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Big scores aplenty but match ends in a draw

Published in Cricket
Friday, 17 May 2019 10:54

Gloucestershire 463 (Bracey 152, Higgins 103) and 137 for 6 (Howell 44) drew with Glamorgan 250 (Hemphrey 60, Wagg 50) and 481 for 8 dec (Selman 140, Labuschagne 137, Hemphrey 58)

Glamorgan fought back so well after they were asked to follow on 213 runs adrift at the start of the third day, that it was Gloucestershire who had to defend and avoid defeat at the end of an absorbing championship game at Spytty Park in Newport.

Glamorgan batted so well in their second innings, they had the luxury of declaring and setting the visitors a target, and with the visitors at one stage faltering at 41 for 4 in the 13th over they would have had visions of an improbable victory.

Glamorgan began the final day on 359 for 1, with Nicholas Selman and Marnus Labuschagne going on to achieve career-best scores. Selman, though, only added two more runs to his overnight score before edging David Payne to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick for 150.

Labuschagne went to score 137 before padding up to a ball from Matt Taylor that nipped back off the seam. There was more assistance for the seamers on the final day as the ball moved off the pitch while the cloud cover also assisted swing.

Only Graham Wagg offered resistance towards the end of the innings and when Glamorgan declared on 481 for 8, Wagg was undefeated on 25. The declaration required Gloucestershire to score at fractionally over five runs an over, but batting was not as straightforward as it had been in the first innings.

Timm van der Gugten struck with his first ball and the seventh of the innings when Chris Dent was caught low at slip, and with Marchant de Lange bowling at a brisk pace at the other end, Gloucestershire lost their second wicket when Miles Hammond edged to the substitute wicketkeeper Tom Cullen.

James Bracey, who scored 152 in the first innings, began confidently by striking four boundaries, but then succumbed to a rash shot when he slashed at a wide delivery from Wagg and was caught at second slip.

Two runs later, Kieran Bull's off-spin accounted for George Hankins, who was bowled by a ball that turned from the rough and reduce the visitors to 41 for 4. Glamorgan were then thwarted by Gareth Roderick and Benny Howell, who shared 62 for the fifth wicket but - more importantly - were together for 22 overs.

The partnership was broken by Bull, who had Howell well caught at slip by Lloyd diving forward, and Ryan Higgins almost went next ball when Labuschagne just failed to hold on at bat-pad.

Glamorgan needed to take five more wickets in the final 16 overs and, with the ball turning for Bull and Labuschagne, the spinners assumed control with Labuschagne dismissing Roderick, who had faced 86 balls for 19.

Higgins and Graeme van Burren held out for the final 8.5 overs, but Glamorgan would have been heartened by their battling performance before their next championship game, which starts at Derby on Sunday.

Jason Roy had to overcome a lack of sleep and concerns about his new-born daughter to make a match-winning century against Pakistan.

Roy made 114 - the eighth century of his ODI career - to help England to the fourth highest successful run-chase in their ODI history at Trent Bridge; a result that gives them an unassailable 3-0 series win.

But afterwards Roy revealed he had spent much of the night in hospital after his daughter, Everly, was taken ill and managed only a couple of hours' sleep. While Everly, who is seven weeks old, is understood to be out of danger, Roy returned to be by her hospital bedside immediately after the game.

And while he admitted it "was not the most fluent innings of my life," Roy described it as "a special" performance in testing circumstances.

"I had a bit of a rough morning, so this one is a special one for me and my family," Roy told the BBC. "It was my little one. We had to take her to hospital at 1.30 in the morning.

"I stayed there until 8.30 and came back for a couple of hours sleep. I got to the ground just before warm-up and cracked on. It was a very emotional hundred."

Meanwhile Jos Buttler - captain in place of the suspended Eoin Morgan - expressed his confidence in England's run-chase despite their apparently challenging total.

"I thought the bowling unit did a great job to keep them to 340," he said. "As daft as it sounds, I didn't think 340 seemed such a vast score on a wicket like that with a very fast outfield and small boundaries.

"The strength of the batting line-up has been a big plus for us overs the past few years. Jason played fantastically well and it is great to watch him in full flow.

"We had four really poor overs with some soft dismissals, but Ben Stokes played fantastically well and for him to soak up that pressure and play so well will give him a lot of confidence."

England were also grateful for some flawed fielding from the Pakistan side, too. As well as several dropped chances, the ground fielding cost Pakistan at least a dozen runs while Tom Curran survived a run-out chance on 6. Curran, running for overthrows after a direct hit had removed one bail from the stumps but sent the ball ricocheting into space, might have been run out had Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, appealed when removing the remaining bail as Curran attempted to complete a second run.

The Laws were updated a couple of years ago so that instead of removing a stump from the ground in such circumstances, only the remaining bail needs to be removed. Curran went on to make an important 31.

"We had enough runs on the board," Sarfaraz said. "If we had fielded well, we would have won this game.

"The only thing we can do is work hard. Over the last year-and-a-half our fielding has been much improved, but in these three matches it is a concern for us.

"I've seen a replay of the run-out. I thought both bails came off and, if the third umpire saw on TV, hopefully he would tell the on-field umpires. But we didn't appeal."

ST. LOUIS -- The San Jose Sharks have been quite good in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. They hold a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference finals against the St. Louis Blues. They have won two Game 7s, are averaging 3.29 goals per game and have the playoffs' leading scorer, Logan Couture.

They've also been lucky. Some would argue really lucky.

Just don't use the L-word around the Sharks.

"It irks me when you use words like that because this team has played four or five elimination games. Not moments -- games," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said Friday. "Twelve to 15 periods of elimination hockey against Vegas, against Colorado in Game 7, so I think it's a ridiculous statement.

"You know what? We've found a way. And we've faced a lot of adversity. We've had calls go against us and we've had calls go for us, and we're still standing. For anybody to minimize that, I think is disrespectful to our group and what we've done."

San Jose rallied in Game 7 against the Golden Knights in Round 1, thanks to a five-minute major penalty called on Vegas forward Cody Eakin that could have been a two-minute minor. The NHL apologized to Vegas for the error, and the officials who worked that game haven't worked again in the playoffs.

There was a coach's challenge in Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche in Round 2, where Gabriel Landeskog was ruled offside while changing at the bench -- a rare, although correct, call. On Wednesday, there was the hand pass by Timo Meier that all four officials missed in overtime and led to Erik Karlsson's game-winning goal.

"I don't know if there's ever been a lucky team who's won," Sharks forward Evander Kane said. "I think at the end of the day, it boils down to finding ways to win, and every team goes through adversity throughout the course of the playoffs. We've battled throughout these playoffs. There's been a lot of different types of scenarios that haven't gone our way that we've been able to push through and find a way to be successful."

Forward Gustav Nyquist said that even if the breaks the Sharks have gotten could be considered lucky, they still had to take advantage of them -- or in the case of Game 3 against the Blues, put themselves in position to benefit from them.

"I wouldn't say we're lucky," said Nyquist. "[Against Vegas], our first-unit power play executed that to perfection. They scored four goals in five minutes. In Game 3, [Couture] comes up clutch and ties the game. We battle through. We know we're never out of a game until it's over."

Center Tomas Hertl said it agitates him when the team's accomplishments are minimized as a product of good fortune.

"We're battling. We had two seven-game series. We're battling through a lot of ups and downs," he said. "I don't think it's lucky. We just work for it. I don't care what everybody's saying. We deserve to win. I don't like 'lucky' overall. If you work for it, you deserve it."

Koepka shatters 36-hole major record with 128

Published in Breaking News
Friday, 17 May 2019 17:04

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Brooks Koepka has a big lead at the PGA Championship and another entry in the major championship record book.

Koepka birdied three of his final four holes Friday for a 5-under 65 to shatter the 36-hole record in all four majors. He was at 12-under 128, breaking the mark of 130 set at the Masters by Jordan Spieth, the U.S. Open by Martin Kaymer, the British Open by Nick Faldo and Brandt Snedeker, and the PGA Championship by Gary Woodland.

Still to be determined was the size of his lead, which most likely would be another PGA Championship record.

Tiger Woods witnessed it all, but that's all Woods will see at Bethpage Black. He shot a 73 and will miss the cut. It's the first time Woods has missed the cut at a major in the same year he won a major since 2006.

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Tiger Woods will miss the cut at the PGA Championship, the first time he has done so in his career at a major championship following a major victory.

Woods followed up his roller-coaster round of 72 on Thursday with a three-over 73 on Friday, putting him 5 over for the tournament and missing the cut by one stroke.

"Made too many mistakes, and just didn't do the little things I needed to do," Woods said. "I had a couple three-putts, I didn't hit wedges close, didn't hit any fairways today. Did a lot of little things wrong."

Woods won the Masters last month, his 15th major title and first since the 2008 U.S. Open. But after taking the last month off, Woods never looked sharp at Bethpage Black, where he won the 2002 U.S. Open. A run of three straight bogeys to start the back nine doomed him to a weekend off for the first time since the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock. He shot 73 to finish at 145, 5 over par.

"I'm the Masters champion, and I'm 43 years old," Woods said. "And that's a pretty good accomplishment."

For Woods, it is just the 19th missed cut of his professional career on the PGA Tour (20 worldwide). For perspective, tournament leader Brooks Koepka, 29, has missed 18. It was Woods' ninth missed cut in a major.

"I just wasn't moving the way I needed to, and -- just the way it goes," Woods said. "There are gonna be days and weeks where it's just not gonna work, and today was one of those days."

After an opening-round 72, Woods needed to shoot no worse than 2 over par to make the cut and seemed in decent shape after a birdie at the ninth hole. But Woods hit just one fairway over the first nine holes and that inaccuracy off the tee cost him as he continued to miss them on the back nine. He ended up hitting just three for the round.

Woods, ranked sixth in the world, is expected to play the Memorial Tournament in two weeks prior to next month's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

"There's no reason why I can't get up to speed again, and crank it back up," Woods said. "But I gotta start feeling a little bit better first before that happens. We'll do that first, and I'll start cranking it back up again."

The Lakers have decided they will not hire a president of basketball operations to replace Magic Johnson, a team source told ESPN.

General manager Rob Pelinka will continue in his role, reporting directly to ownership, the source said. Pelinka had previously reported to Johnson.

Johnson abruptly stepped down from his position on April 9 as the Lakers were preparing to play their final regular-season game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Lakers president and controlling owner Jeanie Buss issued a statement saying the team would "work in a measured and methodical fashion to make the right moves for the future of our organization."

Buss considered several options after Johnson's departure, including replacing him, the source said. However, she has since decided to continue with Pelinka as her top basketball decision-maker.

"My role as the GM right now is the same as it was when we selected Lonzo Ball with the second pick, which is our last high pick," Pelinka said earlier this week when asked if his responsibilities and role have changed since Johnson stepped down. "My role hasn't changed since then."

Kurt Rambis will remain as a special advisor.

Tyreke Evans disqualified from NBA for 2 years

Published in Basketball
Friday, 17 May 2019 15:01

The NBA announced Friday that guard Tyreke Evans has been dismissed and disqualified from the league for violating the terms of the NBA/National Basketball Players Association anti-drug program.

Under the program, he is eligible to apply for reinstatement in two years.

Evans, 29, played for the Indiana Pacers this season, averaging 10.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 20.3 minutes per game. He was due to become a free agent this offseason.

The Pacers said they were informed Friday of Evans' discipline.

"We take these matters seriously and will reach out to Tyreke to offer our support," the team said in a statement.

Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard declined further comment at the NBA draft combine in Chicago.

According to the NBA's guidelines, a player can be dismissed and disqualified from the league for testing positive for a drug of abuse, or if he is convicted of or pleads guilty to the use, possession or distribution of a drug of abuse.

Among players who have been banned under the policy, the most recent are O.J. Mayo and Chris Andersen. Others include Roy Tarpley, Richard Dumas, Micheal Ray Richardson, Lewis Lloyd, Duane Washington and Stanley Roberts, many of whom were eventually reinstated.

A player can be reinstated only with the approval of both the NBA and the players' association.

Evans has played 10 seasons in the NBA and was Rookie of the Year in 2010. He was drafted by the Sacramento Kings out of Memphis with the fourth overall pick in 2009. He has also played for the New Orleans Pelicans and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Evans sat out one game early in the season for violating team rules and issued an apology then for being late to practice. He also missed three games late in the year due to personal reasons and a respiratory infection.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Giants reinstate Posey from concussion list

Published in Baseball
Friday, 17 May 2019 14:54

The San Francisco Giants reinstated catcher Buster Posey from the concussion list Friday.

Posey went on the list May 9, but he said the injury occurred against the Cincinnati Reds on May 5, when a foul ball hit his helmet.

"They are going to take extra time to find out how I am," Posey said when he went on the list. "When they examined me, they felt I should have felt more normal after three days. When you are dealing with the brain, you've got to be cautious."

The six-time All-Star and 2012 National League MVP is batting .245 with two home runs and 13 RBIs for the Giants.

It's Posey's second time on the concussion list. He missed seven games because of a concussion in 2017. Manager Bruce Bochy said the team is being more vigilant because Posey, 32, has suffered multiple concussions in his career.

Cards activate Carlos Martinez, cut Gregerson

Published in Baseball
Friday, 17 May 2019 17:19

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The St. Louis Cardinals have activated Carlos Martinez from the injured list after the right-hander missed the first 44 games of the season because of a strained right shoulder cuff.

The club also designated veteran right-hander Luke Gregerson for assignment before Friday's interleague game at the Texas Rangers while recalling rookie reliever Ryan Helsley from Triple-A Memphis and sending down right-hander Dominic Leone.

Martinez was a two-time All-Star as a starter for St. Louis before making 18 of his 33 appearances out of the bullpen last season. The 27-year-old is expected to be used as a reliever.

It is the second time Helsley has been brought up from the minors this season. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings over three appearances in his first stint.

Gregerson, a 35-year-old who hadn't pitched since last July when he was activated May 4 coming off right shoulder impingement, allowed five runs and 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings in six relief appearances. Leone has an 8.02 ERA in 20 games out of the bullpen.

First-place Twins put Cruz on IL with wrist injury

Published in Baseball
Friday, 17 May 2019 13:27

The Minnesota Twins put designated hitter Nelson Cruz on the injured list with a left wrist strain Friday.

Cruz was pulled from Sunday's game against the Detroit Tigers after aggravating the wrist on a swinging strike. He has since missed four games.

Cruz, 38, is hitting .270 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs in 35 games for the AL Central-leading Twins.

He will be eligible to be activated when the Twins return home from a West Coast trip to host the Chicago White Sox on May 24. Infielder Luis Arraez was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to take Cruz's roster spot.

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