Sports

Veteran cricketers have always had a second innings. Once you have played the game, it is hard to let go, and the cricketers’ community often finds its way back to the field, like a homing pigeon. It has been that way since cricket became something of a regular sport over a century ago. In fact, a formal scorecard exists from …

Allrounder Shadab Khan hit a fighting half-century before taking four wickets to anchor Pakistan’s 53-run win over the West Indies in the third and final day-night international in Multan which was interrupted by a dust storm. Shadab hit 86 to lift Pakistan to 269-9 after unlikely West Indian hero Nicholas Pooran grabbed four wickets to leave the home team struggling …

BAKU: Max Verstappen rode his luck to an unchallenged first Baku win on Sunday, opening up a commanding championship lead after Ferrari’s challenge imploded at the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix. The Dutchman eased across the line 20.8 seconds clear of Sergio Perez who, ordered not to fight Verstappen, completed a one-two for Red Bull. George Russell kept his record …

NOTTINGHAM: Joe Root swaggered to a majestic 163 not out and Ollie Pope hit his highest Test score of 145 as rampant England reached 473-5 against New Zealand at close of play on the third day of the second Test here at Trent Bridge on Sunday. Replying to New Zealand’s mammoth first innings score of 553, Root and Pope took …

CUTTACK: Wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen smashed 81 off 46 balls to lead South Africa’s tricky chase as they beat India by four wickets in the second Twenty20 International on Sunday. Needing 149 for victory on a hot and humid day in Cuttack, South Africa rode Klaasen’s fourth T20 half-century to achieve their target in 18.2 overs and lead the five-match series …

NOTTINGHAM: New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell scored an impressive 162 not out while Tom Blundell also hit a century to put the tourists in a strong position at 481-5 at a rain-enforced early tea break on day two of the second Test against England on Saturday. A more aggressive Mitchell milked the runs off spinner Jack Leach during the second session, …

MADRID: Real Madrid have reached an agreement to sign French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco on a six-year deal, the two clubs announced on Saturday. The French international, 22, will join the European champions for a fee of some 80 million euros ($84.12 million) with another 20 million in add-ons, according to media reports. Real said they would host …

HARARE: Hazratullah Zazai and Najibullah Zadran played knocks of 45 and 44 respectively as Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by six wickets in the first T20 International here at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday. Chasing 160, Afghanistan got off to a good start as openers Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (33) put on 83 runs for the first wicket. Zimbabwe spinner Ryan …

MULTAN: Pakistan began the One-day International series against the West Indies in bullish mood with captain Babar Azam and coach Saqlain Mushtaq eyeing a clean sweep. They’re now just one victory away from doing exactly that. Having won the first two games in contrasting fashion, Pakistan go into the Sunday’s final ODI buoyed by their performances so far and looking …

Pakistan’s captain won the toss and chose to bat in the third and final day-night international against the West Indies in Multan on Sunday. Pakistan, who have an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series, handed an ODI debut to 23-year-old fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani, who came into the side in place of Haris Rauf. Hasan Ali returned to the side, …