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Pakistan, Bangladesh share points after washout
Match abandoned without a ball bowled Pakistan vs Bangladesh
Steady rain fell all afternoon at the stadium, with no opportunity for the covers to come off at any point. The match was called off at 3.27pm local time, just under an hour-and-a-half after the scheduled start time.
Only one match now remains in Group A, with India taking on New Zealand in Dubai on March 2 in a clash that determines who finishes top of the group. Both teams are already through to the semi-finals.
For the record, Bangladesh (-0.443) finish the tournament above Pakistan (-1.087) on net run rate.
Pakistan's next assignment is a white-ball tour of New Zealand later this month, comprising five T20Is and three ODIs. Bangladesh, meanwhile, are set to host Zimbabwe for three ODIs and three T20Is.
Kerala fight back after Malewar 153 takes Vidarbha to 379
Kerala 131 for 3 (Sarwate 66*, Imran 37, Nalkande 2-22) trail Vidarbha 379 (Malewar 153, Nair 86, Nidheesh 3-61, Apple Tom 3-102) by 248 runs
Vidarbha, finalists from the previous edition, did post a challenging total, though. Nachiket Bhute, who came in at No. 11, scored a crucial 32 off 38 balls. The 44-run stand between Bhute and Harsh Dubey for the tenth wicket extended the first session from its scheduled two-and-a-half-hour duration to three hours and took Vidarbha to 379.
The day started with Vidarbha on 254 for 4 and runs flew early on. Thakur flicked the first ball of the day to the midwicket boundary and the fifth ball of the next over to the square-leg boundary. Nidheesh found some swing and adjusted his lengths to keep batters in check, but Apple Tom's lines were inconsistent and he was driven when he bowled full.
Vidarbha slowed down after the introduction of Basil as he offered Nidheesh support and his team control. The latter induced an outside edge off Thakur in the 95th over but it didn't carry to gully. In the next one, Basil got one to nip back and smash Malewar's stumps to end his innings on 153.
Bassil removed the other set batter, Yash Thakur. He angled in a full ball from wide of the crease to beat Thakur on the flick and pin him lbw.
Apple Tom's return in the next over was rewarded with the wicket of Yash Rathod, who is Vidarbha's highest run-getter in this so far. A length ball from around the wicket straightened off the pitch, took the edge and was caught at first slip as Vidarbha slumped to 297 for 7.
The Yashes were gone, but the two Akshays - Wadkar and Karnewar - kept the innings afloat with a 36-run stand for the eighth wicket. Wadkar punched Basil through cover off the back foot, and Karnewar picked up a streaky boundary each off Apple Tom and Basil.
The Yashes were gone, but the two Akshays - Wadkar and Karnewar - kept the innings afloat with a 36-run stand for the eighth wicket. Wadkar punched Basil through cover off the back foot, and Karnewar picked up a streaky boundary each off Apple Tom and Basil. Wadkar carved a six just over deep-backward point off Nidheesh before a streaky boundary came in the form of leg byes.
The stand was broken when Rohan Kunnummal took a sharp, low catch at cover to dismiss Karnewar. In what was supposed to be the final over before lunch, Wadkar went for a powerful cut but the length ball from Apple Tom seamed away, took the edge and led to a caught behind.
Bhute smashed two sixes off Saxena, the first of which took Vidarbha past 350. Dubey, his partner, was comfortable as he rotated strike and swept Saxena for four. The stand went past the 35-over session, which yielded 119 runs and five wickets, but ended 13 balls later as Bhute was out caught behind off Nidheesh while trying to run a back-of--good-length ball to deep third.
More to follow
Ekanth is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo
Ex-Tigers coach Hudson to replace Taylor at Sale
Former Leicester Tigers coach Tom Hudson will take over at Premiership Women's Rugby rivals Sale Sharks at the end of the season.
The 30-year-old will succeed former Wales captain Rachel Taylor, who confirmed in January she would step down as head coach at the end of this campaign.
Hudson's own departure from Leicester was confirmed at a similar time. He has been Tigers head coach for a year, having been promoted from within the ranks.
"I grew up in Heaton Moor, I was part of the DPP and Sale Sharks is my family club so I'm really excited to be coming back to a club, a city and a region that means so much to me," said Hudson.
"This club has so much potential and if we can build on the brilliant work that's gone before, and add to the talented group we've already got, then I know we can create a winning culture and something that young girls in the north aspire to be a part of."
"Tom is one of the brightest young coaches in the game and he has done wonders with the programme at Leicester in his two years there," said former England captain Katy Daley-Mclean, who is now Sale Sharks Women's programme lead .
Sale have also added Charlie Beckett, who played alongside Hudson at Gloucester during the pair's playing days, as defence coach. The 29-year-old has spent the last season as assistant coach at Loughborough Lightning.
Scrum coach Luke Stratford, who worked with Hudson at Leicester, also makes the switch to Sale.
Sale Sharks finished bottom of the PWR table, recording only one win in their 16 matches.
England Under-18s to 'Small Black', via four lost stone
Rowland's initial weight loss came during the Covid lockdown. Unable to dislodge the likes of Yann Thomas and Jake Woolmore in the first team, he had been released by Bristol.
Without access to weights, but with a desire to keep fit, he started running every day.
When restrictions eased and he met up with friends again, Rowland's body shape had changed so dramatically, they thought he was ill.
Rowland felt the opposite.
"The weight just flew off me and I felt so much better," he says. "I had more energy - I did have to sell my whole wardrobe though and buy new clothes!"
In 2021, he moved to a new country as well, taking advantage of the New Zealand passport he has through his mother.
In a different hemisphere, things turned upside-down.
Where once he was piling on pounds any which way he could, now he has to be mindful of passing a weigh-in a couple of hours before matches.
Some players will, like boxers, shed weight in saunas the night before, tip the scales and then wolf down carbohydrate-heavy food in the dressing room.
Cramps can creep up on those who misjudge their pre-match routine.
When the New Zealand under-85kg team play their first match, it won't be an issue though. At least not for Rowland and his Small Blacks team-mates.
Their two matches against the full Sri Lanka national team (ranked 40th in the world) in Kandy and Colombo are being played at a catchweight.
A cap of 105kg (16st 7lb) has been applied to ensure there isn't a dangerous discrepancy between the hosts and tourists.
"It will be interesting to see if we'll be able to kind of hold our own, obviously being a bit lighter than that," says Rowland.
Weight-restricted rugby's potential for growth may be mostly at the grassroots level, retaining players who feel that, while rugby is a game for all sizes, they would prefer a format with more evenly matched physiques.
"There would be definitely a pocket of players who would really kind of enjoy this grade of rugby. I think it's only going to be good for the game, and keep people playing," says Rowland.
"I think it's an idea that would go pretty well in Europe as well."
If it does, there are long-term hopes of staging a weight-restricted World Cup.
Rowland, who watched former team-mate Smith in action at Eden Park against the All Blacks in July, could, in theory, have a black-and-white decision to make; whether to turn out for England or New Zealand.
"Tough, tough question," he smiles.
Probably still not as tough as that sixth meal of the day though.
Arsenal expect Saka, Martinelli return in April
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he hopes to have wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli back from injury when they host Fulham on April 1 after the club's misfiring attack cost them more points in the Premier League title race on Wednesday.
Saka and Martinelli are still recovering from hamstring issues, while injured forwards Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are out for the season.
Arsenal's makeshift attack struggled to make any impact in their shock 1-0 home loss to West Ham on Saturday and they were held to a goalless draw at third-placed Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Arteta said that even if Saka and Martinelli return for Arsenal's first match after the international break the pair would need to be closely monitored.
"I think so, but again let's see how they evolve in the next few weeks to make the right steps," he told reporters.
"After that, they've been out for a long, long time, so we're going to have to integrate them as well gradually. They are evolving well but they're still a bit far.
"We have a meeting tomorrow to discuss where they are, especially Gabi, who probably has a chance before Bukayo to come in, but how soon that is, we'll have to see how it evolves in the next week or 10 days."
Arsenal remain second after the draw at Forest but have fallen 13 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Arteta will now turn his attention to PSV Eindhoven for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday and must quickly find a solution for their goal-scoring woes.
"We have another day or two now to think before the PSV game, all the options that we have especially against a team that is in a low block," Arteta said.
Wilson bides her time in Australia's tight wicketkeeping race
While Faltum is not expected to play given Beth Mooney will wear the gloves, the selection is a clear eye to the future for life after Healy and eventually Mooney.
Selectors admitted on Wednesday it had been a tight race, with Wilson and West Australian wicketkeeper Maddy Darke unlucky to miss out.
Her recent scores of 112 not and 142 have helped take New South Wales to Sunday's final against Queensland, where they will attempt to win their first title in six years.
Wilson said she had not heard from chief selector Shawn Flegler about the decision, but remained positive on her long-term prospects.
"I haven't actually heard anything around that, but I'm sure over the next few weeks, I will try and get into contact to see what's going on," Wilson said. "Probably a few months ago now, I was in touch with Shawn Flegler around what my role is and where he sees me going into the future.
"It's definitely all positive. I definitely think the race was tight, and Nic definitely just got the nod over me this time. Every time something like that comes out, obviously you want to be the one to be in that position, but at the same time I think Nic's had a pretty good season as well."
When asked about Faltum's selection on Wednesday, Flegler pointed to her T20 form in the WBBL, wicketkeeping and Australia A output. Faltum has also made scores of 90, 82 and 52 in recent weeks for Victoria in the WNCL, and has long been identified as one of the next players in line.
With Faltum and Wilson both aged 25 and Darke 23, the time is right for the trio to press claims given Healy is now aged 34 and Mooney 31.
"I remember talking to Alyssa Healy, probably last year," Wilson recalled. "She said, 'you know what, you're actually the prime age because obviously I'm a little bit older than you'. She said, 'just keep sticking at it and you'll probably come around at the right time'.
"So I feel like it's awesome I'm scoring runs now, and that's probably helping me stay on their radar ... one day, hopefully, we'll make it."
Briton Burrage suffers Tomljanovic loss at ATX Open
Great Britain's Jodie Burrage suffered defeat to Ajla Tomljanovic as she was knocked out of the ATX Open in Austin, Texas at the last-16 stage.
The British player, who had beaten Petra Kvitova in the previous round, started strongly before losing 4-6 6-3 6-0 to the Australian.
Burrage, ranked 189, broke Tomljanovic, who is 111 in the world, in the seventh game and that proved to be enough for her to take the opening set.
The 25-year-old's serve in the win against Kvitova was key as she sent down 14 aces and she produced six aces in the first set against Tomljanovic.
However, Burrage was broken in the fourth game of the second set when she served a double fault to go 3-1 down.
She applied plenty of pressure in trying to retrieve the break but Tomljanovic, 31, held her nerve to serve out for the second set.
The decider was a one-sided affair as Burrage cut a frustrated figure as she failed to win a game.
New Zealander Clayton McMillan will become Munster's new head coach this summer with the Chiefs boss signing a three-year deal at Thomond Park.
The Irish province have been under the interim control of Ian Costello since Graham Rowntree departed in October.
Costello will now move into a newly created general manager position with attack coach Mike Prendergast becoming senior coach.
McMillan, who will arrive in July, became head coach at the Chiefs in 2021 and guided the side to three Super Rugby finals in four seasons.
He has also coached the Maori All Blacks and an All Blacks XV.
"I am humbled to be given the opportunity to lead Munster, an iconic club steeped in history," he told the province's official website.
"Leading the All Blacks XV against Munster last year gave me insight into the immense pride and passion of the club's players, staff and wider rugby community. It was an incredible atmosphere and left a lasting impression.
"I am excited by the club's ambition and core values. They align strongly with my own, and I look forward to joining the team in July."
Munster are fifth in the United Rugby Championship and face La Rochelle in the Champions Cup last-16 in April.
Dixon, ONeill, Michaelian To Be Inducted Into Long Beach Walk Of Fame
LONG BEACH, Calif. Scott Dixon, Jim Michaelian and Beverly ONeill are this years honorees for the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame.
The honorees will be inducted during a public ceremony taking place Thursday, April 10, ahead of the 50th Anniversary Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 11-13.
As the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach turns 50, we are not just celebrating the spirit of the racing worldwe are honoring the legends who helped shape it, said Mayor Rex Richardson. It is a privilege to welcome this years esteemed honorees to the Motorsports Walk of Fame and pay tribute to their incredible achievements and the lasting impact they have had on Long Beach and the racing community.
Dixon, Michaelian and ONeill will be inducted into the Walk of Fame during a free, open-to-the-public ceremony at 11 a.m. in front of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on South Pine Avenue. During the ceremony, each honoree will unveil a 22-inch bronze medallion featuring renditions of their iconic cars and descriptions of their major achievements, enshrining their contributions to motorsports on the Walk of Fame.
We are honored to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach by recognizing Scott, Jim and Beverly for their wonderful contributions to the world of motorsports, said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. With these beautifully crafted medallions in the heart of our scenic Downtown shoreline, their legacies will live on and inspire the racing community for generations to come.
What Scott, Jim, and Beverly have accomplished inspires us all, said Second District Councilwoman Cindy Allen. With this prestigious honor, we are proud to celebrate their exceptional achievements and recognize their lasting impact on the motorsports community and beyond.
Six-time NTT IndyCar series champion and defending Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach winner Dixon is entering his 25th season racing in the IndyCar Series, the past 24 of which have been with Chip Ganassi Racing, the longest tenure for a driver in team history. Dixon has 58 career wins, second in series history behind only A.J. Foyt (67). His six championships are also the second-most, trailing only Foyt (seven).
Its an honor to be added to the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame, said Dixon. The first time I came here was 1999 in Indy Lights. Its always a marquee event. There are not many events on any schedule that people can celebrate like this. I think what we really enjoy as drivers and teams is the atmosphere.
This place is wild. Its got a lot of energy. Its a lot of fun. Hopefully the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda team can get another victory there this season.
President and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, LLC (GPALB) since 2001, Jim Michaelian has been involved with the organization since its inception in 1975, serving in a number of functional areas including finance, operations and marketing.
In his current capacity, Michaelian is responsible for the overall management of the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach as well as its subsidiary, Grand Prix Special Events, which specializes in temporary structure rentals for such events as the Academy Awards, Rose Parade, Electric Daisy Carnival, Emmy Awards and various other events.
It truly was a surprise and an honor to be included in this years Motorsports Walk of Fame, said Michaelian. When we started this event back in 2006, it was for the purpose of recognizing those who had achieved success here in Long Beach as well as at other major racing venues around the world. Im very humbled to now be included with these venerable icons of the racing world.
ONeill was born and raised in Long Beach, the city she often said she loved. After a 31-year career in education culminating in five years as president/superintendent of Long Beach City College, Beverly was elected Mayor of Long Beach in 1994. She was the first big city mayor to win a third term through a write-in campaign, serving 12 years.
Editors Note: In a nod to our 90 years of history, each week SPEED SPORT will look back at the top stories from 15, 30 and 60 years ago as told in the pages of National Speed Sport News.
15 Years Ago 2010
News: One of the most successful relationships in auto racing history ended as Philip Morris is
no longer the sponsor of Team Penske in the IZOD IndyCar Series.
In order to satisfy a ban on tobacco sponsorship in the United States that was originally instituted by the Attorneys General of various states in 2000, known as the Master Agreement, the final part of that ban goes into effect in June. And while Marlboro decals have not been on the Penske cars since that team left CART at the end of 2001 and joined the IndyCar Series full time in 2002, the paint scheme itself was enough to remind race fans of a pack of Marlboro cigarettes.
Feb. 23 marked the first official day of a new paint scheme one that is predominantly black with red striping along with some white on the top of the car.
This marks the end of an era, said Team Penske President Tim Cindric. When I look at the red-and-white era of Team Penske, this is the first time since 1990 that our team hasnt had the red-and-white colors. There are a lot of changes for us internally, but hopefully we will represent ourselves with the same success that weve had before.
Philip Morris will no longer sponsor the Team Penske cars and this is the first time that we
Havent had a Marlboro association since 1990.
For two decades, the red-and-white paint scheme at Team Penske represented excellence in auto racing. It was the famed Marlboro paint scheme, which originally was used in Formula 1, but as sponsor Philip Morris increased its involved in CART in the mid-19805 before joining
Penske in 1990 the mere site of race cars with that paint scheme meant winning.
Winners: Despite a miscue on the original start. Justin Marks recovered nicely to easily win the
rain-shortened Tire Kingdom 150 ARCA Racing Series event Saturday afternoon at Palm Beach lntl Raceway.
Polesitter Casey Roderick and Marks brought the 34-car field to the green flag on the 2.25-mile road course and Marks locked up the brakes entering the chicane on the front chute and six cars slid off course together. nose to tail with all able to continue with minimal damage.
With the shuffling of the field Mikey Kile set the early pace over Steve Arpin and Joey Coulter but threatening skies delivered the anticipated light rain by lap three.
A full-course yellow flag waved on lap eight and most of the field ducked onto pit road on lap 10 for new Hoosier rain tires the first time the ARCA tour ever raced on the deeply grooved soft rubber.
When the green flag waved again it was still Kile in front. but young rookie Roderick had Bill Elliotts Dodge on the move to take the point on lap 15. By lap 25 Rob Brent had moved by Kile for second with Frank Kimmel, Coulter, Marks, rookie Blake Koch and Tom Hessert in tow.
Despite the continued wet conditions, Brent kept the pressure on Roderick and moved to the front on lap 30. The second full-course yellow flag waved on lap 34 for a couple of cars that had run off course with most of the field heading for pit road for gas and fresh rain rubber. Roderick was out front once again and at the lap-40 mark the order Roderick, Marks. Koch and Brent.
Marks had the hammer down and rocketed past Roderick on lap 43 and quickly had a five-car length advantage. but just five laps later Roderick was finished with transmission failure.
On lap 55, Marks and Koch hit pit road for fuel only with Brent staying out.
Once back on track Marks was a man on a mission as he ran down Brent and pulled away to an 18-second lead with 10 laps remaining as the rain went from a drizzle to a steady downpour and the field was forced to slow due to standing water on the track surface.
At lap 70. ARCA officials declared the race complete, five laps short of the advertised distance with Marks the victor in front of Brent, local driver Koch, Hessert and Arpin.
30 Years Ago 1995
News: Bruton Smith has always been known as an auto racing visionary and one who does things in a big way. Smith hit a bulls-eye in both areas last Tuesday as he announced a north Ft. Worth location for his new $75 million Texas Motor Speedway.
Smith finally settled on a 1,600-acre site near Alliance Airport, 15 miles north of downtown Ft. Worth for the nations newest superspeedway.
But in addition to naming the winning site from the three locations considered, the numbers involved with the facility are mindboggling.
Texas Motor Speedway will include a 1.5-mile tri-oval boasting 24-degree banked turns and a 2.5-mile oval/infield road course. The 150,000 seats planned for the initial construction will make the facility the second largest sporting venue in the world, trailing only the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, according to Smith.
Phase II of construction will encircle the entire track with seating that will eventually total 270,000, just shy of Indys nearly 300,000 seating.
Also planned are 205 skyboxes to accomodate 14,000, by far the largest number of luxury
suites at any sporting facility. Smiths choice of the airport-area property, owned by Ross Perot Jr., ended speculation as to where the Charlotte and Atlanta Motor Speedways head would site
his new venture. A southeast Dallas parcel and one in Grand Prairie, west of Dallas, were the others most prominently mentioned. But one plus that the Alliance Airport property offers is access.
The access is perhaps the biggest thing, Smith told the attendees. In addition to great road systems, Alliance offers the chance to land as many as 1,000 private planes so close to the track that guests could then walk to the race.
Perot led the development of Alliance as a major airport for commercial use. American Airlines located a major maintenance facility there.
Other than the huge AA hangar and support buildings for the airport, the TMS site is completely rural.
Winners: The story of Sundays Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota was Eliseo Salazars tunnel vision, and the fast pit work of Jacques Villeneuves crew.
The first put Michael Andretti, the early race leader, out of action while the second left the French Canadian at the head of the field after the dust settled following Andrettis departure. Villeneuve stayed there until the finish of the 90-lap, 164.619-mile contest.
In all, the PPG IndyCar World Series opener was under yellow a total of seven times for 28 laps, as the 1.829-mile course proved as slippery as a skating rink. Although no one was injured in
what were a succession of minor skirmishes with the downtown Bicentennial Park circuits concrete barriers and tire walls, the yellows did have a major effect on the outcome.
It was on the third restart that leader Andretti tried to slip his Kmart Texaco-backed Newman Haas team Lola L T15 Ford underneath Salazars similar Dick Simon-owned Cristal Mobil 1 Copec entry.
Whether or not Salazar saw Andretti, he moved as if to give the then-race leader room to pass, then moved back to his right, crowding Andretti, causing his Kmart entrys right front wheel into the concrete. Andretti managed to keep going in the lead for 21 more laps. But, his day was then done as the lower right front wishbone finally cracked. putting him out of the race.
That left the surprisingly fast sophomore Maurico Gugelmin and his PacWest team Ford Reynard R951 in the lead with Villeneuves Players Ltd. cigarettess ponsored R951 Ford in second.
On the following exchange of pit stops, however, it was Villeneuve who came out first with Gugelmln second. And, while Gugelmin tried hard, and while several more yellows gave him the opportunity to turn things around, Villeneuve wasnt about to be displaced.
In the end, the Players driver crossed the Une 1.02 seconds to the good, having averaged 82.801 miles per hour for the distance. Third, about another second behind, was Bobby Rahal in his Miller Genuine Draft Lola L T95 Mercedes.
60 Years Ago 1965
News: Arnold Knepper of Belleville, Ill., one of the most improved drivers in USAC competition last season, this week became the second rookie assured of a car for the 49th annual 500-mile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 31.
He will be at the wheel of the Konstant Hot Special, an Offenhauser- powered roadster entered by Tassi Vatis of Vatis Enterprises, Inc., New York, N.Y.
Knepper, who started his racing career in midget competition, made several appearances in the sprint car and championship events during the summer of 1963 and campaigned as a regular in both divisions throughout 1964. He earned seventh-place ranking among all sprint car drivers and finished 16th in the national big car point standings.
His 1964 sprint car record shows 17 starts and he collected points in all but two of the races, finishing sixth or better eight times.
In the big car division, he was particularly consistent on the one-mile dirt tracks, where he started five times. He placed fifth at Langhorne, sixth in the Hoosier Hundred, seventh at Springfield, 10th at DuQuoin and 11th at Sacramento. He also qualified for four races on one-mile paved ovals.
Winners: Junior Johnson, who changed ten wheels at strategic times wheeled his 1965 Ford to victory in the 125-mile Richmond 250 Sunday almost a lap ahead of second-place Buck Baker in a 1964 wedge Dodge.
The Ronda, N.C., driver, who see-sawed in and out of the lead, made several pit stops for tires under the many caution flags.
Many times he made his stops in installments so as not to lose a lap on the field. He would then roar up at the tall end of the short field behind the pace car, ready to race when the green flag came out.
- T. Putney, Arden, S.C., was third in a 1965 Chevrolet, six laps behind the leaders and fourth place went to Bob Derrington of Houston in a 64 Ford completing only 237 of the 250 laps.
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