Gurbani puts Vidarbha on brink of win
nagpur: Vidarbha ended up with a record 800 for seven before pacer Rajneesh Gurbani tore through the Rest of India batting to put the reigning Ranji champions on the cusp of securing the Irani Cup here. Vidarbha, who began day four at 702 for five, declared at 800 for seven after Apoorv Wankhade (157 not out off 221) scored his second first-class hundred. Vidarbha's mammoth score is the highest total in Irani Cup's history. Gurbani (4/46), who is only the second bowler to take a hat-trick in a Ranji Trophy final, then had RoI reeling at six for 98 in 28 overs before they recovered to 236 for six at close of play. It is unlikely that Vidarbha would be able to bowl out RoI twice on day five but a very likely first-innings lead will be enough to lift the trophy.
Ankita wins Gwalior ITF event
gwalior: Ankita Raina won her first singles title in more than three years when she fought past second seed Amandine Hesse in straight sets in the final of the $25,000 ITF women's event, here on Saturday.The fourth seed Indian, who has been in tremendous form in the last few months, beat the Frenchwoman 6-2 7-5 in the title clash which lasted one hour and 25 minutes. The last time Ankita won a singles title was way back in December 2014, when she had triumphed in the Pune ITF event. It was overall sixth singles career title for Ankita, who has lost nine other finals in the last six years. In the doubles, the 25-year-old has won 12 titles.
India not hosting U-20 FIFA World Cup
new delhi: India's bid to host the next U-20 FIFA World Cup ended in disappointment as world football governing body FIFA accorded the status to Poland. The European nation will host the next edition of the tournament in 2019. This was decided at the FIFA council meeting in Bogota, Colombia. Amid much fanfare, India had submitted its bid for hosting the mega event after successfully organizing the U-17 World Cup last October. With the tournament scheduled to be held around May to June, Poland emerged as the preferred choice as it will be difficult for the players to play in the scorching Indian summer. It is believed that is what prompted FIFA to opt for Poland. The last edition of the tournament was held at South Korea in 2017.
lahiri squeezes inside cut line
orlando: Anirban lahiri fired back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth holes on his second nine to squeeze inside the cut line and stay on for weekend action at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard here. lahiri had four each of birdies and bogeys in his even round and is Tied-66th at one-over 145 which was also the cutline. Henrik Stenson hung in through the tough period and his three birdies around the turn saw him card three-under 69 and at 11-under. He shared the lead with Bryson DeChambeau, who had a 66. Stenson had chances to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational two of the last three years and could well make it this time.
Aditi lies T-39 at Founders Cup
phoenix: Aditi Ashok carded even par 72 to slip from overnight T-17 to T-39 after the second round of the lPGA Founders Cup here. At two-under 142 with rounds of 70-72, she is now seven shots behind the leader, Cydney Clanton (68-67). Aditi opened with a bogey but quickly made up with three birdies in next six holes. She was two-under through 11, before a bogey on 12th and then a closing one on 18th saw her fall back to even par. Meanwhile, Cydney Clanton holed out for eagle on the 13th hole and then made birdie on 18th to close in sole possession of the 36-hole lead at nine-under 135. It's the first time she has ever held the 36-hole lead at an lPGA event.