Birmingham [UK], March 18 (ANI): Australia’s Ellyse Perry is set to represent Birmingham Phoenix in the inaugural edition of The Hundred.
After joining the franchise, Perry said she can’t wait to go over to the UK and get involved in The Hundred, set to begin on July 21. The tournament’s final will be played at the Lord’s on August 21.
“I can’t wait to come over to the UK and get involved in The Hundred this summer. It’s fantastic to see how it’s put women’s cricket in the spotlight and attracted so many of the world’s top players to come and play in it.
“I’m looking forward to helping introduce a new generation to cricket and hopefully inspiring them to pick up a bat and ball themselves,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Perry as saying.
Birmingham Phoenix will be coached by Ben Sawyer, who termed Perry a “world-class cricketer”.
“Ellyse is a world-class cricketer who would improve any team and we are thrilled that she will be turning out for us at Birmingham Phoenix this summer. I’ve been lucky to work with her over a number of years and I know her quality and work ethic will be a huge asset to us and the whole competition,” Sawyer said.
The Hundred is the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) competition and it was scheduled to be played in 2020 with eight teams. However, the tournament was postponed until this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (ANI)

Istanbul [Turkey], March 18 (ANI): Boxer Nikhat Zareen sent reigning world champion Paltceva Ekaterina packing to enter the women’s 51kg quarter-finals at the Bosphorus Boxing Tournament in Istanbul.
The Asian Championships bronze medallist Zareen caused a major upset on the second day of the tournament as she outpunched the Russian boxer 5-0.
The Indian pugilist will now have yet another tough task in hand as she takes on two-time world champion Kazakhstan boxer Kyzaibay Nazym in the last-8 bout on the third day.
Apart from Zareen, the 2013 Asian champion Shiva Thapa, Sonia Lather, and Parveen also registered victories in their respective categories to proceed to the quarter-finals.
While Thapa got better of Kazakhstan’s Smagulov Baghtiyov 3-2 in the men’s 63kg bout, World Championship silver medallist Lather (57kg) and Parveen (60kg) beat local favourites Surmeneli Tugcenaz and Ozyol Esra 5-0 in their respective women’s second-round matches.
Meanwhile, Duryodhah Negi (69kg), Brijesh Yadav (81kg), and Krishan Sharma (+91kg) made exits with the losses in the preliminary rounds.
The third day of the event will witness six Indian boxers fighting in their respective quarter-final bouts. Lather, Zareen, Parveen, and Jyoti (69kg) will be seen in action in the women’s category while Thapa and Solanki will present the Indian challenge in the men’s category.
Earlier, Indian boxers Gaurav Solanki and Sonia Lather produced brilliant performances on the opening day of the Bosphorus Boxing Tournament in Istanbul as they progressed to the next round in their respective categories. (ANI)

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 18 (ANI): With the international window coming up, two of the biggest Asian exponents of the I-League — Komron Tursunov of TRAU FC and Jamal Bhuyan of Mohammedan Sporting — have said their goodbyes to their respective club, teammates and fans.
Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan is set to join his national side, which will play a Tri-National tournament against Nepal and the Kyrgyz Republic U-23 Team from March 23-29. Meanwhile, Komron Tursunov is set to join the Tajikistan team for their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F Qualifier against Mongolia on March 25.
Jamal Bhuyan, who was on national team duty in Qatar before the start of the I-League, in a statement, said, “It was not an easy start by any means for me. I had to be in isolation for almost one month if you count my time in both Qatar and in India. But I think once that phase got over, I started to relax a bit more, and regain my power. So overall, it has been a good comeback for me after that.”
For TRAU forward Komron Tursunov, who had won the I-League title with Mohun Bagan last season, it was more a matter of proving the doubters wrong. “I became champions with Mohun Bagan last season, but nobody believed in TRAU’s capability at the start of this campaign,” Tursunov said. “But, we showed everyone that if you work hard enough, and do what your coach says, you will be a strong side.”
Both Tursunov and Bhuyan played crucial roles in their respective final matches in the I-League, putting their teams in a much better position on the points table. While the Tajik international scored the only goal in TRAU’s 1-0 victory over RoundGlass Punjab FC, the Bangladesh skipper walked out as the captain for Mohammedan SC, and provided two assists in a 4-1 victory over title contenders Churchill Brothers FC Goa.
TRAU forward Komron has played a crucial role for his side this season, amassing six goals — one of which made the history books as being the fastest goal in the I-League. The Tajikistan international believes that Kolkata has now become a second home for him.
“I love this city, Kolkata. This is like my second home,” beamed Komron. “I’ve had some very good memories here, winning the championship last season, and I hope my teammates can produce the results in the last two games and win another championship for me.”
Although the 26-year-old said his goodbyes to his teammates, and to India for now, Komron kept the door open for a return in the future. “I’ve played my last game this season, and said my goodbyes to my teammates and to India for now. Maybe I could come back next season. We shall see,” he signed off. (ANI)

Pamplona [Spain], March 18 (ANI): CA Osasuna’s Ante Budimir has expressed his desire to be amongst the top while admitting that he is happy to be at the club.
“When I came from Italy I came alone to Mallorca and I came with all my baggage because I wanted to stay in Spain and I had only 6 months because I came in January. I am here now to continue my progress, to be amongst the top and I am happy to be here,” Budimir said in a statement.
Budimir said while it hasn’t been the smoothest of starts for him as he was down with coronavirus, things have started to go smooth now. “I heard about the team that they are a really good group and I have found that and this makes my daily life easier. First it was difficult you know as I had Covid. Day before I got tested negative and came to know that I have antibodies and I get the green light that I can play.
“It was amazing to come and say hello to the guys and in the next 10 hours score a goal. Me as a player I like to be in the box and do my best with the ball and do my job. I am looking forward to playing here,” he explained.
Budimir joined Osasuna on loan in October last year from Mallorca. Osasuna is currently placed on the 13th spot in the LaLiga with 29 points from 27 games. From the 27 matches the club has played so far, Osasuna has only managed to win seven of those and suffered a defeat in 12.
Osasuna will next play against Huesca on Saturday. (ANI)

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 18 (ANI): Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday hailed the “competitive spirit” of the Indian and the West Indies legends’ teams in the Road Safety World Series T20.
Tendulkar-led India Legends stormed into the final after beating West Indies by 13 runs on Wednesday. 424 runs were scored in the game between India and West Indies Legends but Tendulkar said the competitive spirit that the 22 men showed stood out for him.
“More than the 424 runs scored in this match, I feel it was the competitive spirit with which the teams played today that stood out. Fantastic effort by all the 22 men,” Tendulkar tweeted.
The contest between and Lara and Tendulkar was the most awaited one of the tournament even though the two had locked horns last year in the opening match of the series.
Chasing 219 to win, the Windies were restricted to 206 for 6 in 20 overs by India. Needing 24 in 12 balls, Indian seamers R Vinay Kumar and Irfan Pathan bowled their heart out to help India win.
Earlier, riding on Tendulkar’s half-century and Yuvraj’s entertaining 20-ball 49 not out — comprising of six sixes and a four — saw India score 218 for three in 20 overs.
Other than Tendulkar and Yuraj’s crucial knocks, Sehwag (35), Yusuf Pathan (37) and Mohd Kaif (27) contributed with the bat, too. India was off to a rollicking start with Sehwag taking on the attack from ball one by driving left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn through covers. It was no stopping for Sehwag who was in an attacking mood while Tendulkar took his time but the Multan of Sultan got out in the sixth over.
Later, Tendulkar — continuing from the last game — cracked another half-century. He also had a 53-run partnership with Kaif before the latter was dismissed by Ryan Austin.
On course for a century, Tendulkar chipped Best’s full delivery which went to Kirk Edwards, who came up with a brilliant effort at deep point. Yuvraj and Yusuf, later, destroyed the Windies attack in the death overs with some big hits.
The stylish south-paw slammed six sixes in the last two overs. The 19th over saw Yuvraj hit leggie Mahendra Nagamootoo for four hits over the rope while the next two came in the last over off Suleiman Benn. Despite those big hits, Yuvraj was stranded on 49. (ANI)

London [UK], March 18 (ANI): Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel said the victory over Atletico Madrid was a deserved one before adding that his side “adapted to any system the opponent played”.
Chelsea are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the second-leg match here on Thursday.
Hakim Ziyech and Emerson scored one goal each in the match to power the Premier League side into the quarter-finals of the competition. In the first-leg match, Chelsea had registered a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
“It was a very good performance. We go through and that was deserved. It was an unbelievable team effort from the guys on the pitch, the guys on the bench and even the guys in the stands! It was a really big win for us and a deserved win. The amount of effort and intensity from the team in both legs was outstanding and incredible,” the club’s official website quoted Tuchel as saying.
“We missed four key players but everybody else stepped up so I’m very happy. There were moments when we were excellent with the ball, we had brave and courageous defending, and adapted to any system the opponent played. It was a big win, a deserved win and I’m super happy for my players,” he added.
Ziyech scored in the 34th minute before Emerson added another goal to Chelsea’s tally in the 90+4th minute. Interestingly, Chelsea have conceded just two goals in 13 games in all competitions since Tuchel took over on January 26.
In the Premier League, Tuchel’s men are placed on the fourth spot on the table with 51 points from 29 games. The table is topped by Manchester City, who have amassed 71 points from 30 games. (ANI)