 and shared an unbroken 170- run stand with Narsing Deonarine (83) as the West Indies reached a solid 333 for four against Uttar Pradesh on the opening day of their practice match, here on Thursday. It was a good batting show by the visitors ahead of the Test series against India as four batsmen from the Caribbean side scored half-centuries. Chanderpaul and Deonarine (83) will resume their fifth- wicket partnership on Friday. Brief Scores: WI: 333/4 (Shivnarine Chanderpaul no 91, Narsingh Deonarine no 83, Kieran Powell 64, Darren Bravo 61; Imtiaz Ahmed 2/68) vs UP at stumps on Day 1.
Napoli and Juventus victorious
Milan: Victories for Napoli and Juventus kept the pressure on Serie A leader Roma on Wednesday, while Kaka scored his first goal since returning to AC Milan in a 1-1 draw against lazio. Jose Maria Callejon and Dries Mertens scored to help Napoli to a controversial 2-1 win at Fiorentina. U.S.-born forward Giuseppe Rossi had leveled from the penalty spot with his ninth goal in 10 games. Juventus beat Catania 4-0 with goals from Arturo Vidal, playmaker Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and leonardo Bonucci.
Vani wins second consecutive title
Greater Noida: Delhi golfer Vani Kapoor won her second title on the trot after returning a second successive card of one over 73 in the third and final round of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour event, here on Thursday. Vani aggregated 214 (68; 73; 73) to win the 13th and penultimate leg of the tournament. Her round on Thursday consisted of two birdies on the 6th and 11th holes along with three bogeys on the 7th, 10th and 14th holes. Sharmila Nicollet finished as the runner’s up. PNS/Agencies