Parkar hits last-ball six as Knights win
MUMBAI: Akash Parkar smashed the last ball of the game for a six to pilot Triumph Knights Mumbai North East to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Namo Bandra Blasters in the T20 Mumbai League at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday. Chasing a stiff target of 183 for victory, the Knights needed six runs off the last ball when Mumbai Ranji Trophy all rounder Parkar carted a full-toss from medium pacer Prashant Bhoir over the mid-wicket boundary to herald the third victory for his team in four outings. The win took the Knights to the top of the six-team table with six points.
RATHI, Karamjit to represent India
NEW DELHI: Neeraj Rathi and Karamjit Kaur will represent India in the men's and women's event in annual Asian 20km Race Walking Championships to be held in Nomi, Japan on March 18. Rathi had finished third with a timing of 1:21.39 in the men's 20km event in the National Championships here last month while Karamjit had won a bronze in women's 20km competition with a timing of 1:34.08. The top two finishers in the National Championships have been named in the country's team for next month's Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast. Based on the performance in Nomi, the Indian team of two athletes each in 20km men and women will be selected for the IAAF World Race Walking Championships to be held in May in Taicang, China.
Ankita reaches 1ST final of 2018 season in Gwalior
GWALIOR: India's top singles player, Ankita Raina reached her first final of the 2018 season when her semi-final opponent Yana Sizikova retired from the contest of the $25,000 ITF event due to dizziness, here on Friday. Ankita, ranked 255, was cruising 6-2, 4-0 when the Russian threw in the towel, complaining of sickness. The 25-year-old Indian next faces second seed Amandine Hesse, who ousted Slovakia's Tereza Mihalikova 6-4, 6-2. Ankita had lost to the Hesse in a close contest at $125K Mumbai Open last year. In the lop-sided match on Friday, fourth seed Ankita dominated the proceedings, converting five of the nine breakpoints.
Rabada test ban appeal to be heard on Monday
CAPE TOWN: Kagiso Rabada's appeal against his two match Test ban will be heard on Monday, the International Cricket Council announced on Friday. A senior New Zealand lawyer, Michael Heron QC, has been appointed the Judicial Commissioner and will conduct the hearing by teleconference. Heron will have 48 hours to reach a decision - which means Rabada's case will be finalised ahead of the third Test against Australia, which starts at Newlands on Thursday. Rabada, who rose to number one in the ICC Test bowling rankings, will be represented by Dali Mpofu, a prominent South African senior counsel.
Moin slams foreign players
KARACHI: Former Pakistan Test captain, Moin Khan has lashed out at the overseas players, who refused to travel to Pakistan for the two playoffs and final match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The initial stages of the third edition of the Pakistan Super League was held in the UAE but the foreign players are now refusing to travel to Pakistan for the two playoff matches in Lahore and the final in Karachi. "I blame the Pakistan Cricket Board for this sad situation. I know the board will not like my comments. But in future only those overseas players should be included in the player draft who commit to also play in Pakistan if required by their franchises," Moin said.