Sports

HARARE: Batsmen Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi and all-rounder Mohammad Nabi starred as Afghanistan climbed to third in the Cricket World Cup Super League after a 60-run One-day International victory over Zimbabwe in Harare on Saturday. Securing 10 points from the win at Harare Sports Club lifted the tourists above India and Australia in the standings and left them trailing …

PARIS: World number one Iga Swiatek confirmed her dominance of women’s tennis by sweeping aside American teenager Coco Gauff 6-1 6-3 to claim her second French Open title in three years on Saturday. The 21-year-old Pole’s blend of power, poise and precision on the clay was too much to handle for the 18-year-old Gauff, who never recovered from a shaky …

LAHORE: The prevailing hot weather conditions in Multan aren’t a concern for Saqlain Mushtaq. Instead, the Pakistan head coach is eyeing a clean sweep of the West Indies when the three-match One-day International series begins next week. Pakistan finished their preparations for the series here on Saturday, a day before leaving for Multan, and Saqlain was rather upbeat about his …

LONDON: New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell starred with the bat, after England debutant Matthew Potts had rocked the Black Caps once again, to leave the first Test at Lord’s intriguingly poised at tea on Friday’s second day. New Zealand were 128 for four in their second innings, a lead of 119 runs, with Mitchell unbeaten on 43. He received good support …

A dozen South Africans dressed as mermaids and mermen frolic in a Johannesburg pool, mimicking the movement of the mystical sea creatures. Mermaiding is a fast-growing sport worldwide, and now South Africa has its own school to teach it — the “Merschool”. Before diving in, students each slip on a brightly coloured fabric tail ending in a monofin. The swimmers …

PARIS: Rafael Nadal reached his 14th French Open final on Friday when Alexander Zverev was forced to quit their semi-final after suffering a sickening right ankle injury. Zverev had to leave the court in a wheelchair after turning his ankle as he chased down the ball in front of the players’ boxes on Court Philippe Chatrier where his team and …

An Indian climber banned from Everest after faking a summit of the world’s highest mountain has successfully scaled the peak for real, telling AFP he returned to “prove” himself. Narender Singh Yadav claimed to have reached the top of the 8,849-metre mountain in May 2016. But photos of the 26-year-old at the summit were later shown to have been digitally altered, prompting the Nepal …

KARACHI: In-form opener Sidra Ameen smashed a blistering ton before medium-pacer Fatima Sana bagged four wickets, helping Pakistan to a 73-run win in the second One-day International and an unassailable series lead over Sri Lanka here at the Southend Club on Friday. Sidra, who scored 76 while chasing in the first ODI, was instrumental in helping Pakistan post 253-2 after …

Sri Lanka named fast-bowling legend Lasith Malinga their “bowling strategy coach” on Thursday for the eight one-day matches against Australia starting next week. Sri Lanka Cricket said the 38-year-old’s expertise and experience would be crucial for the three T20 matches and five one-day internationals to be played in Colombo and Kandy. “(He) will support Sri Lanka’s bowlers, providing tactical insight …

LONDON: England debutant Matthew Potts and recalled great James Anderson took four wickets apiece as New Zealand were dismissed for just 132 on the opening day of the first Test here at Lord’s on Thursday. Potts finished with superb figures of four for 13 in 9.2 overs and Anderson, who had earlier reduced the World Test champions to two for …