Sports

MANCHESTER: Phil Foden kept Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge on track with a superb second-half double as his side hit back to clinch a 3-1 home victory over Manchester United on Sunday. Marcus Rashford’s eighth-minute thunderbolt gave United the lead against the run of play and it looked like the visitors might put a dent in City’s hopes of …

KARACHI: On a crisp, cold night here at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday, the crowds had come in decent numbers and the upbeat, weekend mood was audible with their continuous chanting. It wasn’t a player from home team Karachi Kings who displayed the fireworks though. It was Multan Sultans batter Usman Khan. Dejected by the state of affairs in …

MANCHESTER: Darwin Nunez headed in a 99th-minute winner as injury-hit Liverpool moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, while Tottenham Hotspur came from behind late on to beat Crystal Palace on Saturday. Liverpool’s resources have been stretched to the limit by a series of injuries in recent weeks as …

WELLINGTON: Steve Smith pulled off two stunning catches to leave Australia with the advantage as New Zealand stumbled early in their pursuit of 369 to win the first Test here at the Basin Reserve on Saturday. The home side were 111-3 at stumps on day three, with Rachin Ravindra unbeaten on an eye-catching 56 and Daryl Mitchell on 12, with …

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia launched its campaign to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup on Friday, a bid that is all but certain to succeed due to the absence of any other expressions of interest before global governing body’s deadline late last year. With Morocco, Portugal and Spain set to share the hosting of the 2030 tournament, FIFA limited the 2034 …

RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain marred the start of Rawalpindi leg of the HBL Pakistan Super League here on Saturday as both the matches were abandoned without a ball being bowled. Defending champions Lahore Qalandars, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, were scheduled to face Babar Azam-captained Peshawar Zalmi in the day game whi­ch was to be followed by a night clash between …

ABU DHABI: Ireland fina­lly won their first Test match on Friday when they defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in Abu Dhabi, ending a streak of seven successive losses. Captain Andy Balbirnie led from the front with an undefeated 58 as Ireland reached their modest target of 111 in the final session of the third day. Ireland had played their first …

ISLAMABAD: The forecast of heavy rains in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad threatens to disrupt both matches of the HBL Pakistan Super League scheduled at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The continuing downpour meant no practice sessions could be held on Friday at the Islamabad Club Cricket Ground ahead of matches between Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi and …

WELLINGTON: Australia dismissed New Zealand for 179 to take control of the first Test on Friday’s second day after Cameron Green had scored a brilliant 174 not out in a defiant final-wicket partnership to drive the tourists to 383 all out. The Black Caps lost wickets in clumps as they reeled in the face of Australia’s attack with Glenn Phillips’s …

KARACHI: The stands here at the National Bank Stadium were more densely filled than they were a day ago and excitement had filled the air. Karachi Kings, despite half of their squad suffering from food poisoning, still showed up. The home side, starting from a point of disadvanta­ge with some of their main players missing out, punc­hed above their weig­ht …