Sports

ST. GEORGE’S: England claimed three wickets after a bright West Indies start as the home side stuttered to 71 for three in reply to the tourists’ first innings total of 204 at lunch on the second day of the third and final Test on Friday. A bright opening partnership of exactly 50 saw the hosts in the early ascendancy but …

LAHORE: There was no grandstand finish this time. The heroic resistance of the National Stadium never came at the Gaddafi Stadium for Pakistan. Once Australia removed captain Babar Azam after tea, the writing was on the wall for the hosts. Nearly quarter of a century from when they last toured Pakistan, Australia will return home after a Test series here …

Australia batsman Steve Smith will miss the one-day and T20 matches against Pakistan to manage a left elbow injury, the team said on Saturday. Smith experienced some discomfort during the latter stages of Australia’s 1-0 win in the three-match Test series against Pakistan, team physiotherapist Alex Kontouris said. “Given he had an injury with the same elbow last year, we felt it …

KARACHI: The atmosphere was buzzing with intensity; the octagon bursting with energy. Fighters from Afghanistan were there. There were women fighters as well, proving that interest in kickboxing and mixed martial arts is peaking in Pakistan. Organised by K7 Fitness and Kickboxing Academy and the Sindh Sports Department, the KO1 Revolution event here on Wednesday evening featured 13 high-voltage bouts …

CENTURION: Cricket World Cups have caused more heartache for South African supporters than any other format of the game. There have been agonising near-misses and numerous disappointments, but actually qualifying for the tournament has never previously been an issue. Now, though, South Africa need to find some dramatically improved form or face taking the long road if they want to …

CHRISTCHURCH: Defending champions England continued their Women’s Cricket World Cup resurgence with an emphatic nine-wicket win over Pakistan Thursday to stand on the brink of the semi-finals. England pace bowler Katherine Brunt roared back into form after an indifferent tournament, taking 3-17 as she and Sophie Ecclestone helped bundle Pakistan out for 105 in Christchurch. Brunt had taken only one …

ST GEORGE’S: West Indies claimed the prized wicket of Joe Root for a duck as England slumped to 46 for three at lunch on the opening day of the third and deciding Test in the Caribbean series on Thursday. Pace bowling all-rounder Kyle Mayers quickly justified his inclusion after being picked for the first time in the series on a …

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon put Australia on course for a series-clinching victory against Pakistan on Friday, with the touring side needing five wickets to wrap up the win in the final session of the deciding third Test in Lahore. Fast bowler Cummins and off-spinner Lyon picked up two wickets apiece as Pakistan reached 190-5 at tea on the final …

ISLAMABAD: The government has notified a fresh mechanism for annual and multi-annual financial commitment controls for all ministries, divisions and their attached departments and subordinate offices, except the Ministry of Defence, to improve the integrity of the budget and fiscal discipline. “Expenditure arrears from the previous financial years are a major source of fiscal indiscipline and poor budget credibility in …

PARIS: The World Cup hopes of the last two European champions are on a knife edge with Portugal and Italy on a collision course in decisive qualifying play-offs over the next week. A potential clash in Porto between the Euro 2016 winners, captained by Cristiano Ronaldo, and an Italy team who succeeded them as continental champions last year is a …