India wins T20 series
SURYAKUMAR Yadav’s unbeaten century guided India to a 91-run victory over Sri Lanka in the third and final Twenty20 international in Rajkot on Saturday as the hosts clinched the series 2-1.
Yadav, the top-ranked batsman in T20s, made 112 not out, hitting seven fours and nine sixes in his 51-ball display as India set Sri Lanka a target of 229 after electing to bat first.
In response, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 137 as Arshdeep Singh bagged three wickets, while Hardik Pandya, Umran Malik and Yuzvendra Chahal took two wickets each.
Saturday’s victory came after India won the first T20 by two runs, while the second game was won by Sri Lanka by 16 runs.
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Inter title hopes hit
FOURTH-PLACED Inter Milan’s Serie A title ambitions took a hit after Luca Caldirola’s lastgasp equaliser earned lowly Monza a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Brianteo on Saturday. Matteo Darmian gave Inter an early lead but Patrick Ciurria replied almost instantly before Lautaro Martinez put the visitors back in front only for Caldirola to snatch a point. The draw comes three days after Inter broke Napoli’s 11-match winning streak in the league with a 1-0 victory at home and leaves the Milan side seven points adrift of the leaders.
Juve jumps to second
JUVENTUS extended their Serie A winning streak to eight on Saturday as Danilo’s late goal secured a 1-0 victory for the hosts against Udinese and boost their title tilt. Juve, who have not conceded a goal in their winning run, sealed the points in the 86th minute when Federico Chiesa elegantly chested down a high ball inside the box and crossed for an unmarked Danilo to score into an open goal. The win moved Juve up to second on 37 points from 17 games, within four points of Napoli and a point above AC Milan.
Real Madrid slumps
REAL Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat at Villarreal on Saturday after a goal and assist from striker Gerard Moreno, giving leaders Barcelona a chance to move ahead in the title race. Yeremy Pino opened the scoring for Villarreal just after the break before Real levelled through Karim Benzema’s penalty in the 60th minute, but parity lasted only three minutes as Moreno also fired home from the spot to secure the points. Real stay second, level on 38 points with Barca who visit fourth-placed Atletico Madrid on Sunday, while Villarreal’s third straight league win moves them up to fifth spot.
Venus withdraws
MELBOURNE, Australia — Venus Williams has withdrawn from the Australian Open for an undisclosed injury she sustained while playing in a tournament in Auckland, New Zealand this week. A seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, Williams received a wild-card entry into the Australian Open last month to compete in what would have been her 22nd major at Melbourne Park. But the Australian Open said on Saturday the 42-year-old Williams had withdrawn from the tournament beginning January
16. It did not provide specifics regarding the injury.
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