Langsning outplay Sumer in SCL Super Division match
SHILLONG: Langsning CC defeated Sumer CC by six wickets in the Shillong Cricket League Super Division match played at cricket ground in Polo on Thursday. Electing to bat first, Sumer CC scored 136 runs losing all their wickets in 35.3 overs. Jitu Gogoi top scored for Sumer with 36 runs off 69 balls. For Langsning, Aiborlang Wahlang and Rajib Ray picked up three wickets each. In reply, Langsning CC scored 138 runs losing four wickets in 23.5 overs in which Sylvester Mylliempdah scored 52 runs off 43 balls and Shanbok Wankhar scored 25 runs off 39 balls. For Sumer, Suraj Chettri took two wickets while Anish Charak took one wicket. After Thursday’s Sputnik CC remain on top with 25 points, while Sumer CC, United XI CC, Langsning SC and Riatsamthiah SC are all at 16 points. The last game of the league will be played on Friday between United XI CC and Riatsamthiah SC and the winner will play against defending champions Sputnik in the final which will be held on February 27. Inter School Cricket 2017: Meanwhile, the Shillong Cricket Association will organise the IP Das and Babu Ondromoni Dkhar Memorial Inter School Cricket Tournament 2017 from the second week of March. The tournament will be held in U15 and U18 categories. Interested Schools may contact the SCA office for entry forms and other details.
Pacquiao ‘in negotiations’ to fight Amir Khan
MANILA: Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao on Thursday said he was “in negotiations” to face British fighter Amir Khan, after weeks of conflicting reports over his next bout. “My team and I are in negotiations with Amir Khan for our next fight. Further announcements coming soon,” Pacquiao, 38, said on his official Twitter feed. Spokesmen for Pacquiao could not be contacted for comment. Pacquiao’s Tweet follows various accounts from different sources over who he will be facing next and where the fight might be held. Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank’s Bob Arum, told ESPN sports network that he was sceptical about a Khan fight. “Manny seems to believe they will come up with the money. I have some reservations whether it will happen or not,” American Arum was quoted as saying on the ESPN website. (AFP)
Youth Test: Saurabh helps India take first innings lead
NAGPUR: Saurabh Singh hit a gritty hundred to help India Under-19 gain a slender first innings lead against England India on day three of second Youth Test here on Thursday. Saurabh scored 109 while the other contributions came from Daryl Ferrario (55), Siddharth Akre (54) and opener Abhishek Goswami (58), taking India to 388 for nine declared in response to England’s 375 all out in the first innings. England had lost their openers in the second innings and were 34 for two in nine over at close of play. India, resuming the day at 153 for three, ended up surpassing the visitors’ total. Saurabh anchored the innings collecting 13 fours in his 292-ball effort. (PTI)
Warne calls for change of ball, field restrictions
PUNE: Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne has called for radical tweaking of rules to bring more balance in the game, including change in cricket balls, scrapping of fielding restrictions in one-day matches and restricting to number of bowlers to four in T20 games. Warned rued that all the changes that have happened till now have either been with the bat or the field, but the ball has remained untouched. “The ball we bowl with is still the same as it was 100 years ago. Size and seam, and while bats became bigger and heavier, boundaries brought closer and fielding restrictions introduced but the ball is still the same as it was,” Warne said at the inaugural sports literature themed festival ‘SporTale’. (AFP)
Messi one shy of 400th win for Barcelona
BARCELONA: Argentine football star Lionel Messi is just one win away from reaching 400 victories with Barcelona, when the team visits the Vicente Calderon on Sunday to play against hosts Atletico Madrid in La Liga round 24. If Barcelona wins the upcoming tie, Messi will reach the 400 win mark out of 565 games played since he started wearing Barcelona’s jersey in 2004. During that period, Messi has taken part in 399 victories, 276 in La Liga, 66 in the Champions League, 42 in Copa del Rey, eight in Supercopa de Espana, three in the UEFA Super Cup and five in the FIFA Club World Cup. The Argentine forward has played in 102 draws and suffered 64 defeats. Atletico Madrid was the team to concede most goals scored by Messi with a total of 26 (21 in La Liga and five in Copa del Rey), followed by Real Madrid and Sevilla, conceding 21 goals each. (IANS)