United XI defeat NFU in Super Division match
SHILLONG: United XI won by four wickets against NFU in the Shillong Cricket League Super Division match played at cricket ground, Polo on Saturday. NFU batted first and scored 185 runs for the loss of five wickets in 40 overs. Purojit top scored with 58 runs, while Neetesh and Kalyan scored 38 and 36 runs respectively. United XI’s Babloo Passah took three wickets for 31 runs in seven overs. In reply, United XI chased the target and scored 188 runs for the loss of six wickets in 36.4 overs. Jason Lamare was the highest scorer of the match with 73 runs off 81 balls. NFU’s Neetesh and Mithun picked two wickets each.
Meghdoot cruise to victory, Aurobindo win
SHILLONG: It was another exciting day of cricket as Siddharth’s unbeaten 61 runs powered Meghdoot to win by four wickets against Rilbong (Donku United) in the 5th Ardhendu Chaudhuri Memorial Day and Night Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament organised by Rilbong Sports and Cultural Club in Rilbong ground on Saturday. Batting first, Rilbong (Donku United) scored a formidable 103 runs for the loss of six wickets in 12 overs, where Mithun and Raj contributed 36 and 31 runs respectively. In reply, Meghdoot lost three quick wickets in no time, but a classy performance by Siddharth saved the day for Meghdoot as they chased the target and scored 107 runs in 10.4 overs. Earlier in the day, Aurobindo defeated Young Guns by 16 runs. Aurobindo scored 90 runs for the loss of five wickets in 12 overs with Vishal top scoring with 41 runs. In reply, Young Guns were all-out for 74 runs in 11 overs. Manish scored 19 runs while Abhay took three wickets for Aurobindo.
Allardyce named Crystal Palace boss
LONDON: English Premier League (EPL) side Crystal Palace has announced that former England national football team’s head coach Sam Allardyce as their new manager on a two and half year contract. The south London club’s chairman Steve Parish said on Friday: “We are delighted to be able to make an appointment so quickly and fortunate that someone of Sam’s calibre and experience was available.” Allardyce will take charge of the team with immediate effect in time for the match against Watford from Monday, reports Xinhua. The 62-year-old will replace Alan Pardew who was sacked on Friday. Crystal Place are now standing 17th in the EPL after a run of one win in 11 games. Allardyce, who has been out of work since losing the England job only after 67 days, said, “You generally get a new job because there are difficulties at a club.” “I have to sort those difficulties out, hopefully with my experience, and try to get a few more results on the board to make everybody feel comfortable,” he added to Crystal Palace’s website. (IANS)
Julian Draxler to join PSG from Wolfsburg
WOLFSBURG: Germany attacking midfielder Julian Draxler is joining Paris Saint-Germain from Wolfsburg in a deal reportedly worth up to 47 million euros (around 49 million dollars). The 23-year-old Draxler was getting a 4 1/2 year deal subject to a medical examination with the French side, Wolfsburg announced on Saturday. Both sides agreed not to disclose the transfer fee. German news agency dpa reported a fee of 42 million euros (43.9 million dollars) with bonuses of up to 5 million euros (5.2 million dollars). Draxler joined Wolfsburg from Bundesliga rival Schalke for around 36 million euros in August 2015 but he never really settled at the Volkswagenbacked club. Draxler’s fortunes mirrored that of Wolfsburg. Bundesliga runner-up and German Cup winner in 2015, Wolfsburg is fighting relegation, with coach Dieter Hecking and general manager Klaus Allofs both losing their jobs earlier this season. (AP)
Stepanova’s former coach suspended for ten years
MOSCOW: Russian athletics coach Vladimir Mokhnev, the former coach of Russian doping whistleblower Yuliya Stepanva, has been suspended for 10 years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The CAS on Friday said Mokhnev was suspended for trafficking of banned substances. CAS also suspended Russian track and field athlete Anastasiya Bazdyreva for two years, reports Tass. Russian ex-doping official Vitaly Stepanov and his wife, Russian runner Yulia, were in the centre of a series of documentaries on alleged doping abuse in Russian sports aired by German TV Channel ARD in December 2014. The film demonstrated a video where former coach of Yulia, Mokhnev continued training, though the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had dismissed him for life. (IANS)